Fender Fanned Fret?

[codycon96]

Hypothetical question:

Do you think Fender will ever adopt the fanned fret system found on more recent instruments like the Dingwall and Ibanez basses?

I recently played a Dingwall Super P that someone brought to a gig through my SVTx215 combo and feel like that (IMO) it's the final evolution of something so close to being a perfect instrument.

Personally, I'd love to see Fender do a run of fanned fret Precision and Jazz basses.

thoughts? concerns?

 

[selowitch]

It'll happen eventually if Fender concludes that it will make money doing so. There is probably some traditionalist resistance to the idea. Fender is a fairly conservative company and they can be wary of trying newish things.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

I thought the fanfret fad never really caught on outside a few fringe sub-metal styles?

I've only ever seen one fanfret bass (a Schecter) at Guitar Center and none ever at Sam Ash. I picked it up as I had been very curious for a few years and after a minute or so I went, "Nope!"

If the fanfret basses were a big seller and lots of money could be made off of them, they would be sold everywhere by every manufacturer.

 

[spiritbass]

It would be cool if they did. I think Leo would be amazed at the refinements that Sheldon has brought to the precision and jazz basses. If Fender took the multi-scale plunge, it would take production pressure off of the very small Dingwall company. Win/win situation, IMO...

 

[Roland GR 88]

Don't count on it.
Putting a 5th string on and batteries inside them was as bold a move as they've made since the Jazz bass.

 

[Lowendtech]

Do you think Fender will ever adopt the fanned fret system found on more recent instruments like the Dingwall and Ibanez basses?

No.

at least… I hope not. I can't think of a more disastrous endeavour. (Bass wise) I'd imagine it to be a complete failure worse than the Dimension episode. (Not that there's anything wrong with them. Just that it didn't work for Fender. At all).

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Fender is a lot like Harley Davidson. They do two or three things pretty well since the 1950s 1960s and are not partial to change.
Some of their great basses that no longer exist...
Roscoe Beck V
Steve Bailey VI
Player Jazz V (with the double jazz pickups).
Dimension IV and V
Reggie Hamilton
Etc.
If they ever do come out with a fanned fret grab it quick cause it will be discontinued immediately.

 

[IPA]

Extremely doubtful. They'd buy a fanned fret brand before they make a Fender with fanned frets.

 

[spiritbass]

No.

at least… I hope not. I can't think of a more disastrous endeavour. (Bass wise) I'd imagine it to be a complete failure worse than the Dimension episode. (Not that there's anything wrong with them. Just that it didn't work for Fender. At all).

I don't really see it happening either. If they made a try, it would probably result in a few very collectible basses.

 

[gt96g]

Fender owns the Jackson brand. That's where they do that kinda thing.

 

[dabbler]

Fender is a lot like Harley Davidson. They do two or three things pretty well since the 1950s 1960s and are not partial to change.
Some of their great basses that no longer exist...
Roscoe Beck V
Steve Bailey VI
Player Jazz V (with the double jazz pickups).
Dimension IV and V
Reggie Hamilton
Etc.
If they ever do come out with a fanned fret grab it quick cause it will be discontinued immediately.

Ummm, no. Wait for it to come up as a Musician's Friend Stupid Deal of the Day! That's how I got my Dimension!

 

[Phaidrus]

It'll happen eventually if Fender concludes that it will make money doing so. There is probably some traditionalist resistance to the idea. Fender is a fairly conservative company and they can be wary of trying newish things.

Fender IS the resistance and no amount of money will tempt them to stray from that.

 

[J Wilson]

Well, at least not today.

I ran outside, looked up, and no pigs were passing over . . . .

 

[selowitch]

The fact that such bassists as Leland Sklar and John Taylor seem to like their fanned fret basses makes me curious as to what the fuss is about.

 

[Barticus]

No

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Nope.
They got a J and P, that all they need.

 

[logdrum]

It would be cool if they did. I think Leo would be amazed at the refinements that Sheldon has brought to the precision and jazz basses. If Fender took the multi-scale plunge, it would take production pressure off of the very small Dingwall company. Win/win situation, IMO...

Actually it was Frank Novak ( Novax guitars ) who brought it to the world. Dingwall et all implemented the idea after the patent ran out. Patent #4,852,450 Please give credit where credit is truly due. Novax has been doing fan fret since 79 I believe. I have a Novax guitar+bass and very much in tune. His guitars also were the first I saw with the single saddle bridge not Ibanez.

 

[Core Creek]

I abandoned Fender basses years ago - just way too traditional for me. These days I play headless 6 string active basses and Fender sure doesn't cater to that.

I tried a fan-fretted bass and it just wasn't for me - and I'm a non-traditional kind of bassist. I can't imagine any diehard Fender loyalists would ever get one and there are plenty of more modern companies that already have that on lock.

Fender (and Gibson) have learned their biggest appeal comes from designs from the 50's-70's and straying from those formulas just aren't their vibe. If you want modern, there are plenty of other companies innovating. Fender should stay on its lane - hey, they picked it themselves.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I checked twice:

 

[codycon96]

It would be cool if they did. I think Leo would be amazed at the refinements that Sheldon has brought to the precision and jazz basses. If Fender took the multi-scale plunge, it would take production pressure off of the very small Dingwall company. Win/win situation, IMO...

I think a series in classic color ways would be insane. Leave the Fender headstock and adapt everything else.