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Fender fanned fretboard. Bets accepted...
- Thread starter Avezzano
- Start date
You are correct that big companies can become hobbled by their success when technologies rapidly change and obsolescence occurs. I don't see that's the case with Fender because we don't have major technologies taking stringed instruments out of the market like digital did with film, but it's a well-known phenomenon where market leaders can take their success for granted and remain in denial about the impact these sorts of game-changing innovation will ultimately have.
Since Fender still sells plenty of guitars I don't think this is a danger for them right now but anything could happen.
The fact that YOU don't like/want does not mean much. Contrary to what is thought/written on this thread about fanned fretboard basses, there's a lot of interest and players actually purchasing/drooling over/seriously considering buying one. Otherwise we should consider the whole Dingwall company a bunch of crazy guys. And all the options offered by Ibanez simply an absurd, no gain, losers move, see my point?
I get your point that there are people who want fanned fret basses, and there are companies making them, BUT that does not constitute the majority in any way. I don't know any bass players in Nashville that use a fanned fret bass professionally. I see them for sale here, but rarely have I ever seen one played live in this area. They are an exception to the norm at this point. I'm not saying that makes them unimportant. I'm just saying that it doesn't make sense for Fender to go that direction when there are so many players moving back to the traditional 4 string P-Bass and J-Bass model these days.
Straight Fret instruments outsell fanned fret easily ten to one, if not greater. There would be no reason for Fender to sell a fanned fret instrument. I also own a Canadian Dingwall.
EDIT: There are 136 results for multi scale bass and 29,388 results for bass on Reverb. Multi scale, fanned fret is a novelty.
EDIT: There are 136 results for multi scale bass and 29,388 results for bass on Reverb. Multi scale, fanned fret is a novelty.
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@Lownote38 I see and agree, obviously. But since Fender is a major player (the biggest?) in the basses/guitars business, it would not be... science fiction, imagining that they would decide one day to include a series of fanned frets basses. And I don't buy the supposed "difficulties" in tooling a production line for that: if Sheldon did it, they can actually do it as well. But, back to the topic, I only wanted to check what fellow bassplayers think about Fender ever doing the fanned fretboard move. 
@Lownote38 I see and agree, obviously. But since Fender is a major player (the biggest?) in the basses/guitars business, it would not be... science fiction, imagining that they would decide one day to include a series of fanned frets basses. And I don't buy the supposed "difficulties" in tooling a production line for that: if Sheldon did it, they can actually do it as well. But, back to the topic, I only wanted to check what fellow bassplayers think about Fender ever doing the fanned fretboard move.
I think if fanned frets really grabs a hold of the market, Fender will jump on and produce a bass with that. Their first example will be a total mess, though (like the spoke wheel truss rod adjustment they tried on the Elite basses not long ago). My point is that they'll do it when the market dictates that they have to.
Fender 5 string=1965 (Invented)
Ibanez Rb885 5 string=1986
Seems other are playing catch-up
and innovating on fenders design.
If it aint broke don't fix it!
Fenders first fretless was 69-70
Fender five string had NOTHING in common with a standard fiver. Same notes range than a 4 just displaced on five strings. Aborted soon. Definitely not an innovation, to me.
First fiver was Jimmy Johnson Alembic 1976
Right 100%!!! But "Their first example will be a total mess" who knows, really? They live in today's world and they are capable of building good to excellent basses, even at a very low price point. They might surprise the whole bass world!!!
Come on: be fair!!!Fender is far too traditional to do something like that. I'm not even sure they know how multiscale works
Nah Fender INVENTED 5 string.
Bill Wyman he converted a cheap Japanese bass to fretless as early as 1961 and used it with his first band, the Cliftons. The first commercially available fretless was Ampegs AUB-1 in 1966
They'll do what they think will sell in the market.
IMO for most bass players, a fanned fretboard is the answer to a question they have never asked.
I know that I have never asked that question since I started playing electric bass in 1967.
Nah Fender INVENTED 5 string.
Bill Wyman he converted a cheap Japanese bass to fretless as early as 1961 and used it with his first band, the Cliftons. The first commercially available fretless was Ampegs AUB-1 in 1966
Ah, ah: now this is interesting! So, if we want to consider the Fender V as a real 5 string "ancestor" (not for me, anyway) it comes out that at Fender they did NOT invent the fretless! It was Bill Wyman...
Right 100%!!! But "Their first example will be a total mess" who knows, really? They live in today's world and they are capable of building good to excellent basses, even at a very low price point. They might surprise the whole bass world!!!
Maybe, but their track record hasn't been good with utilizing new tech. They still don't make great active preamps. 24 fret necks are a rarity. I could go on, and on with examples of things they aren't up to speed on, and could name a bunch of things they used to do that people loved, but were then dropped. Don't get me wrong. I love Fender and what they do right. I own 5 of them, but I am always skeptical when they try something new.
I never understood the benefit of fanned frets especially for fretless. Oh I've tried but I just don't get it.
Boys if I love Talkbass:
This consumer's world is specialized in creating new needs none would have thought before. At a certain point you realise you're the only one in the group not having a TV set. You buy a TV set. Then it comes the color TV: you buy a color TV. The cell phone: you buy a cell phone. Then it comes the smartphone...
This consumer's world is specialized in creating new needs none would have thought before. At a certain point you realise you're the only one in the group not having a TV set. You buy a TV set. Then it comes the color TV: you buy a color TV. The cell phone: you buy a cell phone. Then it comes the smartphone...
