Fender Player Meteora Bass

[SleepyShark]

If you search Meteora bass on Reverb you can see real life photos of each color.

Really cool looking bass! I won’t be getting one, but I hope the people giving them a try stumble upon a cool new offering.

 

[Iridescentone]

$0.02...

I like it a lot. Some different finishes might be nice. The choice between maple and pau is good, two of my fave board woods.

Looking at it more, I like the position of the top strap pin...right around the 13th fret. Maybe not optimal for everyone but that's my Goldilocks spot...a little more comfy at the middle and upper frets while still not a noticeably long reach outward. The extra bit of mass at the body's rear end should counteract any neck dive tendency (thoughtful design?...or happy accident?).

The styling is growing on me too. Futuristic, but not bombastic. It melds well with its modern-ish electronics. I dug the EBMM Big Al too, but the price tag always kept me away from it.

Double-J pickups have always been a winner in my book. In the past I never cared much for Fender's preamps (or their Noiseless pups) until the AM Dlx HH Dimension came along, which changed my views 180 degrees on Fender's ability to make a great sounding active bass.

The Meteora demos are sounding really good to my ears so far. I expect it will sound amazing through any of the great pedals we have at our disposal nowadays.

I feel some Meteora GAS bubbling up from below. Am I talking myself into one? Maybe, but I haven't gotten past the idea of $1300+ for a MIM Fender yet. But I guess that's the world we live in now. YOLO

 

[Jeff Scott]

I think 7ender ought to consider a new headstock shape that would go much better with the body.

And, yeah, no maple fingerboard, ebony would look a million times better.

Also, 7ender should move the neck pickup about 3" closer to the neck.

Not fond of the pickguard shape, perhaps no pickguard would look best.

 

[Iridescentone]

What about this color?

Fender Player Plus Active Meteora Bass Pau Ferro Fingerboard Tequila Sunrise w/ Bag | Music Land | Reverb

Not bad, a bit "neony" for me. I would def like a white-to-black fade finish though, like Wilton Felder's too cool looking Fender from yore (can't find pic).

Schecter has a similar fade paint job on their SLS Elite bass...beautiful. The specs are off the hook too, what a sweet looking bass. I could see myself behind the wheel of one for sure. Check it...

Schecter SLS Elite-4 Bass Guitar - Black Fade Burst

 

[SleepyShark]

I think 7ender ought to consider a new headstock shape that would go much better with the body.

And, yeah, no maple fingerboard, ebony would look a million times better.

Also, 7ender should move the neck pickup about 3" closer to the neck.

Not fond of the pickguard shape, perhaps no pickguard would look best.

+1 on no pickguard. I’ll say it again: that mint green on the blue looks horrendous. Aged white or white would be fine, but they’re leaning into mint this era.

 

[Iridescentone]

+1 on no pickguard. I’ll say it again: that mint green on the blue looks horrendous. Aged white or white would be fine, but they’re leaning into mint this era.

The LPB with mint guard looks pretty good, in a retro way. I think that color combo appeals to the vintage-vibe crowd, harkening back to the classic Fender pre-cbs Custom Color days that so many idolize.

A matching color headstock would have me one step closer to doing something stoopid. How did Fender not include that?!

 

[Les Fret]

I think 7ender ought to consider a new headstock shape that would go much better with the body.

And, yeah, no maple fingerboard, ebony would look a million times better.

Also, 7ender should move the neck pickup about 3" closer to the neck.

Not fond of the pickguard shape, perhaps no pickguard would look best.

Agree with this. Headstock looks really off on this model. Maple neck looks off too. Pickguard should have been cut better to cover the burst on the upper horn.

All in all I like the model but I bet it s very unbalanced when played sitting down with no strap because of the really short lower horn. I think there are certainly points to improve on with this model although I like that they are trying something different.

That sunrise finish looks really odd. They also use that for some guitars. I don’t get it.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Buy a good quality stand, problem solved.

View attachment 4622455

I find that Jazz shape offers nothing for playing ergonomics, but if it requires a special, high-quality stand that's a fail in my book. I have several Jazz basses, but would be happier if they had Precision-shaped bodies.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Cool. Pity it ain’t headless!

 

[Hounddog409]

I find that Jazz shape offers nothing for playing ergonomics, but if it requires a special, high-quality stand that's a fail in my book. I have several Jazz basses, but would be happier if they had Precision-shaped bodies.

So you spend hundreds, if not thousands, on a bass, but dont want to spend $60 on a quality stand for it? I find that odd.

There is zero chance I use a cheap stand for any of my basses.

I guess that explains all the dings and scraps on basses.

 

[jd56hawk]

So you spend hundreds, if not thousands, on a bass, but dont want to spend $60 on a quality stand for it? I find that odd.

There is zero chance I use a cheap stand for any of my basses.

I guess that explains all the dings and scraps on basses.

I recommended a Hercules stand once to someone on Facebook's Thunderbird board and he said "No way I'm spending $75 on a stand when I can buy one for $20!"
I said "Maybe you should buy them where they're selling for $50."
He never replied to that.

 

[sleddogn]

I have to say i'm also a hater of jazz shape, that bottom shape thats not even drives me crazy. I truly see jazz's that i like, and first thing i want to do is take a chainsaw to that uneven bottom...lol, i do like the meteora though

 

[SleepyShark]

I have to say i'm also a hater of jazz shape, that bottom shape thats not even drives me crazy. I truly see jazz's that i like, and first thing i want to do is take a chainsaw to that uneven bottom...lol, i do like the meteora though

Interesting… I like the classic P shape, but I think jazz bodies balance better on a strap. Could be in my head though. I like them both!

I’ll have to play a meteora in a shop to see how that body feels.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So you spend hundreds, if not thousands, on a bass, but dont want to spend $60 on a quality stand for it? I find that odd.

I merely indicated that I didn't think the Jazz was a good shape, nothing at all about a willingness or not to spend money on a stand. My preference would be for the Jazz to be the same shape as a Precision such that in any circumstance, whether it be on my own expensive stand or at a gig where I was promised an expensive stand that did not actually materialise, I would know the instrument would balance. I simply wish Leo had designed it more symmetrically on the lower part of the body as I think it would provide better functionality and look better. I don't find the offset body adds anything to appearance or functionality, and I like things that combine good looks and the best possible functionality. YMMV.

So you spend hundreds, if not thousands

Or maybe only $100!

 

[marchone]

Ten pages and only a couple comments on its sound. The Nate Navarro and Brian Jones Fender videos I saw were both great. I think the body shape looks good. It's marketed as a Fender, so the headstock is non-negotiable.

 

[jd56hawk]

I merely indicated that I didn't think the Jazz was a good shape, nothing at all about a willingness or not to spend money on a stand. My preference would be for the Jazz to be the same shape as a Precision such that in any circumstance, whether it be on my own expensive stand or at a gig where I was promised an expensive stand that did not actually materialise, I would know the instrument would balance. I simply wish Leo had designed it more symmetrically on the lower part of the body as I think it would provide better functionality and look better. I don't find the offset body adds anything to appearance or functionality, and I like things that combine good looks and the best possible functionality. YMMV.



Or maybe only $100!

You can always go this route.
You're not going to get a new Fender this nice for $550.

As for looks better, sure, plenty of people like the P bass, but the Jazz has always looked better.

 

[jd56hawk]

Regardless, good luck to Fender with the Meteora, despite the typical Fender lack of thinking things through.
I think they'll definitely sell quite a few before they discontinue them.

 

[SleepyShark]

Ten pages and only a couple comments on its sound.

Fair point. Here's a collection of YouTube videos, some have been posted here, some haven't:

 

[-Asdfgh-]

You can always go this route.
You're not going to get a new Fender this nice for $550.
View attachment 4623198View attachment 4623199View attachment 4623200
As for looks better, sure, plenty of people like the P bass, but the Jazz has always looked better.

I just like that they have a big, wide thumbrest at the back.

 

[deepestend]

All of the ones on reverb that I’ve seen are 9 plus pounds. Just too heavy. I love the body, though.