Fender Player Meteora Bass

[thornshadow99]

Can't wait to hear what you think... we'll need a video review, thanks

I hope you like flatwounds.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

Fender is just one of those companies that is damned if they do and damned if they don't. Come up with something new everyone says. Here come the Dimension and Meteora. Dayum! Fender should stick to P & Jazz basses!

 

[Scott_B]

I hope you like flatwounds.

I do not like flatwounds, usually. I have a Univox Hi-flier with them but that's the only one.

 

[Scott_B]

What would be the point of that for an active bass? BTW, I much prefer passive basses.

'Twas a joke.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

 

[JakobT]

The bass is fine. The shape is fine. The colours are fine. The pickups and electronics are fine, and it sounds fine. Even the price is fine. It’s not my cup of tea, but that’s fine, too.

 

[alack]

Every time I see those Fender dual coils I think to myself, “Just bring back the Roscoe Beck” signature basses!

 

[Old Blastard]

I like it. But my 3 Fenders are a Jazz Special MIJ, MIJ Jag Deluxe and a Starcaster. I also liked the Dimension. (my Jazz Bass is a FGN and my P basses are a Drake and a Squier).

No, all of my dogs aren't barking and I'm driving with one headlight

 

[bcouper]

I played one and it's nice in active mode. In passive, the tone options are reduced to just the pickup selector, which is limiting. I'm surprised at that for a new model that is otherwise fairly flexible.

 

[deepestend]

I played one and it's nice in active mode. In passive, the tone options are reduced to just the pickup selector, which is limiting. I'm surprised at that for a new model that is otherwise fairly flexible.

Weird that they don’t have passive tone. That seems pretty standard on most pres these days. Maybe they don’t think you are really going to play it in passive but just as a safety.

 

[BBassBassington]

I played one and it's nice in active mode. In passive, the tone options are reduced to just the pickup selector, which is limiting. I'm surprised at that for a new model that is otherwise fairly flexible.

How's the playability? And what's the neck like? I'm not gonna buy one but I'm curious. lol

 

[thornshadow99]

Weird that they don’t have passive tone. That seems pretty standard on most pres these days. Maybe they don’t think you are really going to play it in passive but just as a safety.

I posted a question about the Meteora Bass passive mode to Nate Navarro. Hopefully he’ll say something.

 

[jd56hawk]

I played one and it's nice in active mode. In passive, the tone options are reduced to just the pickup selector, which is limiting. I'm surprised at that for a new model that is otherwise fairly flexible.

Seriously?
The same BS they pulled with the Player Plus and the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas basses.
So, someone at Fender had the idea this was a good thing and everyone else agreed?
One word comes to mind but I won't bother saying it.

 

[robbietick]

I played one a few days ago. The neck is great, we all know how a modern C feels/plays and it’s that. Sound is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from the specs, I’m also surprised there’s no tone option on passive but that would also entail a fifth knob so maybe not that surprised. They’re clearly going into Ernie Ball territory, and at the price point it does more than a good job at that. Long story short, plays great, sounds great, I ordered one and will probably do a more thorough write up when I’ve had more than 15 min playing one through an amp in a music store.

 

[bdplaid]

If they're going after Ernie Ball they need to up their game on the colors. Like, it's called a Meteora with a space age vibe, so where's Starry Night and the metallics? C'mon Fender you can do it!

 

[jd56hawk]

If they're going after Ernie Ball they need to up their game on the colts. Like, it's called a Meteora with a space age vibe, so where's Starry Night and the metallics? C'mon Fender you can do it!

Exactly!
Fender really dropped the ball.
Seriously, Black-and-Gray Burst and Two-Color Burst?
Shouldn't a Meteora come in Interstellar Cloud White, Fireball Burst and Deep Space Blue?
You'd at least think they’d be aware of what they're doing over at G&L.

 

[msb]

EB just might be the best production basses made in the USA today . They’re always tweaking things . Now I like this new thing from Fender , and I’m an old Pbass guy , but I’d hardly say they’re taking on EB . I’m curious to hear reports on the Meteora though .

 

[Robot.G]

Fender is just one of those companies that is damned if they do and damned if they don't. Come up with something new everyone says. Here come the Dimension and Meteora. Dayum! Fender should stick to P & Jazz basses!

The newish body shape is awesome, the same 50+ years old headstock is all sorts of meh with that shape though and doesn't really work. Fender could be stepping up their design game with this one, but nope.

 

[defdog99]

I played one and it's nice in active mode. In passive, the tone options are reduced to just the pickup selector, which is limiting. I'm surprised at that for a new model that is otherwise fairly flexible.

Passive mode on the Fender Player Plus basses is the same way. No tone.
Must be the same preamp board.

 

[MtManiac]

If they're going after Ernie Ball they need to up their game on the colors. Like, it's called a Meteora with a space age vibe, so where's Starry Night and the metallics? C'mon Fender you can do it!

I’m quite confident they’re not “going after” Ernie Ball.