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Fender Player Meteora Bass

#261
MtManiac said:
Remember how they had a Dimension covering every product level? Not one but *four* different models for the American Deluxe series? A IV, a V, an H and a HH. An American Standard, also four models, a MIM Deluxe and a Standard, a Modern Player, and also multiple Squier models.

Trying to please everyone at every budget level didn’t help, neither did focusing heavily on the high end models.

I’m fine with this approach. Nothing wrong with MIM, these days, and lots right. Maybe they’ll graduate up a level if they’re wildly successful, but if they’re not, dealers won’t have tons of expensive inventory to liquidate or return. Makes a lot of sense - and is what they *should* have done with the Dimension. It may have even survived.
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I certainly think they're learning on this front. Take the Acoustasonic Guitar series - it started as just an MIA Tele. People liked it, so they made a Strat, then a Jaguar. All starting at around $2,000 MSRP (not sure what the out the door price tends to be).

Apparently the demand warranted an MIM Tele, so that's now available at $1,200 MSRP. I'm sure if the MIM Tele is a success they'll so an MIM Strat (I hope they do, actually!)

Now with the Meteora bass they're just doing an MIM to see how it goes. I'm curious how starting at their "midway" price point will impact how it's viewed.

There are probably other examples. I think they just want too hard too fast with the Dimension; had it started as just an MIA bass with H & HH options, they probably could have better evaluated market demand for other price points. They really seemed like they were trying to make a modern complement to the J & P.
 
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#262
First thing you see when you walk in Russo Music in Asbury Park is three Meteora guitars, and they look pretty damned good.
I doubt if they're leftovers, even though they weren't big sellers, so I'm guessing they're brand new. I'm also guessing the basses will be arriving soon, maybe this week or next.
I'll definitely be trying them out, and even though I'm not the biggest Fender fan around, I would've considered buying one if not for all their shortcomings.
 
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#263
SleepyShark said:
I certainly think they're learning on this front. Take the Acoustasonic Guitar series - it started as just an MIA Tele. People liked it, so they made a Strat, then a Jaguar. All starting at around $2,000 MSRP (not sure what the out the door price tends to be).

Apparently the demand warranted an MIM Tele, so that's now available at $1,2000 MSRP. I'm sure if they MIM Tele is a success they'll so an MIM Strat (I hope they do, actually!)

Now with the Meteora bass they're just doing an MIM to see how it goes. I'm curious how starting at their "midway" price point will impact how it's viewed.

There are probably other examples. I think they just want too hard too fast with the Dimension; had it started as just an MIA bass with H & HH options, they probably could have better evaluated market demand for other price points. They really seemed like they were trying to make a modern complement to the J & P.
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Yeah, that all makes sense to me.
 
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#265
SleepyShark said:
I certainly think they're learning on this front. Take the Acoustasonic Guitar series - it started as just an MIA Tele. People liked it, so they made a Strat, then a Jaguar. All starting at around $2,000 MSRP (not sure what the out the door price tends to be).

Apparently the demand warranted an MIM Tele, so that's now available at $1,2000 MSRP.
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I see you put the comma in the wrong place. This is how it should read: $12,000 MSRP. :roflmao:
 
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#268
-Asdfgh- said:
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!
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"if it requires a special, high-quality stand that's a fail"

You also stated this. Suggesting you think a good stand is a waste of money.

A cheap stand should never enter a thought stream.
 
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#271
MYLOWFREQ said:
I think neck dive. I also think about people complaining about Fender not trying anything new, and also the same people not buying anything new Fender comes up with. I still think it's good Fender is coming up with new designs.
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Same! I 100% love that they made these. I've just gone from them being rumoured and really wanting one to them being released and having a complete turnaround there.

Cool basses, but in their current iteration they're not for me. Move those pickups closer to the neck, make 'em soapbars, go to a Starcaster headstock with body-colour matching stripe, and then new colours and I'm in. It's a big ask but it also points to all the near misses on this model that made me go from :woot: to :yawn:.

Also I've spent far too much time this last year reminding myself of the irony that I'm visually impaired and super shallow about my instruments looks. I'm an oddball.
 
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#272
Hounddog409 said:
Suggesting you think a good stand is a waste of money.
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No, I am looking at it from a design perspective. It shouldn't require an expensive stand. A stand is just a thing that defies gravity so a cheap one should be possible and a bass should ideally be able to interact with one without falling over. In a similar vein, with my suit trousers it would be appropriate to use a nice belt, but they shouldn't explode if I use a piece of string instead.
 
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#273
Hearing everybody criticize the Meteora for not meeting their aesthetic standards is curious, especially since the bass is not even out yet. So I’ll give some more detail about my decision-making process.

After turning away from a Mod Shop P due to lack of info about pickup options (one paragraph per set was not enough), I changed my mind and started shopping for a new bass with a wider tonal range instead*. I got tired of trying to locate a Dingwall D-ROC so the Meteora seemed like a more accessible option. I watched the Navarro, Fender, and Anderton demos about the Meteora then decided to take the plunge. The only item I am concerned about is the Meteora’s alleged lack of passive tone controls. It’s been mentioned here a couple times but I have not seen any confirmation outside this thread.

Well, my Meteora is arriving today or tomorrow, so I will know very soon.

*And not have to obtain a loan for my new bass.
 
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#274
thornshadow99 said:
Hearing everybody criticize the Meteora for not meeting their aesthetic standards is curious, especially since the bass is not even out yet. So I’ll give some more detail about my decision-making process.

After turning away from a Mod Shop P due to lack of info about pickup options (one paragraph per set was not enough), I changed my mind and started shopping for a new bass with a wider tonal range instead. I got tired of trying to locate a Dingwall D-ROC so the Meteora seemed like a more accessible option. I watched the Navarro, Fender, and Anderton demos about the Meteora then decided to take the plunge. The only item I am concerned about is the Meteora’s alleged lack of passive tone controls. It’s been mentioned here a couple times but I have not seen any confirmation outside this thread.

Well, my Meteora is arriving today or tomorrow, so I will know very soon.
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As I'm not a Fender fanatic, but do love the oddball Misfit Fenders I own, I IMPLORE AND BESEECH that all who buy one of these things write a review on this thread because it's just weird enough that I may go for it. Considering my Jag Deluxe has tone controls in passive and active modes Im not sure why the Meteora wouldn't. That's the only thing that's a no go. I love my Starcasters headstock, but of I recall when it came out, people hated it. The traditional stock is fine and probably less divisive as the body already is out there.
 
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#275
thornshadow99 said:
Hearing everybody criticize the Meteora for not meeting their aesthetic standards is curious, especially since the bass is not even out yet. So I’ll give some more detail about my decision-making process.

After turning away from a Mod Shop P due to lack of info about pickup options (one paragraph per set was not enough), I changed my mind and started shopping for a new bass with a wider tonal range instead*. I got tired of trying to locate a Dingwall D-ROC so the Meteora seemed like a more accessible option. I watched the Navarro, Fender, and Anderton demos about the Meteora then decided to take the plunge. The only item I am concerned about is the Meteora’s alleged lack of passive tone controls. It’s been mentioned here a couple times but I have not seen any confirmation outside this thread.

Well, my Meteora is arriving today or tomorrow, so I will know very soon.

*And not have to obtain a loan for my new bass.
Click to expand...
Getting a Fender as an alternative to a Dingwall is certainly an odd set of options.
 
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#276
Scott_B said:
Getting a Fender as an alternative to a Dingwall is certainly an odd set of options.
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Yes, but trying to find a Dingwall was tough. The Dingwall outlet nearest me only had a Nolly and the D-ROC was genuinely hard to find online. It was easy to order a Meteora from Fender and the price was right. I loved Amos Heller's demo of the D-ROC, though. (BTW, Amos Heller is absolutely awesome even though I am not really a Darkglass person. My VMT is totally his fault.)
 
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