Fender Plus Deluxe Club

[JIO]

I've been expanding my resource book library lately, adding a couple of new bass books. One of which is "The Fender Bass An illustrated History 2001 - Hal/Leonard" This book is all things Fender bass w/plenty of nice pics and information. Page 82-83 are dedicated to the Plus Deluxe series w/a pic of each example. I found the introduction curious;

"The 1990 Namm show introduced a new five-string Jazz Bass from George Blanda's design team. This upgraded Plus model featured a downsized body design, which addressed the needs of a contemporary marketplace driven by the heavy metal look and sound."

I assumed it had more to do with making the 22 fret neck balance better. (as in, instead of a squatter body - a smaller body was designed to keep it in proportion w/it's illustrious predecessor. Not sayin' it wouldn't rock any dry-ice fog filled stage, but the Jazz Bass Plus doesn't strike me as a heavy metal bass. The 85/86 Katana perhaps...

Along w/Dan Smith, George Blanda was also responsible for the first series of the American Standard "boner" basses (88-94) which solved the longer 22 fret neck balance problem with a squatter body and a longer upper horn. I now own both a boner and the Jazz Bass Plus, and I have found both to balance nicely. When studying both you find two different design solutions that were equally successful in addressing the neck-drop issue of the slightly longer neck. I say nice work Mr Blanda & team.

I think books like this (not hard-core historical reference) are written using available information with a healthy dose of conjectur, and most likely we'll never know exactly why certain production choices were made. I personally feel in the case of these two 22 fret basses, function dictated form.

 

[SirMjac28]

I've been expanding my resource book library lately, adding a couple of new bass books. One of which is "The Fender Bass An illustrated History 2001 - Hal/Leonard" This book is all things Fender bass w/plenty of nice pics and information. Page 82-83 are dedicated to the Plus Deluxe series w/a pic of each example. I found the introduction curious;

"The 1990 Namm show introduced a new five-string Jazz Bass from George Blanda's design team. This upgraded Plus model featured a downsized body design, which addressed the needs of a contemporary marketplace driven by the heavy metal look and sound."

I assumed it had more to do with making the 22 fret neck balance better. (as in, instead of a squatter body - a smaller body was designed to keep it in proportion w/it's illustrious predecessor. Not sayin' it wouldn't rock any dry-ice fog filled stage, but the Plus Deluxe doesn't strike me as a heavy metal bass. The 85/86 Katana perhaps...

Along w/Dan Smith, George Blanda was also responsible for the first series of the American Standard "boner" basses (88-94) which solved the longer 22 fret neck balance problem with a squatter body and a longer upper horn. I own both the boner and the Plus Deluxe, and I have found both to balance nicely. When studying both you find two different design solutions that were equally successful in addressing the neck-drop issue of the slightly longer neck. I say nice work Mr Blanda & team.

I think books like this (not hard-core historical reference) are written using available information with a healthy dose of conjectur, and most likely we'll never know exactly why certain production choices were made. I personally feel in the case of these two 22 fret basses, function dictated form.

Great info JIO very cool thanks. I think they were trying to appeal to a younger market with the Plus Deluxe series and I agree with you it does not scream heavy metal to me its sound is much more aggressive than a standard Jazz of that era that Kubicki preamp adds a certain "magic" that I can hear right away that's why I fell in love with it. I remember in the 90's Fender put out some very unique designs trying to shake that old man's bass label and they really put out some great instruments Mr Blanda and team really deserve more recognition than they get..

 

[JIO]

Great info JIO very cool thanks. I think they were trying to appeal to a younger market with the Plus Deluxe series and I agree with you it does not scream heavy metal to me its sound is much more aggressive than a standard Jazz of that era that Kubicki preamp adds a certain "magic" that I can hear right away that's why I fell in love with it. I remember in the 90's Fender put out some very unique designs trying to shake that old man's bass label and they really put out some great instruments Mr Blanda and team really deserve more recognition than they get..

Humm... perhaps, but I think the net stretched wider than that. At the time this series was developed, there were two streams of forward motion at Fender. One was focused on development and innovation, and the other on mining it's past. The retro mining won out in the end as everyone wanted that illusive sense of authenticity - the thing that made Fender Fender. Harley-Davidson did exactly the same thing - it's called "branding". But the 80's was the decade of the electric bass. People like Ron Wickersham, Rick Turner, Stuart Spector, Ned Steinberger and Phil Kubicki were developing a fresh new take on Leo's 30yr old baby. Active electronics, more frets, ergonomic/minimal designs and bass players who were now out front in the mix all came to the forefront in the 80's. More than ever, music was bass driven and dynamic, not boomy and felt more than heard. This Fender bass was an answer to that clarion call. Hats off to innovation. Fender has made a couple interesting new "retro" basses (Jaguar and the Starcaster hollow-body) - but nothing I would call innovative or modern. Too much money still to be made catering to the powerful drug of nostalgia.

mjac28, the magic you are hearing was born of the shrewd marketing strategy that coupled a good traditional design with a great modern preamp. You may have never played a Kubicki Factor, but you now own a Fender bass that sounds exactly like one. (please Factor owners, do not flame me as I am a first-hand hard-core devotee of Phil's unique bass) What I'm saying here is this is not a Factor, but it is a very nice Fender bass that sounds just like one. I love mine and am taking it to a jam-session in an hour to let it rip -

 

[GaryLC]

Nice '90 Plus Deluxe J in glossy natural (ash?) w/orig hsc (no affiliation)


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Jazz...C-/121268827763?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c3c2f7673

That's my Jazz Plus, if anybody is interested! I bought it from Twocan a while back, and while it's an incredible bass, it's just not my thing. But then, I go through basses like.....

 

[JIO]

That's my Jazz Plus, if anybody is interested! I bought it from Twocan a while back, and while it's an incredible bass, it's just not my thing. But then, I go through basses like.....

good luck selling it - it looks like new!

 

[SirMjac28]

good luck selling it - it looks like new!

+1 That's a looker.

 

[JIO]

I regularly (improv) jam w/a group of seasoned players and it's been my proving ground for putting a bass through it's paces. We try to keep the volume reasonable but sometime it gets loud. Either way (and last night was no exception) the Jazz Bass Plus handled all needs. What I feel is the instruments strong points are; ease of playing, and a big but understated presence when the volume level is low. It neither overpowers or struggles to be in the mix - in fact it inspires subtle playing. No matter how minimal my articulation, it sat respectfully with the other players input and everyones 'voice' was heard. In fact we commented that the nights mix provided a more choral than combative collaboration - which is always the goal w/jointly enjoyable improv playing. But when it got loud, it had the authority to not get pushed around or buried. My ideal home setting were immediately out the window but with the on-board controls alone I dialed it to provide any flavor I needed. I have other basses strung w/flats and this one has round-wounds so the creamy tone those strings provide wasn't available. Someday I'll have to try a set on it to experience the difference. My new faves are the La Bella 760FS SS flats. I'm hesitant to do that because I like having the chime/ring of the rounds - and also then I'll want another Jazz Bass Plus for each option!

 

[SirMjac28]

I regularly (improv) jam w/a group of seasoned players and it's been my proving ground for putting a bass through it's paces. We try to keep the volume reasonable but sometime it gets loud. Either way (and last night was no exception) the Plus Deluxe handled all needs. What I feel is the instruments strong points are; ease of playing, and a big but understated presence when the volume level is low. It neither overpowers or struggles to be in the mix - in fact it inspires subtle playing. No matter how minimal my articulation, it sat respectfully with the other players input and everyones 'voice' was heard. In fact we commented that the nights mix provided a more choral than combative collaboration - which is always the goal w/jointly enjoyable improv playing. But when it got loud, it had the authority to not get pushed around or buried. My ideal home setting were immediately out the window but with the on-board controls alone I dialed it to provide any flavor I needed. I have other basses strung w/flats and this one has round-wounds so the creamy tone those strings provide wasn't available. Someday I'll have to try a set on it to experience the difference. My new faves are the La Bella 760FS SS flats. I'm hesitant to do that because I like having the chime/ring of the rounds - and also then I'll want another Plus Deluxe J for each option!

Very nice review I have everything from rounds to quarter rounds to flats on my basses I'm also curious about how the bass will sound with flats it's currently strung with EB Slinky's and I love the aggressive bite the tone has I'll probably just buy another jazz for a more traditional mellow sound.

 

[schwartzbass]

I just bought the blue 5 string that was on ebay. your reviews
really influenced me on that . I'm not really a 5 player but i really wanted a blue one and didn't want to wait looking for one.

 

[JIO]

I just bought the blue 5 string that was on ebay. your reviews
really influenced me on that . I'm not really a 5 player but i really wanted a blue one and didn't want to wait looking for one.

Excellent! I can't imagine it being anything short of fantastic! I always thought the 5 string Key Factors that Phil Kubicki made would be awesome 5'rs because of that preamp! Yours probably will have a really fat but tight/articulate B string - you'll be hooked instantly. Please post pics and your initial impression of it once it arrives.

 

[JIO]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1992-USA-Fe...C-/301072723874?pt=Guitar&hash=item4619552fa2

Another Precision Plus Deluxe V on ebay -"NOS" from 1992 ... and w/a hefty price.
From the auction;

I'M AMAZED THIS BASS HAS NOT SOLD! ??????? IT'S LIKE FINDING A BRAND NEW 1959 LES PAUL IN 1980.

I love these basses, but this is a bit of a stretch... ... and mjac28 and I both proved that buying one recently in like-new/mint condition for nearly half what he's asking appears to be the current market value. (nice pics too!?!)

 

[Twocanbassman]

That's my Jazz Plus, if anybody is interested! I bought it from Twocan a while back, and while it's an incredible bass, it's just not my thing. But then, I go through basses like.....

Gary, say it ain't so!!!

 

[SirMjac28]

I just bought the blue 5 string that was on ebay. your reviews
really influenced me on that . I'm not really a 5 player but i really wanted a blue one and didn't want to wait looking for one.

Very cool congrats.

 

[GaryLC]

Gary, say it ain't so!!!

 

[JIO]

we'll keep you up to date w/future available +D's.

 

[SirMjac28]

I'm thinking about snagging another one as a back up.

 

[JIO]

You know how it's not until you own a pair of red sneakers before you start seeing red sneakers everywhere? Well, now that I'm focused on these fine basses I start realizing I have related copy on them. As with this from American Basses by Jim Roberts 2003;

The Deluxe basses were a creative response to the problems created by the companies legacy. "We're like an actor who's been typecast," explained Dan Smith, who became head of Fender R&D after leading the bass-redesign project. "Our products were the tools that the pioneers of pop and rock and country music used, and we became known for that. That's wonderful, because it has given us products that will endure regardless of the fashion trends in music. But when we want to go outside of that, to come up with something new, it can be extremely difficult."

Dan Smith (and George Blanda) at that time (90's) were pushing against the rising tide of Fender legacy retro-rehash with their attempts at innovation. I mean, Fender can make a P & a J all day every day and sell them, but meanwhile many non-corporate bass-design innovators were free to create new and refined options. Even still, it's funny that even now there are so many "boutique" basses that are slavishly Fender or Gibson clones. The need to conform and the lust for the past seems to always crush a fresh take on something.

 

[SirMjac28]

You know how it's not until you own a pair of red sneakers before you start seeing red sneakers everywhere? Well, now that I'm focused on these fine basses I start realizing I have related copy on them. As with this from American Basses by Jim Roberts 2003;

The Deluxe basses were a creative response to the problems created by the companies legacy. "We're like an actor who's been typecast," explained Dan Smith, who became head of Fender R&D after leading the bass-redesign project. "Our products were the tools that the pioneers of pop and rock and country music used, and we became known for that. That's wonderful, because it has given us products that will endure regardless of the fashion trends in music. But when we want to go outside of that, to come up with something new, it can be extremely difficult."

Dan Smith (and George Blanda) at that time (90's) were pushing against the rising tide of Fender legacy retro-rehash with their attempts at innovation. I mean, Fender can make a P & a J all day every day and sell them, but meanwhile many non-corporate bass-design innovators were free to create new and refined options. Even still, it's funny that even now there are so many "boutique" basses that are slavishly Fender or Gibson clones. The need to conform and the lust for the past seems to always crush a fresh take on something.

Very cool info.

 

[JIO]

Very cool info.

For whatever reason, I've been drawn to this 80-90's transition period of Fender basses. I didn't even own a Fender bass until '06 and lived and played through those years using my '64 Gibson Thunderbird and '86 Kubicki Factor. But once I started playing them and focusing on the legacy of Fender, it was like reading a biography. (some of my favorite reading) It's the story of a company born of humble beginnings that became the standard in the industry. It's the story of where business and the emotional bond one achieves playing "their" Fender bass meets. So that transition period is the story of progress vs tradition, of the marketing of "brand" and the struggle those designers had attempting change.

Let's look specifically at the Plus/Plus Deluxe series - to the casual eye it looks like a Fender bass. The designers job was; update it (Fender bass), but don't lose it (it being "a Fender bass") As I noted earlier, the Performer bass (85-86) was a leap in Fender bass/guitar design, and it's short-lived production was the result. To be fair, other factors were at play (transition from CBS) but it seems it was just too radical a design for the established Fender-traditionalist. It is worth noting that the only book that mentions the Performer bass out of all the books I have on Fender basses is The Fender Bass by Klaus Blasquiz. 1990. Kudo's to Klaus on this one, as he has a pic of the original blueprint/schematic, and pics of Performer prototypes. Also included is the same year(s) Katana, which diverges from traditional Fender design as much as it could. It seems odd to me that these potentially game-changing/evolving Fender designs are swept under the carpet even to this day.

So here we go with what was needed in this period and what they accomplished: Fender basses had 20 fret necks. (the radical Performer had 24) But even before there was 21, there were 22 fret necks. (American Standard "Boner"J & P/J, Jazz Bass Plus & Precision Plus Deluxe, and Power Jazz Special") But unlike the eventual overhang 21 fret boards, these were longer necks. Longer necks on a standard 20 fret body = neck-dive/player position stretch. First design problem. So for the Plus Deluxe, a smaller body. (approx) 5% smaller overall, like it was done on a copier. The horns were a bit more tapered as well. Good- that all works - still looks like a Fender bass, as compared to the boner, which is a squat long-horn "version" of a Fender bass. (don't get me wrong - love the boner!) Next was the overall design gestalt - so the headstock also shrank to not look odd w/the smaller body. Good - and lets put on the Deluxe Schaller tuners that we had on the earlier 80's Plus basses. Nice! (if a little oversized looking on the smaller hs) How about a bridge upgrade? (can you say HM?) good- good, now lets lose the pg as that's so traditional Fender bass- we want a modern look and besides, no pg means one less thing to design and produce! (excellent sez' the Fender bean-counters!) And last but not least, we need an active bass that is totally up to date. Fender had used a few ok active preamps, but w/Phil Kubicki now under contract - what better pre can we offer? Our contract w/him won't allow using his proprietary Factor pu's, so we'll couple his 9v (one less battery/one less tone click) pre w/the latest in "quiet" pu's. (Lace Sensor) And regarding these pu's, since there are no poles they spec'd both n&b as the same size, so more cost savings. Unfortunately though, the downsizing led to the need of creating a size specific case, but these were used in the later Deluxe series as well. Throw in cool paint schemes gleaned from Phils Factor closet... and SCORE! - we have a winner! Other more minor details included a flatter neck profile (more modern) a nicely inset jack on the body side (ala Factor) and a elongated more modern JAZZ BASS hs decal.

All 'bases' were covered, design problems met, and a "new" modern Fender bass emerged. A textbook example really.

 

[SirMjac28]

I'm right with you this period of Fender has had me interested for some time now I also have a Cow Poke bass that really is a killer instrument. I have a list of some of the basses I'm interested in.






1988 Fender Jazz Bass Special

1991 Fender Prodigy

1992 Precision Bass Lyte Deluxe