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Fender poll. Part 3.

What would it take to get you to buy a new Fender bass?

  • Lower prices.

    Votes: 198 25.2%

  • More color options.

    Votes: 69 8.8%

  • New and completley different models.

    Votes: 75 9.6%

  • Go back to making them exactly like they did in 1959.

    Votes: 61 7.8%

  • More local availability so I can try them out.

    Votes: 42 5.4%

  • Being able to order direct from Fender with any options I want

    Votes: 59 7.5%

  • Nothing would make me buy a new Fender.

    Votes: 144 18.3%

  • Something else. Please elaborate.

    Votes: 94 12.0%

  • Better Quality Control

    Votes: 43 5.5%
  • Total voters
    785
#181
two fingers said:
Answer the question and discuss however you wish.

I am unable to edit the poll anymore for some reasons. The choice ending in "ip" is supposed to be "Being able to order direct from Fender with any options I want."

Check out these two as well please.

For me it would be "Something else". Bring back the Roscoe Beck 5.

OK let's do this. Fender poll. Part 1

Fender poll. Part 2
Click to expand...

I know most will scoff at this but I would exclusively play fenders if I could get a 24 fret. I typically use one bass 99% of the time and some of that requires me to solo. As a soloist I prefer a two octave neck. Fender has only made two models with two octave necks. One of them is that cheap Korean model which doesn’t sound like a Fender to me. The other is the Steve Bailey six string model. I’ve owned both and still have the Steve Bailey. I just don’t like 6 string basses. So I got Performance YB 5/24 and it’s super awesome. I’d just prefer a Fender. To me there’s nothing like them.
 
#182
Thumb n Fingers said:
Per the other 2 polls, I have purchased new (MIA) Fenders, 3 in total, in the last 5 years. I'm really interested in a 6 string bass next, but I just don't see Fender branching out much into that realm.

Color has never really been a deal breaker for me. Comfort/playability and tone is all that really matter to me. I don't really feel like Fender is out of line with pricing, either, but I'm sure that many will argue the opposite. I think it's a matter of what you bond with and what you are willing to spend. I spent 30 years unable to find a Fender I liked, and now I have 3 that I love to play over anything else I've recently had my hands on. YMMV for sure.
Click to expand...
You know they made a 6 string for a year. You could probably find one used. It’s discontinued now.
 
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#183
My first bass was a used Musicmaster and my main bass for the last decade or so my main bass has been a P-Bass Deluxe. I bought both used. Thing is, I don't mind buying a used instrument if it feels right. That being said, I guess if I found a new Fender that felt right and had the right price, I would probably get it... I did get a new MIM Telecaster guitar once :D.
 
#189
I am so trying to talk myself out of buying a new Fender Justin Meldal-Johnsen Mustang when the black ones finally come out and I get past the horrible Christmas-multiple birthday whammy coming up. But the BL in my new band has an American Performer Mustang that he just recently got, and it crushes! Even with the added Jazz bridge pickup, it crushes :D And even though I could totally go for a model like his, it doesn't come in black while the JMJ is about to come out in black, and it'll be strictly flatwounds so I won't need a bridge pickup (I hate adding the bridge pickup on flatwound basses).

But what I think will ultimately stop me is being deliriously happy with my 09 AmStd P with a Geezer and Hipshot Xtender and having several other basses I could use, too. I have 10 basses now, which is a stupid amount considering that I only like to bring one to gigs, and I do it under protest :D
 
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#190
Go back to making them exactly like they did in the old days. Not 1959 specifically, though. I like all the years with lacquer finishes, because they break in so beautifully over the years. And 7 1/4" radius with skinny frets is a MAJOR selling point to me.

The American Vintage line (late 2012 through 2017) was close enough for me. That's why I have collected 7 of them between basses and guitars. I doubt they'll get that close again at that price point. Almost all the specs I want (using the correct fiberboard dot material would have been the main thing to have done differently on them), and the best finishes they've ever sprayed on their standard line reissues.

"More color options" is a second choice, though. Just this year I have bought two Mustang Basses based on color alone, and I am about to buy a third for the same reason.
 
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#191
two fingers said:
Answer the question and discuss however you wish.

I am unable to edit the poll anymore for some reasons. The choice ending in "ip" is supposed to be "Being able to order direct from Fender with any options I want."

Check out these two as well please.

For me it would be "Something else". Bring back the Roscoe Beck 5.

OK let's do this. Fender poll. Part 1

Fender poll. Part 2
Click to expand...

Let's hear it for that Roscoe Beck V!!!
 
#195
I've got limited experience with Fenders so my vote only means a little, but I voted for more color options.
I do like a lot of their instruments/models. And no one can deny they're a classic brand with classic models and sounds. But they really limit you on color options. It's why my eyebrow shot up when the Player Series was introduced and I saw some cool color options.
If they made more color options available by default, I think my interest level would increase a bit.

I WOULD be very interested in seeing some new models/body shapes/pickup configs/etc from Fender, though. As much as we can all appreciate the models that made Fender a "household name", I think introducing new models from time to time would drive their sales.
 
#198
Fender's 2 main bass bodies, the P and J are fine. More sculpting of the cutaways around the neck would be nice. But more pickup options on them would be something that might intrigue me - say a MM and reversed P on a J
 
#200
My traditional boring answer to this question is that I would only buy new from Fender when I can get an unlined fretless. Even a Squier would be adequate for my needs, but it would have to have a blank fingerboard and side dots on the fret positions.
 

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