Fender poll. Part 3.

[two fingers]

I voted "something else". For me they will need to improve quality control considerably for me to buy another Fender. The last two MIAs I've purchased (AmPro and AO60 P-basses) both had serious issues and should never have left the factory. The Player P-bass I purchased also had issues. And the new Squiers... well, after reading the mixed reviews around here it seems like a lottery so I haven't bothered.

For me Fender hit a peak with the rock solid later version of the American Standards, the AMAZING last decade or so of AVRIs and also the Chinese Squier CVs which were outstanding for their price range. Everything since has been a huge disappointment from top to bottom IMO.

Just wish they were more consistent in quality.
Mean while I am spoiled with a Pedulla, Tobias & Stambaugh.

Good point. That is an opinion that is voiced a lot here. It's been added as a choice.

 

[Wisebass]

If you have a suggestion for a 4th part, I'm open to it.

Here we go: MIA, MIJ, MIM Fenders, each one a poll.

Which parts did you change? Kept it stock, Bridge, tuners, pups, active electronics, carrots

Fender parts replacements: Original or others?

Bad necks (skijump, warped, maxed out trussrod) => which bass MIA, MIJ, MIM needed a replacement?


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

More six string models. I like Fender, but I have to look elsewhere for the poison of my choice. I doubt I'll ever see a six string Fender P bass in my lifetime...

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.

 

[Chasarms]

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

I was told by a friend who owns a small, local store in this area and who USED to be a Fender dealer, that the RBV was discontinued because they could not produce it at a price point that made it profitable.

With today's Fender pricing, I would imagine that if they produced an RBV of the same quality as the instruments of the late 90s, it would be costly. At the time, the RBV retailed for quite a bit more than the top of the line jazz. That would put it well over $2k today. While I think the RBV is an all-time great, I am unsure that it would be a success at that price point.

I LOVE the RBV, but I don't think I would pay that for it .

 

[pie_man_25]

I've already got two fenders and neither were bought new. Not paying new prices for a fender. Though oddly enough, a few squier bullet strats have caught my eye, and that was stacked up against all the other strats on the wall

 

[Vinny_G]

Definitely more color options. I always thought it was one of the highlights of the brand and I think Fender's offer, with a few exceptions, has been too shy lately.

 

[CATFISHMcC0Y]

I chose something else. I recently was in the market for a new precision and i actually did want to get a fender. After trying the american professional, the american original, and the american elite, I couldn’t find a neck profile my hands liked. I will say the elite probably felt the best.

I ended up with a skyline from lakland cause it was on sale and the neck was that perfect compromise between j and p profiles.

So the big thing was finding the neck i liked, and while i probably could have found a jazz neck i liked from fender it wouldn’t be worth the money to buy two basses to make some frankenstein. so money is part of it also

 

[B-Lo]

I'd buy one right now if their "mod shop" was a true mod shop where I could configure exactly what I wanted.

 

[two fingers]

I was told by a friend who owns a small, local store in this area and who USED to be a Fender dealer, that the RBV was discontinued because they could not produce it at a price point that made it profitable.

With today's Fender pricing, I would imagine that if they produced an RBV of the same quality as the instruments of the late 90s, it would be costly. At the time, the RBV retailed for quite a bit more than the top of the line jazz. That would put it well over $2k today. While I think the RBV is an all-time great, I am unsure that it would be a success at that price point.

I LOVE the RBV, but I don't think I would pay that for it .

I used to own one. I actually called Bill Lawrence about making me come pickup identical to the ones in the RBV for another bass. According to him (which makes this rumor and not fact) it was a deal breakdown between Fender, Roscoe, and Gotoh over the bridge for the 5 (which is why the 4 was made longer than the 5 was). Bill was very upset about it. He said "Fender did Roscoe wrong in that deal".... whatever that means.

But out of loyalty to Roscoe, Bill said he would never make those pickups again.

All of this is second hand information to me and third hand to you. So, who knows?

 

[Rib 13]

I think Fender needs to gear up to the future of guitar entering niche market..... close down all imports and adopt a new CNC and Automation strategy of domestic/USA instruments at all price points ( the 1980 model + automation)....the money they would save from the importing process can be applied to it.....it's not that imports are bad, that demand really doesn't exist anymore to have that type of volume...imo of course

 

[Pings Bass]

I voted something else, and I think that something is consistency. I'd consider a 70s jazz, but they keep changing up the offerings.

If I ran Fender, I'd produce consistent lines of vintage copies, and quit changing up the marketing around them (70s, Classic Vibe, Reissue, Vintera, yada yada). Also all the variability on the same models. Just give me: one low-end Asian Squier, one mid-range Mexican Fender and one high-end US Fender. This for the classic models.

For more modern offerings, I don't care, I've moved on, but have fun with humbuckers and active electronics. Go wild!

 

[MMiller28]

It would take an American- or Japanese-made active PJ on a Jazz body. I do have an American Standard Precision and a Jazz, both of which I am very happy with.

 

[garp]

I'd buy one right now if their "mod shop" was a true mod shop where I could configure exactly what I wanted.

+1. I'm willing to pay Mod Shop pricing, but not Custom Shop pricing. The ability to order direct remains essential, as my local authorized dealer – a mom & pop – closed up earlier this year.

 

[arbiterusa]

I don't really use them - I've got a VM Squier Jazz if someone absolutely insists on it - but the biggie for me is simple. I don't like them.

 

[80jazz]

Probably #1 and #6. The options G&L have are much more vast and at a similar price point.

Then again, I may have a new Vintera P for Christmas...

 

[LoTone]

I believe that Fender USA's website offers custom shop options. I live in Canada, a third world country according to Fender, so I do not have access to those options. Slightly peeved about that...

 

[Gougedeye]

Personally, I like Fender basses and have owned many. I order them when I see one that fits a need or strikes my fancy. That being said, I answered I'd like more color options on the poll. And I guess, if I'm being honest, I'd like to see Fender offer a 5 string Precision similar to the American Deluxes from 2003-2006 or so. I dig those. I really like the American Elites. If I had never discovered TalkBass or the internet, a Fender American Deluxe Jazz V would completely satisfy my needs.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

No option for "They are fine as they are. I need no incentives.", so I didn't vote.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

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

I am one of the 2 (so far) who voted “Better QC”. I bought a brand new 60s J and didn’t really notice, until I got it home and started playing it extensively, that some of the fret ends were either “sprouting”, sharp or both. I understand that fret sprouting is common with temp/climate change. Maybe I’m being too fussy.

 

[Pizza1988]

I own 1. MIA Deluxe P bass PJ

If they took the neck and body of a P bass and put the Jazz pickups and electronics in it, they'd probably have my money.. again.. lol