Fender poll. Part 3.

[CallMeAl]

I wouldn’t say “never,” but it’s highly unlikely. i buy most of my stuff used; if I can find a used Squier or MIM easily in my area, that does the same job, why pay more for new?

but a J neck P bass, or a J with stock split coils would certainly get my attention

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

If they could make bursts and tort like this I would be one happy camper.

If they could make Jazz Basses sound like this video it would be great. If I could get a brand new jazz bass with the burst and tort of the pic above with the sound below, Fender would have a huge profit imo.

 

[magyk8ball]

Beef up the mod shop, eliminate the standard models & have dealers order the specs they want for those standard and dealer spec orders.
Its hard to keep up on models when there are so many different names.
Id rather pick what i want, call it a jazz or a precision, and not worry about it its ‘elite’, ‘professional’, ‘standard’, ‘original 50s/60s’, etc.

 

[eldorado2001]

Bought a new one a year ago, I'm completely happy with it.

 

[Nedmundo]

I love my 2003 Jazz and have owned several other Fender basses, but I've switched over to G&L and haven't bought a new Fender in almost 12 years. What would it take for me to consider going back?

1. Plek-levelled frets, at least on the USA models. My G&Ls get lower action with no buzz, which I think is mostly due to their use of Plek machines.

2. Flatter fretboards. I've developed a strong preference for fretboards with at least a 12" radius. The compound radius boards on the American Elite instruments are cool, but I won't consider a new Fender with their standard 9.5" radius boards.

3. Yeah, it's been said many times before, but more cool finishes. I do think Fender has offered some more interesting finishes lately though. They seem to be moving in the right direction on this.

4. How about a freakin' J neck on a regular MIA P-bass? No, I don't want a P/J, nor do I want a preamp. I don't think I'm alone here.

All of the above are available from G&L.

 

[City]

the standard pbass but active

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

ultra-lightweight (under 6lbs) versions of their classic models might turn my head. A headless version would also make me look, though that would probably be a terrible idea from a business standpoint.

 

[TonyP-]

Nothing I can think of in any kind of reasonable reality would I buy a new Fender.

Another Leo creation, why yes G&L buy not Fender.

 

[Nedmundo]

So a smaller size, curved body Fender J bass with active electronics would be nice - but others brands are already making those (unless Fender has a model like this I'm not aware of?).

One generation of the American Deluxe line was exactly like this--downsized bodies with active electronics. I had a 1999 Precision from that generation, and it weighed about 7.5 pounds. I don't know when this generation started, but I think the last year was around 2009. The last few years had the S-1 switch. They were very nicely built.

Here's one: Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass 2002 with Case

 

[S-Bigbottom]

So many make better Fenders than Fender that there is no reason to get a Fender.

IN MY OPINION.

 

[Kro]

I already have one, I like it a lot, and don't need two. But if mine were to get stolen, what would I want in a new Fender?

I want it to look and sound like an old Fender, but I'm all for any modern updates that don't mess with the look or the tone (things that relate to noise floor, instrument weight, tuning stability, etc.).

Edit: In thinking about this more, I voted "something else":

What would it take for me to buy a new Fender? My current Fender being stolen or destroyed.

 

[2112]

I suppose I'd buy a MIA Geddy Lee Jazz that looks like his sea-foam green beaut (even in spite of the tort) if Fender were to make it available.

 

[neddyrow]

i agree with a better custom build program with more options. you can't even get blocks and bindings.

i personally like thicker necks and can't play a 1.5" jazz neck very well. i buy my necks through Musikraft to get the 1.0x1.0 baseball neck option.

i know not everybody wants that but, more neck and body options would be nice. they could have their own warmoth-like parts shop and do custom necks and bodies along with pick-ups, tuners, bridges, knobs, etc.

i'm sure someone could explain why it's not viable for them but you asked what would get be to buy a new fender

 

[DrMole]

If you think Fender's are overpriced, go look at a Gibson or PRS.

A PRS and Fender are totally different animals. Even a Les Paul is far more difficult to build than a Strat that can be cut out of a slab with a hand coping saw.

That is, of course part if the simplistic brilliance of the Strat design. It continues to inspire other manufacturers but yet remains popular and generally trouble free for years due to its original design

 

[JoshS]

Nothing.
Have one on order now.

 

[Altitude]

That makes sense. I'm about 80lbs lighter and a few inches shorter.
Does Fender still make this model?

No, but Sadowsky does. Their standard body is downsized much like the Fenders from that period. Nino Valenti's bodies are, also. Lakland Darryl Jones, even more so.

I'm with you on the J body feeling too big and I'm also not a large guy.

 

[Relayer71]

No, but Sadowsky does. Their standard body is downsized much like the Fenders from that period. Nino Valenti's bodies are, also. Lakland Darryl Jones, even more so.

I'm with you on the J body feeling too big and I'm also not a large guy.

I'm aware, that's why I said this in my original reply: "So a smaller size, curved body Fender J bass with active electronics would be nice - but others brands are already making those."

 

[megarat]

My elaboration on "Something Else": I've always loved the classic tone of the P bass, and I still have an itch about getting one someday, perhaps new from Fender. But I have enough other (non-Fender) basses that I love to play that I can't justify pulling the trigger.

Complicating this is the fact that one of my basses is a G&L L-2000, which I regard as a Fender in spirit, and can emulate a P or J bass sound respectably well (IMHO).

 

[Chasarms]

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?

Your comments may be a more detailed version of what I heard. When I read "deal breakdown," 99 percent of the time, it's about the money.

In any case, it is sad that my favorite two Fenders of all time, the RBV and ADPV, fell out of production far too soon.

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

I won't buy a bass that has fewer than 21 frets. I fully realize that a few models over the years have had 21 or more frets, but they are the exception not the rule.

I've had this guy for 29 years and hope to get 29 more.
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