Fender Purists Probably Won't Like This Idea

[Pings Bass]

Leo's designs were the epitome of post-war modernist design: minimal ornamentation, with form following function. Sleek lines, with a combination of traditional and synthetic materials and shapes. Dramatic color choices. And mass production to make it all affordable to working people.

If you want something that doesn't look like a fender, don't buy a fender. But obviously there's still a huge market for what many see as the pinnacle of mid-century design, so they're wise to keep cranking out the Ps, J's, strats and teles.

(I'm not a fender purist; i just appreciate good design.)

 

[kmon]

How would you feel if Fender went about making a modern looking bass instead of thier traditional body styles, and headstocks. Think something along the lines of their MB4/MB5 design, but with: slight body/headstock modifications, active electronics, quality wood, quality pickups, and hardware. Basically a higher end MIA Model. View attachment 4376640

I'd experience a complete lack of interest. If I want a "modern" bike I'm not gonna buy a Harley. If I want a "modern" bass I'm not gonna buy a Fender. There are dozens of alternatives in either case if I want something modern.

Fender and Harley are iconic brands that sell classic, wildly successful designs. Why change?

Fender gets raked over the coals here regularly re: innovation...honestly I'm not entirely clear on what innovation Fender is missing out on. Have there been a bunch of technological breakthroughs in basses that have left Fender in the dust? Do fanned frets or a pre-amp or a somewhat different body shape somehow position an instrument light years ahead of a traditional Fender? It seems like the innovation has happened outside of the instruments themselves, and there's been plenty of it. Have basses fundamentally changed that much?

 

[Moon Fetus]

Ok, so you got the title down, now you just need to make a thumbnail where you're making a craaaazy shocked face for the YouTube thumbnail...

 

[coy garcia]

I think it's been done many times. 90's fender cowpoke for instance.

 

[BazzaBass]

Why change old technology that still sells amazingly well?

Fender is the Harley Davidson of bass guitars. They build what their customers will buy.

And other manufacturers copy them and they also make money

 

[2cooltoolz]

(I wish I had it back )

 

[Jazzkuma]

Only reason I dont like that idea is because I dont feel anyone needs that. There are lots of great brands already covering the niche and I think it would probably do more bad than good to Fender as a company having to put another model into production.

I wont complain if they do it, id even get that bass. But I dont think there is enough demand for that.

 

[2cooltoolz]

But Fender comes out with stuff that differs from their core/historic/venerable/traditional line a lot more than Ric or Harley ever would.

Harley Electric:

Don't get me wrong. I like Harley Harleys, and Fender Fenders:

 

[N4860]

I'd say Rickenbacker is closer to that, not that I think your sentiment is wrong. But Fender comes out with stuff that differs from their core/historic/venerable/traditional line a lot more than Ric or Harley ever would.

I think the sentiment of that post you responded too is more to the fact of the iconic brand of Fender and Harley Davidson and how they keep their successful designs going. Yes, Ric's have been pretty consisten in their design over the year, they can't compareto the volume of sales fender experiences.

 

[cassanova]

It’s been done several times over the years.

You see where those non-FSO basses are now….

I know, but I don't think they marketed it right, back in the 90's.

Why change old technology that still sells amazingly well?

Fender is the Harley Davidson of bass guitars. They build what their customers will buy.

Why not try and market something entirely for the more modern player? We know the purists aren't ever going to buy them, but if they market them specifically to the modern player, and get some endorsing artists from some of those genres, it could be a good thing overall.

 

[Samatza]

Fender has catered for the largest market demographic, that’s solid business.

How much do you tool up for the smaller market niches? Is it worth it?

The P bass and J bass here survived for decades and will probably continue to do so.

Lots of designs have come and gone but the classics are still here today, largely unchanged, that says something about customer demand.

When we asked for more portable gear we got class D, Neo speaker, lighter cabs and Rumbles which have been very popular.

Now there is a lot of talk about tube amps but it’s just talk, I can’t see many lugging those heavy, high maintenance amps gig to gig.

 

[Paul New]

Because the B words would lose their ever loving minds. And a B word tantrum is ugly.


(Apparently I'm not allowed to call them Boomers by name. They get offended.)

Right, because 70 million people all share the same opinion about bass design.

 

[Chrisk-K]

The P and the J have been and will continue to be the best selling basses. Fender will remain the number one bass company with only the two models.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

How would you feel if Fender went about making a modern looking bass instead of thier traditional body styles, and headstocks. Think something along the lines of their MB4/MB5 design, but with: slight body/headstock modifications, active electronics, quality wood, quality pickups, and hardware. Basically a higher end MIA Model. View attachment 4376640

Like an Aerodyne?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

The P and the J have been and will continue to be the best selling basses. Fender will remain the number one bass company with only the two models.

They have an arsenal of products. They've put out at least one model of everything. They just don't do half as good as the original 2. So, why dump profits into items that don’t last? Make it, run it, pull it down. Continue strong with minor improvements/changes on the ones that do. Keep making short runs of new inventive ones. It's worked for them for decades. It's going to continue like that for decades more.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Fender needs an offshoot brand name. Something free from the Fender baggage where they can build modern stuff. Smaller headstocks, light weight hardware slimmer bodies. But not with Fender on the name or anywhere the name.

Sort of like Lexus. Made by Toyota but without the Toyota name.

Yup. They should call it "Jackson"

I think it could be pretty big.

 

[Cookies0nDowels]

What is “modern” looking anyway? Seems like a pretty subjective criteria.

80's colours, hair metal style basses with black hardware, apparently....

 

[Mastermold]

80's colours, hair metal style basses with black hardware, apparently....

Hahahaha!

 

[juggahnaught]

How is this already on the front page? What the hell?

This will reach 15 pages in two days, and nothing new will have been said.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Why not try and market something entirely for the more modern player?

Why do it? If someone wants a modern instrument, what would be the benefit to them of having it built by a company with the long traditions? Why do people get worried that not all companies are attempting everything? Do they get annoyed that their guitarists can't play the drums?