What I really meant was that this is probably the closest equivalent to Strats in four-string form. I would say that this is to the Strat what the single-coil Precision Bass is to the Telecaster.
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Fender Rascal Bass....in Production??
- Thread starter birdman14
- Start date
What I really meant was that this is probably the closest equivalent to Strats in four-string form. I would say that this is to the Strat what the single-coil Precision Bass is to the Telecaster.
Why not Stratobass ? It wouldn't be the first time an instrument's name has been changed midstream, e.g. broadcaster=telecaster, Deluxe Bass = Jazz Bass, Icon = Ignition, Les Paul = SG. Seems to make the most sense to me ! Also, short scales have broken out of the toy / beginner bass myth, Fender could change the cutesy short scale name tradition as well. Perhaps it would imply "credibility" to the image crafter types.
Why not BassIV, considering it's essentially a BassVI in shape?
No...I like rascal just fine, it suits the 'spirit' of the bass.
No...I like rascal just fine, it suits the 'spirit' of the bass.
Here's the Fender press release about the Rascal bass and some other limited edition offerings.
Originally created in the Fender Custom Shop by Master Builder Jason Smith, the Rascal Bass joins the Fender lineup as a sleek short-scale Classic Player model loaded with distinctive features and personality. With its ’60s-era Bass VI body, three Seymour Duncan® lipstick Stratocaster pickups, 30” scale and gorgeous gloss Ocean Turquoise finish with matching Coronado-style headstock, there’s no other Fender bass like the Rascal. Other premium features include a flat-sawn maple neck with a comfortable “C”-shaped profile, 9.5”-radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets and special inlay scheme (bass-side dot markers from 3rd to 9th frets, double dots at 12th fret, treble-side dot markers from 15th to 21st frets), vintage-style heel-end truss rod adjustment, white pearloid pickguard, five-way pickup switch with chrome “barrel” tip, push-pull master volume control that delivers seven pickup configurations, master tone control, distinctive bridge with four adjustable steel “barrel” saddles, vintage-style tuners and more.
Originally created in the Fender Custom Shop by Master Builder Jason Smith, the Rascal Bass joins the Fender lineup as a sleek short-scale Classic Player model loaded with distinctive features and personality. With its ’60s-era Bass VI body, three Seymour Duncan® lipstick Stratocaster pickups, 30” scale and gorgeous gloss Ocean Turquoise finish with matching Coronado-style headstock, there’s no other Fender bass like the Rascal. Other premium features include a flat-sawn maple neck with a comfortable “C”-shaped profile, 9.5”-radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets and special inlay scheme (bass-side dot markers from 3rd to 9th frets, double dots at 12th fret, treble-side dot markers from 15th to 21st frets), vintage-style heel-end truss rod adjustment, white pearloid pickguard, five-way pickup switch with chrome “barrel” tip, push-pull master volume control that delivers seven pickup configurations, master tone control, distinctive bridge with four adjustable steel “barrel” saddles, vintage-style tuners and more.
Attachments
I pointed this out in the other thread on this and thought it was pretty funny.
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- Alder body with beautiful ocean turquoise finish
- Supple and slender maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium frets
- Three vintage lipstick single-coil pickups
- Beautiful vintage detailing with modern appointments
- Designed by Master Builder Jason Smith
Nice demo, thanks! I've enjoyed a number of demos from you guys. I was in Brighton last year with my wife for a day and barely missed a chance to check out the store in person, the doors were being locked up when we walked by.
Ordered one earlier today, $679 shipped. I absolutely love the looks and specs, something fresh from Fender. Basically a hardtail VI minus two strings. The switching is cool too with the standard Strat 5-way plus a push/pull that activates additional bridge + neck and all 3 pickup configurations.
Only downside imo is the gig bag and the fact that a Bass VI hardcase is around $200.
Only downside imo is the gig bag and the fact that a Bass VI hardcase is around $200.
I think this bass might be my soulmate hahah.
I love the look. I've wanted a fender for a while but have never been on board with the standard color choices. The ocean tourquoise looks beautiful to me, and I love that type of color with the matching headstock and pearl guard.
Love the looks and tone of the lipstick pickups, I'm a strat guy and this is pretty close to what I like in my setup. Love shortscale basses and want to add more to my collection. I'm a big fan of having the switching options between the three pickups.
Love the heavy and wonky looking bridge, it brings a new look into the playing field. The layout for the fretboard dots doesn't make much sense to me, but I find it aesthetically pleasing.
Overall, I think this bass is perfect for me, and that price is really good. I just find it weird that the perfect bass for me might end up being a Fender
-Ron
I love the look. I've wanted a fender for a while but have never been on board with the standard color choices. The ocean tourquoise looks beautiful to me, and I love that type of color with the matching headstock and pearl guard.
Love the looks and tone of the lipstick pickups, I'm a strat guy and this is pretty close to what I like in my setup. Love shortscale basses and want to add more to my collection. I'm a big fan of having the switching options between the three pickups.
Love the heavy and wonky looking bridge, it brings a new look into the playing field. The layout for the fretboard dots doesn't make much sense to me, but I find it aesthetically pleasing.
Overall, I think this bass is perfect for me, and that price is really good. I just find it weird that the perfect bass for me might end up being a Fender
-Ron
Wow, I really like the looks of this! My only question now is...when do we get the Squier version? As soon as that happens, I'll be an owner! 
Okay, thanks. - There seems, however, to have been a limited run in 2012 that looked like this:
That bridge was also used on some of the JSII and I think the M85 basses.
i think this bass is super cool much like the other frankenstein builds like Fano. i too saw the NAMM debut of this before it went into MIM production and loved it ever since. this bass is a coronado headstock, jazzmaster 62 pickguard, starfire bridge, stratocaster toggle, dano/kay style lipstick pickups, bass vi body. plus short-scale, matching headstock, offset inlays. with every pickup configuration possible this bass is extremely versatile. what's not to like? i only wish they made a MIA version for a generally better neck feel, wood quality, and construction. maybe it'll will be such a hit they'll make an MIA someday, but probably not.
I can't see this bass being too big a hit. You have to remember that there are a lot of people who will only consider a Fender if it's a p or j, or if it's as close as possible to those two models. I think that this one will go the way of the Big Block Precision Bass in the sense that it will be an awesome sounding instrument, play great and has bold looks with awesome curves, but since it's not what people expect from Fender, it will have a production run of a few years and be scrapped for another carbon copy J or P.
I think it will be a big hit in the right circles, like the jazzmaster is in surf and grunge. But I don't think it will draw enough of a following to really stick around for a long time. That's why I am saddened, I can't wait to play one, but I can't currently afford one; I'm between jobs right now and cash is tight. As I said in an earlier post in this thread, I think this bass is perfect for me and I would really like to own one as my first "real" Fender bass.
I think it looks really nice. Keen to try the Classic Player model and may purchase. It'll be a nice instrument for an Everley's theatre tour I'm doing at the moment. Short scale will give me nice soft action, too.
I'm with you, Ronbeast. They choose J or P as they generally should. I would even advise you do the same but you know what? This is a very versatile cool bass and I hope you're able to get one someday my friend. Perhaps by that time they'll be on the used market for sub $500.
Sad, ain't it. Is there any other musical instrument category where there is only one (in this case two, from the same manufacturer) acceptable choice?
Why?
