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Fender Reverse Jaguar

#181
I get it now. It's a polarizing design (knew that) but never realized how it made some folks feel. The same way I look at Warlock-shaped devil basses or the Warwick vampire thing or the Spector Rex. Certain shapes just don't mesh with me.

I like T-Birds but the few I've handled seemed clunky and unslappable, so my desire ended there. The Mom&Pop I frequent sets up EVERY guitar they sell and the Jag played great without me messing with it as much as I usually have to after a bass purchase.

To each their own. That's why we have more than P basses.
 
#182
Immigrant said:
I get it now. It's a polarizing design (knew that) but never realized how it made some folks feel. The same way I look at Warlock-shaped devil basses or the Warwick vampire thing or the Spector Rex. Certain shapes just don't mesh with me.

I like T-Birds but the few I've handled seemed clunky and unslappable, so my desire ended there. The Mom&Pop I frequent sets up EVERY guitar they sell and the Jag played great without me messing with it as much as I usually have to after a bass purchase.

To each their own. That's why we have more than P basses.
Click to expand...

It doesn't just have to be the shape - demon-inspired or not.

But it's sometimes also the artwork of skulls, bats and the whole insignia thing too. Woops, I forgot to mention the creature worship of 'heroes' (eg: musical, sport, Hollywood) that are pasted into that mantra too.

Then there's also that Tony Iommi was pouring pints of his own blood into the paintjobs of his sig-guitars for a while too. I forget the brand, but I thought it was Fender - however I maybe off a few yards on that guess though.

More to the point: I find someone else's blood in a guitar finish that I might want to buy as totally repulsive. The article was in one of GC's booklets - spotlighting him that particular month.

But yeah - I don't even consider the bassackwards Fender as a contender in my choir.

There MAY be a 2%'r market for it though in whole number of bassists, and that will get someone a nice bonus in Fender's Upstairs Offices.
 
#183
SurferJoe46 said:
Hmmmm. Never saw it that way, Cliff.

But you may be right since the revulsion I feel for the T-Bird is the same as for the Backwards Fender. :spit:

I could never love the 'Bird and am not gonna try to take an orphan Fender that is obviously pandering to a whole different genre of player into my hand and try to like it either.

There are T-Bird people and then there are not.
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SJ, it's totally cool that Fender trying something new repulses you. We all have our point of view (likes/dislikes). Then again, Fender is trying something different. For a company to prosper, they need to take chances. They could've easily scoffed at the idea and just continued making 4,000 variants to the P & J bass. In fact, they still are making all of these P & J varieties. So I'm not sure why this bass is getting so much heat. It's not like that crappy "New Coke" analogy, earlier. Coke tried to replace the formula. Fender isn't swapping out the Jazz bass for the reverse Jag; just adding more choices for the consumer. Maybe some folks here like less options to choose from?

Besides, there is a segment of folk who like the T'Bird. I applaud Fender for trying their hand at trying to attract these players.

Yeah, maybe there is less fret access, or it neck dives, but practicality isn't always why a bass is purchased. If practicality was king, thene sports cars would never sell. ;-)
 
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#184
bassgod76 said:
<snippity-snip>
Yeah, maybe there is less fret access, or it neck dives, but practicality isn't always why a bass is purchased. If practicality was king, thene sports cars would never sell. ;-)
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I agree with pushing the design waters out and see what happens, but losing practicality for 'something new' that is just a mashup of old, but existing parts, and with not even considering the correct handedness of them, is just a black eye for them I feel.

I've seen some Franken-basses and I cringe every time at morphing Fender necks onto a Bird body.

'Tain't right, I tell ya!

:hiding:


I think Fender is getting like Sid::

tumblr_lm0x2kIgCE1qce4aco1_500.png
 
#186
Played it on a couple of shows, recorded with it in the studio.
Great bass! Sounds quite unique compared to a P or a old Mustang, but in a positive way.

Two things I can't understand:

1) why people are complaining about the playability in the upper freds. Fiddling around the 15th fred with that kind of bass is quite absurd.

2) why comparing it two a thunderbird. It has nothing in common (and that's a big pro for the bass).
 
#187
Saw one in a CG over the weekend- was way too high on the wall and I didnt have the time to have someone get a ladder to bring it down.
Didnt know what it was but now that I found this thread, I know what I was looking at.
I'm not a big fan of medium and short scale basses in general so I'm glad I didnt bother to have someone bring it down from the wall for me.
 
#188
Last time I was in GC and wanted to try something high up on the wall I asked for assistance. I figured all 240 pounds of me stepping on an amp probably wasn't the best idea. The GC employee who finally showed up was easily 300 pounds. He stepped on the amp, grabbed the bass, nearly knocking the two other basses on either side of it off their holders. Just thought I'd share.
kjpollo said:
Saw one in a CG over the weekend- was way too high on the wall and I didnt have the time to have someone get a ladder to bring it down.
Didnt know what it was but not that I found this thread, I know!!
Click to expand...
 
#189
3234718 said:
Last time I was in GC and wanted to try something high up on the wall I asked for assistance. I figured all 240 pounds of me stepping on an amp probably wasn't the best idea. The GC employee who finally showed up was easily 300 pounds. He stepped on the amp, grabbed the bass, nearly knocking the two other basses on either side of it off their holders. Just thought I'd share.
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LOL! At least if the employee fell off the amp, he's covered by workers comp. If you fell, you'd have a hard time collecing any $$ for your injuries (not impossible, but difficult).
 
#192
Wait so let me get this straight:

The original Gibson Thunderbird/Firebird was based off of Fender's Jazzmaster and Jaguar series of guitars and Gibson was subsequently sued for stealing Fender's design. Thus Gibson flipped the shape of the TBird (and FBird) around to what we know today. Now, Fender flips the Jag body shape around so it looks similar to the reversed Thunderbird now...

So is this bass a copy (of the TBird) of a reversed copy (of the Jazzmaster/Jaguar)? This is getting really confusing and silly.
 
#194
I finally was able to mess with one of these last night at my local GC.
PROS:
1. I love the look. It just screams rock & roll to me. It's the type of bass that demands being played with a pick (that can be good or bad).
2. The bass isn't that heavy.
3. It's a fun bass to play standing.
4. I liked where Fender installed the front strap pin. I thought it would be mounted to the back of the bass, facing the player. Instead, Fender placed the pin right on the forward part of the body's heel.
5. The neck had a nice profile and was easy to play.
6. The pickups had a perfect "clanky" tone for most aggressive genres.

CONS:
1. It has neck dive, but being that I play some "hornless" basses, neck dive can be remedied by a nice wide leather strap.
2. I wish Fender would've kept the headstock logo upside down as well. It looks goofy having a rightside up logo on a reverse neck.
3. After seeing all three colors in person, I like the black one the best (and I loathe black basses). I would love to see this bass in Oly white with a black pick guard.
4. The pickup selector switch seems to be in a place that would result in accidental damage.
5. Not a great slapping bass, but neither is the Thunderbird. ;-)
6. The biggest problem I have with this bass is its price. $800 is a lot for this Mexican, one trick pony. This is especially true when the same money can get you a nice used MIA Fender bass. Hell, I even saw a new MIA "hand stained" P Bass on sale for $899 at this GC, last night.

If this bass was in the $500 range, I'd probably own one by now.

If you want a Fender, don't need great access to higher frets, and want something different, this is for you!
 
#198
Old thread resurrection. I just bought a NOS one from a seller on ebay that apparently had a NOS red, black, and burst versions stored since new and is now selling them. I got the black one for 850 shipped with tax to me. Thought it was a good deal considering being 10 years old and kinda rare these days. The other 2 are still for sale..just a heads up:D
 
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#200
sleddogn said:
Old thread resurrection. I just bought a NOS one from a seller on ebay that apparently had a NOS red, black, and burst versions stored since new and is now selling them. I got the black one for 850 shipped with tax to me. Thought it was a good deal considering being 10 years old and kinda rare these days. The other 2 are still for sale..just a heads up:D
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These are about the most "far out" of regular design basses I ever liked. More than I want to spend but cool that you got one. Enjoy!
 

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