Anyone else notice Fender's lack luster efforts to come up with new designs? The "new" models are just P and J re-treads or re-configurations. When's the last time they introduced a new through neck model?
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Fender's lack of bass evolution
- Thread starter lucas303
- Start date
Fender probably feels through neck would be a flop. Just like a Ric 4003 bolt-on would probably be.
Fender is fairly innovative, just not with the actual bass guitar designs.
For example, they put a lot of work into the Acoustasonic guitars; maybe I missed it, but I don't think anyone has put out anything quite like it.
They're putting out pedals, modeling amps (guitar and bass), and mobile apps.
They're almost certainly innovating on the manufacturing side, which is why they can knock out a dozen Squier designs on the cheap, and still end up with a decent instrument.
My guess is that's where the market is. The vast majority of bassists are perfectly happy with classic P, J and PJ designs.
I do think there's room for innovation, but not much. I don't think anyone expects Fender to offer multi-scale basses and user-swappable pickups any time soon. Maybe they could do an Acoustasonic Bass that sounds almost exactly like an upright
but I'm not holding my breath on that.
For example, they put a lot of work into the Acoustasonic guitars; maybe I missed it, but I don't think anyone has put out anything quite like it.
They're putting out pedals, modeling amps (guitar and bass), and mobile apps.
They're almost certainly innovating on the manufacturing side, which is why they can knock out a dozen Squier designs on the cheap, and still end up with a decent instrument.
My guess is that's where the market is. The vast majority of bassists are perfectly happy with classic P, J and PJ designs.
I do think there's room for innovation, but not much. I don't think anyone expects Fender to offer multi-scale basses and user-swappable pickups any time soon. Maybe they could do an Acoustasonic Bass that sounds almost exactly like an upright
but I'm not holding my breath on that.
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Fender is in a no-win situation: if they make anything other than a FSO, everyone screams blue murder and no one buys it. Then everyone complains that all they make are FSOs.
Fender can be innovative, they've demonstrated so many times throughout the years. Though often, they don't give the innovative products much of a chance in the market before cancelling them (recently, the Dimension basses, for example).
Agreed. Fender can be innovative. But they're better at making money than they are at spewing out new designs.
Why innovate for the sake of innovation when people are still dependably buying Ps and Js? Seems like a good business decision to me. As for a "neck-through?" Why on earth would they do that? They'd need to price it high and people would still complain it's not a Rick.
Why innovate for the sake of innovation when people are still dependably buying Ps and Js? Seems like a good business decision to me. As for a "neck-through?" Why on earth would they do that? They'd need to price it high and people would still complain it's not a Rick.
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Fender actually introduced quite s lot of new basses fairly recently and they've also introduced the parallel universe line which allows them to mix and match a little more.
I do believe that they mainly sell Js and Ps. if you want something non classical you might look directly at other brands.
Yes, but those changes are mostly cosmetic, or maybe a teeny difference in neck specs.
I'm not sure I'd call yet another vintage reissue, or variant thereof, as "innovative." Fun? Good marketing? Probably. Innovative? Not so much.
TB is a fluke, most bassists want one bass, usually a P or a J. I talked to a retailer about why he doesn't carry more bass gear and he said, you guys buy one bass, and amp and are happy. Well, not you.
Be honest. If there was some ultra modern Fender bass, would you actually play it? I'm just curious.
Edit: Was this inspiration?
Kiesel's lack of bass evolution
Edit: Was this inspiration?
Kiesel's lack of bass evolution
Does Santa need to rebrand and update the Christmas Tree?
This has been discussed a ton of times before. It's because people want P and J basses. Fender tried new designs and they did not sell.
As long as people will buy a Fender Precision or Jazz as a default at some point, why bother doing something different?
I mean, I don’t have the detailed statistics, but is there ANY doubt that Fender is #1 for market share in bass guitars?
I mean, I don’t have the detailed statistics, but is there ANY doubt that Fender is #1 for market share in bass guitars?
Does every thread need a reaction thread these days?
There are other companies that are often overlooked when the majority of people decide to buy a bass.
One such company is, Schecter Guitar Reseach.
I recently bought this, a CV-5, and it looks, plays and sounds like Fender.
Www.schecterguitars.com
Go through all the models, and see if there's something you like.
There are other companies, but I only recommend what I own or have played often.
I'm not knocking Fender, only saying that Fender is just one company to consider.
Mike
One such company is, Schecter Guitar Reseach.
I recently bought this, a CV-5, and it looks, plays and sounds like Fender.
Www.schecterguitars.com
Go through all the models, and see if there's something you like.
There are other companies, but I only recommend what I own or have played often.
I'm not knocking Fender, only saying that Fender is just one company to consider.
Mike
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Fender found their winning formula back in the 60s just before CBS bought them out. Why alter a cash cow?
I would state it the other way 'round. Musicians haven't come up with anything necessitating widespread drastic changes in the average electric bass itself, in the past 60 years. The market hasn't demanded anything more of Fender, in other words.
Amplifier tech? Sure, more so. But not really the basses themselves. The original post is kind of like getting annoyed that Ford's vehicles still have four wheels in this day and age. Well...have conditions on our roads and in our driving behavior drastically called for something else? We've increased safety and fuel economy...but four wheels work like four wheels always have. The basic framework for what a personal automobile is stays the same...and, most importantly in a market economy, keeps on selling without trouble.
The bottom line is that if Fender thought they could make a killing at something like that, they'd do it. They can't just screw off all day and do what they want, though. They have the market as it stands to consider, above all else.
If you want them to "improve" the P Bass so darned badly, then invent a form of music that can't be played on a "normal" Fender, that becomes so universally popular that every bass player in the world needs to be able to play it. Then you'll have the market for the "improved" Fender bass. Until then, if you can't do it with a basic P or J with 60 year old technology, it's probably a musical style that is on the fringes in terms of mass popularity.
Amplifier tech? Sure, more so. But not really the basses themselves. The original post is kind of like getting annoyed that Ford's vehicles still have four wheels in this day and age. Well...have conditions on our roads and in our driving behavior drastically called for something else? We've increased safety and fuel economy...but four wheels work like four wheels always have. The basic framework for what a personal automobile is stays the same...and, most importantly in a market economy, keeps on selling without trouble.
The bottom line is that if Fender thought they could make a killing at something like that, they'd do it. They can't just screw off all day and do what they want, though. They have the market as it stands to consider, above all else.
If you want them to "improve" the P Bass so darned badly, then invent a form of music that can't be played on a "normal" Fender, that becomes so universally popular that every bass player in the world needs to be able to play it. Then you'll have the market for the "improved" Fender bass. Until then, if you can't do it with a basic P or J with 60 year old technology, it's probably a musical style that is on the fringes in terms of mass popularity.
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When people stop buying P's and J's, they'll make something else.
I'm not holding my breath for that.
I'm not holding my breath for that.
