Fender's lack of bass evolution

[Vic]

Using New basses available on Reverb as an estimate, 6 string basses are less than 5% of the bass market.

exactly.

 

[Frank Vozak]

Getting are back to talking about innovation I think about the concept of mounting a bass neck on a Spanish- type body to create an Acoustic bass with the ability to play without amplification as well as mounting a piezoelectric pickup in the bridge and possibly a second hidden pickup at the neck was a powerful evolution of the bass guitar. We now have instruments that can take part in no amplifier allowed combos which also have the ability to plug into an amp. I think a number of bass makers picked up on the concept starting with Mexican strolling Mariachi musicians of an acoustic only style of bass guitar performance. American manufacturers then changed neck length from 26 inch or so to a more standard 30,32 and 34 inch bass guitar neck and for the most part downsized the body from the large body (for more volume)` of the Mariachi bass guitar. A few companies have more or less kept the concept of a large body for more volume (Martin and Guild come to mind but added a more tradition size bass guitar neck. Other companies went with a body style that matched their guitars meaning that there is a range of body sizes that vary by brand but highlight their company's own unique way of building standard guitars for more volume (Epiphone with large body arch top basses and the novel projection system that Ovation initially developed for their guitar line). A number of premium quality guitar companies have followed this route. And finally companies like FENDER created acoustic basses from their acoustic line by adding a bass neck to a basicly six string acoustic body. Companies like this create a compromise bass, one that foregoes greater acoustic volume as a trade for a more modest priced acoustic bass with the option of plugging into an amp with FENDER (not Squier on the head block) and sold in FENDER authorized dealers where more of the general population is exposed to the idea of an unplugged acoustic bass or where a a person like me who was looking for an acoustic bass so that I could participate in our totally unplugged Oak Park, IL Framers Market Band that plays in the summer at the Farmer's Market and then splits up to play at four different venues in the winter (one being plugged optional) with a known name on the headstock and reasonable in price. For me Fender's lowest cost acoustic bass fit the bill. Unfortunately on the bass end I get drowned out by 3 bass viols and a cello and on the higher end by the guitars and banjos. But that is the compromise I make given my current situation . But the CS 60 has a great neck and plays easily and a number of our gigging guitar players have tried my bass and thought that it had a place in their acoustic group. Our semi pro ukelele player was able to easily play cords on it despite the heavier guage bronze phosphor round wound strings which I call little knives for the toll they take both fingering the fretboard and finger picking. I have learned to pluck pretty hard when I finger pick to the point that the pedal steel player ( who is an experienced gigging bass player as well)has told me to let my Precision pickups and my amp do the work and and finger pick not finger pluck. Fender makes an acoustic with what appears to be a short scale Japanese Jazz bass neck. Now that is an innovation since man y acoustic instrumen ts of all type have logs or baseball bats for necks as opposed to the thing fast Jazz bass n eck. That FENDER does look funny with a
shortened Jazz Bass neck on a traditional acoustic guitar body but it does open up options that a more traditional acoustic bass cannot give. And fortunately FENDER contracts out to a CORT plant in Indonesia to produce their guitar, bass and uke acoustic line given that Cort has much more experience in manufacturing acoustic. Probably FISHMAN with their neck mounted/hidden piezo pickups and piezo pick up friendly line of amplifiewrs got this whole "innovation " really start to roll.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Getting are back to talking about innovation I think about the concept of mounting a bass neck on a Spanish- type body to create an Acoustic bass with the ability to play without amplification as well as mounting a piezoelectric pickup in the bridge and possibly a second hidden pickup at the neck was a powerful evolution of the bass guitar. We now have instruments that can take part in no amplifier allowed combos which also have the ability to plug into an amp. I think a number of bass makers picked up on the concept starting with Mexican strolling Mariachi musicians of an acoustic only style of bass guitar performance. American manufacturers then changed neck length from 26 inch or so to a more standard 30,32 and 34 inch bass guitar neck and for the most part downsized the body from the large body (for more volume)` of the Mariachi bass guitar. A few companies have more or less kept the concept of a large body for more volume (Martin and Guild come to mind but added a more tradition size bass guitar neck. Other companies went with a body style that matched their guitars meaning that there is a range of body sizes that vary by brand but highlight their company's own unique way of building standard guitars for more volume (Epiphone with large body arch top basses and the novel projection system that Ovation initially developed for their guitar line). A number of premium quality guitar companies have followed this route. And finally companies like FENDER created acoustic basses from their acoustic line by adding a bass neck to a basicly six string acoustic body. Companies like this create a compromise bass, one that foregoes greater acoustic volume as a trade for a more modest priced acoustic bass with the option of plugging into an amp with FENDER (not Squier on the head block) and sold in FENDER authorized dealers where more of the general population is exposed to the idea of an unplugged acoustic bass or where a a person like me who was looking for an acoustic bass so that I could participate in our totally unplugged Oak Park, IL Framers Market Band that plays in the summer at the Farmer's Market and then splits up to play at four different venues in the winter (one being plugged optional) with a known name on the headstock and reasonable in price. For me Fender's lowest cost acoustic bass fit the bill. Unfortunately on the bass end I get drowned out by 3 bass viols and a cello and on the higher end by the guitars and banjos. But that is the compromise I make given my current situation . But the CS 60 has a great neck and plays easily and a number of our gigging guitar players have tried my bass and thought that it had a place in their acoustic group. Our semi pro ukelele player was able to easily play cords on it despite the heavier guage bronze phosphor round wound strings which I call little knives for the toll they take both fingering the fretboard and finger picking. I have learned to pluck pretty hard when I finger pick to the point that the pedal steel player ( who is an experienced gigging bass player as well)has told me to let my Precision pickups and my amp do the work and and finger pick not finger pluck. Fender makes an acoustic with what appears to be a short scale Japanese Jazz bass neck. Now that is an innovation since man y acoustic instrumen ts of all type have logs or baseball bats for necks as opposed to the thing fast Jazz bass n eck. That FENDER does look funny with a
shortened Jazz Bass neck on a traditional acoustic guitar body but it does open up options that a more traditional acoustic bass cannot give. And fortunately FENDER contracts out to a CORT plant in Indonesia to produce their guitar, bass and uke acoustic line given that Cort has much more experience in manufacturing acoustic. Probably FISHMAN with their neck mounted/hidden piezo pickups and piezo pick up friendly line of amplifiewrs got this whole "innovation " really start to roll.

You need a few more pilcrows in your post.

 

[Johnny Znuff]

They tried with the Dimension Bass, and it was ultimately rejected...

 

[ad9000]

It could be argued that Fender peaked in 1964, and everything they've come out with since has been measured against the designs of that era and earlier.

Anytime in the last 30 years or so they've come out with an interesting or innovative bass it doesn't seem to stay in the product line for very long. I'm thinking of the Roscoe Beck, Victor Bailey and Steve Bailey models, among others.

 

[Frank Vozak]

It could be argued that Fender peaked in 1964, and everything they've come out with since has been measured against the designs of that era and earlier.

Anytime in the last 30 years or so they've come out with an interesting or innovative bass it doesn't seem to stay in the product line for very long. I'm thinking of the Roscoe Beck, Victor Bailey and Steve Bailey models, among others.

I think you have a very good point about the most Fender of all developed by 1964 when Leo Fender designed the Mustang Bass. And it does seem that Fender often comes up with interesting basses that are out a year or two- and then disappear. even the Mustang bass has been a serial line--made for awhile the discontinued
and sometimes returning to- the line after a decade or so. I still remember owning a Fender Bassman right when the Silver Face amps came out. The cabinet was too big for the family's cars so I had t o return it. I wanted to have the previous iteration of the Bassman with a much smaller speaker cabinet and black face head. And it seems that Fender has never decided to re-release that smaller Bassman amp/smaller cabinet. My primary bass now is the new Squier Precision Mini which I do think was an innovation with a small body and 28.6 inch neck yetI wonder how lon g Fender will keep it in pro-duction

 

[gigetto]

I think that is better two models in top selling that a plethora that noone remember after two years of discount selling....

 

[Watchootognbout]

Getting are back to talking about innovation I think about the concept of mounting a bass neck on a Spanish- type body to create an Acoustic bass with the ability to play without amplification as well as mounting a piezoelectric pickup in the bridge and possibly a second hidden pickup at the neck was a powerful evolution of the bass guitar. We now have instruments that can take part in no amplifier allowed combos which also have the ability to plug into an amp. I think a number of bass makers picked up on the concept starting with Mexican strolling Mariachi musicians of an acoustic only style of bass guitar performance. American manufacturers then changed neck length from 26 inch or so to a more standard 30,32 and 34 inch bass guitar neck and for the most part downsized the body from the large body (for more volume)` of the Mariachi bass guitar. A few companies have more or less kept the concept of a large body for more volume (Martin and Guild come to mind but added a more tradition size bass guitar neck. Other companies went with a body style that matched their guitars meaning that there is a range of body sizes that vary by brand but highlight their company's own unique way of building standard guitars for more volume (Epiphone with large body arch top basses and the novel projection system that Ovation initially developed for their guitar line). A number of premium quality guitar companies have followed this route. And finally companies like FENDER created acoustic basses from their acoustic line by adding a bass neck to a basicly six string acoustic body. Companies like this create a compromise bass, one that foregoes greater acoustic volume as a trade for a more modest priced acoustic bass with the option of plugging into an amp with FENDER (not Squier on the head block) and sold in FENDER authorized dealers where more of the general population is exposed to the idea of an unplugged acoustic bass or where a a person like me who was looking for an acoustic bass so that I could participate in our totally unplugged Oak Park, IL Framers Market Band that plays in the summer at the Farmer's Market and then splits up to play at four different venues in the winter (one being plugged optional) with a known name on the headstock and reasonable in price. For me Fender's lowest cost acoustic bass fit the bill. Unfortunately on the bass end I get drowned out by 3 bass viols and a cello and on the higher end by the guitars and banjos. But that is the compromise I make given my current situation . But the CS 60 has a great neck and plays easily and a number of our gigging guitar players have tried my bass and thought that it had a place in their acoustic group. Our semi pro ukelele player was able to easily play cords on it despite the heavier guage bronze phosphor round wound strings which I call little knives for the toll they take both fingering the fretboard and finger picking. I have learned to pluck pretty hard when I finger pick to the point that the pedal steel player ( who is an experienced gigging bass player as well)has told me to let my Precision pickups and my amp do the work and and finger pick not finger pluck. Fender makes an acoustic with what appears to be a short scale Japanese Jazz bass neck. Now that is an innovation since man y acoustic instrumen ts of all type have logs or baseball bats for necks as opposed to the thing fast Jazz bass n eck. That FENDER does look funny with a
shortened Jazz Bass neck on a traditional acoustic guitar body but it does open up options that a more traditional acoustic bass cannot give. And fortunately FENDER contracts out to a CORT plant in Indonesia to produce their guitar, bass and uke acoustic line given that Cort has much more experience in manufacturing acoustic. Probably FISHMAN with their neck mounted/hidden piezo pickups and piezo pick up friendly line of amplifiewrs got this whole "innovation " really start to roll.

It's much easier to eat a whale if you take small bites.

 

[Btbp]

You need a few more pilcrows in your post.

Right, attempting to read something like that would give me a headache. Didn't read it.