Fender's lack of bass evolution

[RolandMHall]

Fender was on to something with the Dimension deluxe v. Could have really been a good alternative to a music man. Instead of developing it to its full potential they pull the plug. Some slight tweaks and that bass could've been a killer.

The Roscoe Beck v although heavy was arguably the best 5 string Fender ever made and what do they do, kill it. I hate that I sold mine. You see how much they go for used now...... they should reissue that bass with a new name.

I'd think as much revenue that they generate they can invest in bass guitar R & D

 

[Ric5]

you want innovation ... then DIY

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Ok I've thought real hard about this for literally minutes... like how a violin or a cello is pretty much how it was centuries ago? It's because they got it right early on. No point in changing what works. That's why kids now are mostly playing the same instruments as kids 60 years ago. Precision, Jazz, Les Paul, whatever, they all just work. They just need new paint.

 

[Killing Floor]

Hahaha, yeah. I love Fender basses and have Ps, J and a Strat and I'm thinking about getting another guitar and I have a Mod Shop P on order. That said, the P and the J are the same, neck profile has changed slightly between the 2 but now they're closer than ever before although saying a P and a J are basically the same bass except one has 2 pickups and a slightly slanted bout is like saying bad things about Jaco or tort.
Anyway I got off track.
Just commented in the other thread that Fender's innovation and evolution can be traced back 70 years ago when they introduced the 7th fret dead spot on the G string and carry it proudly to this day. Also their bridges are absolute garbage except the modern Pro series are much better.

But let's face it, Fenders are cool. And Fenders sound great.

So a P and a J go a very long way and don't really need to evolve.
But it would be pretty cool if my new P won't have a dead spot! It's just tradition. Leo's ghost doesn't like D.

 

[Allegrus]

I don't see the problem ... where Fender doesn't want to go ... lots of others do. Consumers have choice. I glad too because frankly, paying several hundreds more because 'Fender' is a no-buy situation for me.

 

[2112]

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?

 

[longfinger]

I'm curious...
Let's detour a little bit..

How many of us would buy a 24TET fretted bass? Extra frets (of a different colour metal) between the regular frets (of standard colour metal)? How much extra would you pay for it?

Sure, could start of with lined fretless with extra lines... but the frets would help with pitch precision during the quarter tone modulations.

We could jam along to our favourite the Jacob Collier tunes, and them make some more.

The rest of the bass could be old style... but maybe spruce that up too with the latest ergonomic understandings, and electronic tech.

Would you buy? What price would be right to just buy for try?

 

[Old_Noob]

Unfortunately, no. Google's your friend. lol

View attachment 4084618

Are those yours?

 

[laristotle]

Are those yours?

lol
wish she was

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Why change when there is a constant influx of new generations?

 

[projectapollo]

My VW Jetta has a Fender premium sound system in it. Does that count?

 

[design]

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.

Fender, like most manufacturers, have responded to the market by offering 5 string basses.

 

[retslock]

As per previous thread of similar ilk. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. With a few exceptions violins and trumpets look just like they did 100 years ago.

 

[laristotle]

I'd like to see them take their Meteora guitar design and adapt it to bass.

Rosser Guitars
There's a loaded body on Reverb

 

[ZedLepp]

I just wish we could get some of the MIJ models along with models that don't have a pickguard.

Edit - Black hardware would nice as well.

 

[retslock]

Just commented in the other thread that Fender's innovation and evolution can be traced back 70 years ago when they introduced the 7th fret dead spot on the G string and carry it proudly to this day.
But it would be pretty cool if my new P won't have a dead spot! It's just tradition. Leo's ghost doesn't like D.

Leo carried it on with G&L. My L2000 had that same dead spot.

 

[retslock]

Ok I've thought real hard about this for literally minutes... like how a violin or a cello is pretty much how it was centuries ago? It's because they got it right early on. No point in changing what works. That's why kids now are mostly playing the same instruments as kids 60 years ago. Precision, Jazz, Les Paul, whatever, they all just work. They just need new paint.

Exactly. I don’t get the idea that they should forever be innovating when their instruments work.

 

[Old_Noob]

Rosser Guitars
There's a loaded body on Reverb

View attachment 4084644

I am going to order my own I think with thunderbird pickups

 

[retslock]

Anybody notice that nobody’s come up with a better wheel yet? They just keep making the same old round things. Sheesh.

 

[laristotle]

Anybody notice that nobody’s come up with a better wheel yet? They just keep making the same old round things. Sheesh.

It's how they're used.