how does it sit on your lap is it well balanced?...it is an odd shape...but i like those dbl. j pups
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Finally played a Fender Meteora
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
It felt very comfortable in my lap. I will say the camera angle really made me look like a blimp. I noticed because I have lost 35lbs since January.
Thats cool i always wondered how it'd rest on my lap and no neck dive is a plus...It is such a modern, yet retro shape...Thanx for the demo!
...and congrats on the weight loss, i know it sure is a struggle, good for you Doc
True Fender fans fear change.
I got a US Jazz Plus in 1990, dinky J body, ultra slim neck, Kubicki 9V preamp, Lace sensors, Schaller locking bridge and machine heads and capable of imitating everything from a P to a piano, and it was discontinued almost as quick as it was introduced. Fanbois would see it and rib me about playing rock/country/blues with my “disco bass”, until they heard it.
True Fender fans fear change.
I got a US Jazz Plus in 1990, dinky J body, ultra slim neck, Kubicki 9V preamp, Lace sensors, Schaller locking bridge and machine heads and capable of imitating everything from a P to a piano, and it was discontinued almost as quick as it was introduced. Fanbois would see it and rib me about playing rock/country/blues with my “disco bass”, until they heard it.
Fender guys remind of Harley riders, they want that same profile and knucklehead engine. That said, Harley came out with a European style adventure bike, and it has been a smash hit. The point is that an established brand can make a big change if it really does its homework.
No doubt Doc, but the new Harley attracted a whole new group of riders, very few converts from the trad crowd.
Something like that would be a massive boost for Fender as well. Hopefully this new bass will be that moment for Fender.
That’s true, I am not a traditional Harley fan, but I would love to buy a Pan America when I can afford it (a $21,000 motorcycle is a heavy lift.) As for Fender, I am not a traditionalist although I love the classic P and J. I am always happy to see new designs.
I got my J Plus because it had a slimmer neck than my DynaBass.
Which goes a long way toward explaining the “disco bass” comment.Now THAT is slim!
That is how I feel too.
This statement makes me roll my eyes; not that it's not true: on the contrary! Because despite the unfair and common opinion "they only always make the same P/J/Strat/Tele instruments" actually Fender continues to try variations or even radically new products. Even if in the end they stay on the market only for a year or two. But this could easily be one that will be added permanently to the P/J/Strat/Tele quartet...
I 100% agree - I've long thought that these two brands (Fender and Harley) are so similar in terms of what the 'traditionalist' fans want. So many Fender peeps want a J, a P, a Strat or a Tele; no active stuff, no different body shapes, etc. It explains why the Dimension and other changes don't stick around. Same for Harley, so many of those riders still want a air-cooled V that sounds "like a Harley". Think of the late '90s or early '00s V-Rod - great engineering, very few sold. The new adventure bike is a total change (they also have the LiveWire electric, but it's like $60K so assume they haven't sold a bunch), so curious to see how it does.
They are also the brands that people who aren't into the sport/hobby assume everyone in that sport/hobby has.
As my avatar suggests, I'm not a Harley (or any cruiser for that matter) guy, I'm a standard and sport bike guy, but so often when people hear that I ride, I get the "Do you have a Harley"? question. And similarly, when I tell people I play bass, many times it's "Do you have a Fender?"
I don't have anything against Harley or Fender, they just aren't the tools I want/need.
I've read and totally respect that. It's also true that maybe you, or anybody diehard fan of the traditional models, could change your mind once you find a new product outside the tradition (of that brand) that you'll fall in love with. Surprises in life, you know.
See: I... "rolled my eyes" because some time ago I started a thread wondering if/when also Fender would ever jump on the multiscale basses! After a few heavily sarcastic entries I felt as if I committed some sort of sacrilege only "thinking" about that... oh, well!
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Yes, looking at the full frontal images it does look like a prime neck-dive candidate - strap buttons above the 14th fret are usually a 'red flag' for that. Perhaps that's why the body offset is so extreme:
Any why still only 20 frets? That lower cutaway with unimpeded access is crying out for a longer fingerboard, IMHO. Difficult to see how sticking to 20 frets in any way represents a fusion of innovative design with player-centric features...
But it is nice to see rolled edges as a standard feature.
I've read and totally respect that. It's also true that maybe you, or anybody diehard fan of the traditional models, could change your mind once you find a new product outside the tradition (of that brand) that you'll fall in love with. Surprises in life, you know.
Yes, you're right - if Harley came out with a sport bike that was comparable to my Yamaha at a similar price, who knows? I like to that I'd be open-minded enough to at least research it. Same with Fender.
When it comes down to it, the pressure on the Product teams at either of those companies, when it comes to a truly new product, has to be immense. With so much history of the 'established' customer base turning up their noses at genuine innovation or new/different, it has to be a perceived risk any time they suggest bringing something different to market. It's much easier to change the paint and give it a new model name...
I also think it's a bit ironic how some folks adhere to the 'Leo got it right the first time!' logic when viewing new stuff. Yes, there is a TON to like and not change about a P and a J, but, uh, didn't Leo also continue to tinker and create new stuff (Stingray, active G&Ls, etc.)? And to be fair, I also see the irony going the other way, where the G&L JB series is probably their second-best selling bass (after the L-series, I'd assume), and it's a straight-up passive Jazz, the demand for which took their active MJ-4 and MJ-5 out of production...
At the end of the, just ride/play what you like and let others do the same. Just because a big cruiser isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean I think less of someone because they dig it. It just means we want different things out of a motorcycle. Same with basses.
I guess because you can easily replace that neck with any of the aftermarket P or J necks available... to me, it's an absolutely wise choice (my opinion)!
P.S.: from what I've read on some other thread here on TB, it seems Meteora bass does not dive at all and it is also very comfortable to play.
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The Rumble amps are honestly amazing. Every time I play one in a store, I think that maybe I should buy one as a nice portable and reliable option. But I don't gig, so my heavy Ampeg rig is totally functional for my purposes. But if I join a band again, I'll definitely be getting a Rumble.
Both the Rumble 200 and 500 are some of the best combos ever.
