Hot take: Limited Edition Fender

[gln1955]

Fender would go broke selling instruments with such a limited appeal. It's not who they are.

Like others have said, there are builders who will do this for you. A Maruszczyk P bass made to your specs will make you forget about Fender.

 

[MtManiac]

They make Limited Editions all the time, your point is exactly why they’re Limited Editions.

 

[gln1955]

They make Limited Editions all the time, your point is exactly why they’re Limited Editions.

Fender has been making guitars a long time. Despite all the bitching on here about their decisions, they do know a thing or two about what will sell in enough numbers to make it worthwhile.

 

[ELG60]

Needs? What they SHOULD do is produce marketable products of reasonable quality for the price and which provide them with a sustainable profit margin.

 

[MtManiac]

Fender has been making guitars a long time. Despite all the bitching on here about their decisions, they do know a thing or two about what will sell in enough numbers to make it worthwhile.

Not sure who you’re directing that to - me?? Fwiw, I totally agree, but it’s missing the point of this thread.

 

[MtManiac]

Needs? What they SHOULD do is produce marketable products of reasonable quality for the price and which provide them with a sustainable profit margin.

Done!

 

[Z-Bass]

Fender needs to release an American Professional II Precision V as a limited edition with an ebony board, some kind of sparkle finish, and a new 5-string split coil pickup with a vintage voice, something along the lines of the Pure Vintage 63 or even the Custom Shop 62, with a well-balanced bridge pickup.

Like, today.

Make it a gold or silver flake and I’d seriously buy it brand new, unplayed, at whatever crazy list price they’d ask, so long as it feels as nice in my hands as my Dark Night P V.

If you're okay with paying more that their production models, I think the Fender Custom Shop would be a way to go if you would like to stay in the Fender realm. I mean it's not that crazy of a request. We're talking about a non-standard paint job, a specific pickup that they probably make, and an alternate fingerboard wood that's not super exotic. I'm not well versed with the Fender Custom Shop but aren't there levels of builds and a corresponding hierarchy of costs?

 

[MtManiac]

If you're okay with paying more that their production models, I think the Fender Custom Shop would be a way to go if you would like to stay in the Fender realm. I mean it's not that crazy of a request. We're talking about a non-standard paint job, a specific pickup that they probably make, and an alternate fingerboard wood that's not super exotic. I'm not well versed with the Fender Custom Shop but aren't there levels of builds and a corresponding hierarchy of costs?

Limited Editions in the past do not cost nearly what CS or even production artist models cost.

 

[gln1955]

Not sure who you’re directing that to - me?? Fwiw, I totally agree, but it’s missing the point of this thread.

Hmm...I though the point of the thread was you telling Fender what they need to make ...today.

 

[MtManiac]

Hmm...I thought the point of the thread was you telling Fender what they need to make ...today.

I see that’s what you thought. Thanks for your input.

 

[MtManiac]

I agree Fender should come out with a boutique level line. I can see an ebony fingerboard on a neck through design 3-2 head stock, onboard EQ with could taps.

Custom shop, Fender take, is sort of like that. It’s an al a carte. Chose from some options and there you have it.

My son has a couple of custom shop Fenders, but frankly, I don’t find them any better as an instrument than the plain old stock version. They may look better, with upgraded electronic (upgrades you could do with a plain Jane saving yourself $100s of dollars) might sound better, but when the notes start flying on the job, I couldn’t tell the difference.

Just asking. How does the B string become a vintage voice?

Five string basses also have the original four strings as well, so for example in one of my existing P5’s I’ve installed a set of Nordstrand NP5F’s which I’d characterize as vintage voiced. The B string is nicely balanced with all four other strings.

In a similar way, I’d want a P5 pickup that is voiced similar to the PV63 or CS62. Unlike the 2008 P5 pickup, the VMod P5 pickup, or the VMod II P5 pickup.

Hope that helps.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Five string basses also have the original four strings as well, so for example in one of my existing P5’s I’ve installed a set of Nordstrand NP5F’s which I’d characterize as vintage voiced. The B string is nicely balanced with all four other strings.

In a similar way, I’d want a P5 pickup that is voiced similar to the PV63 or CS62. Unlike the 2008 P5 pickup, the VMod P5 pickup, or the VMod II P5 pickup.

Hope that helps.

Not really. The problem is vintage music requiring an electric bass didn’t use notes below E.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying 5 string basses are bad or I’m poking fun at them. I’m certainly not questioning the quality of your basses and or the satisfaction you derive from them.

Having been a bassist for over 50+ years, 40 of which using a 4 string. Even though I’ve played at lot of music using a five string, unless the music specifically calls for it, to this day using a B string sound unnatural. JMO

 

[MtManiac]

Not really. The problem is vintage music requiring an electric bass didn’t use notes below E.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying 5 string basses are bad or I’m poking fun at them. I’m certainly not questioning the quality of your basses and or the satisfaction you derive from them.

Having been a bassist for over 50+ years, 40 of which using a 4 string. Even though I’ve played at lot of music using a five string, unless the music specifically calls for it, to this day using a B string sound unnatural. JMO

Sure. But someone with your experience will agree I’m sure that there’s a difference between playing vintage music and playing music using vintage tone.

FWIW, I’ve been playing bass and only bass for 42 years, mostly on 4-string P basses, and 5-strings just for the past 1.5 years, but exclusively 5-strings. P5’s work fantastic in cover bands for the material we do, and I want a P5 Fender pickup with a vintage voice. They especially work well for drop D tuning, not to mention moving other songs up the neck or playing in different keys to accommodate vocalists, and yeah I’ve tried the alternatives, for me a P5 is the best option. Not sure why that’s cause for being argumentative with me about 5-strings but I guess a lot of people on Talkbass have an axe to grind this week. I’m not in need of correction from you though, thanks anyway.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Sure. But someone with your experience will agree I’m sure that there’s a difference between playing vintage music and playing music using vintage tone.

FWIW, I’ve been playing bass and only bass for 42 years, mostly on 4-string P basses, and 5-strings just for the past 1.5 years, but exclusively 5-strings. P5’s work fantastic in cover bands for the material we do, and I want a P5 Fender pickup with a vintage voice. They especially work well for drop D tuning, not to mention moving other songs up the neck or playing in different keys to accommodate vocalists, and yeah I’ve tried the alternatives, for me a P5 is the best option. Not sure why that’s cause for being argumentative with me about 5-strings but I guess a lot of people on Talkbass have an axe to grind this week. I’m not in need of correction from you though, thanks anyway.

Who was being argumentative? I stated an opinion. I sure as heck didn't say anything correcting you. In fact, I went out of my way not to discount your experiences. You need to lighten up. So your welcome.

 

[MtManiac]

they just need to add 5 strings to the Mod Shop.

Mod Shop is not available outside the US.

 

[Jugghaid]

Mod Shop is not available outside the US.

Did not know that. They should fix that too.

 

[MtManiac]

Fender would go broke selling instruments with such a limited appeal. It's not who they are.

Like others have said, there are builders who will do this for you. A Maruszczyk P bass made to your specs will make you forget about Fender.

Hey - just checked out the Marusczyk condigurator. For P5’s, they spec in an Aguilar AG5P60 split coil pickup, which Aguilar no longer sells and hasn’t for a couple of years. So seems like a mystery as to what they’d actually provide.

I’d fully expect a custom made bass to cost a couple of thousand CAD than a Limited Edition Fender, and to be worth it - but that’s partly why this thread is about a Limited Edition Fender.

 

[Yahboy]

Fender needs to release an American Professional II Precision V as a limited edition with an ebony board, some kind of sparkle finish, and a new 5-string split coil pickup with a vintage voice, something along the lines of the Pure Vintage 63 or even the Custom Shop 62, with a well-balanced bridge pickup.

Like, today.

Make it a gold or silver flake and I’d seriously buy it brand new, unplayed, at whatever crazy list price they’d ask, so long as it feels as nice in my hands as my Dark Night P V.

Limited Edition of Am Pro II V should has reverse P pup ( BE face to bridge / ADG face to neck ) , great tonal balance enough. Also change the bridge to hipshot A or B style bridge for easy bass string load.

 

[MtManiac]

Limited Edition of Am Pro II V should has reverse P pup ( BE face to bridge / ADG face to neck ) , great tonal balance enough. Also change the bridge to hipshot A or B style bridge for easy bass string load.

I like the reverse pickup idea!