Why can it only have 1 pickup, isnt there an HH model, just use that and solo the bridge pickup. The single H kinda seems redundant
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I Just Don't Understand Fender!
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I dont understand fender either. They need more unique designs like the dimension and the black top and pawn shop series. Not the same p and j bass over and over again.
To be somewhat impartial...
The reality, in most likelihood, is that Fender's main profit center is guitars. The bass business is kind of like the ugly step child that is unfortunately big enough that they can't let it go altogether. So, their bass products kind of get dragged along. Periodically some well meaning individuals in the company try to make something a little better; but it's a pretty big challenge out performing Leo's original designs; and the company doesn't really care about it enough to keep a sustained development effort going on. So, you see these new product efforts kind of die on the vine.
It's a big company. They are driven by the bottom line. Business managers are not interested in product development cycles that exceed three years. Just the way it is.
The reality, in most likelihood, is that Fender's main profit center is guitars. The bass business is kind of like the ugly step child that is unfortunately big enough that they can't let it go altogether. So, their bass products kind of get dragged along. Periodically some well meaning individuals in the company try to make something a little better; but it's a pretty big challenge out performing Leo's original designs; and the company doesn't really care about it enough to keep a sustained development effort going on. So, you see these new product efforts kind of die on the vine.
It's a big company. They are driven by the bottom line. Business managers are not interested in product development cycles that exceed three years. Just the way it is.
It's sad, but true. While they may be one of the biggest players in our market, that still doesn't put us ahead of the guitars they make. Another thing is Fender getting the "We like you just how you are" treatment from a lot of players. They can only make marginal changes before people start screaming and rioting. I have to confess that when I think of Fenders or want one, there is a specific tone, feel, or look that I am going for. Whereas with Ibanez, Warwick, or other manufacturers I'm always interested in the new and crazy stuff they have going on. I applaud Fender when they want to try new stuff, but I can't condemn people for holding them in a nostalgic part of their memory when I'm guilty of that too.
IME, Fender also does some really stupid things that are typical of big companies.
For example, I played one of the Marcus Miller 5 string basses for several years. I REALLY liked some of the design elements in that bass. It solved a lot of 5 string issues while retaining that certain thing that Jazz basses have. I found the neck profile, for example, to be absolutely outstanding and the first true Jazz feel 5 string neck I had played.
But, I quite disliked the bound maple board, the Borg designed pick guard, and the preamp. A sane product development effort would have borrowed the design elements that worked and continued evolving by improving some of those aspects. Of course, I realize it's a "signature" bass. Still Fender developed and can use those elements. If they choose to do so.
Anyhow, I liked the bass enough that I called the Custom Shop to see if they would build an instrument using some of those design elements. And after I got past the conversation of "How did you get this number?"; "How dare you call this number?"; and "We don't interface with players"; the guy did take time to listen to my idea. Good Lord, you would think the world was coming to an end. "We can't just use those designs. Those belong to the signature artist. We can't touch anything about that design. Go talk to one of our dealers and they will help you with options on the Custom Classic basses." Oh. Thanks.
Now I HIGHLY doubt that Marcus Miller actually cares one way or the other if Fender were to use those neck calibrations on a bass with a rosewood board. Really? The more likely scenario is that the big company has some kind of ginned up tire shredder internal boundaries, whereby they don't allow themselves to do certain things in product development. I say this because I worked for one of those big companies (actually a WHOLE lot bigger than Fender) for most of my career. It is a simple fact that big companies create internal infrastructure, which often serves only itself.
Anyhow, Fender still makes some nice stuff. They are just a big company. It is what it is.
For example, I played one of the Marcus Miller 5 string basses for several years. I REALLY liked some of the design elements in that bass. It solved a lot of 5 string issues while retaining that certain thing that Jazz basses have. I found the neck profile, for example, to be absolutely outstanding and the first true Jazz feel 5 string neck I had played.
But, I quite disliked the bound maple board, the Borg designed pick guard, and the preamp. A sane product development effort would have borrowed the design elements that worked and continued evolving by improving some of those aspects. Of course, I realize it's a "signature" bass. Still Fender developed and can use those elements. If they choose to do so.
Anyhow, I liked the bass enough that I called the Custom Shop to see if they would build an instrument using some of those design elements. And after I got past the conversation of "How did you get this number?"; "How dare you call this number?"; and "We don't interface with players"; the guy did take time to listen to my idea. Good Lord, you would think the world was coming to an end. "We can't just use those designs. Those belong to the signature artist. We can't touch anything about that design. Go talk to one of our dealers and they will help you with options on the Custom Classic basses." Oh. Thanks.
Now I HIGHLY doubt that Marcus Miller actually cares one way or the other if Fender were to use those neck calibrations on a bass with a rosewood board. Really? The more likely scenario is that the big company has some kind of ginned up tire shredder internal boundaries, whereby they don't allow themselves to do certain things in product development. I say this because I worked for one of those big companies (actually a WHOLE lot bigger than Fender) for most of my career. It is a simple fact that big companies create internal infrastructure, which often serves only itself.
Anyhow, Fender still makes some nice stuff. They are just a big company. It is what it is.
Yeah but look at Fender's current guitar lineup. A couple hundred variations of Teles and Strats with a smattering of Jaguars and Jazzmaters. I'm not as well versed on the history of Fender's guitars but I'm guessing there were many new designs along the way that didn't pan out, just like we see with the basses.
Fender is a victim of its own success in a way. They made many of the great classic styles of both guitars and basses, and the market, for the most part, doesn't want to see anything else from them.
Absolutely. But, still, at the end of the day, they SELL way more guitars. So, Guitar development can tolerate more "product development" from a business perspective, even if that development looks more like Prada.
They introduce, and then drop, too many models too quickly.
They also have too many models that are available in other countries, but not in the US.
Other than that, they're OK.
They also have too many models that are available in other countries, but not in the US.
Other than that, they're OK.
The single H has a pickup in the Stingray location (or very close to it). The HH has the bridge pickup further back, out of that 'sweet spot' - it isn't like the 'Ray HH where they put a neck pickup in, and leave the bridge pup in the same place as the single H version.
I love my single H Squier Dimension, but currently have no real interest in the HH for that reason.
I've given up trying to understand big business. One of the main reasons I've stuck by Fender for the last 20 years is that I can easily mod them any way I want.
For Slap Players, the single Humbucker is great as the neck position pup can get in the way for the crazy stuff. now a single H with a jazz in the fender jazz neck position is the best of both worlds!
I remember a quote from some economist a few years ago in describing the difference between Japanese and US business practices. The Japanese idea of short term planning is five years, the US idea of long term planning is next week.
Not really. Most J/MM basses locate the MM pickup too close to the bridge for the proper Stingray sound. J/MM Stingrays are the exception.
"Why less pickup?"
Why not? If it is placed in the "right" place (whatever this means to "you") surely it gives all you might need.
Think about it: 90% of times (for me 100%) you set up your sound and stay there all the evening. Playing with the volume obviously.........
Mvho
Why not? If it is placed in the "right" place (whatever this means to "you") surely it gives all you might need.
Think about it: 90% of times (for me 100%) you set up your sound and stay there all the evening. Playing with the volume obviously.........
Mvho
Fender is selling these on their website for $579. I wonder if these MIM basses are still being made?
I assure you, you aren't the only one who is now amused. So thanks for that.
The Reggie requires almost no re-tooling. The "dimension" is different set of jigs/CNC routines - likely a whole different line for the base parts.
Doc, I also thought the Dimension is a great sounding bass. But I remember when I saw the youtube videos, my reaction was: "These sounds fantastic, and the single H 5-string version is a worthy opponent to dish it out with the StingRay5. And they're not gonna last. They'll be discontinued in a couple of years!"
It's the players. They just won't accept them.
It's the players. They just won't accept them.
