My local GC hasn't gotten any yet that I've seen. Though they don't sell many basses, I see the same stuff in there for months.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Let's hear it: American Fender Dimension basses
- Thread starter scubaduba
- Start date
How's the tone of the bass like, I hated most active basses because of the somehow brittle note fundamentals and lack of low mid, except for the fender American deluxe and musicman which still sounds warm enough for me. If it still has that warm but defined tone I am pretty interested in it
It absolutely sounds "active".... BUT NOT guitar like. Playing in a blues band or an intimate trio... use a p or J bass.... playing in a slightly more aggressive setting where you want to cut through the mix and add unprecedented bottom... use a Dimension with a rosewood fretboard & flats... need something even more aggressive.. switch to rounds & a maple fingerboard. In my septet I use an upright.... there's no slab around that'll compete with the real deal.
The Dimension is extremely versatile and (strung with flats) could do everything on its' own to varying extremes. Your choice of strings, the fingerboard composition, and your amplification will make a huge difference in your output.
You have to hear these basses to understand them... my dealer let me take one home where I was able to not only play through my own amplification but to bring it to a couple of gigs as well... so my take on the Dimension is not a "knee-jerk" Guitar Center impression.
Buying an instrument in any other fashion is like purchasing a mattress, until you have some time with it you don't k now if it'll actually work for you or not.
The Dimension is extremely versatile and (strung with flats) could do everything on its' own to varying extremes. Your choice of strings, the fingerboard composition, and your amplification will make a huge difference in your output.
You have to hear these basses to understand them... my dealer let me take one home where I was able to not only play through my own amplification but to bring it to a couple of gigs as well... so my take on the Dimension is not a "knee-jerk" Guitar Center impression.
Buying an instrument in any other fashion is like purchasing a mattress, until you have some time with it you don't k now if it'll actually work for you or not.
I posted this in a different thread but it fits here too..
I tried a single H 4 string at Guitar Center yesterday and it smoked! It was lightweight, had what felt like flawless fret work, smooth fret ends, and the tone was a mix of a P and a Stingray. Made in China and the price on the tag was $499.
For reference I play a Sadowsky and to be honest I usually have a hard time getting excited about other basses as I am just used to the tone and feel of my own. But in this case for this price I don't see how you can go wrong! It played and sounded great.. I then tried a brand new MIA Stingray right after and the while the Ray is as good as it gets in terms of fit and finish but the Dimension had a lot stronger output and was much louder, therefore the tone on the Dimension seemed more nuanced and it felt much more responsive. Hope this helps!
I tried a single H 4 string at Guitar Center yesterday and it smoked! It was lightweight, had what felt like flawless fret work, smooth fret ends, and the tone was a mix of a P and a Stingray. Made in China and the price on the tag was $499.
For reference I play a Sadowsky and to be honest I usually have a hard time getting excited about other basses as I am just used to the tone and feel of my own. But in this case for this price I don't see how you can go wrong! It played and sounded great.. I then tried a brand new MIA Stingray right after and the while the Ray is as good as it gets in terms of fit and finish but the Dimension had a lot stronger output and was much louder, therefore the tone on the Dimension seemed more nuanced and it felt much more responsive. Hope this helps!
In Canada at our biggest retailer there are lots of these in the warehouse, but not many (none near me) on the walls.
The American Deluxe 5HH is about $1850US ($2k with tax) so I will definitely wait until I get to play one, then buy one used (likely TB) if the tone works for me.
The American Deluxe 5HH is about $1850US ($2k with tax) so I will definitely wait until I get to play one, then buy one used (likely TB) if the tone works for me.
Just got mine 3 weeks ago. Blown away at how it plays and sounds as are my band members. First bass in a long time where I've just sad and studied the gorgeous craftsmanship. I didn't notice a large low end as noted above - more of a nice even sound with a tiny bit of mids, but I also use light gauge strings tuned f-c-g-a so that could be the diff. I definitely would tell others to buy this!
That's not a Squier. That's a Fender Modern Player Dimension. There's also a Fender Deluxe Dimension & Dimension V that are made in Mexico.
I called a local Fender shop.
"A Dimension? Never heard of it. What's special about it?"
"It has a humbucker in the bridge position, and..."
"Oh, well why don't you just get a MusicMan?"
Local shop also carries Ernie Ball.
"A Dimension? Never heard of it. What's special about it?"
"It has a humbucker in the bridge position, and..."
"Oh, well why don't you just get a MusicMan?"
Local shop also carries Ernie Ball.
Recently played the American Dimension Bass IV (single H) at my local shop...and I liked it a lot. I don't own it (yet), but here were my initial intentions...
Fit and finish were really good, and it's a beautiful bass. The one I tried was Natural with a Maple fretboard, and the body (Ash, according to the specs) had some nice grain. I will say, I was skeptical about the looks based on the pictures I'd seen online, but it looks a lot better in person.
Necks are always a big selling point for me, and as someone who loves pencil thin Ibanez SR necks and Jazz bass necks I was wary of the Precision nut with on the Dimension. That being said, I found the neck extremely comfortable and easy to play. The oil-finished neck was a nice touch, and the profile was really appealing. According to Fender's specs it has an asymmetrical neck shape, which I've never played before, but ended up liking a lot. It didn't feel "chunky" at all to me. In fact, I found it within the realm of "slim", which was a plus. Overall a fun bass to play.
My initial thoughts about the electronics were that they were very versatile. It was a similar EQ to my Ibanez SR600 (bass/mid/treble cut/boost, plus a pan knob), but the Dimension had a character all its own (maybe, in part, because it's a 18V as opposed to a 9V preamp, and of course the pickups differ). I was able to play various styles of music on it (Zeppelin, The Beatles, blink-182, various bluegrass lines, and some lines I wrote myself...) and make it sound "at home" in each situation. Halfway through my demo the store owner encouraged me to "crank the bass up!" and I did...the lows are massive! It's not lacking in the mids/highs however, and I regard it as a very well-rounded instrument (if that makes sense). It doesn't quite sound like a P...or a J...or a MM. I was able to approximate those tones, but IMO it had its own character.
Final verdict: It was awesome. After I was done playing I turned to my friend and told her I was considering buying it on the spot. YMMV, of course, but I was quite pleased with the Dimension. It might be a "love it or hate it" type of deal...I personally love it.
Fit and finish were really good, and it's a beautiful bass. The one I tried was Natural with a Maple fretboard, and the body (Ash, according to the specs) had some nice grain. I will say, I was skeptical about the looks based on the pictures I'd seen online, but it looks a lot better in person.
Necks are always a big selling point for me, and as someone who loves pencil thin Ibanez SR necks and Jazz bass necks I was wary of the Precision nut with on the Dimension. That being said, I found the neck extremely comfortable and easy to play. The oil-finished neck was a nice touch, and the profile was really appealing. According to Fender's specs it has an asymmetrical neck shape, which I've never played before, but ended up liking a lot. It didn't feel "chunky" at all to me. In fact, I found it within the realm of "slim", which was a plus. Overall a fun bass to play.
My initial thoughts about the electronics were that they were very versatile. It was a similar EQ to my Ibanez SR600 (bass/mid/treble cut/boost, plus a pan knob), but the Dimension had a character all its own (maybe, in part, because it's a 18V as opposed to a 9V preamp, and of course the pickups differ). I was able to play various styles of music on it (Zeppelin, The Beatles, blink-182, various bluegrass lines, and some lines I wrote myself...) and make it sound "at home" in each situation. Halfway through my demo the store owner encouraged me to "crank the bass up!" and I did...the lows are massive! It's not lacking in the mids/highs however, and I regard it as a very well-rounded instrument (if that makes sense). It doesn't quite sound like a P...or a J...or a MM. I was able to approximate those tones, but IMO it had its own character.
Final verdict: It was awesome. After I was done playing I turned to my friend and told her I was considering buying it on the spot. YMMV, of course, but I was quite pleased with the Dimension. It might be a "love it or hate it" type of deal...I personally love it.
I just got an e-mail from my local shop.... after returning the Dimension 4 HH after a test drive I ordered one... (I wanted a different color and a rosewood fingerboard).... delivery time ? END OF JANUARY !
Just a word to the wise... it'll take some time to get one of these things ! Merry Christmas (and Happy January 31st ?) TO ALL !
Just a word to the wise... it'll take some time to get one of these things ! Merry Christmas (and Happy January 31st ?) TO ALL !
OY!
I spelled Squier wrong (I corrected that just now in my post 
).Actually, I didn't even look at the headstock, I just assumed (incorrectly) that it was a Squier from the price tag, although it did say Made In China on the bass.
I didn't even plug it in, I just played a few runs on it to see how the neck felt (very nice, actually); I was at SA checking out something else (tc electronic MOJOMOJO, which I bought ) and happened to see the bass sitting on a stand on the floor (another sign that it was an inexpensive instrument).
Played one at the local music shop. Neck felt great, fret job was HORRID. couldn't believe it was MIA...I've played countless squiers that were better.
But it sounded pretty good. I liked the preamp
But it sounded pretty good. I liked the preamp
Um...well, it's $100 more than an ebmm stingray hh and $350 more than a G&L L-2000. Unless the pups or pres are different enough to justify the extra cash, what's the point? I'm not a fender hater...love their classics....but Leo Fender himself already designed TWO basses that fill this niche. Is his name on the headstock worth extra money?
Are Sadowsky's worth the extra money? Are Lull's worth the extra money? Frankly, I am very tired of this left-handed dissing of brand and price. If you like the bass, can afford it, and want to buy it. Buy it. If not, don't. Stop going on about the how some brands charge more money for their instruments than others. Saying you should buy a G&L L-2000 because it looks like a Fender Dimension and costs less is just plain stupid.
