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Namm 2016: *New* Fender Elite Series

#121
Sartori said:
What's an S-1 switch?


Eh, Ibanez has come out with a lot of new stuff, but none of what they've made in the last couple decades or so really interests me.


I think people who want more finishes don't necessarily want more models, they just want more finishes available on the existing models.
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Truth be told, I own more Fenders than I can count and only one Ibanez. But, if you want innovation and experimentation, don't look at Fender. Their bread and butter is tradition and minor refinement. I agree with you about color and finish options, but Fender sticks with what sells, and they have a strange inability to release a new color scheme without labeling it as a new model.
 
#122
wvbass said:
Truth be told, I own more Fenders than I can count and only one Ibanez. But, if you want innovation and experimentation, don't look at Fender. Their bread and butter is tradition and minor refinement. I agree with you about color and finish options, but Fender sticks with what sells, and they have a strange inability to release a new color scheme without labeling it as a new model.
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For a company that allegedly sticks with what sells, Fender has sure brought out a lot of different models over the years that weren't just P and J variations.
 
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#123
JimmyM said:
For a company that allegedly sticks with what sells, Fender has sure brought out a lot of different models over the years that weren't just P and J variations.
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Fair enough. They have produced a fair amount of variety, but the don't really stick around because that isn't who they are. The Dimension will disappear before too long. The Jaguar has found a home in the Squier line, fortunately. But, you tell me, does Fender produce and sell mainly P's and J's, or do they produce and sell an equal amount of Dimensions, Rascals, Coronados, VI's, Jaguars, Mustangs, etc? A lot of these are just P, J or PJ configurations dressed up a little - they don't do a bunch of HH or HS, because that's not who they are. Don't get me wrong - I'm a Fender fan and own ten or more Fenders. I have an Urge I, with I think is great bass, but not too many non-talkbass Fender bass guys have every heard of it.

My 1974 Fender Precision is the same basic bass as my 2003 Fender Precision, and both of them are basically the same as my 2014 Fender Precision. That is what Fender does well and has had success at doing.

On the other hands, the innovators do seemingly crazy things. Peavey never stopped changing the the Foundation, even after the point that it was arguably "perfected" as a model, and right up to the point it became necessary to discontinue it. Ibanez isn't shy about discontinuing a model and trying something new, although they seem to have found a home in SR's and BTB's.

EDIT: Just to get an actual on-topic comment in there...I'm sure the Elite series is a great fine tuning of the already great Deluxe series.
 
#124
My old 79 Precision that I sold years ago was only similar lookswise to my 09 Precision that's a keeper. Plenty of differences, though. No thru-body stringing, no light tuners and slightly heftier bridge, the pickup sounds different (the one are that the 79 beat the 09 but I still didn't think it was all that good), and the neck doesn't have graphite inlays or a 9 1/4" radius. I don't think they're anywhere near the same basses.
 
#125
Been giving the Elite J V some good airtime. I have to say Fender really did a great job of refocusing the J look, feel, and tone on these. The tone is very faithful to the heart and soul of all the great J tones over the years. Nothing missing IMHO, except I'd prefer to have the passive tone always available (only works in passive mode). But the playability and fit/finish are great. Joy to play. Love it.
 
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#126
I like the Am. Std. "PJ" Precision, over the new Elites. Personal preference.

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#127
west al said:
I like the Am. Std. "PJ" Precision, over the new Elites. Personal preference.

WPHZ5RY.png
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Any particular reason, or just in general feels and fits you better somehow that can't really be quantified specifically? Yours is also a great bass, of course. Sometimes on TB I think we get a little nitpicky, and sometimes I think the answer is "dunno exactly, it just is", which is totally cool.
 
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#128
Vic said:
Any particular reason, or just in general feels and fits you better somehow that can't really be quantified specifically? Yours is also a great bass, of course. Sometimes on TB I think we get a little nitpicky, and sometimes I think the answer is "dunno exactly, it just is", which is totally cool.
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I like the Am. Std. being a passive. I had the Am. Dlx. Jazzes, and Precisions that were pretty similar to the new Elite Series. One improvement I do like, is the rotating wheel truss rod adjustment. I never had problems with the N3 pups as it seems other players have had with them.
 
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#129
west al said:
I like the Am. Std. being a passive. I had the Am. Dlx. Jazzes, and Precisions that were pretty similar to the new Elite Series. One improvement I do like, is the rotating wheel truss rod adjustment. I never had problems with the N3 pups as it seems other players have had with them.
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The wheel is definitely very nice, and while I also haven't had any issues with the N3's, I do feel the N4's are an improvement. True the Elites have passive mode, but why pay for a preamp if you'll never use it, so that makes sense. Cool, thx.
 
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#136
I played one of these at a GC last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Most of the MIA Fender 5 string Jazz basses I've tried are pretty heavy and the neck is too fat for me. This was very comfortable.
Has this new-fangled "D" shaped neck made its way to any of the other lines? (ex MIM, MIJ) $2k is too rich for my blood.
 
#138
Edmang said:
Seems this has been the case with Fender. And EBMM is following, drastically reducing the color options for their basses. Must be cheaper to only support limited colors. Would wish there was an option for more colors, even if they charged a little extra for it.
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If you want another color besides what Fender currently is offering, then you would have to go through the CS.
 

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