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Parallel Universe range from Fender

#41
OK, am I the only one that's a little underwhelmed by this? Yes, the Meteora has a different body shape and headstock, but aside from different shapes (the headstock certainly ain't new), it's a freakin' Telecaster - a 70 year old design. Pickup locations, angles, everything - yup, stil the same as it was in the late 1940's. Everything else is just copying mods they've probably seen in a pawn shop. Way to think slightly off center in the box, Fender!

The bass design is a bit cool , but when Schecter did the exact same thing, people weren't exactly jumping around excited. We seem to constantly give Fender a pass on innovation. Are we that much in love with their comfy old designs that we don't see this?

Fender has the ability, somewhere, to think a bit differently. I have to believe that in a company their size, someone has an original idea that isn;'t a mashup of something they've done before. The Dimension was kind of a step in that direction, albeit a step in someone else's footprint. They didn't go bold enough in my mind on that one.

I don't own a Fender bass. Yes, I have some that are very "Fenderish" (certain things they pioneered 60 years ago work very well), but Roasted necks, aluminum hardware, Different pickups (Nordstrand big splits are one of my faves) - those modern things that make a bass more playble or sound better (my opinion), but....they just can't get themselves out of their own comfort zone and try something new. I realize they're trapped in their own success, but eventually, it might be their undoing.

C'mon Fender..try something NEW!!! If you do, there's a chance I'll buy one. Or several. Rehash things yet again...I ain't buying.

Rant off. Flame suit on.
 
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#42
micguy said:
OK, am I the only one that's a little underwhelmed by this? Yes, the Meteora has a different body shape and headstock, but aside from different shapes (the headstock certainly ain't new), it's a freakin' Telecaster - a 70 year old design. Pickup locations, angles, everything - yup, stil the same as it was in the late 1940's. Everything else is just copying mods they've probably seen in a pawn shop. Way to think slightly off center in the box, Fender!

The bass design is a bit cool , but when Schecter did the exact same thing, people weren't exactly jumping around excited. We seem to constantly give Fender a pass on innovation. Are we that much in love with their comfy old designs that we don't see this?

Fender has the ability, somewhere, to think a bit differently. I have to believe that in a company their size, someone has an original idea that isn;'t a mashup of something they've done before. The Dimension was kind of a step in that direction, albeit a step in someone else's footprint. They didn't go bold enough in my mind on that one.

I don't own a Fender bass. Yes, I have some that are very "Fenderish" (certain things they pioneered 60 years ago work very well), but Roasted necks, aluminum hardware, Different pickups (Nordstrand big splits are one of my faves) - those modern things that make a bass more playble or sound better (my opinion), but....they just can't get themselves out of their own comfort zone and try something new. I realize they're trapped in their own success, but eventually, it might be their undoing.

C'mon Fender..try something NEW!!! If you do, there's a chance I'll buy one. Or several. Rehash things yet again...I ain't buying.

Rant off. Flame suit on.
Click to expand...

You have craftsmen, designers, players and then you have marketers. There are good marketers, mediocre marketers and bad marketers, all whom hit the mark occasionally but when ego sets in...
 
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#43
micguy said:
OK, am I the only one that's a little underwhelmed by this?
Click to expand...

No, I fully agree. However, whenever Fender has tried to innovate or do "something new" in the past it seems to fall flat with their market, so it's not fully unexpected.

In my mind, at the end of the day a PJ is a PJ is a PJ, regardless of the body shape. What I would like to see is a "vintage correct" telecaster bass with one big ass humbucker right up at the neck. Like really offer something different than the x dozen PJs they already offer.
 
#44
E752FDFB-9A99-4F38-9207-13F38D441507.jpeg
EA608DF7-3871-4B1C-801F-8F924D5E6668.jpeg
Right, we’ve never seen anything like that before...
 
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#47
micguy said:
it's a freakin' Telecaster - a 70 year old design. Pickup locations, angles, everything - yup, stil the same as it was in the late 1940's. Everything else is just copying mods they've probably seen in a pawn shop.
Click to expand...

...and from their research with popular practicing guitar player mods.

You're absolutely right. And the marketing allure in that is strong. Kind of like when the car companies find out many of their customers are putting spoilers, racing stripes, and mag wheels on their cars. They get with the marketing strategy.

Just look at the Fender Professional bass line. Same thing. The major changes are mods and upgrades they've observed countless bass players making over the years.

As a guitar player, I can say that some of those guitar models and the particularly tasteful unique mods and upgrades are mighty attractive to me, and rather than buy a plain Tele and then make the considerable investment in time, money, and effort, I would be tempted to buy one of those pre-modded models. I'd say, "that's just me," but it's not just me, not by a long shot.

A Tele with two Jazzmaster soapbars and trem/bridge, plus a Strat headstock? Considerable "wow" factor there for some players familiar with the components and intrigued by the amalgamation, believe it or not. Difficult to find that hanging on the rack, or in a pawn shop for that matter. You're practically guaranteed to be the first kid on your block (or in your region) to have one.

Plus, there is some collector value there. They are only letting them trickle out, and it could end any time.

Frankly, whenever Fender does something other than Strat/Tele/Precision/Jazz in Oly Wht/Red/Black, I get excited. I give them an "A" for effort.
 
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#49
electracoyote said:
Frankly, whenever Fender does something other than Strat/Tele/Precision/Jazz in Oly Wht/Red/Black, I get excited. I give them an "A" for effort.
Click to expand...

I do understand why they do this - anything in their "turf" is likely to sell some amount of units, and given that they're not tooling up to build any of this stuff (aside from a new cnc program here or there to cut a different shaped body or pickup routs), it's not tough for them to put the project in the black. And yes, I would applaud the "effort", though I might give them a B- or C+, as it can't be that much effort. As far as creativity goes, though, that's where I'm not giving them a passing grade. If GM were doing this, they'd be taking a 1950's Buick and putting 1965 Pontiac tail lights on it. It might look cool, but innovative? Yawn. I'd love to see them try something new.
 
#59
micguy said:
OK, am I the only one that's a little underwhelmed by this? Yes, the Meteora has a different body shape and headstock, but aside from different shapes (the headstock certainly ain't new), it's a freakin' Telecaster - a 70 year old design. Pickup locations, angles, everything - yup, stil the same as it was in the late 1940's. Everything else is just copying mods they've probably seen in a pawn shop. Way to think slightly off center in the box, Fender!

The bass design is a bit cool , but when Schecter did the exact same thing, people weren't exactly jumping around excited. We seem to constantly give Fender a pass on innovation. Are we that much in love with their comfy old designs that we don't see this?

Fender has the ability, somewhere, to think a bit differently. I have to believe that in a company their size, someone has an original idea that isn;'t a mashup of something they've done before. The Dimension was kind of a step in that direction, albeit a step in someone else's footprint. They didn't go bold enough in my mind on that one.

I don't own a Fender bass. Yes, I have some that are very "Fenderish" (certain things they pioneered 60 years ago work very well), but Roasted necks, aluminum hardware, Different pickups (Nordstrand big splits are one of my faves) - those modern things that make a bass more playble or sound better (my opinion), but....they just can't get themselves out of their own comfort zone and try something new. I realize they're trapped in their own success, but eventually, it might be their undoing.

C'mon Fender..try something NEW!!! If you do, there's a chance I'll buy one. Or several. Rehash things yet again...I ain't buying.

Rant off. Flame suit on.
Click to expand...

Not throwing flames, rather offering up so.e possible logic.

Almost every time Fender "tries something new" it sinks fast. It doesn't sell. Period.
 
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