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Parallel Universe range from Fender

#62
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.
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The problem with trying to innovate with new things is that... there's nothing to innovate. Really, the last major innovation for basses and guitars was active electronics. Guitars and basses are one thing we could expect little change for in the future. Can you think of something new for them to do? I certainly can't. It's all been done.
 
#65
two fingers said:
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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This is it. For all those wanting something different, what do you have in mind that Fender hasn't given a whirl in the past? Whenever they make something different, it's for a niche market that gets saturated pretty fast and then that model disappears. Dozens of examples of that over the years.
 
#71
Fletz said:
Put up a Fender post and watch all the Fender haters come out of the woodwork. Predictable and annoying.
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I'm no hater. I'm sure someone will be excited by these, but a Tele with a Strat body and a Strat with a Tele body doesn't seem to me anything the world is clamoring for. The P/J bass gets the look of a SCPB without the sound, another odd choice. They could offer every possible body style with every possible neck style and pickup style and I'd still be scratching my head.
 
#75
So much potential, but it looks like they just threw a bunch of ideas in a hat and pulled out 2 for each instrument, rather than thinking about what would actually be useful. A strat with a tele body just looks like a birth defect. But if they had combined electronics/functionality/etc... of a couple instruments into one, that could have been cool. Like the strat jaguar should have had a strat pickguard and control placement. Now it just looks stupid, even if it probably sounds awesome.
 
#79
Felken said:
The problem with trying to innovate with new things is that... there's nothing to innovate. Really, the last major innovation for basses and guitars was active electronics. Guitars and basses are one thing we could expect little change for in the future. Can you think of something new for them to do? I certainly can't. It's all been done.
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It's a bit like Steinway would feel the marketing pressure to release a new version of their "Grand Piano" at every NAMM. And a Germany Vintage Series, a bulgarian Classic Series, a Custom Shop, not to forget the all new "German Originals Series"...
 
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#80
I've been after some sort of 51 P bass for forever, had INSANE Gas for this one until I saw the price. I'd kill for an MIM version or something. Nearly bought the Schecter Model T, but the rosewood fingerboard put me off (should be maple :p) and the larger pickguard. Would've bought a Lakland Skyline 44-51, but I haven't seen a single one in Australia. I'll take any sort of butterscotch blonde, vintage blonde, or white blonde precision bass at this point (Fender please).

Also does this bass have stacked knobs or something? I can't tell what the controls are.
 

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