I like the longer upper horn, but not crazy about the PG or the straight line controls… they look awkward. I'd be game to prototype with some mods that make it flow a bit better. I like the simplicity of the one pickup too.People that love 'em, love 'em, but they weren't a hit in the marketplace.
I've been thinking about it, and quickly photoshopped this to illustrate a redesign concept.
To me, this is a better expression of Fender design DNA, that's simultaneously forward-looking but also "modern classic."
- Roughly the same lower body contours
- Extend the upper horns for visual and physical balance
- Redesign the pickguard into something kinda like the Urge Bass (could be improved on, I know)
- Go for rear-routed controls and a smaller headstock like the Jazz Bass Plus / Urge
It avoids some of the issues of the original, namely that there wasn't real design unity and the curves were fighting each other - it also seemed vaguely inspired by the old Gibson Victory? - and it ended up looking stodgy instead of sleek.
Thoughts?
View attachment 6985286
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Redesigning the controversial Fender Dimension
- Thread starter hooky_marr
- Start date
Sadly, no. I sold the loaded Cherryburst body to make room for the black one. However, before I sold it, I got to hand it off to a big Dimension fan I know...as in, she even owns a prototype Dimension in a non-standard finish from a contact she has within FMIC. (I think it's Transparent Blue, or something like that.
) After playing it for a little while, she simply said, "It sounds like a Dimension!". Given that it was loaded with a Bartolini dual-coil "Classic Bass" pickup and a '90s-era Jackson 2-band preamp, as opposed to standard Dimension electronics, I took that complement as some pretty high praise. In other words, I accidentally nailed it...go fig!Big picture; I think the visual pros & cons of the Fender Dimension are matters of taste, not unlike the divide between Jazz and Precision enthusiasts. And while I may not be a professional designer, like you, I am an artist/graphic designer who switched careers to "healthcare" decades ago. I still see The World, and all it encompasses, through that artistic lens, and to me, the Dimension is just fine.
Regardless ('cuz "irregardless" is not an actual word!
), that's just my take and in no way, shape or form does it have to apply to others...'cuz "ART"! 
Sadly, no. I sold the loaded Cherryburst body to make room for the black one. However, before I sold it, I got to hand it off to a big Dimension fan I know...as in, she even owns a prototype Dimension in a non-standard finish from a contact she has within FMIC. (I think it's Transparent Blue, or something like that.
Big picture; I think the visual pros & cons of the Fender Dimension are matters of taste, not unlike the divide between Jazz and Precision enthusiasts. And while I may not be a professional designer, like you, I am an artist/graphic designer who switched careers to "healthcare" decades ago. I still see The World, and all it encompasses, through that artistic lens, and to me, the Dimension is just fine.
Regardless ('cuz "irregardless" is not an actual word!
Does not need a pickguard , otherwise good design ..........your hired .People that love 'em, love 'em, but they weren't a hit in the marketplace.
I've been thinking about it, and quickly photoshopped this to illustrate a redesign concept.
To me, this is a better expression of Fender design DNA, that's simultaneously forward-looking but also "modern classic."
- Roughly the same lower body contours
- Extend the upper horns for visual and physical balance
- Redesign the pickguard into something kinda like the Urge Bass (could be improved on, I know)
- Go for rear-routed controls and a smaller headstock like the Jazz Bass Plus / Urge
It avoids some of the issues of the original, namely that there wasn't real design unity and the curves were fighting each other - it also seemed vaguely inspired by the old Gibson Victory? - and it ended up looking stodgy instead of sleek.
Thoughts?
View attachment 6985286
I actually like the pickguard on yours. I also like the smaller headstock. I always felt the standard Fender headstock looked way out of place on the Dimension
No pickguard
Fatter top horn
Maple neck
Original headstock
Matching headstock
Blocks instead of dots
Lollipop tuners
Fatter top horn
Maple neck
Original headstock
Matching headstock
Blocks instead of dots
Lollipop tuners
Aesthetically, the only things I'd change about the Dimension Bass are the pickguard (either ditch it completely, or draw inspiration from the Music Man Sabre - a more or less Precision style pickguard married to a metal control plate), and the proprietary pickups.
Everything else (body shape, compound radius neck) I really dig.
Everything else (body shape, compound radius neck) I really dig.
I like your redesign, but still prefer it as it was made. They are excellent basses!
I play a Dimension 5 as one of my top 3. The redesign headstock for a 5 won't work. That's pretty obvious. The passive 5 pickup's are hot. But, that can all be controlled on the bass itself. The sound I prefer is done on the bass and my amp, not too difficult. The bass isn't as heavy as some think. For me with my getting older back, it's fine. There are other top of the line 5s that are heavier.
The word from some distributors when I bought mine was that the "sales problem" wasn't design. It was the Jazz and Precision snobs that refused to accept anything other than those from Fender? How dare them try something different! Don't know for sure if that's true but, it could be? The Dimension plays well, handles well, and sounds good as well. Don't like it, don't buy one. I through experience and word from band mates, and FOH engineers, have expressed its a good sounding instrument. Built as well as anything out there.
The word from some distributors when I bought mine was that the "sales problem" wasn't design. It was the Jazz and Precision snobs that refused to accept anything other than those from Fender? How dare them try something different! Don't know for sure if that's true but, it could be? The Dimension plays well, handles well, and sounds good as well. Don't like it, don't buy one. I through experience and word from band mates, and FOH engineers, have expressed its a good sounding instrument. Built as well as anything out there.
I played one in Sam Ash (RIP 1924-2024) when I was younger. It was heavy and I didn't like the tones I was getting.
Though I have no real truck with Fenders or FSOs these days, it's kind of an interesting question: How would one tweak an existing design to make it (at least in the opinion of some) more effective and desirable?People that love 'em, love 'em, but they weren't a hit in the marketplace.
I've been thinking about it, and quickly photoshopped this to illustrate a redesign concept.
To me, this is a better expression of Fender design DNA, that's simultaneously forward-looking but also "modern classic."
- Roughly the same lower body contours
- Extend the upper horns for visual and physical balance
- Redesign the pickguard into something kinda like the Urge Bass (could be improved on, I know)
- Go for rear-routed controls and a smaller headstock like the Jazz Bass Plus / Urge
It avoids some of the issues of the original, namely that there wasn't real design unity and the curves were fighting each other - it also seemed vaguely inspired by the old Gibson Victory? - and it ended up looking stodgy instead of sleek.
Thoughts?
View attachment 6985286
I have to say, though, that if I were considering a bass like this, I would prefer the original in pretty much every respect. To me, the extended horns aren't obviously necessary, the pickguard kind of loses any point, and the straight line controls lose the sense of movement.
I don't care for either of the headstocks TBH. Color matching would help, but I wouldn't even mind seeing a 2 X 2 headstock, as they did on the old Heartfield basses. Pressed into a corner with a pea-shooter to my head, I'd probably still take the original over the redo.
Just an opinion, worth no more than you paid for it.
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