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Should Fender.........
- Thread starter Nobody
- Start date
It's cool to hear the ideas . . . How about a new body style . . . With three pickups configured ala Strat (except for bass, not guitar, and without the hum), with the bridge route ala Jimi Strat . . .
Although a variation of this already exists, it is not by Fender. . . (MM Big-Al (be careful where you put that hyphen (that's what she said)))
Although a variation of this already exists, it is not by Fender. . . (MM Big-Al (be careful where you put that hyphen (that's what she said)))
I wish Fender would jettison a bunch of stuff, not create new stuff: One basic passive P and one basic passive J in a variety of colors, plus a fancier active version of each; Four and five strings versions of both. I would like to see all of the signature models go away due to the needless duplication and product confusion. I'm speaking about the Fender American line here.
Cars and basses? Two different industries. I'm glad Coke quit trying to "innovate" it's basic design
Yea - fender is one of those oddities. if they even vary a little people get pissed. I'll echo what others have said. if I want innovation I'm not going to look at fender. and lets face it they will never HAVE to be innovative again.
I also feel that - since we're on the car/bass kick, they are like Jeeps. Simple and begging for mods if you want to.
I also feel that - since we're on the car/bass kick, they are like Jeeps. Simple and begging for mods if you want to.
Unlike the Model T, newer bass designs will not disrupt (replace) the basic P and J for general utility. These two industries are not analogous for the purposes of this thread.
And yes, if I want something different, I'll go to one of the other companies, like EBMM.
And yes, if I want something different, I'll go to one of the other companies, like EBMM.
I wish they would make standard production runs of some the Custom Shops more interesting models like the Lotto-bass and the Porrazo-bass.
Fender had the short-lived Elite Tele series in the 80s which I always thought was cool...
...it would make an awesome bass.
Maybe a Jazz body but sans pickguard and with same features like knobs/placement, soap-bar-ish pickups, bridge, brown (walnut I think) finish... I'm picturing it and it's beautiful. Hell, it would rock with the Tele body as well.
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...it would make an awesome bass.
Maybe a Jazz body but sans pickguard and with same features like knobs/placement, soap-bar-ish pickups, bridge, brown (walnut I think) finish... I'm picturing it and it's beautiful. Hell, it would rock with the Tele body as well.
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Why would they do that when you can still buy almost new RBeck basses just about any day you like?
Whatever Fender is doing now, they're doing right. Why should they pay any notice to the demands of a tiny, hard to please segment of the market?
- More options for pickups e.g. the incorporation of soapbars,new pickups like those on the CS models, piezo bridges to expand the versatility of basses like in the Power Jazz Basses. Also more maple fretboards. Because everyone likes maple. 
okcrum
in your chest
Classic example of how people don't seem to want new designs from Fender. Every review I've read of the RB has praised it to the skies as a great bass. But it just didn't sell.
If the Model T still served the needs of many drivers 60 years after its invention, this analogy could work.
ok this is one of those discussions
fender fans will say:
fender aint doing anything wrong and have somthing out there for there fans not for everyone
others will say:
why shouldent they give a more wide spred range.
to the fender fans i agree HOWEVER keep in mind alot of people really dislike fender because of there practaces
to the others ill say this:
think of all the companys over the years that have came in and out of fashion. remeber stinebergs used to be cool. sometimes timeless is the best way to go.
if you need a example just look at a recent incident.
mario vs. sonic.
mario has been the gold standard for years. maybe not giving EVERYBODY what they want BUT giving the fans what they want.
sonic was made to be the cool alternative to mario and look what happend. most of the sonic team bailed within 8 years and now hes kinda wondering from the job center to his flat.
sound farmilure?
ok theres alot of things as a fender fan i can complain about (mostly japanese instruments not coming to the uk and the fact that they list the bassman as a guitar amp nowadays) but the truth is if your that picky over what you want from a instrument company then maybe you should relax
fender fans will say:
fender aint doing anything wrong and have somthing out there for there fans not for everyone
others will say:
why shouldent they give a more wide spred range.
to the fender fans i agree HOWEVER keep in mind alot of people really dislike fender because of there practaces
to the others ill say this:
think of all the companys over the years that have came in and out of fashion. remeber stinebergs used to be cool. sometimes timeless is the best way to go.
if you need a example just look at a recent incident.
mario vs. sonic.
mario has been the gold standard for years. maybe not giving EVERYBODY what they want BUT giving the fans what they want.
sonic was made to be the cool alternative to mario and look what happend. most of the sonic team bailed within 8 years and now hes kinda wondering from the job center to his flat.
sound farmilure?
ok theres alot of things as a fender fan i can complain about (mostly japanese instruments not coming to the uk and the fact that they list the bassman as a guitar amp nowadays) but the truth is if your that picky over what you want from a instrument company then maybe you should relax
They made a few different Elite P-basses, Single Pickup, Double, gold or silver hardware, walnut, but oddly never did an Elite Jazz Bass. There are mine:
I am not saying I know everything about how profitable or not profitable the model was, but it seemed to do a great job of bridging the gap between modern and vintage. I just thought it was a great bass, and wish I could get a new one... but you are right I could just get a used one.
I suppose you could also say you can get a vintage Fender any day you like as well (you just have to pay for it,) it doesn't mean that they shouldn't make the reissues.
Fender has been "type cast" by the huge success of its classic models, for better and worse. It keeps them selling huge amounts of basses (and guitars), but means folks who want something different tend to look elsewhere. I bet it's frustrating for Fender designers and product planners, who would probably like to do something different, but they just keep mixing elements of the tried-and-true, such as the new Blacktop basses. The "Jazz" has two pickups with J-bass pickguard and control plate, but split-coil pickups and a P-bass body. Just how many permutations of these traditional elements are there? Sheesh. But still, it's cool, and because it's called a "Jazz" and looks like a Fender, it will probably sell.
Fender has occasionally tried to break its own mold, and it doesn't seem to work. The Roscoe Beck is a great example. It was/is an exellent bass, and yet apparently it wasn't successful enough. They also went the full modern double soapbar route with the American Deluxe Zone, which I thought was fantastic, but it was quickly dropped from the lineup. Players looking for something like that simply won't consider Fender, and most Fender players generally won't want something like that. (And if they do, they'll probably stick with Leo and get a G&L.
)
Fender has occasionally tried to break its own mold, and it doesn't seem to work. The Roscoe Beck is a great example. It was/is an exellent bass, and yet apparently it wasn't successful enough. They also went the full modern double soapbar route with the American Deluxe Zone, which I thought was fantastic, but it was quickly dropped from the lineup. Players looking for something like that simply won't consider Fender, and most Fender players generally won't want something like that. (And if they do, they'll probably stick with Leo and get a G&L.
)
