Squier Deluxe Dimension Bass (IV & V string)

[tubatodd]

I've said this about other American Fenders before. When played head to head with Squier VM, CS or similar basses, the American basses are better. They just aren't $1200 better. The Squiers built these days are of such high quality that they are an outstanding value. I bring mine to rehearsals and gigs and they sound fantastic.

 

[jbravo]

Hey guys-
I just picked this up yesterday...
My problem is that I wanted sunburst with a maple board, and I prefer jazz width nuts lately.
The answer I found was I ordered a modern player dimension neck from the stratosphere, that also has the five bolt neck pattern. Really hoping it all lines up.
That will make for a fairly expensive squier, but I think it will be worth it.
When the neck arrives I'll let you know how it all turns out
Thanks-
Steve

 

[Dr. Cheese]

View attachment 618852 Hey guys-
I just picked this up yesterday...
My problem is that I wanted sunburst with a maple board, and I prefer jazz width nuts lately.
The answer I found was I ordered a modern player dimension neck from the stratosphere, that also has the five bolt neck pattern. Really hoping it all lines up.
That will make for a fairly expensive squier, but I think it will be worth it.
When the neck arrives I'll let you know how it all turns out
Thanks-
Steve

You better play it like it is first!

 

[jbravo]

I've played it enough to know I like the bass. The neck is nice enough, but I definitely prefer a jazz width nut.
Fear not, this isn't my first ride at the bass mod rodeo!!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I've played it enough to know I like the bass. The neck is nice enough, but I definitely prefer a jazz width nut.
Fear not, this isn't my first ride at the bass mod rodeo!!

That's cool, I just wanted you to check out the original neck first.

 

[ODDBALL]

How do the Dimension V's compare to the SUB Ray5's?

Thanks

Shaun

 

[tubatodd]

How do the Dimension V's compare to the SUB Ray5's?

Thanks

Shaun

I owned a SBMM SUB ray5 and a SUB ray4 and still own a SUB SB4. I had a Dimension V in my possession for a couple days. Comparing the 2 that you specifically mentioned, here is my assessment.

1. Both great instruments!
2. SUB and Dimension sound completely different. There is a more aggressive high-mids on the Dimension. Not a bad thing.
3. They are both made of basswood, but the SUB is satin and the Dimension is a gloss finish. For me, the gloss makes the bass look a little higher quality and helps hide flaws [IMHO].
4. The necks with maple fingerboards on the SUBs can feel cheap. The ones with a rosewood fingerboard are very nice. The necks on the Dimensions (maple or rosewood) are glossy and feel top notch.
5. The Pickups and EQ on the them is very different. To me the Dimension has a more aggressive MM style sound.....which is a tad ironic.
6. I like the knobs on the Dimension better.
7. The string spacing and neck width on the SUB ray 5 is smaller and more comfortable to me than the Dimension V. That's why I sent my Dimension V back and got the IV.
8. The bridge on the Dimension is much nicer than anything in the same price range.

EDIT: I believe the wood used on the SUB rays for the solid colored finishes is NOT basswood but something much lighter. There is a noticeable weight difference.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

How do the Dimension V's compare to the SUB Ray5's?

Thanks

Shaun

You're in California, it should be easy to find a store with both a SUB and Dimension to compare.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I agree with Tubatodd that a Dimension has much wider string spacing than a SUB. The fact the Dimension has a Stingray style sound with wide string spacing is what makes it attractive to me.

 

[ODDBALL]

That sounds good to me. I am so close to buying one. Now it's down to which color.... Red or Black?

Shaun

 

[Gorn]

I've said this about other American Fenders before. When played head to head with Squier VM, CS or similar basses, the American basses are better. They just aren't $1200 better. The Squiers built these days are of such high quality that they are an outstanding value. I bring mine to rehearsals and gigs and they sound fantastic.

Darn tootin. They're whatever graphite neck reinforcements costs-worth better. Hardly $1200.

 

[jbravo]

My new neck arrived today, and although I had planned to wait till the weekend, of course I didn't.

It was a nice snug fit in the pocket, actually better than the stock neck. The screw holes lined up perfectly, and it set up amazing. We bonded so well I even took the plastic off the pickguard! (Now that's commitment)
The neck has a quite nice dark vintage finish.
Pics:

 

[Dr. Cheese]

My new neck arrived today, and although I had planned to wait till the weekend, of course I didn't.

It was a nice snug fit in the pocket, actually better than the stock neck. The screw holes lined up perfectly, and it set up amazing. We bonded so well I even took the plastic off the pickguard! (Now that's commitment)
The neck has a quite nice dark vintage finish.
Pics:
View attachment 620362 View attachment 620363 View attachment 620364
View attachment 620365

I'm glad you like it!

 

[jbravo]

And I am too! I hope Fender/Squier will consider 1.5 " necks in future models. ( It would be cheaper that way!)

 

[tubatodd]

Update:
I suppose this update is rather backward considering I've already gigged with my Dimension bass. BUT....last night, I used it in rehearsal with my Hartke Kickback 10. Like many bass players, I'm VERY picky on the tone I dial in and project. Sometimes dialing in the sound I want on my kickback is frustrating. But I was able to get a nice ensemble tone with minimal fuss. Oddly enough, I ended up dialing in more mids than I thought I would. Overall, the more I play my Dimension IV, the more I really like it.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Ok, I'm thinking of getting one of these in black with maple board 5 stringer. Let's talk Dimension Deluxe..... what's the pro's and con's of this bass?

I currently play Rock, some Funk, Blues and Gospel. Will this bass be able to fit with these styles? I already own a Squier VM Jazz. And I am selling a ATK205 now.

Thanks

Shaun

I just bought a Dimension American Deluxe IV and you will be able funk on that thing. I'm not a funk player, don't do slap and pop on a regular basses, and that could possibly be that I found it difficult on my Jazz and Precision basses, but on the Dimension I can funk it with my thumb effortlessly... seriously.

What I am now finding difficult to do is play the Dimension with a pick (it'll take practice is all). I'm now under the impression that the radius of the neck factors in considerably when either thumping/slapping (funk style), or playing with a pick. I can play with a pick all day long on my P and J with no problem... neck radius = 7.5. The Dimension neck radius = 9.5 - 14... much flatter, and like I said, I can now funk it up if I want to.

Hope this helps

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Update:
I suppose this update is rather backward considering I've already gigged with my Dimension bass. BUT....last night, I used it in rehearsal with my Hartke Kickback 10. Like many bass players, I'm VERY picky on the tone I dial in and project. Sometimes dialing in the sound I want on my kickback is frustrating. But I was able to get a nice ensemble tone with minimal fuss. Oddly enough, I ended up dialing in more mids than I thought I would. Overall, the more I play my Dimension IV, the more I really like it.

Yeah, this bass sounds great with the mids up, just slices through in way I want. Easy to make it sit back, too.

I'm still considering swapping the tuners & preamp, but as time goes on, I'm finding that's just because I feel I should, rather than needing to. All I've done is sand the neck gloss down a little, haven't even changed the stock strings.

I'm still amazed at the quality of the bass. Paint job is flawless, neck is very comfortable, holds tune, preamp has a good range, the bridge is easily the best I've had anywhere near this price range.. love the pickup position too.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Yeah, this bass sounds great with the mids up, just slices through in way I want. Easy to make it sit back, too.

I'm still considering swapping the tuners & preamp, but as time goes on, I'm finding that's just because I feel I should, rather than needing to. All I've done is sand the neck gloss down a little, haven't even changed the stock strings.

I'm still amazed at the quality of the bass. Paint job is flawless, neck is very comfortable, holds tune, preamp has a good range, the bridge is easily the best I've had anywhere near this price range.. love the pickup position too.

When it comes to Squiers, we are so used to modding, it is hard to accept that a Squier can come out of the box completely ready to play. Squier has been much better for about the last four years, and the Dimension is even better than what came before.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

When it comes to Squiers, we are so used to modding, it is hard to accept that a Squier can come out of the box completely ready to play. Squier has been much better for about the last four years, and the Dimension is even better than what came before.

Yup. I just sold a very, very good Classic Vibe Jazz, and as great as they are, this Dimension is better. Probably the best price to quality ratio I've had with an instrument.

 

[tubatodd]

YAU (Yet Another Update):
I also gave then neck a tad more relief like @Dr. Cheese did. The strings are nicely broken in and the instrument sounds fantastic.