That would be interesting. One thing I think fender could have done better is to stick to normal size soapbar/humbuckers so they have some aftermarket options.
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What's wrong with the Fender Dimension Basses?
- Thread starter tlite
- Start date
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
I realise fir a lot of reasons this would be brand suicide but I would have liked to have seen a different headstock. A modern 3+2 maybe?
I played on a dimension deluxe V for a few hours and intended to buy it before running afoul of various CITES stuff. I ended up with a stingray HH instead, which I'm happier with tonally. The Dimensions have a sort of sound which I put somewhere between thin and a clank that obviously a stingray doesn't. Almost bought one, though.
The factory setup.
The pickups are so powerful they almost distort with the factory setup. Sink those bad boys another 1/8 to 1/4 inch and you have a whole new, more refined animal.
The pickups are so powerful they almost distort with the factory setup. Sink those bad boys another 1/8 to 1/4 inch and you have a whole new, more refined animal.
When I started in on this thread in September (or maybe it was August....I can’t remember) I wasn’t a huge fan of the Dimension Basses. But the more sexy photos people lost of theirs and the more positive comments that I read about them, the more I want one. It’s funny how how that happens. Now if I were only independently wealthy......
What I said in an earlier Dimension thread. The bass still sounds Fender-like and that’s why I have kept mine and love playing it with the band or practicing & learning new tunes. It’s a warm-tone instrument and has Precision-like character.
Strangely enough, I find I like EB strings on it best. The bright yellow pack 140-105 (I think). I end up almost killing all the treble though.
YMMV but if you're like me, the HH version might be a better fit than an H model. Obviously, single H pickup basses with the pickup in the MM spot, don't have the heft that HH models have. Different strokes.
I borrowed an American prof. Dimension from a music store for a test drive.
Two things made me bring it back.
The satin finish on the neck has a real Korean feeling. It seemed cheap. They should have made the playing area satin (not this satin) and headstock gloss, like a MM.
The electronics seemed cheap, the pots didn't have a smooth qualitiy feel, and some of the wiring didn't seem up to snuff for a $1K+ bass. It seems sorta rammed in there.
It was an OK bass. Nothing that screamed quality like a MM, the market they are clearly after.
Two things made me bring it back.
The satin finish on the neck has a real Korean feeling. It seemed cheap. They should have made the playing area satin (not this satin) and headstock gloss, like a MM.
The electronics seemed cheap, the pots didn't have a smooth qualitiy feel, and some of the wiring didn't seem up to snuff for a $1K+ bass. It seems sorta rammed in there.
It was an OK bass. Nothing that screamed quality like a MM, the market they are clearly after.
I had an American Deluxe Dimension 4HH and wanted to love it, but ended up returning it to GC within the return period. The violin burst was beautiful and it was well-built, but I didn't like the body shape and, "wow" me in the tone department. To my ears, it had kind of a clinical sound. Anything it could do, my EBMM Stingray could do better. Just my two cents.
Dunno about the cheaper models but the American Deluxe has an "oiled" neck finish, not satin. Not my fave neck finish, but the MM fans seem to love oiled neck finishes.
Not sure what the slam against "Korean" basses is about. Korean-built basses are known for their excellent fit and finish.
Yep, the "oil" finished neck on the Deluxe/Elite is one of the highlights, IMHO. Just a little lacquer on the front face of the headstock, otherwise "natural oil".
Not sure where you read in a 'slam' about Korean basses. I mentioned their satin neck, which seems to be peculiar to them. I can usually tell when an instrument in Korean by that feeling, unique to their instruments. I was at NAMM a few years ago, and I picked up a Deusenberg guitar, and questioned why a MADE IN GERMANY guitar had a Korean neck. He checked his own website, and said I was correct. Something he didn't know. I have a great respect for Korean made instruments.Dunno about the cheaper models but the American Deluxe has an "oiled" neck finish, not satin. Not my fave neck finish, but the MM fans seem to love oiled neck finishes.
Not sure what the slam against "Korean" basses is about. Korean-built basses are known for their excellent fit and finish.
My 'cheap' comment was this particular made in USA instrument had a cheap feeling.
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I kinda like these. It may be because I'm not a huge fan of the traditional Fender basses (the original Performer is still my favorite Fender). I also think that, in general, Fender doesn't really do active very well: Their pre-amps seem to have a sterile, shrill tone to me. But these Dimension basses really seem to play well and sound good to me, even the active ones.
