Again, the USA Dimensions have an "oiled" neck finish, not a satin finish that you seem to think "feels Korean". You may have your basses confused.
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What's wrong with the Fender Dimension Basses?
- Thread starter tlite
- Start date
Again, the USA Dimensions have an "oiled" neck finish, not a satin finish that you seem to think "feels Korean". You may have your basses confused.
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......
Try the Mexi version. I honestly like them better. I ended up with two Cherry Sunburst Vs and just listed one ...
- Sep 4, 2010
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I do not understand Fender/Music Man incestuous relationship. Fender makes a StingRay clone (i.e. Dimension). Music Man makes a Precision clone (i.e. Caprice/Cutlass).
Why did they feel the need to go play on the other guy's turf?
For the record, the Dimension came about before the Caprice/Cutlass. I assume that Music Man was just responding to Fender's intrusion.
Why did they feel the need to go play on the other guy's turf?
For the record, the Dimension came about before the Caprice/Cutlass. I assume that Music Man was just responding to Fender's intrusion.
If I understand the relationship correctly, Fender and Musicman had some sort of actual agreement to stay out of each others' businesses. Once Fender made a humbucking clone, MM said game on.
D
I basically have two issues with the Dimension bass. First is that I agree with previous comments that the body style is clearly biting the post-Fender designs Leo created for Musicman and G&L. Too little, too late IMO. Secondly and most damning is the Dimension simply does not sound/play as good as it looks/costs out-of-the-box. I would sooner buy a comparatively priced instrument by Ibanez or Sire before getting a Dimension. #realtalk
My $.02- folks should not discount the Mexican Made Dimensions. They are well below the USA Fender and MusicMan price points and they are great instruments.
In another post early on when the Dimensions first came out I was hard on them because I had played some USA Dimensions at Matt Umanov’s shop and I was utterly underwhelmed. In fact I plain didn’t like them. The asymmetrical necks felt meh and I hated the feel Of the oil finished neck. I felt like it would give me splinters. Not well done IMO.
Well some months later I had an opportunity to play a Mexican made dimension and I was hooked. The neck felt quite famikiar- very much like a traditional jazz bass neck except with a 12 inch radius for the five string which I really liked. The gloss finish felt much better to me than the natural finish. And no compound radius to confuse me – just a really fast elegant neck with nice wide string spacing that you can’t get on a stingray.
That was it for me. I found one for just under $500 used and have been rocking them ever since. I have three 5 strings, one of which is currently for sale to finance another music man style bass I have eyes for.
And I have two 4 strings.
All my Dimensions are Mexican with the exception of my modern player dimension which is made in China.
The long story short is that I very much agree with your assessment of quality for the price as pertains to the USA Dimension, but those concerns and misgivings went out the window when I was able to play the Mexican version. I actually liked the MIM bass better so of course my whole cost benefit perspective was completely different as well.
Again my $.02. YMMV. Viewer discretion is advised. Batteries not included, etc...
I own a Squier Deluxe Dimension V bass in red. I bought it when I was a bit younger and knew much less about gear (I bought it because I wanted a 5 string and liked how it looked), but knowing more a few years later I'm really happy with it. The neck took a bit of adjusting to since I'm used to P bass necks, but with 5 strings it sort of balanced out. I love the control the preamp gives me over the sound, particularly since I like boosting my mids. In the same price range, a sterling sub bass only has a 2 band eq, if we're gonna compare these to MMs. I can't comment on how it compares to higher end instruments, but compared to other instruments in the same price range, I think its A LOT of value for money.
(photo for reference)
(photo for reference)
For those wanting to try a MIM Dims, this deal post may be of interest:
Guitar Center Daily Pick: Fender Standard Dimension Bass IV
FYI- I've never had a problem with GC as far as their return policy. You can order, try for up to 30 days (I think), and if not for you, get a full refund assuming you've taken care of the instrument.
Guitar Center Daily Pick: Fender Standard Dimension Bass IV
FYI- I've never had a problem with GC as far as their return policy. You can order, try for up to 30 days (I think), and if not for you, get a full refund assuming you've taken care of the instrument.
I have the Modern Player and it is the most comfortable bass that I have. To me, the neck is amazing. It is true that the electronics feel somehow cheap. Besides, the triplebucker is nice, but in the end (or it is just me) I only use two positions (and one of them is set 90% of the time). I also have a MIJ Jazz Bass and a MIM jazz bass (blacktop) to compare with, and the Dimension has something. I think that nowadays Fender only produces the American Elite
- Jan 12, 2011
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I tried a Modern Player Dimension a while back and approached it with an open mind, wasn't going to compare it to other basses and how similar it is in sound to this bass or that but judged on it's own merits. The triplebucker was something I wanted to try. Just my opinion but I just couldn't get into it -it sounded great but I didn't feel like I could quite dial the tone I wanted. Now I know there's the Deluxe and so on, but I don't know, with the higher price tag, there's some tough competition out there and many basses I would chose over it. I don't particularly care if a bass is a Fender or a Squier, or where it's made but you want to get the best option within your budget, in that regards, the Squier version might be worth a consideration and a try.
Maybe the problem was that people who like Fender basses thought Dimensions wouldn't sound enough like a Fender, and people who don't like Fender basses were worried they might sound too much like a Fender.
Interesting point. I tend to think so much sound comes from pickups. And MM has their proprietary “formula” as does Fender.
But there are many variables at work. For example pickup placement also matters. So a MM bass with MM jazz pickups in the Fender J locations will be a bit of a hybrid. Clearly the way MM winds pickups affects their sound but so does placement of those pickups as evident in the Caprice and Cutlass.
That’s how the Dimension nets out. It’s in between he two worlds.
It feels good. Sounds great to me. No mystique or major endorsements. Its just a good bass. If you dont like it, there are many others out there to choose from. Seems like there's an interest in creating some sort of consensus for the sake of creating arguments from the minority. Who really cares about others opinions on basses you'll never own. I guarantee if someone drop a 2k $ bass on your lap, youll figure out a way to love it, unless money wasn't an issue, in that case you probably just not care.
I also love the three Dimensions that I have. They're cool basses that are just fun to pick up and play, but they certainly weren't a big seller for Fender so its interesting to try and figure out why that was.
Kevin, the thread was and is an intelligent one
I won’t argue with that.
