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What's wrong with the Fender Dimension Basses?

And a stick in the mud for colors/variations(no 5 string caprice). You can buy a fender/squire at just about any price point. Not so much with EBMM. Perhaps that’s why the dimensions failed, however, being introduced so broadly (Squire, MiM, American, deluxe/passive) As for the carbon fiber rods, now that I am comfortable adjusting the truss rods on my necks, I think I’d rather have “more wood” in my neck than rods...so maybe I’m a stick in the mud too lol
No guys... carbon fibre rods do work and they are definitely an improvement ... there’s not so much to say in this regard ... all bass necks should them in
 
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I never liked the "Tsunami" scratch plate, but seeing your Dimension in that colour : you should definitely look at getting a custom scratch plate, with Hokusai artwork screen printed on - it would look amazing.

In fact I'm talking myself into tracking down a blue Dimension, to do just that - then I would allow Nick Mason to join my band. We'd make quite the spiffy rhythm section.

I’m still pretty new to bass so I just stare at the neck and haven’t gotten around to looking at the pickgaurd area much. I have contemplated having a mint or a cream one made though.
 
I agree they work, but they also take up potential space that could be filled with wood. Since I am no longer scared of truss rod adjustments I’d rather have a more wood pure neck.
You will start appreciating the difference between reinforced and non-reinforced rods when you will be dealing with several basses provided and not provided with graphite rods ... then you will realise that the difference in tone between reinforced and unreinforced necks is almost negligible (for me zero honestly) whereas you will see that the reinforced ones are really handy
 
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You will start appreciating the difference between reinforced and non-reinforced rods when you will be dealing with several basses provided and not provided with graphite rods ... then you will realise that the difference in tone between reinforced and unreinforced necks is almost negligible (for me zero honestly) whereas you will see that the reinforced ones are really handy

One of my 3 basses has graphite rods and needed a truss rod adjust at the same time as my non-graphite reinforced necks. I don’t gig, I just play at home as a hobby, and after owning both, I think it’s no longer a selling feature for me. I’d be happier with an all wood neck. If it has a truss rod adjustment wheel, even better.
 
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I ultimately came to the same conclusion. When I compared it to an L-2500, the Dimension came across as very refined, almost 'dignified' in tone. The L-2500 was more of a a snarling beast. When compared to my ACG Uber custom, it lacks the depth and clarity of that bass. (The Uber is a pretty good example of type of sound you get from high-end boutique instruments.) I wouldn't be surprised that a small improvement in the pre-amp would correct these issues.
Yeah, exactly my experience. It was just too polite sounding for what I want out of a humbucker bass. My stingray, even when played gently with polite settings is pretty much always delightfully hostile sounding. The dimension was just kind of there for me.
 
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I think carbon fiber rods do help stiffen the neck and have little-if-any effect on tone. A desirable feature. My bass has them!

They stabilize the neck but really don't change any tone. The thing is wood comes from trees and each piece is different. Adding a man-made material helps make the characteristics of the wood more uniform piece to piece. My experience is that if you luck out and have an excellent neck, carbon fiber rods are not needed at all because you already have a great stable neck. But if the wood is a little less than optimum and the neck wants to twist or you need to constantly be adjusting the truss rod, then the rods really stabilize that neck. And (although this is pure speculation on my part) I suspect that the rods also help eliminate problems with dead spots because it stiffens the neck and moves the spots up into ranges where they are less of an irritation.
 
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Carbon Fiber rods stiffen the neck, help eliminate dead spots, and actually give a little bit more "POP" to the notes. Yes it works-----that is why many luthiers now offer this service for upright bass as well, an instrument notorious for dead zones and inconsistent notes.
 
I LOVE my new American Standard Dimesnion!!!!!
Dimension.jpg
 
Now, I'm far from the type who thinks certain things "affect tone", like the poly vs. nitro, graphite rods in a neck, etc., but I'm chucking here when posters are saying things like, "graphite rods don't change the tone of my bass". Really? So you were able to install graphite rods in that neck that previously didn't have graphite rods, and were able to verify that it sounded the same before and after? Really?
 

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