What's wrong with the Fender Dimension Basses?

[BBassBassington]

I find my single H V to be a more natural sounding, better looking Stingray but made by Fender. Which is another plus for me, I'm not so much a fanboy as I just really like a lot of what they produce, and I know I can always pick up a Fender and it'll feel right. Whether that's a Dimension, a Jazz, a Starcaster, or even my least favorite (neck-wise) a Tele it's going to feel and play right. Leo himself is an inspiration to me as someone else who's visually impaired and I almost went down a similar career path. (A local guitar shop tried to apprentice me as an amp and guitar tech.) Plus they're easy to mod, familiar to set up for me, and hold value better than many other brands.

I love EBMM too. I've never played their guitars but their basses are all ones that I know I could pick up and gig no problem. They just cost too dang much!

 

[selowitch]

I love EBMM too. I've never played their guitars but their basses are all ones that I know I could pick up and gig no problem. They just cost too dang much!

“[F]anboy” has such a negative connotation that is should probably fall into disuse.

I own a 1998 EBMM StingRay 5H, a 2001 EBMM StingRay 5H, a 2001 EBMM Sterling 4H, and a 2016 EBMM Caprice—so I guess you could say I like their stuff too.

 

[BBassBassington]

“[F]anboy” has such a negative connotation.

I own a 1998 EBMM StingRay 5H, a 2001 EBMM StingRay 5H, a 2001 EBMM Sterling 4H, and a 2016 EBMM Caprice—so I guess you could say I like their stuff too.

Indeed. It's earned though from the vocal minority who will never admit fault with the thing they're fanboying over. I just try not to be one of those people.

That is a sweet collection of EBMM basses! I've always thought the Caprice was a great pair with the Dimension. They both prove that great things can happen when you step a little out of your lane.

 

[selowitch]

That is a sweet collection of EBMM basses! I've always thought the Caprice was a great pair with the Dimension. They both prove that great things can happen when you step a little out of your lane.

Yes! I agree the Dimension V HH and the Caprice that I am fortunate enough to own make a nice dynamic duo. The two of them are generally crowding out my other basses in the battle for playing time. That and I am often too lazy to go and fetch a different bass, LOL.

 

[BBassBassington]

Yes! I agree the Dimension V HH and the Caprice that I am fortunate enough to own make a nice dynamic duo. The two of them are generally crowding out my other basses in the battle for playing time. That and I am often too lazy to go and fetch a different bass, LOL.

lol I hear that. I generally don't switch a bass once I start playing. Unlocking the strap and switching the wireless? Standing too? Yeah forget that!

 

[selowitch]

lol I hear that. I generally don't switch a bass once I start playing. Unlocking the strap and switching the wireless? Standing too? Yeah forget that!

I take only one bass to a rehearsal or gig and it often depends whether I feel like playing five or four strings on that particular day. It’s a luxury for sure.

 

[BBassBassington]

I usually only take one bass to a rehearsal or gig and it often depends whether I feel like playing five or four strings on that particular day. It’s a luxury for sure.

Ah, that's my attitude for at home! I've been stuck here so long it takes work to put it in the mindset of other places. lol

For rehearsals and gigs I have a dedicated bass. My Jackson JS3QV is something like 8.5 lbs and fits like a glove. Back when I was in a band where I didn't need a B string I used a Jazz bass for the same reason. I'm just too prone to pain to play a heavy bass a long time.

My Dimension gets the comfy right but it's about middle of the road for my admittedly light bass collection. Feels like (I need to weigh my basses now that they're like all different) it's ~9.5lbs. Great for an hour but after that my shoulder is done. Still better than my 10lb Ibanez BTB. I can put in about 45 minutes on that beautiful beast before I'm just done. Even sitting if I do it wrong. But man what a bass. I love me the bass underdogs it seems.

 

[selowitch]

I was very fortunate and the timing was right. I messaged the seller on Reverb about the weight of the American Deluxe Dimension V HH he was selling and when he told me it was only 9lbs. 1oz. I made him an offer on the spot and he accepted. I am really glad I did!

 

[BBassBassington]

I was very fortunate and the timing was right. I messaged the seller on Reverb about the weight of the American Deluxe Dimension V HH he was selling and when he told me it was only 9lbs. 1oz. I made him an offer on the spot and he accepted. I am really glad I did!

Nice! Ash is notoriously heavy so finding one at that weight is a real nice find.

When the seller of my Dimension said it does feel a bit weighty and that he didn't have a scale there was a good hour I was actually considering not buying it. Ultimately I realized I wasn't going to let myself forget that I passed up a Dimension bass though. There it was, the exact one I wanted, and all I had to do was click a few buttons and it'd be mine.

I'm sure I've made better decisions in my life but I'm hard pressed to think of one right now.

 

[SimonNahk]

I have a USA dimension deluxe IV and it’s a very good guitar to play. It’s shaped and feels like a music man but doesn’t really sound like one. It has a very modern sound. I’ve replaced the preamp with a John East mm stingray unit which gives it a better range of tone and more flexibility. Also fitted an on/off switch to allow active and passive playing. The actual wooden construction of the guitar is very good. I guess the reason they’ve not taken off is because the production model isn’t outstanding for the money. With a few mods I’ve got a very good guitar but probably for less money I could have bought a very good guitar. I did the mods because I didn’t think it would be very easy to sell.

 

[Greywoulf]

The right there. Building the two most popular basses of all time is a double edged sword. Nothing else they make really gets any traction in the market.

Not so... Besides the ever popular Jazz and Precision their Mustang and Jaguar basses do fairly well. (At least they have a fan base anyway?) But of course these still have that Fender 'look'! No one particularly wants a Fender that looks like an Ibanez, or a Yamaha, or a Peavy, or a ...... (name it)!
If you're willing to shell out the $$ for a Fender (or a Squier?) then damnnit they should at least look like it! And it really has nothing to do with quality; it's all about 'the look'! Silly? -Hey, would you buy a Mercedes that looked just like a Chevy?
Greywoulf

 

[ribalta]

My first post in TalkBass

I started playing the bass guitar about two years ago (I used to be a guitar player). My first bass (I still own it) was an American PB purely because of its tone (just to get it right without having to fiddle much with it). In the middle of the lockdown I decided to try a 5-string bass and went to see an American Deluxe Dimension V someone was selling... I just fell in love with its playability! I couldn't believe that a 5-string bass was way easier to play than a 4-string one (excuse my ignorance if that is a normal thing to happen). The neck feels just so nice and I can play much faster (meaning I don't struggle as much shifting positions or playing arpeggios). I also loved its design, particularly the body and its pickguard. I'm also learning to adjust the tone and can really go from a rounder jazzy sound to nice and clear chords (I never managed to make chords sound that well with my PB, but again I am no expert).

So, anyway, for someone who has not been into bass for that long - maybe with a more open mind than some players but lacking the experience to form a better opinion? - I can say that, to me, the Dimension plays and sounds really well... On top of that I really like its design

 

[BBassBassington]

My first post in TalkBass

I started playing the bass guitar about two years ago (I used to be a guitar player). My first bass (I still own it) was an American PB purely because of its tone (just to get it right without having to fiddle much with it). In the middle of the lockdown I decided to try a 5-string bass and went to see an American Deluxe Dimension V someone was selling... I just fell in love with its playability! I couldn't believe that a 5-string bass was way easier to play than a 4-string one (excuse my ignorance if that is a normal thing to happen). The neck feels just so nice and I can play much faster (meaning I don't struggle as much shifting positions or playing arpeggios). I also loved its design, particularly the body and its pickguard. I'm also learning to adjust the tone and can really go from a rounder jazzy sound to nice and clear chords (I never managed to make chords sound that well with my PB, but again I am no expert).

So, anyway, for someone who has not been into bass for that long - maybe with a more open mind than some players but lacking the experience to form a better opinion? - I can say that, to me, the Dimension plays and sounds really well... On top of that I really like its design

Great choice for a first 5! Feel free to come show it off in the Dimension Bass Club Fender Dimension Bass Club and I can give you a club number if you'd like.

 

[Koper]

I can see this thread has long fallen asleep.Let's see if the new TBer can put some energy back to it!;-)
I have an Am Std Dimension iv HH since June'19. Bought it second hand as it was reasonably priced, US built Fender with 2 passive humbuckers. I absolutely fell in love with it frim the first sight/touch and still loving it!
Would not neccessarily call it a lightweight (around 9lbs) but its ok to play fot about an hour. For me it is very well built, asymetrical neck is just lovely. For comparison the neck onS. Harris signature P bass feels like playing a baseball stick - super, super thick.

So definitely for me this instrument (over)delivered on expectations. Tested it in band rehershals, gigs, studio recordings and for me no below A grade marks!
Tonal character ma not be to everyone's liking. I think it is a bit hi mids centered with both pups fully open, but even in passive option it is versitale enough to dial just what you need.
Why it was not a success and got discontinued - I do not care that much. For me it absolutely does what I need.

Last year Meteora was launched. It looks like it is a new incarnation of Dimension concept. Hard rock looking, probably appealing to young bassists. I wonder how long Meteora will last.

 

[wintremute]

Welcome to TalkBass!

 

[Roger W]

The right there. Building the two most popular basses of all time is a double edged sword. Nothing else they make really gets any traction in the market.

This. I’m not in the market for a Meteora, but I hope it does well. Fender’s in a no win situation with people who want more than P’s or J’s and then complain if Fender makes something else.

 

[chadhargis]

This. I’m not in the market for a Meteora, but I hope it does well. Fender’s in a no win situation with people who want more than P’s or J’s and then complain if Fender makes something else.

I was going to say the same thing. Fender is sort of like Harley Davidson. When Harley partnered with Porsche to build a water cooled engine for the V-Rod, they built a great power cruiser....that was largely ignored by the Harley faithful and anyone who wasn't a Harley fan didn't want it because it was a Harley.

Sort of a damned if you do and damned if you don't scenario.

 

[Up the dose]

I like it. It's not a P bass, it's not a J bass, and it's not a Stingray, but it somehow combines the best of all three and has a very usable tone and great feel on the neck.

 

[P. Aaron]

I can see this thread has long fallen asleep.Let's see if the new TBer can put some energy back to it!;-)
I have an Am Std Dimension iv HH since June'19. Bought it second hand as it was reasonably priced, US built Fender with 2 passive humbuckers. I absolutely fell in love with it frim the first sight/touch and still loving it!
Would not neccessarily call it a lightweight (around 9lbs) but its ok to play fot about an hour. For me it is very well built, asymetrical neck is just lovely. For comparison the neck onS. Harris signature P bass feels like playing a baseball stick - super, super thick.

So definitely for me this instrument (over)delivered on expectations. Tested it in band rehershals, gigs, studio recordings and for me no below A grade marks!
Tonal character ma not be to everyone's liking. I think it is a bit hi mids centered with both pups fully open, but even in passive option it is versitale enough to dial just what you need.
Why it was not a success and got discontinued - I do not care that much. For me it absolutely does what I need.

Last year Meteora was launched. It looks like it is a new incarnation of Dimension concept. Hard rock looking, probably appealing to young bassists. I wonder how long Meteora will last.

I use the Dimension Deluxe 5 (USA). I bought it new in 2014 for a Young Country band I was in. It still gets regular use in the Irish Punk band I'm now in. I currently use EB Cobalt Flats and they really work on this bass. I'm also position my right hand much closer to the heel, middle position on the PU switch and it has a great electric but almost double bass sound. No treble, maxed on the mids and bass boost.

'It's a very Fender sounding bass and it has amused me how many people play one or noodle it and discover; "It not a 'Ray!" Heh. It's an active Fender that produces Fender tones.

 

[BassDaddy77]

I have an American Deluxe IV H. It's a beautiful looking, well made bass. Definitely sounds very similar to a Stingray, IMO. If I were to list pros and cons, I'd say this:
Pros:
-Very nice construction and quality components (woods, hardware)
-Familiar "Fender feeling" overall proportions and neck shape
-If a Stingray-esque sound is what Fender was targeting, mission accomplished
-Very natural sounding preamp, not too harsh or "peaky"
-Excellent balance on a strap

Cons:
-Heavy (mine is ash bodied)
-Fretboard edge isn't rolled, and is a bit uncomfortable (I don't understand why, since even the American Standard P & J basses had rolled edges during this time)
-Pickup output is low compared to equivalent EBMM
-The single H model would really benefit from a series/parallel switch (even better if it had the G&L "OMG" option on a 3 way toggle)

Why didn't they sell well? I think (as others have said) it's because folks generally only want a Telecaster or Stratocaster guitar, or Precision or Jazz bass from Fender. Mustangs, Jaguars and Jazzmasters seem to do ok, but that's about as far as it goes for diversified success in terms of sales. People are finicky, lol.