What's wrong with the Fender Dimension Basses?

[majbass]

Many cases over the years of Fender trying to do something new and traditionalists rejecting it

 

[selowitch]

It’s not as though the Fender Dimension line was a total bust. After all, I’ve got one and I like it.

 

[MtManiac]

Out of curiosity, what does the group consider to be the standard / default Dimension?


For example, with regards to the Precision - it's fair to say that from the current offerings; the standard / default Precision is the Fender American Professional II, with the budget friendly version being the MIM Fender Player.

If you want to deviate from the standard version, with some enhancements / upgrades, you have the Fender American Performer, and at the top of the line with all the bells and whistles; the Fender American Ultra.

So, with regards to the Dimension, is the standard / default model H, or HH. Passive, or Active?

Not sure if it's still available, but I found a mint condition Dimension (pretty sure it was H Passive) for £300.

I'd assumed it was a cheaper MIM model, but on closer inspection had the contoured neck heel, and was made in Indonesia.

So where does that fit into the range?

Btw, if it was made in Indonesia, it’s gotta be a Squier. I had a four string Squier Dimension with an active pre for a short while a few years ago. I don’t recall if it had a sculpted neck heel or not. But Fender doesn’t build in Indonesia under the Fender brand, only the Squier brand.

 

[MtManiac]

I think you're entirely spot on. I don't know how many posts I've read from someone who "played a Dimension" in a store somewhere for ten minutes and found it to be "meh" because it didn't replicate the sounds of an EBMM bass. Then to read further that the Dimension they tested was a Squier H model, or the watered-down MIM version.

The flagship Am Dlx HH model has the recipe of features that set the Dimension apart from other production builder's active HH entries, including EBMM IMO. Fender packed a buttload of modern features into the Am Dlx neck that rival what Mike Tobias offers on his pricey MTD's, but are not present on the cheaper Dimensions. Not sure the cheapo Dimensions even share any of the Am Dlx electronics either (?), but they def don't come with the same advanced Am Dlx neck.

The Am Dlx Dimension that I had impressed me as an example where the whole turns out being greater than the sum of its parts. When I compared it side-to-side with a Roscoe Beck, I could see a connecting lineage, with the Dimension being presented as the modernized, natural successor to the RB, as if that was what Fender had in mind all along.

I believe the American Standard model had the same or a similar neck, with an asymmetrical profile and compound radius, but not sure what finish they had on the back of the neck, or if the low B had a string retainer. Same pickups, tuners, and iirc the same bridge, and passive only.

 

[Zbysek]

I’ve got one and I like it.

Me too!

 

[Wood and Wire]

Btw, if it was made in Indonesia, it’s gotta be a Squier. I had a four string Squier Dimension with an active pre for a short while a few years ago. I don’t recall if it had a sculpted neck heel or not. But Fender doesn’t build in Indonesia under the Fender brand, only the Squier brand.

I'd have to try and find it again (maybe it was China), but if it was a Squier with a fake decal - then I'm really surprised that the Squier had the sculpted neck heel.

 

[Dbassmon]

It’s not as though the Fender Dimension line was a total bust. After all, I’ve got one and I like it.

I'm with selowitch, it was a very good effort by the Fender design team. No failure there. Marketing department... not a very good effort. Those of us that own these basses know how good they are.

 

[bigtone23]

Same here. As a design, I like them (especially the single H versions). From a marketing/product offering standpoint, it was a mess. However, it's a big company that tries to accommodate a wide audience: 4 string, 5 string, active, passive, one pickup, two pickups, Squier, MIM, MIA...
I have a 2013 MIM active H Deluxe and it's really killer. I got it used in early 2019 from a pro player that used it a lot. The volume and treble pots were very loose, nearly worn out, as was the jack. I just found and installed a new replacement preamp assembly and jack and rocked on. I just had to replace the battery box last night, but that was also pretty easy.
This brings up that notion that the best instruments get played, and often played a lot. This bass is no exception. We have had a really wet and rainy spring here, and many of my stable and reliable instruments did react to the extra humidity--by the necks back-bowing a little. The Dimension did not shift at all! This has been my experience with this bass. It always stays the same and plays and sounds great.

 

[Wood and Wire]

Btw, if it was made in Indonesia, it’s gotta be a Squier.

I'd have to try and find it again (maybe it was China), but if it was a Squier with a fake decal - then I'm really surprised that the Squier had the sculpted neck heel.

I just checked, and it was made in China.

So where did that fit in, seeing as they had MIA (contoured neck heel), MIM (square neck heel), and MIC (contoured neck heel)?

I'd have just assumed that Fender would either do MIM or MIC, and that MIC would have been cheaper - but with the Dimension, they did both, and the MIC had the better spec (it may have even had the MIA shaped neck profile).

Everything about these instruments confuses me.

It's a shame they didn't last, but I'm not surprised.

I've never been a fan of that style of pick guard, and the oddball pickup housing is a concern, but the Dimension continues to grow on me.

If I ever get a chance to try out a MIA model, with a maple fretboard, I may well snap it up on the spot.

 

[MtManiac]

I just checked, and it was made in China.

So where did that fit in, seeing as they had MIA (contoured neck heel), MIM (square neck heel), and MIC (contoured neck heel)?

I'd have just assumed that Fender would either do MIM or MIC, and that MIC would have been cheaper - but with the Dimension, they did both, and the MIC had the better spec (it may have even had the MIA shaped neck profile).

Everything about these instruments confuses me.

It's a shame they didn't last, but I'm not surprised.

I've never been a fan of that style of pick guard, and the oddball pickup housing is a concern, but the Dimension continues to grow on me.

If I ever get a chance to try out a MIA model, with a maple fretboard, I may well snap it up on the spot.

The MIC one is the first one I’d played, in a pawn shop, and they didn’t accept my low ball offer so I walked - and then it kinda got stuck in my head. I kept remembering the feel of that neck and the amazing tones I was getting from the triple bucker that model came with - and when I went back to get it, they’d sold it for less than what I’d offered them, the b**tards. Those triple buckers are very cool - and not found on any other Fender product that I know of. I don’t know any specs of the MP neck either, but it too felt amazing. It’s what ignited my interest in Dimensions.

This would have been probably 2018 - I’d offered the pawn shop $200 CAD for it, I think they had it listed at $300, already crazy inexpensive for that bass, and they sold it for a paltry $180 CAD, which is furiously low priced. I don’t know if they’re actually selling for >$1000 CAD or not, but that’s how much they’re listed for on Reverb.

Fender Modern Player Dimension Bass 2013 MIC Candy Apple Red 4-String Guitar | Reverb

 

[MtManiac]

My opinions on the subject:

Fender players and brand loyalists killed the Dimension. They have nobody else to blame but themselves. I think Fender tried to reach a wider market but did a poor job of it. You either like the looks or you don’t, there’s little in between. I’m not a fan, personally, it’s fat and stubby looking with short horns that make it look like a sawed off short-scale but it’s not. It makes the large headstock look out of place to me.

The biggest negative with the dimension series were the proprietary pickups that weren’t the same dimensions as any other major aftermarket manufacturer. They tried to not make it look like Stingray so much by not having a traditional MM pickup shape that they shot themselves in the foot. Rule #1 about building an instrument (guitar or bass), folks are gonna have pickups they like and are going to want to swap them into your design. I mean, how many of you already know when you buy a bass you’re gonna swap the pickups? Nobody had pickups to fit the dimension except Fender. If you didn’t like the pickup, you were SOL.

Could you imagine P basses with only one option for a pickup? It wouldn’t sell, either. Hence why all the other offshoots when they try to change the pickup (Cabrinita and Gold Foil come to mind) they don’t do very well. Maybe had the Dimensions lasted longer, Nordstrand, EMG, Bartolini, Aguilar, Fralin, Seymour Duncan, etc would’ve started making pickups that fit. The fact that one option didn’t exist was an immediate deal breaker in a lot of people’s minds.

I get what you’re saying, but to be fair, the pickups are pretty frigging awesome, and the active three band EQ and pickup coil selector is very powerful and versatile.

Most Stingray owners are not looking to swap out their pickups. The MM style pickups available by third party I think more tend to be for after market additions to non-SR basses or for builds.

 

[selowitch]

I don’t dispute the criticisms at all, but for my needs, my American Deluxe Dimension V HH fits the bill. That deep, powerful humbucker tone is a nice departure from the P and J of my other basses. It fills a special role in my assortment of basses and it’s also my only five-string.

 

[Not Again]

I've scanned a few pages and didn't see any yet.
Does anyone have a photo or two of what's under the pickguard?
I've thought about picking one of these up cheap on the used market and doing a no-pickguard refinish, but I'm wondering about the control area.

 

[studio848]

I've scanned a few pages and didn't see any yet.
Does anyone have a photo or two of what's under the pickguard?
I've thought about picking one of these up cheap on the used market and doing a no-pickguard refinish, but I'm wondering about the control area.

 

[Koper]

I get what you’re saying, but to be fair, the pickups are pretty frigging awesome, and the active three band EQ and pickup coil selector is very powerful and versatile.

Most Stingray owners are not looking to swap out their pickups. The MM style pickups available by third party I think more tend to be for after market additions to non-SR basses or for builds.

Yup, these humbs are really good and make a difference. I have passive Am Std IV and no complaints at all. The opposite it is. They would stay on even if they were pink or sth!

 

[Geri O]

I don’t dispute the criticisms at all, but for my needs, my American Deluxe Dimension V HH fits the bill. That deep, powerful humbucker tone is a nice departure from the P and J of my other basses. It fills a special role in my assortment of basses and it’s also my only five-string.

While I don’t own nor have I owned a Dimension, I did play one at a local music store.
Very nice bass, played well, lots of variations of tones (2pickups) all usable for something. I wasn’t motivated to buy the bass, but it was because I had my 3 favorite basses, NOT because I thought something was wrong with it.

All the criticisms I’ve read of the Dimension line seem to be purely a matter of aesthetics and preferences. Heck, some people stay away from Precisions and Jazz basses for the same reason.

 

[Root 5]

Is there not love for Dimension Basses?

View attachment 2630890

I'm not trying to call out the Dimension fangirls and fanboys here to chime in about how awesome the Dimensions are (though if you like 'em tell us why), but more trying to get a reasonable viewpoint on why this bass seems ubiquitous in shops and online, but few seem to really champion them.

This style (in its various forms) repeatedly comes up in closeout sales, deals of the day (for example- this one from a few days ago). Are they selling poorly? Are Dimensions the red-headed stepchild of the Fender lineup?

I admittedly haven't played one through an amp (yet), but I've picked them up at the store, and watched some videos and they seem solid and versatile.

I admit I'm not as drawn to its aesthetic as I am to some other models- the P, the J, and the Jaguar, but it's still not that radically different.

One might postulate:
1. The Dimension basses are not good, or not good enough?

2. It's a bass that strays from its brand identity. Thus it competes with G&L, Ibanez, MM, etc. and the feeling is that if you want a bass other than a P or a Jazz variant, that Fender isn't the best manufacturer to consider?

3. Marketing issue behind this model- information not getting to the right audience?

4. I'm completely wrong and this is a super popular model despite the above (admittedly subjective) perceptions.

What's the deally on these things?

What was wrong with it was that it wasn’t a P or a J. That’s all.

 

[davidak]

Any owners of Dimension IV - what is the average weight of these?

Thanks!

 

[Rockgeezer]

I want to ask if anyone could help me find the 5 way switch for my American Elite V Dimension? Being that it’s a sealed one with the circuit board plug-in it’s extremely hard to find. I found only one on Reverb but was already sold. Please let me know if you have any ideas on where I can get one. Fender part # 009-5338-540
I’ve tried Fender, eBay, Reverb, etc and no sign of one. I guess I could try and figure out how to wire the standard 5 way but would be difficult for me, The stock one would just slot right into the pin housing and be done. Thanks.

 

[ThaCoast]

I want to ask if anyone could help me find the 5 way switch for my American Elite V Dimension? Being that it’s a sealed one with the circuit board plug-in it’s extremely hard to find. I found only one on Reverb but was already sold. Please let me know if you have any ideas on where I can get one. Fender part # 009-5338-540
I’ve tried Fender, eBay, Reverb, etc and no sign of one. I guess I could try and figure out how to wire the standard 5 way but would be difficult for me, The stock one would just slot right into the pin housing and be done. Thanks.

Whats the switching configuration on the dual pickup dimensions? I may be able to figure how to wire an open traditional switch vs the enclosed ones which are factory stock to them.