What's wrong with the Fender Dimension Basses?

[Rockgeezer]

The dual pickup 5 way switching configuration is:
Position 1 (rear) Bridge PU only
Position 2 inside coils only on both pickups
Position 3 (middle) both PU’s on in humbucking mode
Position 4 outside coils only on both pickups
Position 5 neck pickup only

If it was a traditional 5 way switch it would be pretty simple but being what it is….well……

 

[J Wilson]

They're fine basses. It was a marketing problem in that cats that wanted a Music Man or G+L bought those instead, and of course, Fender got cold feet pretty quick and they lacked time to establish themselves. BTW, the Squier clones are my-t-fine.

 

[bigtone23]

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.

These may help, so some degree. It appears that the black is ground for both pickups. The other wires are the hots for the coils. The coils within each pickup are run in parallel. The trick is figuring out which wire is the hot for the N and S coils. I think red and blue are the inner coils, green the outer.

This is the service manual for the deluxe with the 5 way switch. No diagram, though.
https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/... V 014381XXXX Service Manual REV A 6-1-16.pdf

 

[Wood and Wire]

The dual pickup 5 way switching configuration is:
Position 1 (rear) Bridge PU only
Position 2 inside coils only on both pickups
Position 3 (middle) both PU’s on in humbucking mode
Position 4 outside coils only on both pickups
Position 5 neck pickup only

If it was a traditional 5 way switch it would be pretty simple but being what it is….well……

Isn't that the same as the EBMM StingRay HH?

Might be an option.

 

[Suntory]

Great looking bass, I didn't know they existed.

 

[davidak]

Isn't that the same as the EBMM StingRay HH?

Might be an option.

Might be...

 

[Rockgeezer]

These may help, so some degree. It appears that the black is ground for both pickups. The other wires are the hots for the coils. The coils within each pickup are run in parallel. The trick is figuring out which wire is the hot for the N and S coils. I think red and blue are the inner coils, green the outer.

This is the service manual for the deluxe with the 5 way switch. No diagram, though.
https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10001/Fender Deluxe Dimension Bass HH V 014381XXXX Service Manual REV A 6-1-16.pdf

Thanks very much!

 

[Rockgeezer]

Might be...

View attachment 5411703 View attachment 5411704

Thank you, Stingray is similar, just position 2 and 4 are reversed. Appreciate the help!

 

[studio848]

FYI - I own a couple passive Dimensions. I scratched this circuit diagram out a couple years ago, haven't implemented it yet ...

This mod (replace one vol pot with a vol/dpdt push/pull) should allow single coil or humbucker for both pickups. That would give you the jazz bass or humbucker config, which is what I want.

One of these days ...

 

[amper]

I wonder if that 5-way switch is available via any of the large electronics parts houses, like Digikey or Mouser.

Also, have you tried contacting Fender?

 

[Rockgeezer]

I wonder if that 5-way switch is available via any of the large electronics parts houses, like Digikey or Mouser.

I’ve looked everywhere, including Fender directly. Only found one on Reverb.com which has been sold. Appears I’ll just bite the bullet and do some trial and error and figure out installing a regular 5 way with the exposed lugs in there. The original switch circuit board and pin connectors cracked and rendered it unusable. The bass itself is a wonderful sounding and feeling instrument and certainly worth the time and efforts to get it back up to par. Thanks for everyone’s help, much appreciated.

 

[bigtone23]

You will have to use a super 5 way switch to get those inner/outer coil configurations from just the blade switch. Otherwise, a typical 3 way and push/pull pot can get you one of the #2 or #4 configurations. The switch on the push/pull will just break the signal from two of the coils.

If it were me, and if the goal was keeping the wiring and parts sort of simple, I'd just go for inner coils for the split sound. I have done that on a bass with humbuckers in the Jazz Bass spots (like the Dimension HH is configured). The inner coils in parallel have the essence of a Stingray sound to them vs the outer coils being more akin to a Jazz Bass. Since the pickups are designed to run in parallel, the parallel humbucker mode tonality is not radically different from a garden variety J tonality.

 

[amper]

One thing is for sure about the Dimension, it's the cheapest way to get a 5-string Fender that I'd actually play, these days. I don't like P basses, and I don't like J Basses that don't have the smaller body size of the original Plus/Deluxe series, the only one of which currently being made is the MIJ Kazuki Arai Artist Model Deluxe Jazz Bass V.

A 1992 Jazz Bass Plus V was my first bass, and the more basses I play, the more I realize that is what a bass is "supposed to feel like", for me. Very few other 5-string basses on the market feel like a Fender Plus/Deluxe Jazz, and the Dimension is pretty close to it.

20+ year old American Deluxe Jazz Bass Vs are going for more or less the same price as new 2024 models.

I'm not 100% thrilled with the looks of the Dimension, but it's the least ugly Fender that isn't a Plus/Deluxe Jazz Bass V, the only Fender I've ever actually liked. I think I'd replace the pickguard with a split chrome/plastic one like the Jazz, and replace the pickup selector switch with a 4-way rotary one (bridge, parallel, neck, series). Maybe have to replace the preamp, too. And if the neck can be replaced with a Warmoth neck, then I could get a painted headstock, ebony board, and stainless frets, too.

Between these two, I'd pick the Plus/Deluxe Jazz every time, but I'd pick the Dimension second, over literally any other Fender ever (well except maybe the Steve Bailey 6-string, but that's a special case).

 

[5StringBlues]

Not a damn thing.

 

[bigtone23]

One thing is for sure about the Dimension, it's the cheapest way to get a 5-string Fender that I'd actually play, these days. I don't like P basses, and I don't like J Basses that don't have the smaller body size of the original Plus/Deluxe series, the only one of which currently being made is the MIJ Kazuki Arai Artist Model Deluxe Jazz Bass V.

A 1992 Jazz Bass Plus V was my first bass, and the more basses I play, the more I realize that is what a bass is "supposed to feel like", for me. Very few other 5-string basses on the market feel like a Fender Plus/Deluxe Jazz, and the Dimension is pretty close to it.

20+ year old American Deluxe Jazz Bass Vs are going for more or less the same price as new 2024 models.

View attachment 5411989

I'm not 100% thrilled with the looks of the Dimension, but it's the least ugly Fender that isn't a Plus/Deluxe Jazz Bass V, the only Fender I've ever actually liked. I think I'd replace the pickguard with a split chrome/plastic one like the Jazz, and replace the pickup selector switch with a 4-way rotary one (bridge, parallel, neck, series). Maybe have to replace the preamp, too. And if the neck can be replaced with a Warmoth neck, then I could get a painted headstock, ebony board, and stainless frets, too.

View attachment 5411985

View attachment 5411978

Between these two, I'd pick the Plus/Deluxe Jazz every time, but I'd pick the Dimension second, over literally any other Fender ever (well except maybe the Steve Bailey 6-string, but that's a special case).

I'm very partial to the US Dlx Jazz 5, It's been my #1 since I got it in early 1998. Picked up my MIM Dimension Dlx 5 H for a song several years ago, as it would be a 5 string Stingray adjacent bass with the Fender 5 feel. It fit right in with the US Dlx Fenders in terms of build quality, playability and tone. I also have a 2000 US Dlx Precision 5, which is also great, but it's #3 after the J and Dimension.

 

[matt11]

Not a damn thing.

Agreed. I’ve owned a few 5s—Lakland 55-02, Yamaha bb1025, Dingwall NG2. All very nice basses. I’ve only kept the MIM Dimension Deluxe 5 H. I even swapped the original preamp back in in place of the Tone Capsule I’d replaced it with.