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Where Will Fender Go Next?
- Thread starter Bassic Playing
- Start date
As a six string bass player, and a fretless player, I was excited to hear about Fenders Steve Bailey sig. However when I began to talk about it to my bass playing brothers, I found out that I was one of the few who were.
The trouble is that people that are interested in Fender as a brand, are traditionalists, they like classic designs, in classic colours, They tend to be the kind of people that like vintage and retro items and styles.
People who play ERB and modern instruments, tend to be more "progressive" in their thinking, and will tend to look to boutiques, and Independent luthiers to realise their ideas. They will tend to shy away from Fender, simply because of their "Traditional" reputation.
It's a shame as Fender was such a innovative company, but they have let themselves get tard with an old brush.
I would personally love a six string bass, that looks and feels like a 60's P-Bass, but I know it's not going to appeal to every one, so I don't expect Fender to run a production of them investing millions in development to satisfy me.
The trouble is that people that are interested in Fender as a brand, are traditionalists, they like classic designs, in classic colours, They tend to be the kind of people that like vintage and retro items and styles.
People who play ERB and modern instruments, tend to be more "progressive" in their thinking, and will tend to look to boutiques, and Independent luthiers to realise their ideas. They will tend to shy away from Fender, simply because of their "Traditional" reputation.
It's a shame as Fender was such a innovative company, but they have let themselves get tard with an old brush.
I would personally love a six string bass, that looks and feels like a 60's P-Bass, but I know it's not going to appeal to every one, so I don't expect Fender to run a production of them investing millions in development to satisfy me.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
'Made in Lower Fredonia'
I picked mine up at Whole Foods. They don't even carry basses.
I think you might be confusing innovation in instrument building with an interest in sales/profitability.
Fender has absolutely been using a good number of innovations that were first developed among boutique builders. Advances like graphite reinforcement rods, quartersawn necks, lightweight hardware and active electronics first came to light in the boutique instrument world. And over time Fender has been incorporating those features. I think most would agree that those have been some pretty positive developments.
Does Fender have a style palette they adhere to? Absolutely. That's part of their identity as a brand. And breaking away from that is not a simple thing to do, since many of their fans identify with that classic aesthetic.
As for the Steve Bailey bass? I was actually very pleased to see Fender finally take the plunge on a production 6 string. And I can actually recall writing a letter to Fender's Dan Smith back in the 1990's, imploring them to produce a 6 string, since I was playing 6 string almost exclusively from 1992 - 2000.
But since that time it seems that a good number of players have stepped back from the 6 string, myself included. So I was left wondering if there was actually a market for the Steve Bailey signature 6 string. I have the utmost respect for Steve as a player, but I think that's completely separate from what Fender might consider a marketable and profitable instrument.
Well one things for sure - it's unlikely to be very ground breaking or inspiring. At the moment the fashion is for all things Fender - why only the other day I saw an early 80s Fender selling for a positively huge amount - back when it was built someone was probably paid to take it away they were that uncool - yes sold for a negative figure.
So all the while they're in fashion just about the same as now - if they fall out if fashion again (as they do periodically) maybe you'll see Fender get off its backside and build something new and inspiring.
Oh wait - do they not have a looming financial issue - I seem to remember a newspaper article a year or so back?
I do like the latest American reissues though - and hugely expensive in the UK.
So all the while they're in fashion just about the same as now - if they fall out if fashion again (as they do periodically) maybe you'll see Fender get off its backside and build something new and inspiring.
Oh wait - do they not have a looming financial issue - I seem to remember a newspaper article a year or so back?
I do like the latest American reissues though - and hugely expensive in the UK.
Whatever new stuff Fender makes, they need to keep making their classic guitars and basses. Those are what sells the most. Same with Rickenbacker, Gibson, Hofner, etc... People want the classics more than anything new.
I think you're right mastermold - however a lot of the interest is from 60s fans - I play in a tribute band based on late 50s and early 60s music and you should see the average age of the audiences - so much so that I wonder in five years time whether we will have one.
Yes there will always be interest in historic instruments and genres but will it run at the current level for ever .............. I doubt it - just look what happened to the classic car market.....
Yes there will always be interest in historic instruments and genres but will it run at the current level for ever .............. I doubt it - just look what happened to the classic car market.....
Yeah hard to predict what will stay around in the next generation. I know when I was a kid in the early to mid 80's the Stray Cats and Rockabilly scene was huge, everyone was into Elvis and music from 30+ years prior. Never know what has staying power--but I hope your band does!
Here's my take on this. Times and technology and tastes in music change. Perfect example is the 5 string bass. Fender DOES now make them. But what about early on? It was just a custom builder thing. And part of the reason for that is that in the old days of jigs and dies, there was a certain number of instruments of a given type you had to build to make it profitable. But that was then. Today, Carvin has shown that a major factory can actually make each instrument different and still make a profit. CNC, computer scheduling and other modern methods have made the old rules no longer apply.
Now there is still a certain minumum number for some things (how many speciallized parts do you order, what does the programming cost for a special instrument etc.) but it is a MUCH lower number than the old days.
Given that, there is the final item. And that item is faith in your vision. And here is where I think Fender falls down. They are huge and have LOTS of talented peoplel Hence, they do indeed constantly generate cool stuff. But any new thing, no matter how cool it is takes time to catch on. So when everyone is playing 4 strings is selling 5ers a loser? It depends if 5 strings is a decent idea or not. As it turns out it is a decent idea with a steady ramping up of popularity over the years. Obviously if you start out on the ground floor and follow that ramp up (as Fender did in early days) you don't make a lot of coin in the beginning but by the end you are totally locked in as "classic" of the whatever. Another case in point is my low weight high wattage Fender amp. They did it LONG before everyone else was doing it. But As a large corporation too many decisions aren't based on conviction but on covering one's butt. So before something takes off, Fender discontinues it scared. As a result they remain THE classic for jazz and P basses (especially 4 string) but does anyone say "that Fender light weight classic rig is the one"? Nope. Lack of faith in their own genius! Something which Leo didn't have.
Fender Rant over.
Yeah, part of my reason for leaving the modern rock scene was a decline in the audience and venues... The amazing thing(to me) about the top 40 country gig I'm currently in is the youthful audience - not only do we get WAY more young people into what we're doing(and HOT chicks) - but there are also way more places to book, and better money... I've been averaging 10 gigs per month doing this in one band, when I used to play in three bands to average 5-6 gigs per month...
Oh, and my Fender and EBMM basses fit right in, too - especially the 'burst P with the tort PG...
- georgestrings
If I were president of FMIC, id open the "Fender Swap Shop" from which you could order any neck, body, color, fingerboard, and pickup configuration possible based on the entire P and J universe. First id pay a team of consultants to price the new product to make a profit.
Carvin pretty much figured this out years ago. At the end of the day a bolt neck bass is simply a parts bass!
Carvin pretty much figured this out years ago. At the end of the day a bolt neck bass is simply a parts bass!
I know there are a number of signature basses out there that perhaps aren't justified, eh hem Nate Mendel, but I would personally like to see someone like Nikolai Fraiture maybe get a signature model. The guy is an amazing bassist, just listen to something like Under Cover of Darkness. The guy is a solid and under rated bass player. And he actually uses Fender basses!
The God-awful color that they have been importing here for years is majorly unpopular!
Why are there "Fender Rants" in the first place?
Why all the weeping and gnashing of teeth?
Why is it imperative that Fender satisfy absolutely everyone's desires for gear, especially when there are alternatives everywhere?
What is so offensive about Fender? And only Fender? Is Fender somehow more "wrong" than Gibson or Rickenbacker or whomever?
Is there some anti-Fender PC brainwash epidemic happening? Do you haters work for the DOJ? lol
Why all the weeping and gnashing of teeth?
Why is it imperative that Fender satisfy absolutely everyone's desires for gear, especially when there are alternatives everywhere?
What is so offensive about Fender? And only Fender? Is Fender somehow more "wrong" than Gibson or Rickenbacker or whomever?
Is there some anti-Fender PC brainwash epidemic happening? Do you haters work for the DOJ? lol
THANK YOU!!!!
I just don't get that one... of ALL PEOPLE!
There are SOOOO many folks who deserve one before THAT fella! You want to appeal to a younger generation of bassists? How about Esperanza Spalding?!? ...or the cat from Snarky Puppy?!? Come ON, Fender!!!
+1
I have been a Fender fan for a very long time. I love them and the quality has really stepped up. I'm proud to show off my Fender basses and am always excited to hear about their new stuff.
I like the current line-up.. What I would like to see in every line and model is more colour choices.. Classic colours. I would love an Am. Standard Jazz or a Starcaster in seafoam green or sonic blue or shell pink.. and more maple necks..
I know most people dig Sunburst and tort and rosewood I don't. I like either solid black or those colours..
I know most people dig Sunburst and tort and rosewood I don't. I like either solid black or those colours..
Fender doesn't make my color often. But 3M makes sand paper. I appreciate fender selling basses with just a clear finish so I can color stain the stupid furniture look out of it and know what the wood grain is before it's been stripped.
Hope they sell a ton of these Dimensions.
Hope they sell a ton of these Dimensions.
I see classic car shows all over the country constantly
But the comparison isn't really relevant, though. Basses don't get 12 miles to a gallon. It's impractical to use a classic car every day these days, but you can use any bass you want.
