Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Where Will Fender Go Next?
- Thread starter Bassic Playing
- Start date
All indications tell me further into Mexico and China...as far as production goes unfortunately.
The modern player jazz V is chinese and built like a tank. Ive owned indonesian and american Fenders.. the MPJV build quality is really up there with the usa stuff. Dont let the whole "made in china" scare you off.
I prefer to buy american-made (or assembled here), when i can. But, i found features i wanted on a quality built fender for under $700 bucks. Happy camper here!
I think Fender's next move will be in the amplification arena. They've got the talent from both SWR and Genz Benz on staff. Get ready for small light great sounding Fender bass amps!
strangerdanger, I don't think very many people are looking for a 7 string 36 inch single cut Fender.
I agree... but a production 6 string jazz and precision bass would sufffice. More than just a few please; make them common ground and readily available.
I agree... but a production 6 string jazz and precision bass would sufffice. More than just a few please; make them common ground and readily available.
Not sure about the 6 string P-Bass, but Fender already dipped their toe in the 6-string Jazz pond, a la the Steve Bailey. I think the price killed that one, though.
A six string Jazz would be a top seller imo.
I'd also like to see a VM telecaster bass. That would be sweet!
My best guess would be that Fender waits to see how the Dimension sells before introducing new options and venturing further into unknown waters- that's what they did with the VM series.
The amplification market would be a hard one for them to break into, but they have the corporate power, and we all know that they can make a great amp when push comes to shove, so fingers crossed.
Interesting article from last year about Fender's IPO and why it was pulled. Gives a little background to their financial situation:
Link Removed
Link Removed
Yes but it has a couple of wopping great humbuckers rather than a singlecoil. Maybe I'd just do with a 54 reissue.
EDIT: You are correct sir, I was thinking of the modern player series, I've just found the VM. Now I have major GAS. ouch. Thanks for that
That's pretty depressing. Maybe this new surge of ingenuity will lift them from their financial woes
That's pretty depressing. Maybe this new surge of ingenuity will lift them from their financial woes
Meh, it's old news and they're still here.
I would like to see a classic 60's Precision Bass. And perhaps offer the classic 50's in white blonde...
reissue an MIA late 60's telecaster bass with custom shop pickup. 1 5/8" nut would be nice but with the chunky neck profile, then offer it in the original colors too.
I agree on the comments re: MPJ. I was A/B'ing for a couple of hours at the local Guitar Center. $499 for the sound I was getting was crazy! Best sounding bass there.
Ended up getting a Blacktop P Bass (HH). Power for days. MIM. Great sound. Great neck. Had it for one practice only and it is awesome. Was about to drop $825 for a used MM Sterling. I am glad I found this! After discounts my P Bass was $459 out the door. Ridiculous!
Haha yes I already corrected myself. THE FUTURE IS AWESOME! Though I can't afford one. It's even in a medium scale something I want to try. Oh the pain.
I'm excited to see what Fender will do next. Between the revival of instruments like the Bass VI, and the new Squiers and Modern Players, I think they've got something good going for the near future.
Welp, here's where I piss off a few. Fender needs to move on. Sure, they should keep making a P bass, J basses, and even some old style amps. But then they should start making whatever they think will sell, and to heck with those who would ask them to stay in the past. Here's the thing. Those who are stuck in the past don't even like new Fender basses anyway. They won't even BUY a new Fender. So why give a crap what they think???? You aren't selling to them anyway!
So, no, I do not think Fender should come out with 75 more reissue basses and guitars. We don't need 15 Tele basses, 25 more P basses.... in every single stinking color you can think of. We don't need another roadworn anything. Buy an old one or take sandpaper to your new one. Fender should keep a few tried and true designs and move on. Trying to satisfy people who wouldn't dare buy a "new old" Fender anyway is stupid from a business standpoint. And this whole debate is moot if they go out of business.
Most kids don't want another '62 Strat, or stack knob J, or another P bass. They want something made for their music, their style, and their generation. Give them what they want. If the old guys don't come along for the ride, let them shop at pawn shops or stick to the one or two tried and true models that Fender keeps around (all the while pissing and moaning that Fender doesn't offer them in every conceivable color and with every single tiny detail they like about some vintage bass somebody slapped together from parts in a garage band they were in back in '64).
First rule of business. Stay in business. And trying to live for another century on the same old platform won't keep them in business. And if you closed-minded old guys don't ALLOW them to move on, then YOU are sentencing them to death. (But you'll blame capitalism or some other factor for doing them in).
I see kids from Nashville traveling with new country acts all the time. They are wearing Converse Chucks, skinny jeans, V neck T-shirts, scarves around their necks, and still playing a freakin P-bass. When I ask them about it, they pretty much tell me they play a P bass because they HAVE to play a P bass. They have other basses at home that never come on the road. But they don't DARE show up with something other than a 4 string P. Why? Because somewhere along the way, some OLD GUYS in Nashville decided that the Fender P bass is the official bass of live music. I saw a band recently that had a deal with Gibson. The kid brought his brand new Gibson bass on stage. He wasn't up there five minutes before I heard somebody behind the board asking where his P bass was and asking what "that piece of crap" was. Give me a break. Let the kids play what they want. And you old guys should BACK OFF of them.
Let Fender stay in business. And they WON'T stay in business forever building nothing but rehashed versions of basses and rigs that you old guys sit around dreaming about and drooling over.
Before you jump, I'm 42 and own two Fender basses (just bought another last week that should be here Wednesday). And I also own a vintage Fender tube amp. (However, the Dimension HHV is on my radar and I will probably snag one around Christmas.) But those are MY tastes. You won't catch me pissing and moaning if Fender tries to break out of jail and do some different things to make the kids happy. They made Hot Pink HSS Strats in the 80s and that was a GREAT plan. They should get out of their rut and try something for THIS generation as well.
Sure, a 6 string Jazz..... why not? Plenty of OTHER companies make them using the same old Fender design, why not FENDER? Sure, a digital platform guitar/bass rig that imitates the sound of 47 gagillion other amps with the touch of a button, weighs about two ounces, and is made of pure Boston Red Sox BLUE PLASTIC! (By the way, the fact that ANY amp is still covered in black tolex.... a seemingly fragile substance that tears if you look at it wrong...... is completely ridiculous given the technology we have today.)
You had your day. Let the kids have theirs. And let Fender MOVE ON! There will be plenty of 4 string P basses floating around if you need ONE MORE.
(breathe) I feel better. Anyone else?
Glad I got that off my chest.
FLAME ON!
So, no, I do not think Fender should come out with 75 more reissue basses and guitars. We don't need 15 Tele basses, 25 more P basses.... in every single stinking color you can think of. We don't need another roadworn anything. Buy an old one or take sandpaper to your new one. Fender should keep a few tried and true designs and move on. Trying to satisfy people who wouldn't dare buy a "new old" Fender anyway is stupid from a business standpoint. And this whole debate is moot if they go out of business.
Most kids don't want another '62 Strat, or stack knob J, or another P bass. They want something made for their music, their style, and their generation. Give them what they want. If the old guys don't come along for the ride, let them shop at pawn shops or stick to the one or two tried and true models that Fender keeps around (all the while pissing and moaning that Fender doesn't offer them in every conceivable color and with every single tiny detail they like about some vintage bass somebody slapped together from parts in a garage band they were in back in '64).
First rule of business. Stay in business. And trying to live for another century on the same old platform won't keep them in business. And if you closed-minded old guys don't ALLOW them to move on, then YOU are sentencing them to death. (But you'll blame capitalism or some other factor for doing them in).
I see kids from Nashville traveling with new country acts all the time. They are wearing Converse Chucks, skinny jeans, V neck T-shirts, scarves around their necks, and still playing a freakin P-bass. When I ask them about it, they pretty much tell me they play a P bass because they HAVE to play a P bass. They have other basses at home that never come on the road. But they don't DARE show up with something other than a 4 string P. Why? Because somewhere along the way, some OLD GUYS in Nashville decided that the Fender P bass is the official bass of live music. I saw a band recently that had a deal with Gibson. The kid brought his brand new Gibson bass on stage. He wasn't up there five minutes before I heard somebody behind the board asking where his P bass was and asking what "that piece of crap" was. Give me a break. Let the kids play what they want. And you old guys should BACK OFF of them.
Let Fender stay in business. And they WON'T stay in business forever building nothing but rehashed versions of basses and rigs that you old guys sit around dreaming about and drooling over.
Before you jump, I'm 42 and own two Fender basses (just bought another last week that should be here Wednesday). And I also own a vintage Fender tube amp. (However, the Dimension HHV is on my radar and I will probably snag one around Christmas.) But those are MY tastes. You won't catch me pissing and moaning if Fender tries to break out of jail and do some different things to make the kids happy. They made Hot Pink HSS Strats in the 80s and that was a GREAT plan. They should get out of their rut and try something for THIS generation as well.
Sure, a 6 string Jazz..... why not? Plenty of OTHER companies make them using the same old Fender design, why not FENDER? Sure, a digital platform guitar/bass rig that imitates the sound of 47 gagillion other amps with the touch of a button, weighs about two ounces, and is made of pure Boston Red Sox BLUE PLASTIC! (By the way, the fact that ANY amp is still covered in black tolex.... a seemingly fragile substance that tears if you look at it wrong...... is completely ridiculous given the technology we have today.)
You had your day. Let the kids have theirs. And let Fender MOVE ON! There will be plenty of 4 string P basses floating around if you need ONE MORE.
(breathe) I feel better. Anyone else?
Glad I got that off my chest.
FLAME ON!
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
Double Bass What is the learning curve like as a new upright bassist?- Latest: Danukenator