I really would like a American telecaster with a f hole and a upside down headstock. String through with jazz pickups. Yeah.
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Where Will Fender Go Next?
- Thread starter Bassic Playing
- Start date
Just curious....which of your Fenders gets the most use for playing live? Something special about that one in particular?
I agree. They urgently need great designer. Imagine if they could come up with a great new -but familiar- shape (I am thinking Lakland here), how much money they would make.
As their marketing team is great, Fender's main flaw is design. Apple has shown that to the world. Aren't they aware about the value of good design?
Exhibit D.
People want different, but the same from Fender. This guy (and I'm not knocking him) wants Fender to GO BACK and REDO things they have already done (with original colors no less). Now, here's my honest question for people like this. When he says "in the original colors", is he planning on buying ONE OF EACH color? Uh.... nope. So he wants Fender to go back and drag out ANOTHER old model, in multiple colors, so he can POSSIBLY buy ONE of those colors.
I'm really not trashing anybody here. I apologize if it seems that way. But THIS is what people sit around day dreaming about from Fender. Drag out all the old models (some of which never sold all that well when they were FIRST released) so that we can go into shops a remember the glory days of garage bands gone by.
I say, keep the big four (P,J,Tele,Strat) and MOVE ON. Do something BOLD and NEW. I think the Dimension is very cool. But it wasn't a BOLD move. Break the mold and go for something entirely NOT Fender.
You lost me at the f hole and jazz pickups. But reverse tele headstocks are great
Here, a few different ideas of what I'm thinking. I love the top one. It might just be me but I think something like what I'm thinking would be cool.
That one on the right is pretty rad actually. Fender will be allowed to make them alongside its 12 string backward strung headless tapping machines 
I just got that impression from the wording on their site, certainly not from the way it looks, hence my comment.
It's a cool looking design, not really eye-catching but not offensive either, I honestly don't mind it. I just think it looks too "classic" and coming from a brand with many iconic, classic designs, maybe something a little more blatantly modern was where they should have taken it.
Oh hell, it's not even about modern, that guitar just needs some more extreme curves and lines. I guess I'm thinking something along the lines of an Ibanez BTB. And that's ironic coming from me since that top horn on the BTB scares me, lol. But better yet, look at how bold Ibanez' Grooveline is. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but that thing looks completely original and I don't think Jazz or Pbass when I see it. And I think that's what Fender should do. Go for something totally eye-catching.
I do give them credit for always trying to get out of that Jazz/P Bass box, though and wish them luck with this new Dimension. And again, it could sound completely amazing (and feel good). Just that my first impression, the aesthetics of it, doesn't do much for me.
So offering a model which hasn't been offered since 1971 is them just rehashing? I mean, I guess. I'd rather see them slash a bunch of the P & J derivatives and do that than keep adding "innovative" features wantonly. So what are your feelings on the new proliferation of the Bass VI? A needless move, something that's already been done, and therefore useless to people under 30? And so sue me if I want a variety of colours instead of White, Red, Black, and Burst on my instruments. I'd kill to have more custom colours available on production instruments. It seems you're arguing that Fender can only make old models, or only concentrate on radical new designs. Why is it seemingly not an option that they do both, pleasing an even greater number of people?
And as far as bringing out these old models solely to cater to the nostalgia of the older demographic, that's a right load. Sure, they of course appeal to those people, but that doesn't mean they don't appeal to the younger market. We've never had the opportunity to own these instruments in order to acquire this sense of nostalgia mostly due to the prohibitive costs of vintage gear, especially if it is a rarer piece. The AVRI line is the closest I and many other younger players can reasonably get to the "real thing", so I for one am very glad they continue reissues of vintage instruments. Yes, let them think outside of the box, that's great, but why should they do that at the loss of vintage style models? It just seems to me that you're very angry about the matter and rather delusional as to what most people want from a Fender and WHY they want what they want from a Fender. The people looking for radical new designs probably aren't considering Fender in the first place, so why is it so necessary for them to cater to these people? If anything, you're grievances lie more with the "industry", the engineers, the producers, those sorts of people, not Fender and their production of bench mark instruments. Are you saying if Fender goes out and makes a radical bass, then that will be absolutely fine with the "traditionalists", as long as it says Fender on the head stock? It seems you're just unhappy with the "status quo" and the fact that Fender is a capitalist business that responds to the market's demands for their tried & true product.
No sir. You got me all wrong (and right). Capitalism is my homeboy. I LOVE it. It makes me money when nothing else does. And I am not mad AT ALL. I don't really do mad. My writing style is a bit crass, so it comes across more emotional than I actually am. You are free to want whatever you want. I never said you couldn't. I, as well, am allowed to have my own opinions on the matter as well (also as well). And differing opinions don't have to put us at odds with one another. We're talking bass guitars here, not war or politics.
What IS my contention is that true capitalism is not being allowed to take place in the case of Fender (and not like any other company I can think of short of New Coke being rammed back up Coca-Cola's butt back in the 80s). Innovation is what put Fender on the map way back when. But innovation is not what some people will allow from them for the past couple of decades. Many (again, mostly older players.... my age and older) want more more MORE variations of the same old same old Fender models. And, yes, while we're at it, I DO think that reissuing another model from 1971 is a rehashing, ESPECIALLY if they are required to reissue it in the "original colors". And I do think it is the OLD GUARD that is not only trying to drive their own market, but almost not allowing the younger generation to find their own voice with regards to instrument style. Again, I have talked to MANY young players who pretty much feel FORCED to play a 4 string traditional Fender. And I have come across MANY older sound guys and engineers who get nothing short of ANNOYED when they see a bass player playing anything but a 4 string traditional Fender.
I simply can not speak to the need for, market for, or decision wisdom regarding the Bass VI. I know virtually nothing about them. And even though I managed a Fender dealer for several years and have played on hundreds of stages I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever been within 100 feet of one.
Either way, I am not bent out of shape at all. I don't even take the issue all that seriously. If Fender went out of business nest Tuesday, my life would change very little. (I must say that the weeping and gnashing of teeth would be a bit funny to watch.) But it is an interesting topic. And I have different views on said topic than most. No big deal, right? Shake hands? Big kiss? Come on. Gimme some! (Ooooh. You smell nice.)
What IS my contention is that true capitalism is not being allowed to take place in the case of Fender (and not like any other company I can think of short of New Coke being rammed back up Coca-Cola's butt back in the 80s). Innovation is what put Fender on the map way back when. But innovation is not what some people will allow from them for the past couple of decades. Many (again, mostly older players.... my age and older) want more more MORE variations of the same old same old Fender models. And, yes, while we're at it, I DO think that reissuing another model from 1971 is a rehashing, ESPECIALLY if they are required to reissue it in the "original colors". And I do think it is the OLD GUARD that is not only trying to drive their own market, but almost not allowing the younger generation to find their own voice with regards to instrument style. Again, I have talked to MANY young players who pretty much feel FORCED to play a 4 string traditional Fender. And I have come across MANY older sound guys and engineers who get nothing short of ANNOYED when they see a bass player playing anything but a 4 string traditional Fender.
I simply can not speak to the need for, market for, or decision wisdom regarding the Bass VI. I know virtually nothing about them. And even though I managed a Fender dealer for several years and have played on hundreds of stages I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever been within 100 feet of one.
Either way, I am not bent out of shape at all. I don't even take the issue all that seriously. If Fender went out of business nest Tuesday, my life would change very little. (I must say that the weeping and gnashing of teeth would be a bit funny to watch.) But it is an interesting topic. And I have different views on said topic than most. No big deal, right? Shake hands? Big kiss? Come on. Gimme some! (Ooooh. You smell nice.)
I'd like a basic (no bells or whistles) made in America P-bass. (the usual early 60s design features, particularly the thin lacquer finish) It can be as robo-machine made as necessary to keep USA prices reasonable The only 'custom' feature would be two hours of skilled human setup after the bass has passed all of the usual QA tests. Instead of heading to the cardboard box, I'd like a senior set up guru to spend two hours playing, adjusting, tweaking, etc until he believes the bass is as good as it can be given the modern materials and manufacturing process. What could Fender legitimately charge for two hours of skilled labor? No more than $200 and that would be worth every penny if all buyers would know that their bass was tweaked as close to perfection as it could be.
Since FMIC now owns many smaller companies, they should extract all the finer design elements and integrate them into something new, unique, and marketable.
How about a high performance EUB that doesn't eat your wallet?
Or an acoustic bass that doesn't feel like a club?
Someone else suggested short and medium scale basses, there's a market there waiting to be exploited.
How about a high performance EUB that doesn't eat your wallet?
Or an acoustic bass that doesn't feel like a club?
Someone else suggested short and medium scale basses, there's a market there waiting to be exploited.
I could care less so long as Fender continue to make good quality p-basses. Actually, I'm kinda pissed they dropped the AVRI line only to roll out higher priced equivalents. A nice unlined fretless P would be appreciated, but otherwise it's all marketing foo as far as I am concerned.
I also said if people are hiring you, you either do what they want or you will lose the gig
But anyway, my playing style and sound was never gear-dependent anyway. I have my favorites, but at the end of the day, give me a few minutes and I'll make any bass and amp sound like what I want.
I'm sorry but free market capitalism is functioning just fine in the case Fender. The market allocates goods and services in response to demand - it doesn't care if the demand has been created out of dubious advertising claims, peer pressure, hype, or simply on the merits of the product itself. Grumpy old Fender fans have not succeeded in thwarting the whole economy.
