It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:43 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 34 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:47 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
I think the Big Block was discontinued due poor sales. If it had been a hot seller it would still be rolling out of Ensenada. I don't think the Blacktop had much to do with the demise of the Big Block since it was killed off over a year before the Blacktop was even announced. I think problem 1 was the lack of color options, problem 2 was that it didn't sound or look much like a P-Bass and problem 3 was the cost. The Big Block has some collector potential down the road because of the short run and so few being sold. Getting parts will be a neat trick.

There was a lot to like about the Big Block including top notch electronics and some proprietary hardware, but that all tacked on cost. The Fender dealer in Gastonia, NC still had a brand new one for sale just a few months ago. It looked untouched. I played it and liked it ok but not enough to pay nearly $1,100 for it with tax in this economy. Bananas Music still is selling their inventory of them online.

It was a great bass but at the wrong time.

"It's the economy stupid." (James Carville)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:28 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
brotherdave wrote:
It was a great bass but at the wrong time.

"It's the economy stupid." (James Carville)


Well said Dave & a Damn shame it was discontinued, I also think that if there were a 3 tone sunburst, Natural Finish or Olympic White version it might of been better recieved....Hmmmm?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 3:16 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
I do think the Big Block should have been offered in something besides black. Fender of the corporate era is myopic where finish colors are concerned. Like Detroit car companies at the end of WWII when the unofficial motto was, "You can get any color you want, so long as it is black," today's FMIC tends to offer very limited color choices on most models. I know cost control is an issue but I really think more color options would boost sales even if it cost more as an upgrade, like in the old Custom Color option days.

The Big Block really is a fine instrument, however even if more colors had been offered it might have still been doomed to a short run since it was a severe departure from familiar Mexican P-Bass territory tone-wise, look-wise and cost-wise. It was maybe too pricey for some people to pony up for a Mexican Fender, even though superior hardware and electronics totally justified the premium price. These were pretty much the same exact reasons FMIC pulled the plug on the entire Heartfield project in 93. It wasn't a quality thing at all then either as the more pricey Heartfield basses were among the best made mass produced basses ever made even up till this very day. I think that with both the Big Block and the Heartfield basses the cost was so close to a USA Standard that people just coughed up the extra 100 to 150 buckaroos for the USA one and passed on the now discontinued ones.

A current model with severe color issues that really puzzles me is the Mexican P-Bass Special. Some color options clash to a garish extent with the gold pickguard. Color clashes aside I maintain the MIM P-Bass Special is Fender's biggest tonal bargain, but have to point out that it is possibly hard for prospective buyers to get past how the color choices match up with the guard, unless you want black which looks like a good combo.

Image

Yeah that one is nice looking, but check these other color combo choices! Looks like the circus is in town!

Image

Ok, maybe that one isn't so bad either....compared to these!

Image
Image
Image
Image

The guard color is the issue I have more than the paint colors. The paint colors are actually OK and there is a lot of variety to them. 3 Ply black/white/black or white/black/white guards would be so much better with these colors! Pearloid would be spectacular. If they offered Sunburst or blond body finishes, which they should but of course don't, the gold guard would be a good fit. Some people may buy one and then want to change the guard but you can't find stock aftermarket guards to fit them due to the unique control requirements and custom guards cost a lot. Such a good instrument deserves a better guard color treatment from my perspective. One key to knowing they are good basses is that in spite of not exactly being gorgeous they hardly ever show up for sale used anywhere. People that do buy them tend to keep them for a long, long time. I would already have one but don't want another black bass and the other color schemes are a total turn off for me.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 3:59 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
I agree I'm also not a fan of the Gold Pickguard...... everytime I see these basses on the the Fender website I just look at them & say...... Why? ......it would be far better to just stick with Black & White pickguards.
I also agree that Fender should have more color options.. like when you go to Musicman's website or G&L & Carvin's website... you can pretty much build you're own Bass from color, hardware, & fretboard wood.

I think Fender overall has been somewhat downsizing over the last 3 or 4 yrs (being that they've had some $$$ isues) by dumping the Big Block P Bass & a number of artist models....they're also moving a number of their top selling guitars & basses including artist models to Mexico from Japan... (which makes sence dollar wise)........they've also downsized SWR.......( very sad when you go to their website these days...not much there).....Long & McQuade here in Vancouver doesn't even really sell SWR anymore.......... they've really ramped up the Mark Bass items in the store & the GK & Orange amps.........I'm an SWR Fan (love my rig) but that being said I'd like to try an Genz Benz or Ashdown amp but they're not sold in my area.(to my knowledge)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 5:25 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
How about this Jag?

http://www.fender.com/products/pawnshop ... aguar-bass

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:34 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
linnin wrote:


That would sound more Musicman than Fender I think.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:31 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
I think it's the first time Fender used MM-style HBs on their basses.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:25 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
chromeface wrote:
I think it's the first time Fender used MM-style HBs on their basses.

Image


Blingo-Zingo!

That's what I'm talkin' about!

Yowzer.

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:30 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
linnin wrote:
chromeface wrote:
I think it's the first time Fender used MM-style HBs on their basses.

Image


Blingo-Zingo!

That's what I'm talkin' about!

Yowzer.


I would love to check out that bass-


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:37 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:14 pm
Posts: 3169
Location: Linningrad
:arrow: Groovy ZoomBa! + 222

_________________
2012 Lefty American Standard Jazz
2017 Lefty American Professional Precision
2018 Rumble Studio 40 Combo
2016 Rumble 200 Combo
One day they shall name a GREAT city after me, and they shall call it LINNINGRAD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:13 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
I'd like seeing the Pawnshop Reverse Fenderbird with a standard 34"-scale neck and the choice of rosewood or maple fretboard.

This bass can be more versatile with a 22-fret neck. :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:22 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:19 pm
Posts: 1480
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
Yeah the Reverse Jag would do the job.........I totally forgot about this bass.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:31 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
Oh --so the neck is not as long as the Jazz or P bass?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:33 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 8:01 am
Posts: 2842
brotherdave wrote:
I do think the Big Block should have been offered in something besides black. Fender of the corporate era is myopic where finish colors are concerned. Like Detroit car companies at the end of WWII when the unofficial motto was, "You can get any color you want, so long as it is black," today's FMIC tends to offer very limited color choices on most models. I know cost control is an issue but I really think more color options would boost sales even if it cost more as an upgrade, like in the old Custom Color option days.

The Big Block really is a fine instrument, however even if more colors had been offered it might have still been doomed to a short run since it was a severe departure from familiar Mexican P-Bass territory tone-wise, look-wise and cost-wise. It was maybe too pricey for some people to pony up for a Mexican Fender, even though superior hardware and electronics totally justified the premium price. These were pretty much the same exact reasons FMIC pulled the plug on the entire Heartfield project in 93. It wasn't a quality thing at all then either as the more pricey Heartfield basses were among the best made mass produced basses ever made even up till this very day. I think that with both the Big Block and the Heartfield basses the cost was so close to a USA Standard that people just coughed up the extra 100 to 150 buckaroos for the USA one and passed on the now discontinued ones.

A current model with severe color issues that really puzzles me is the Mexican P-Bass Special. Some color options clash to a garish extent with the gold pickguard. Color clashes aside I maintain the MIM P-Bass Special is Fender's biggest tonal bargain, but have to point out that it is possibly hard for prospective buyers to get past how the color choices match up with the guard, unless you want black which looks like a good combo.

Image

Yeah that one is nice looking, but check these other color combo choices! Looks like the circus is in town!

Image

Ok, maybe that one isn't so bad either....compared to these!

Image
Image
Image
Image

The guard color is the issue I have more than the paint colors. The paint colors are actually OK and there is a lot of variety to them. 3 Ply black/white/black or white/black/white guards would be so much better with these colors! Pearloid would be spectacular. If they offered Sunburst or blond body finishes, which they should but of course don't, the gold guard would be a good fit. Some people may buy one and then want to change the guard but you can't find stock aftermarket guards to fit them due to the unique control requirements and custom guards cost a lot. Such a good instrument deserves a better guard color treatment from my perspective. One key to knowing they are good basses is that in spite of not exactly being gorgeous they hardly ever show up for sale used anywhere. People that do buy them tend to keep them for a long, long time. I would already have one but don't want another black bass and the other color schemes are a total turn off for me.



I'll take the Fiesta Red one with the Maple neck all day long and I love the gold aluminum P guard. It's me.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Music Man Sound from P bass?
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:31 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
@stroker vance

That gold pickguard is made from vinyl. It also has beveled edges.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 34 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: