are the biggest differences to you ?
[ Joey ] While the characteristics of particular woods can certainly affect the playing experience , a huge difference on most Fender instruments is that maple fingerboards are finished , while rosewood ( and ebony ) boards are not . There are differences in feel , articulation , timbre , so much more . It ’ s so personal . We think every serious bassist will eventually own basses with rosewood , maple and ebony fingerboards , all for very specific tonal outcomes .
[ WM ] Newer finishes like the Dark Night are being used on electric guitars as well as basses . How do you decide which finishes get used where ?
[ Joey ] When we develop spectacular new colors for a series , they always get applied to both guitars and basses – as part of the identity of the series . We render every color on every instrument and look for inspiration . The best color , neck and pickguard combination for each instrument becomes very clear when you can see every possibility – and we ’ re very careful to add the best-looking instruments to the series .
[ WM ] How has ( pickup ace ) Tim Shaw ’ s work impacted the bass side of things at Fender ?
[ Joey ] Tim has created some magnificent pickups over time on the bass side – American Professional II , American Performer , Player Series bass pickup – and more – are all Tim Shaw designs .
[ WM ] I love my American Originals ‘ 60s P-Bass but like the line it came from , it ’ s been discontinued . Can you tell us about the nuances of why and when you retire old lines and roll out new ones ?
[ Joey ] Quite simply , we seek to discover , evolve , innovate – to always be creating something new and special for bassists to love . Your first question was : “ How do you balance staying true to the legacy while simultaneously carving out room to innovate ?” We never stop . We are endlessly fascinated with new pickups and sounds , better-playing instruments , advancing the state-of-the-art in any way we can . We ’ re always developing new instruments and features .
[ WM ] In closing , are there any nuances about specific features or models that you wish got more attention than they do ?
[ Joey ] All of our models get a lot of attention , but some are a bit “ left-of-center ” on purpose . Witness the outrageous colors , the pickups , the neck , and the sound of the MonoNeon Jazz Bass V . MonoNeon is a brilliant musician – just incredible – who plays a righty bass upside down . – The brand new Suona Series ( there ’ s a Jazz bass ) feature old-growth Italian Spruce tops harvested from “ Il Bosco Che Suona ” in the alpine forest of Val di Fiemme in Italy – where a very famous violin maker sourced his spruce in the 1600s . These are just two examples of very limited runs that sometimes sell out so quickly that many musicians aren ’ t aware they even exist .
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