I’d say they started with the body of Fender’s Jaguar bass; the changes are modest, but it does have a Steam kind of look.
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Oh, probably right.
…
I always forget the Jag bass exists. =/
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Every time I see a new pricepoint of a new Fender I am so glad I like used basses.
Seems cool, but of course pickups will be the tell tale here.
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It reminds me of a more extreme version of the the Soviet Space Bass 
I bought that is somehow, against all odds, currently making its way across Ukraine o.O It went from Zaporizhzia to Dniepro yesterday; I’m imagining Saving Private Ryan with someone that has a bass guitar slung over their back.
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There’s an old Fender guitar with that shape, the Meteora that’s where it’s from
I dig the shape
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I comment on this thing, and now YouTube just served up a fucking video of someone unboxing one of these.
This is a dystopian hellscape.
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Everything old is new again.
Company love dead brand names that they already own.
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My Sweetwater rep started to spill the beans on this a couple months ago, and caught himself before he went to far. I’m hoping there’s a Squier edition.
Bully ThaKid did an unboxing
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…I’m not shocked. 
That said, I like it too.
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that’s the video lol…
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Just looked at the combos available. The black/ grey models don’t come with a dark fretboard. Always something. I’m even thinking of getting a second Jag just so I can get it with a PF fretboard.
I like the Steam but I don’t think I can jump into another line of basses (atm). I don’t mind Fenders and they would be my favorite if they got rid of the heal. That’s why my Warwicks and Ibanez are still what I enjoy the most.
PS Where have all the Candy Apple Red versions gone?
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I was wondering less than an hour ago "Would Fender Fans lose their minds if Fender stopped using that huge chunky block for a neck joint? 
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I certainly wouldn’t. Would be nice not having that heal sticking into me and holding my hand back on the higher end. I am guessing it would make the bass a lot lighter too.
The same goes for my US G&L but I just got another Warwick so that is going bye bye. Any buyers?
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[quote=“SubsonicRob, post:2291, topic:5049”]
One of the first things I noticed when I got my American Ultra Jazz Bass last April, was the curved and rounded neck block . . . 
It doesn’t make the bass appreciably lighter, but it does allow better upper fret access!
Cheers
Joe
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that does look a lot more kind to players.
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My MIM Fender Active Deluxe P Bass has that too. Its definitely an improvement from the average heal. Not sure why they don’t do that with all their basses.
Bet that American Ultra Jazz Bass is a beaut. I have a couple of MIM Jazz. Maybe one day I can trade them up to an Ultra.
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You know, this is what drives me crazy about Fender. My Charvel is by Fender, and has this wonderfully thin neck that makes my Jazz neck feel porky. For about the price of a Player instrument.
Why do you need blocky neck joints? They know how to do without them
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Here’s my article on it when I first traded up to it:
Hope you enjoy and perhaps find it helpful . . . 
Cheers
Joe
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Correct! Tradition. Fender is steeped heavily in design traditions. Someone likes it. Seems dopey. Then again, Rickenbacker is even more so steeped in tradition, and it works. So there’s that.
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