The Fender Zone is a reworking of the Contemporary Precision Lyte bass line from the decade prior. The Lyte is a really interesting Fender (for a lot of the same reasons of the Zone) due to most of the classic fender elements being slightly reworked for a really killer fast and tight playing bass. They even slimmed the width of the headstock to follow suit!

"When Warwicks were attainable". Bought my German Thumb BO 5 off talkbass in 2008 for like 900 CAD + 250 CAD shipping.

When Fender made boutique basses. What a beauty, and it sounds awesome.

Fender trying to make an Ibenez.

Aesthetically kind of reminds me of those yamaha TRB basses

Definitely a "sleeper" that never really caught on. That grain of the wood is gorgeous! Love the sound of the active pickups.... and that's coming from a basic P bass guy.

One of my favorite basses was my 2006 JB24. Quilted maple top, Seymour Duncan pickups, Seymour duncan Preamp, 24 frets. The mid 2000s was a great era for Fender. They took chances and didnt just ride on their name.

The early 2000’s were the last great era they have had. This bass is amazing along with jazz bass and p bass deluxe. Those were amazing basses and taking a great design and making it better. I wish they would bring these back along with trying new things.Great video

This bass was Fender's answer to the Peavey Cirrus. However, I have to knock each for using ceramic pickups which never sounded any good to me. As discussed before, the best basses are still produced from Fender in Japan. The Japanese have always had an impeccable quality control ethic regarding fit and finish. They actually take pride in their work.

I've gigged with this bass since 2009. There's a beautiful sweet spot in the blend, just on the neck side of even. The neck is a joy to play on! The pickups are super responsive to your technique, rounding out closer to the neck with really great sustain, thumpy over the middle, and a nice punch with a pick closer to the bridge pickup. Sound engineers have complimented it in both live and studio situations. The light weight is super nice on a longer night too. Picked it up for $500 used, there's no way I could have paid sticker for it lol

Back when I started playing bass in 2004 this was one bass I coveted. I borrowed the money off my then girlfriend whose parents were, um lets say "loaded". I played mine until 2008 when I traded it towards a 75 J bass reissue. Still have that axe. This makes me want to hit reverb now and find another...

Every few years Fender steps out. This zone bass, the dimension bass, and now the meteora bass! I love my American dimension V!

Wow! What a gorgeous albeit modern Fender bass. Very responsive - no bad notes to be found on this one. Well done!

Review a Fender American Dimension! I love mine!

Fender with Peavey style pickups… so awesome

I have one of these. Absolutely love it, and never seen another in person. Changed the pick ups out for custom wound alnico Vs. Run flats, it’s a killer modern take on retro.

The double J routed basses are such a pain to upgrade if you want to preserve the factory look.

I had a 2002 model of that US one and a Mexican 2006 PJ in Sienna Burst. Eventually ended up selling both again as I did not agree with the electronics. My wife judge the basses by their looks and gave the US version top grades. Here is what Fender wrote about the basses at the 2001 NAMM: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) will release two edgy new basses this summer with the introduction of the American Deluxe Zone Bass and the Deluxe Zone Bass at the 2001 Nashville NAMM show. Both of the new Zones Basses offer cutting edge features including newly designed pickups and electronics, and in the case of the American Deluxe version, a choice of exotic woods. "This is a very ambitious step for Fender basses," says Richard McDonald, vice president of electric guitars for Fender. "We've put a great deal of effort over the past few years in finding out exactly what players want in a contemporary bass. What we've come up with is this new line of Zone basses, and we are very proud of the results." The American Deluxe Zone Bass is one of Fender's first ventures into the realm of exotic wood basses, offering a choice of either a highly figured maple top over alder, or a walnut top over mahogany. Engineers in Fenders Research and Development have spent the last two years designing an entirely new electronic platform to match and maximize the tonal characteristics of each of the options, including new hum canceling pickups designed to increase the low frequency response and extend the upper frequency range. Both neck and bridge pickups are designed with ferrous steel pole pieces contained within the core of each bobbin. They are driven with low-profile, wide area ceramic magnets located at the base of each pickup, with the ceramic magnets offering optimal strength and excellent string transfer characteristics that result in incredible clarity and articulation. The unique sonic nature of the exotic woods and their body mass require electronics that can bring the most out of these instruments. To accommodate this, the new American Deluxe Bass circuit is tweaked at the input stage - pre-shape, boost and EQ settings - to match and compliment the instruments characteristics. The Bass frequencies are centered at 40Hz± 12db with a 4db per octave slope, while the Treble is centered at 8 kHz± 10db with a 2db per octave slope, with the Treble cut working as a more passive control for warm, organic tones. The Mid control is centered at 500Hz± 10db and -15db, with a wide-band slope to bring out the growl and new distinctive voices of the electronics. The circuit is powered by a new 18 Volt supply. The bridge on the American Deluxe Zone Bass is deluxe chrome plated steel. The maple neck is C-shaped has a 34" scale, 9.5" radius with a rosewood fingerboard and 22 frets. This bass is made at Fenders state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Corona, California. US MSRP is $1,949.99. The Deluxe Zone Bass is styled after the American Deluxe version, offering straight ahead, professional features and the signature value that is associated with products made at Fender’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. The Deluxe Zone Bass features two new pickups designed specifically for this instrument, with the popular American P-Bass“ serves as a starting point for the neck position pickup. Fender has added more of a top end response to the flush mounted Alnico magnets, brining more top end definition to the full bodied nature of this pickup. The bridge position pickup is a fully customized version of Fender’s Active Deluxe Jazz Bass pickup, with quarter-inch Alnico magnets and end-to-end hum canceling vintage style construction. The new active EQ circuit is controlled by Volume, Blend/Pan, Treble, Mid and Bass Controls. The solid alder body features a contoured top. The maple neck is C-shaped with a 34" scale and 9.5" radius, rosewood fingerboard and 22 frets. As with the American Deluxe version, the bridge is deluxe chrome plated steel. Available colors are Sage, Pewter, Black and Sienna Burst. Made at Fender’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

Reminds me of Jeff Berlin's that he modded years ago before getting signature basses with I believe Dean and now Cort. Really cool.

Where was a time when Fender were actually doing some really interesting stuff, and looked to be pushing the market on a little bit with new basses for them, such as the Dimension, and the Roscoe Beck four and five strings (I had the five string version, it remains the best 5-string Fender ever produced). But then they got really scared, regrouped and went back to producing the American Jazz, Mexican Jazz, Player Jazz, Vintage Player Jazz, Roadworn Jazz etc etc.

Awesome Bass! Thank you Ken, and thank you Lobster!

Great Review Lobster! This bass sounds really great, and I completely agree with those other users who somewhat regret that the "Big F" company soon during the early 2010's focussed back on the basic, traditional models. Even if I am not really a "Leo guy" (with only one Squ CV Jag bass out of several instruments), I kept the 2006 F brochure, where the Zone bass, the JB 24, the Roscoe Beck model and the (then brand new Tony Franklin) models are visible. And I will keep it for the future as a good example how nice this kind of printed document could be (as soon afterwards, everything started to be "100% online"). They really made some interesting gear back these days! There was also the "S-1 switch" on some US-made J and P models during this period. A feature which seems to have been forgotten meanwhile. Yet, looking back sadly does not mean much, if it was finally the bassists' (our) majoritary acquisition behaviour, which lead to the production stop of such nice instruments....

Almost looked like a Wal Mk. 2 Bass for a second!

Those are nice basses. I tried a used one years back that was such a pleasure to play. I really liked it better than the Peavey Cirrus. Fender and Gibson suffer do from their own history. People don't go to Fender or Gibson for new innovative instruments or radical shapes, people want traditional ones from them. Like it or not. I have heard players literally say if they want a Strat or Tele type, they'd get a Fender or Squier, but if they want something different they'd go Ibanez, PRS or something else. Fender really has done some nice basses such as this, the Heartfield (joint venture), the Lyte, The Elite (early mid 80s) and others that venture away from their traditional features and/or designs, but people seem to ignore them no matter if they are good or not. Just like Gibson refusing to change the 17 degree headstock angle on the Les Paul because customers only want the original spec. Most sensible makers use 10 or 11 degree, even Epi uses a 14 degree headstock angle to minimize the issues with short grain at the weakest point. But part if it is economics, Fender and Gibson are mass produced; producing a smaller number of high end instruments doesn't add much value to the bottom line. Sure they have the custom shop stuff, but those are primarily just higher quality versions of their standard stuff. A note about Fender Quality. Fender quality has never been best of class, and I do mean never. They generally make acceptable instruments with a premium for the brand, but then again they (and Gibson) do hold resale value more than most others. They had a few missteps in the Covid and Post-Covid era, but the newer ones I've seen seem to be more like post-covid quality.

it sounds great

Best sounding Fender Bass to me and one of the best 'modern' sounding basses I've ever heard. To nowadays Fender - get your shit together. EDIT: I don't want to insult Fender in any way. It might be customers wanting 'legacy' stuff from them, unfortunately

Kind of reminds me of a Lakland

Hello ! Now several of us has bern waiting the test of SireV10 dx 5 str. This is very interesting since they seems listen to your advice !!!! come on !!’

Factory tuners seem to be Schaller BM Lights w/o logo. Great review as always.

If all goes well, I’ll have one of these tomorrow.

Sire V10dx 5 str. Please 🙏 Because you have made them do the upgrades so good !!!!!!

Between this and the jazz 24’s there were some really cool designs 20 years ago

Hi Lobster, love your videos! Would you review a 59 DC long scale danelectro? The "new" one haha. Never saw a good review and don't see it much on internet. I think is pretty unique bass

Excellent Review Lobster 🦞🎶🎵🎸

This is a truly rare instrument, unusual for Fender, and at the same time with an extremely beautiful sound, judging even just by this specimen featured in this video. I'm not even talking about the craftsmanship, whose perfection is undeniable! ______ OT In a way, it reminds me a bit of the Dimension bass that came out about 9 years ago. My expectation then was that this instrument would offer a modern and rich tone, but my interest in it "waned" and the reason for that was due to the fact that the Warwick Corvette $$ was a much better alternative in every respect.

Most Beautiful "F" I've Seen

Definitely looks better than it sounds.....

Quick reply! Excited to watch, sure it will be a great video as always!

I have to get one that bass is awesome

What a great Bass. I think it would compete well with G&L’s M-2000 and the Peaveys of its time. Fender should take more risks like this !

Quality bass! Zone vs Dimension?

Hey lobster. Love your videos. Keep it up. Quick question. I just bought a bass like a cort curbow. It's by a brand called Hudson basses and the bass model is called the Project Bass. . It's the same as the Tanglewood canyon bass. One pickup affair. Was wondering if you know of a pickup to fit so I can upgrade it. Really cool modern looking bass. Check it out it you have a second. Bass knowledge is power hee hee cheers

That was audacious pricing in its day as new. With the influx of new instruments today at so many price points (especially the sub- $1,000 price point) that are GREAT for the money, makes $2,000 basses from Fender seem ridiculous, and if adjusted for inflation makes this Zone bass a $3,000 proposition as new now… that’s offensive. I shudder to think if I went to the Fender Custom Shop and said: “Please give a quote to make me a Zone Bass.” I think they’d give me a five figure (!!!) quote based on the Custom Shop kind of upcharges.

I want one

What are pros and cons of neck plate vs. no neck plate?

Sweet shirt!

I remember lusting after and wanting one of these when they were being produced. But at the time, the price was way out of my range.

I think Fender has the "problem" of being a so-called legacy brand. If it's not a Tele, Strat, P or J Bass, people aren't as interested.

I own and play mine to death! Just love it ❤

I like the downsized body and smaller headstock

Top notch!

That bass looks amazing

Wow, that bass sounds amazing!

Reminds me of a Cirrus

LOBSTER WE NEED A REVIEW ON THE IBANEZ BTB805MS LITTERALY BETTER THAN A DINGWALL

2001 no battery door. My 1996 Ernie Ball MusicMan Sterling has a battery door.

How's the neck profile?

Very similar to a Cirrus, agreed, or to an Axcelerator bass. I really think that both are better basses than this, especially for the era and the price.

Looks alot like a Peavey Cirrus

Ah,..These ARE nice!! Fender tried to give Peavey,..Aria,..Wal & Ibanez a “Run fo’ da’ Money!”..eh!? 🤨But,..I got an ‘81 Ibanez 924DS back in the ‘80s that STILL KILLS Today!! 🤣👌🏾So,..I’m good! b(‘_

Sounds like a cirrus meets a Spector

Looks like Jeff Berlin's Bass.....

Active/passive toggle?

Sounds Fendery...

How many claws did it get

Crank that speaker up, it sounds really bad to fully show off this bass, I say this as someone who played a Walnut version of this, it sounds way better in person, unless you can record this directly, or have a proper speaker to do it justice

the back looks like an atk.

Flagship, no. Premier, yes.

22 fret = high F

How badly were you hurt in giving a Fender a good review? ;-)

This is a lot like a Peavey Cirrus, or maybe a millennium.

That bass looks small

Fender is going the same route as Sears and K Mart....sitting on the brands name to make extra money instead of actually creating something new....thanks...

$3,000 for one bass - in today's economy? Who is pulling who's leg here?

Yeah, what happened Fender, you used to innovate. Sigh.

Fender's grown very boring and they already had part of the remedy.