When Fender was trying to imitate Gibson
It is often said that Gibson tried to imitate Fender. As far as bass were concerned Fender was a bit ahead and Gibson wasn't really on top, mainly adapting guitar designs to bass format, EB-0, EB-3 have always been based on SG, Les Paul or ES-335 models.
So why did Fender, inventor of some of the most innovative designs in bass guitars, released the Coronado line of bass ?
The Coronado series was initiated by CBS's Fender new management in 1966. Roger Rosssmeisl, a talented luthier formerly from Rickenbacker and then Gibson was hired to develop a new bunch of instruments inspired by these two famous firms. The Coronado series was supposed to take after the ES-335/Guild Starfire thinline design. Fender was a solid body guitars builder and wanted to extend its styles of instruments. The first Coronado bass had one pickup only and was followed by the Coronado II with two pickups in 1967. Basicly it is an EB-2 with a bolt-on neck and a 30" scale. Its bridge reminds us of Rickenbacker's one with an F instead of a R. The head is typical from Fender's acoustic instruments, a bit rounded compared to the large Precision head but definitely not in the thinline tradition...
The design was flawed by the lack of a central block of wood and pickups that tend to feedback frequently. It probably won't be surprising that not a single famous bass player chose the Coronado during the 60's, neither the 70's. The Coronado was one of Fender biggest flop during the CBS era with the Fender Bass V.
So why did Fender, inventor of some of the most innovative designs in bass guitars, released the Coronado line of bass ?
The Coronado series was initiated by CBS's Fender new management in 1966. Roger Rosssmeisl, a talented luthier formerly from Rickenbacker and then Gibson was hired to develop a new bunch of instruments inspired by these two famous firms. The Coronado series was supposed to take after the ES-335/Guild Starfire thinline design. Fender was a solid body guitars builder and wanted to extend its styles of instruments. The first Coronado bass had one pickup only and was followed by the Coronado II with two pickups in 1967. Basicly it is an EB-2 with a bolt-on neck and a 30" scale. Its bridge reminds us of Rickenbacker's one with an F instead of a R. The head is typical from Fender's acoustic instruments, a bit rounded compared to the large Precision head but definitely not in the thinline tradition...
The design was flawed by the lack of a central block of wood and pickups that tend to feedback frequently. It probably won't be surprising that not a single famous bass player chose the Coronado during the 60's, neither the 70's. The Coronado was one of Fender biggest flop during the CBS era with the Fender Bass V.
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