Do You Play a Fender Because It's Expected?

[Sartori]

No, I don't even play a fender. If I did, it would be because I liked how that specific bass felt and sounded.

[leegreenman]

I've played lots of different stuff, but I always end up gravitating towards Fenders and other Leo Fender designed instruments.

[codydang]

I like the look, feel, sound and rich history behind Fenders.

[krstko]

I use Fender because it's the only quality bass I have .. why do I have it? because I got it really cheap

[LiamPodmore]

I play a Fender, because i got it for a good deal off a family member, it plays well, and the sound works for my band (Albeit with drive, but it works)

Liam

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

If you're a session musican and walk in saying that, you'll be thanked for your time, the door held open for you, and you'll never get a returned phone call again. They'll then let in the next guy who brings the proper instruments and plays what's requested and pay him for his time.

Exactly.

A friend of mine was recently paid BIG bucks to butter Swedish crisp rolls for a photo shoot for two weeks. he is a chef and has been 'cooking' for photo shoots and also working as a food photographer himself for many years now.

He got the call because of his skills and past experience, but they could have easily hired anyone in the company to spread butter of the rolls for a few days, and saved themselves many thousands of dollars, but it's not the way the industry works- time is money and no one wants to be responsible for a cock-up, so they hire reliable professionals who will do what they say. I can just see the looks on the faces of the production manager and the photographer if he had turned up and told them he wasn't doing the job because they could have done it just as easily as themselves, knowing exactly what they wanted anyway.

He gets to be creative on his own shoots, and doesn't turn down the very occasional job like this because it is beneath him or because of some ideal about the way the business is run. If some of you have such ideals, wonderful for you and hopefully for the others who will enjoy your music, but don't confuse being a hired hand with being an artist in full creative control, especially if you are doing sessions.

I'm sure many a big star has swapped instruments in the studio because he trusts his producer to know what will work, or what will sell, for better or worse.

[hernameisrio]

This is the exact reason why I'll be adding a P-bass to my arsenal someday. Also, I just want to try one...I don't want to miss out! Then again, I'm getting my EBMM Sterling next week, which I think sounds similar...

[trevorguns]

I did buy a short scale Fender Mustang because my guitar player was always B****in that "all the pros use Fenders" and how I "need a Fender" and whatnot. I guess a Thunderbird is just not good enough for some people, haha. I found that I really kinda like the Mustang though. But no P bass and no Jazz bass.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

If you're a session musican and walk in saying that, you'll be thanked for your time, the door held open for you, and you'll never get a returned phone call again. They'll then let in the next guy who brings the proper instruments and plays what's requested and pay him for his time.

I dunno, I think he makes a good point.

If they already know the instrument they want, and they've already written the bass line they want, which they want played as they've written, why hire a session bassist at all, when they could just do it themselves? It probably wouldn't even take as much time. If you're just going to be telling the session player the exact line to play, anyway, what's the point of him/her being there?

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Sartori

I dunno, I think he makes a good point.

If they already know the instrument they want, and they've already written the bass line they want, which they want played as they've written, why hire a session bassist at all, when they could just do it themselves? It probably wouldn't even take as much time. If you're just going to be telling the session player the exact line to play, anyway, what's the point of him/her being there?

So it will be played well and sound good, and not take too much time to get perfect.

[Scott in Dallas]

Originally Posted by Sartori

I dunno, I think he makes a good point.

If they already know the instrument they want, and they've already written the bass line they want, which they want played as they've written, why hire a session bassist at all, when they could just do it themselves? It probably wouldn't even take as much time. If you're just going to be telling the session player the exact line to play, anyway, what's the point of him/her being there?

It would be a good point if that's how it worked. It's not. The sound guy's job is not to write bass lines or play instruments. A session musican is handed a chord chart and told a little about what they're doing, they get a run-through, and they put down a track in as few takes as possible. The bass player has some ability to influence what happens, and can make decisions within what's asked of him, but time is always of the essence, because they're churning out music and all the people involved are being paid for their time.

Right or wrong, a good session bassist knows that he might be asked to use a "Fender bass", and he'll have one on hand, whether it's a Sadowsky or a Valenti or an SX. He won't complain about it.

If you have a band, and you're hiring someone to record you, his job is to do what you say. If he tells you to go get a different instrument you are more than welcome to tell him to go to hell.

[aasti3000]

For me? I'd say no. I was trying a bunch of 5 strings and MM stringray had a good feel. When I went searching for a P bass I tried all kinds of brands but the neck of the Fender P bass 5 just felt absolutely fantastic. It really was the neck that sold me on the Fender. I'm almost tempted to swap necks with the stingray...just to experiment on how it would feel and sound.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Sartori

I dunno, I think he makes a good point.

If they already know the instrument they want, and they've already written the bass line they want, which they want played as they've written, why hire a session bassist at all, when they could just do it themselves? It probably wouldn't even take as much time. If you're just going to be telling the session player the exact line to play, anyway, what's the point of him/her being there?

Can the writer of the bass line play bass while playing drums, guitar, keys, and horns/strings? Can the writer even play bass? I can write a killer keyboard part but there's no way in hell I could play it!