Is Fender overrated?

[Kmonk]

I have always liked Fender. I have several of them and some Alembics. Is it possible that the reason you do not like Fender is because you own a Squier? You might feel differently if you owned an MIA. The best advice I could give you is try as many basses as possible and pick the one you like best regardless of what anyone else thinks.

[dhagler]

Originally Posted by MDBass

Don't buy ANYTHING simply for the brand name.

If you honestly don't like a single thing about the Squier, go play as many different models and manufacturers as possible to find out what you like; there are so many variables that go into the design of a bass that you really owe it to yourself to find out what your ears and hands prefer.

+1

[RandyMolson]

Originally Posted by mjac28

And she's going up in flames.

In before the thread lockdown.

[wobble man]

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

I say it time and time again...ignore the headstock...

The most important thing IMHO when it comes to a musical instrument is that it feel good. To me this is the most important aspect of playing....i can always change pickups or change the paint...IMHO looks are the absolute least important and very low on my list..

does a new suit look great? well sure it does, but it is not as comfortable as a well worn pair of jeans and a 100% cotton t-shirt

you should let you tone do the talking...not what is on the headstock...

i can't begin to tell you how much crap i get in my local scene for playing a Traben bass...until they hear me play and then all of a sudden they want to know the settings on my amp, or if i swapped out the electronics or what magic pedal i'm using...lol

(for the record i use Hartke amps and have since the mid 80's...and my cabs were designed a built by me using eminence drivers)

if your bass feels like a well worn pair of jeans your going to WANT to play it...

I own a 2,000.00 dollar bass and i choose to play a $500.00 dollar bass because it is more comfortable and sounds better to my ears and plays nice with my equipment

that is the absolute best piece of advice i can give you...

if you just want to change your bass because it's a Squier and not because you don't like some aspect of it's tone or construction then your simply a victim of G.A.S. or vanity..

have you thought about swapping out the electronics? or the neck? or the bridge? Or having it painted a different color?

sometimes something as simple as a neck adjustment, a fret dressing, or a new bridge can make a huge change it the sound and feel of an bass!

these days many of the VM And CV Squiers rival the higher priced Fenders anyway...

so you have to ask yourself a serious question.. do you want to change for you? or how some people in your circle perceive you?

what he said, for sure...

[Slackerprince]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

No, it's a "Fender type" bass, much like an SX is... that's not to say that it isn't a good instrument, but calling it a Fender is not correct...


- georgestrings

The models are based on original Fender designs and the specs are exact, for the most part. That is why a MIM Fender neck will fit on a Squier Affinity. Not sure if MIA necks are interchangeable.
They are Fender's brand, and for all intents and purposes, are Fender.
It even says so on the headstock!
Unless the OP was dissatisfied with his Squier J, I see no need to change it if he wanted to stick with the same design.

S

[Johnnywad]

Follow the advice of play what feels good. I have peaveys, ibanezes and fenders now working on a mm sterling. Its all sound and comfort.

[deeptubes]

I'm rather fond of my Fenders - Precision Elite II, HM, Precision Special Deluxe, Dimension, and newest addition to the stable Jazz Plus. The only one that's "ordinary" is the P Special Deluxe, and I didn't buy that one myself. But, that's what I like. There's a TON of stuff out there. Don't gravitate toward or away from anything because of the name on the headstock. Go to your favorite music store and play everything they have. Plug into an amp like yours, maybe even bring yours. Take notes - tone, playability, looks, is it properly setup, etc. Keep in mind that some of them may not have been properly set up, which affects tone and playablity. Then see if you can find what you like used and hold on to some money.

[Jason Wilson]

Originally Posted by Snakeman1066

if you just want to change your bass because it's a Squier and not because you don't like some aspect of it's tone or construction then your simply a victim of G.A.S. or vanity..

have you thought about swapping out the electronics? or the neck? or the bridge? Or having it painted a different color?

Totally! I was having the same thought about one of my basses, then I hung some fluffy dice (pink with red dots) off the headstock, and man, what a difference.

I then stuck the heads (springs included) from some bobble heads on my tuning pegs, I straight away I loved playing my bass again. I also noticed that people started to think I was way cooler too. Especially the ladies.
So I ditched my old girlfriend, apparently it isn't cool to date your cousin anyway, and got a hot new girlfriend! So much better. It's so much cooler when my friends ask what my new girlfriend does and I get to say she is a stripper. Well, I'm pretty sure she is a stripper, she walks around town, mainly street corners, doesn't wear much and always flashes cars. And she must be good as she always has heaps of small change. Which is pretty handy, as she always seems to have to go to the doctor. I thought coldsore were only on your mouth??? Anyway, I digress.

So, definitely, I would start by sprucing up your current bass. I could change your life!

[Rafescow]

I personally think Fender IS overrated. If you are looking for a Jazz Bass-ish tone and do not sympathize well with Fender just like me, I strongly recommend you getting a Carvin SB bass. Half the price of a Fender JB for twice the quality (and I'm not the only one who thinks so, take a look at this thread)

Ed Friedland did an outstanding review for this outstanding instrument:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEdT9dRuiTU

Well, if you don't like this kind of tone anyway, just do what has been said here: try out a variety of basses and choose the one you like the most. After all, you are who should be satisfied with your instrument, not the others.

[southpaw420]

Overrated? Probably...
Awesome? Definitely.

[MoeGJBeener]

Originally Posted by southpaw420

Overrated? Probably...
Awesome? Definitely.

Nailed it!

[Rick48195]

I personally tend to lean on Made in the USA bass guitars, the Fenders, Gibson, Music Man, Rickenbacker, Carvin, I have not seen the quality of these in any of the Asian brands, I probably don't really give them a chance though either, If you must buy foreign Yamaha Made in Japan is a quality product


I have
Fender American Jazz Deluxe
Fender American Special Precision Honeyburst
Gibson SG shortscale

Absolutely love em all

[punkjazzben]

Oh dear...

[ProgRocker]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

No, it's a "Fender type" bass, much like an SX is... that's not to say that it isn't a good instrument, but calling it a Fender is not correct...


- georgestrings

As of when I worked for Guitar Center (in the late 90's - '02) Squire was made by Fender. If you needed to send it back, it went to Fender.

If that has changed in the years since, I haven't heard anything about it.

[funkyebk]

Originally Posted by Rick48195

I personally tend to lean on Made in the USA bass guitars, the Fenders, Gibson, Music Man, Rickenbacker, Carvin, I have not seen the quality of these in any of the Asian brands, I probably don't really give them a chance though either, If you must buy foreign Yamaha Made in Japan is a quality product


I have
Fender American Jazz Deluxe
Fender American Special Precision Honeyburst
Gibson SG shortscale

Absolutely love em all

You misspelled 'Murica.

[pcake]

i find fenders to be good quality basses, but then i also find squiers are pretty good basses, and better quality than a lot of others basses in their price range.

as far as replacing your squier, instead of replacing it because you feel a "better" brand of bass will get you more cred, why not spend time deciding what you actually don't and do like about it and go from there? no matter how expensive, great quality or famous a bass or brand may be, i can guanatee you that it's not going to be the right bass for everyone.

[og61pbass]

I dont think anyone on here said "fender aint all that", even tho Fender is the originater of electric bass,you need to quit listening to other people and just get what you like,your the one thats gonna be playing it and if your not happy with your bass its gonna show in your playing.Try out Fenders ,ibanezs,squiers etc. etc. and get the one that makes you feel good and is what you expect from a bass...good luck

[micgtr71]

I do not think that any bass is over-rated...

I love my Fender and measure every bass I play against it. I have played almost every bass that I can think of except for Fodera, F Bass, Roscoe, and Jerzy Drozd. I am sure I am missing some. When all is said and done, I return to my Fender.

There is only one bass that I have played off the wall that felt as good as my Jazz and that was a Musicman Bongo.

I paid around $500 when I bought the Fender new and if I were to have to buy it today for $1300 I would consider it to be well worth it.

[mjac28]

Originally Posted by ProgRocker

As of when I worked for Guitar Center (in the late 90's - '02) Squire was made by Fender. If you needed to send it back, it went to Fender.

If that has changed in the years since, I haven't heard anything about it.

+1 I love when people don't consider them to be Fender's if you can play one blindfolded and tell it's not a Fender my hat cometh off sir.

[Jheake]

Fender is just popular again. So if the trend is killing it for you then buy something else.

I didnt know anyone who played a Fender bass in the mid ninety's. They weren't as hot as they are now. I can say that if you like the tone of a Fender then dont worry so much about what others think. IF you dont like it, then its good to move on. There are plenty of options out there. Good luck!