Is Fender overrated?

[JimmyM]

I'll volunteer if someone else supplies the basses.

[Templar]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

The way I do a double blind test is this:

1. Blindfold the participant. Select a wide range of basses with similar features. Turn the volume & tone knobs completely up. Have the participant play each bass & rate them from best to worst.
2. Turn the tone knobs completely off & have the participant repeat the process.

That's funny. I bet the guys at the store were howling for hours after you left. I know I would be.

That being said, none of the MIA devout I've spoken with, including a retailer at my local store, have ever volunteered or submitted to participating.

You mean not everyone wants to make a spectacle of themselves in public? Who knew?

[Templar]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'll volunteer if someone else supplies the basses.

Well if you do that, remember the rules...

No pics = no blindfolded bass player.

[pudge]

If yur happy wit hthe squier up grade it within reason,save your money and when you're ready for a better bass you'll know the one when you play it. disclaimer: there is never just "one"

[JetBlackJazz]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

Bull.

Fender Standard American Jazz- $1300

http://www.dpcustom.com/

Dave Pushic custom bass, base price- $900 (+ about $400 for higher end fb, lams, and woods)

Fender is overrated.

[ProgRocker]

Originally Posted by ggvicviper

I dunno about george's knowledge, but my knowledge comes from a 2002 Fender MIM Jazz V that I owned. 2001 brought a major change in the MIM Fender basses. Mine was definitely not "crap", I played that bass for 5 years. I even regret selling it. Loved the way it sounded and felt. Whoever played it actually liked the way it felt and sounded - it was just a good bass. My MIM from 2011 is definitely better, but not by much.

Squier I'll agree was terrible 12 years ago. I'll also agree when you say that the MIMs with the poplar bodies and really bad pickups from 1991-2000 were crap. I can't say the same once the MIMs were redesigned the 1st time though. The 2nd redesign made them even better.

Agreed. I stayed away from Squier for a long time after having dealt with them for a couple of years. I know they're much better now. I've owned a Am/Dlx Jazz fretless, and an "Urge" bass from Fender. the Urge had noisy pups, but a very friendly neck.

I tried to convey that I really haven't followed who makes what or the quality of Squiers since I left GC. I follow trade mag reviews, and occasionally hang at a music store and try different basses. I haven't been in the market for a new one for a while now, so I'm not on top of it like I was when I was actively shopping around.

Currently I've got a Schecter Elite Series 5 string, Yamaha BB300, and a Dean AEB. I certainly didn't mean to imply current models (or even those made after I left GC) were / are crap. Just that the ones available at the time were. Honestly, they had probably gotten much better by '02, I really wasn't dealing with them much anymore at that point.

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by JetBlackJazz

Fender Standard American Jazz- $1300

http://www.dpcustom.com/

Dave Pushic custom bass, base price- $900 (+ about $400 for higher end fb, lams, and woods)

Fender is overrated.

And why is that supposed to be a superior bass? Isn't that strictly a matter of opinion? That was what I meant by my "bull" response. Whether or not a bass of equal or lesser cost than Fender is better is personal taste, nothing else.

[Cyrus987987]

I have played a lot of basses. I own a lot f basses. I always say I'm going to start gigging with my other basses, but I can never shake my fender. You want your answer? Look at pictures of all the greatest bass players and they all play fenders. But they arent for everyone, they are amazing basses and are not over rated, but they are not thr only amazing basses. Keep in mind any bass is a lousy bass if it has a bad set up.

[mellowinman]

In Russia, you do not play Fender bass.

Fender bass play YOU!

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

And why is that supposed to be a superior bass? Isn't that strictly a matter of opinion? Whether or not a bass of equal or lesser cost than Fender is better is personal taste, nothing else.

+1.

So Jetblackbass,.....90+% of gigging bassists use Fender basses and likely much less than 1/10th of a percent use DP Custom. How does that make Fender overrated? Is almost every bassist out there is stupid in your opinion, then?

I have nothing against DP (actually never heard of them and I am pretty knowledgeable about bass brands), but to say Fender is overrated isn't a real well thought out comment IMO.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

In Russia, you do not play Fender bass.

Fender bass play YOU!

LOL! Yakov never gets old!

[og61pbass]

I dont get it ,you've been practically playing a Fender by playing your squier,why would you not be proud of it??I know theres differences but very little at that,I have a 61 Fender P all original and it is a killer Bass,know what I've been playing for the last 2 years..YUP a Squier Vintage Modified P bass and a Vintage Modified Jaguar,nice Squiers I would like to add..and I dont care what anyone thinks,after playing Bass for over 35 years you get into this mode where its not what your playing its what feels and sounds good to you no matter if its a 270.00 dollar Squier or a !700.00 Fender,just play man just play,have fun live it ,love it and dont ever give it up for anyone or anything,because if your like me and alot of musicians out there,you always go back to your music...

[Sav'nBass]

Originally Posted by punkbass45

I really need to upgrade from my squire j-bass and get something that I can be somewhat proud of owning. Everyone tells me to get a Fender, but I'm not quite sure I like Fender enough. Is it just me?

Strive to be more proud of your playing than your bass. If the bass you have plays well and you like it then what anyone else thinks or says is irrelevant. Having said that, whether or not Fenders are overrated is in the hands of the player. I have played a few Squires that sounded and felt great in my hands .. and a few Fenders that did not.

[NightTripper]

Get whatever you want. Not because it's popular, but because you like it.

I've been looking for an acoustic guitar and, usually being averse to the common and expected, I hadn't considered Fender. But what do you know, a Fender is what I'm ending up with after playing many guitars at my local stores. It doesn't matter if it's popular or not. Do YOU like it? That's the only question that has any relevance.

[sbpark]

As far as electric guitars and basses go, Fender is a staple, an icon and has been around since the beginning. They essentially created the mass produced electric guitar. But when it comes to acoustic guitars I have never even considered a Fender. I'll take my Yama acoustic and Recording King acoustic guitars over an acoustic Fender any day of the week, but the only basses I own are Fenders.

[FourtyOneHz]

Originally Posted by sbpark

As far as electric guitars and basses go, Fender is a staple, an icon and has been around since the beginning. They essentially created the mass produced electric guitar. But when it comes to acoustic guitars I have never even considered a Fender. I'll take my Yama acoustic and Recording King acoustic guitars over an acoustic Fender any day of the week, but the only basses I own are Fenders.

I've always thought that Fender offered acoustics so they could round out their product line. They've never paid any real attention to them because it's not their core business and it shows. To the world Fender is a premier maker (perhaps even the premier maker) of electric guitars and basses so it's not that big of a deal.

To the OP: Just because practically everyone plays a Fender bass doesn't mean they're over rated. Even if you don't gig with one you still have some in the stable. It's that way for a reason.

[sbpark]

Originally Posted by FourtyOneHz

I've always thought that Fender offered acoustics so they could round out their product line. They've never paid any real attention to them because it's not their core business and it shows. To the world Fender is a premier maker (perhaps even the premier maker) of electric guitars and basses so it's not that big of a deal.

To the OP: Just because practically everyone plays a Fender bass doesn't mean they're over rated. Even if you don't gig with one you still have some in the stable. It's that way for a reason.

I agree. I also play banjo and would NEVER buy a Fender banjo. They are junk. I almost think however, if they dropped the acoustic guitars, banjos, etc. and just stuck to electric guitars and basses they'd have more respect, but then again, they are probably selling a ton of acoustics and banjos just because your average joe thinks if it says Fender on the label then it's the best.

[Old Fart]

Play what you like. Me? I like Fenders. I'm not sure you can make a better instrument. I mean.....all the details are worked out. The pickguard is in the right place. Everything. Oh, there are Fenders I don't like. But my 2004 P with the shallow neck......effortless. Big growly thump. What's not to love?

[tempebased]

IMO the Jazz bass C shape neck on my 2000 MIA is the most comfortable neck I've ever played to this day. It fits my hands really well and I love the bass dearly.

As others have said, play anything you can get your hands on. There are a lot of differences between instruments because no two players are the same.

Fender is a great company with a great product. I just think some people expect all of their instruments to be the same. "Oh, if I buy a MIA jazz bass it will sound better than my MIM jazz bass." Maybe, but their production process is not perfect. Some would say that it's really not what it used to be. I can't comment on that, but I will say to play a lot of different Fenders.

I think Fender is a little bit overrated, but there is a reason that it's popular. Much like Windows, it's the market leader in its industry. But there are still smaller companies that arguably do a better job (sometimes for less). The key is to be OK getting a Fender if it plays well and also being open to other alternatives.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by Cyrus987987

I have played a lot of basses. I own a lot f basses. I always say I'm going to start gigging with my other basses, but I can never shake my fender. You want your answer? Look at pictures of all the greatest bass players and they all play fenders. But they arent for everyone, they are amazing basses and are not over rated, but they are not thr only amazing basses. Keep in mind any bass is a lousy bass if it has a bad set up.

Umm, nope . . .

Some of the greatest players might own fenders, but a substantial amount of these players use other basses as their main instrument (especially these days).