Fender- What's the deal?

caden000 · #1 08-25-2010, 10:17 PM

I currently own and play a Carvin B4, and i have never played anything better. around here on TB there is LOTS of Fender love, and i dont get it. I have picked up countless Fender Jazz basses and P basses and i cant seem to find why they are so special. I'm not saying that Fenders are bad or anything, i'm just wondering if there is something i'm missing here.

mulchor · #2 08-25-2010, 10:22 PM

I've felt the same way about Carvin.

Life is full of mysteries.

Craig_S · #3 08-25-2010, 10:23 PM

One thing you're missing: Carvin "borrowed" the pickup spacing and the neck dimensions from Fender. Other than that? I don't know. I've never owned a Carvin. Based on what I've heard and read, you may have gotten lucky and found a good one.

J. Crawford · #4 08-25-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulchor

I've felt the same way about Carvin.

Life is full of mysteries.

Great response.

Im a Fender fan. Like what you like.

madbassplaya · #5 08-25-2010, 10:26 PM

you're right, there is a lot of Fender love on here, but there is also a lot of Fender hate to.

martybernal · #6 08-25-2010, 10:27 PM

The Fender Jazz Bass is my favorite above all else, my avatar is one of the Jazzes I own. With the proper set-up I get the feel and sound I look for. But I can't stand the P Bass, no matter what. Yet I have heard years of recordings and live performances with the P Bass and they sound spectacular. For me the bass I can't play and it just simply goes against everything I look for in a bass are the Rics. Yet again, many players use them and they sound great in their hands. Go figure...

Luckie · #7 08-25-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Like what you like.

It really is as simple as all that Chief, we all have our preferences.
I play P-basses and I like Redheads. It's just what I like.

Now, people tend to get down on other people's preferences because they had a different experience.
They feel compelled to tell you that you don't love your bass because they played one just like it and man did it stink.
Ignore those folks, they'll figure it out eventually.

What's it all mean Mr. Natural? Don't mean sh***t.

bassteban · #8 08-25-2010, 10:48 PM

Giving a crap what others like- what's the deal?

bassyRyan · #9 08-25-2010, 11:02 PM

To the OP, the Fender bass can be an aquired taste... or a tatse un-aquireable for some. For many others (but not all) and myself, it was a desire to cop a tried and true tone and durability proven over the years through thousands of recordings and tours. And for many others still, it was the first quality bass they had owned and decided to stick with it.
For every reason there is to own a Fender, there are more and more reasons not to every day. Those who want bells, whistles, spalted maple tops, $250 onboard pre's, through necks and glassine tone, numerous choices abound. Those who want a solid warm tone through proven mechanical method with a nod to the golden age rely on Fender (and quality passive Fender type) basses.

Ric5 · #10 08-25-2010, 11:04 PM

Carvin makes some nice basses ... Fender makes some nice basses ... hmm ... life is good.

Krügmeister · #11 08-25-2010, 11:14 PM

I used to HATE the look and feel of Fenders, they were so OLD SCHOOL.
I had thought that only GOOD bassists used Hamer, Jackson, Status, Warwick etc.
What a tool I was.
I accept that I was completely wrong and now I know that GOOD bassists use ANY basses they like to use regardless of ANYTHING.

RLHubner · #12 08-25-2010, 11:15 PM

Some people like what other people don't like. I guess that'll work.
_______

Off topic: Would I need to install active pickups to get a more glassy/modern sound out of my AM Std JB? I'm already planning on installing the J retro preamp but I don't know if that's enough.

FletcherML · #13 08-25-2010, 11:22 PM

I think a pretty solid chunk of that fender love is based on the feeling you get when you realize it's just the best bass ever. We call that feeling a "boner"

martybernal · #14 08-25-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caden000

I currently own and play a Carvin B4, and i have never played anything better. around here on TB there is LOTS of Fender love, and i dont get it. I have picked up countless Fender Jazz basses and P basses and i cant seem to find why they are so special. I'm not saying that Fenders are bad or anything, i'm just wondering if there is something i'm missing here.

My experience with Carvin basses has been finding one here and there that was traded in for something else. And that has been a rare occasion. I do get their catalog and wish I could just go in to a local store and try out all the models they have. So I can't honestly say I've given the Carvin basses a fair chance. The gear is nicely priced also for what is described in the catalog.

bassistkll · #15 08-25-2010, 11:33 PM

After playing bass for 31 years I got my first Fender (classic series P, black) 2 years ago. I picked it up mostly for period-authenticity in a tribute band, but I can play just about any gig on this one and it records very well. I'm lovin' it.

I recently saw one of my buds' fusion band and talked with his bassist (Fender Jazz 5-string, Epifani 4x10, Walter Woods amp, his sound was amazing). We were talking gear and he said of Fenders that not all are created equal. Most are pretty good, a lot are crap, and some are "blessed by the bass gods". When you find a blessed one you'll know it (and it may be a cheaper model or an unusual finish or color), but you need to play a bunch of them to find one. Mine is one of the blessed ones and it's a keeper.

Wish you well.
-KLL

martybernal · #16 08-25-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassistkll

After playing bass for 31 years I got my first Fender (classic series P, black) 2 years ago. I picked it up mostly for period-authenticity in a tribute band, but I can play just about any gig on this one and it records very well. I'm lovin' it.

I recently saw one of my buds' fusion band and talked with his bassist (Fender Jazz 5-string, Epifani 4x10, Walter Woods amp, his sound was amazing). We were talking gear and he said of Fenders that not all are created equal. Most are pretty good, a lot are crap, and some are "blessed by the bass gods". When you find a blessed one you'll know it (and it may be a cheaper model or an unusual finish or color), but you need to play a bunch of them to find one. Mine is one of the blessed ones and it's a keeper.

Wish you well.
-KLL

Point well taken.

Luckie · #17 08-25-2010, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOZMAN

Hehe.. silly fender lovers, when will you learn?

Don't group fender players into one group. That's really unfair.
People aren't all the same. Threads like these stand as evidence that people all have their own preferences.
We're bass players. We hold down the groove.
We may do it different ways and with different equipment, but despite these petty differences we really do the same thing.

Execut1ve · #18 08-26-2010, 12:06 AM

I think the OP was more hoping people would chime in with why they love their Fender, not a "people like what they like" party

I wouldn't know, I've never played a Fender, so I'm kinda curious too

JD Supernatural · #19 08-26-2010, 12:07 AM

Ive never really understood the Fender popularity but they are popular so it must be me

I much prefer to play any of my basses to a Fender

JD
Gibson SG
Hofner 500/1

I guess its all down to preference

Its the same with guitars, Ive never dug Clapton since he ditched his Gibsons for a strat, give me his Cream tone anyday

Bijoux · #20 08-26-2010, 12:10 AM

I grew up playing a jazz bass. so it feels like home to me.
I played carvin basses, and although they are well made, they feel unfamiliar to me.
I have been playing a Jazz bass for so long, I even feel like I play better and feel more inspired and creative even when I play mine.