"No Fenders" Club - Page 4

Anesthesia · #61 10-02-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paf77

You're against Fender? I don't know if you realise it, but tons of your favorite songs were probably recorded with a Fender P or J bass. Surely you have to like the sound of Fender basses.

absolutely true. i love the sound of a good p-bass or jazz, but i just dont like fenders, for me they dont play well. but thats just me.

i did play one p-bass when i was buying a second hand amp. guy had a 72 p-bass i think it was. that thing played like a badass. out of my price range when he tried to sell it about 6 months ago, but never played one any where near as good as that before or since.

blowinblue · #62 10-02-2009, 10:37 PM

So sorry. According to my 'Custom User Title' that sits right underneath my avatar...I'm not allowed to post in this thread.

M. M.

Double Agent · #63 10-02-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt R.

But to say someone plays it because "they just don't know any better" isn't being a gear snob, it's being assholish and condescending.

[snip]

One thing you've failed to do in this monumental waste of bandwidth is explain what it is that makes your choice of basses legitimize the superiority complex you seem to be afflicted with.

Please enlighten me.

*applause*

+1

Fenders aren't for everyone...nothing is. They have worked well, and will continue to do so, in popular music for decades. But, they aren't the answer to everything. I use mine for 1 project where I feel a Fender is more appropriate, but play Spectors for the stuff where a modern, aggressive tone is more appropriate. To me, they are just tools for the job. And, IMO, unless you're willing to spend thousands more than a Fender costs, no one is currently building better Fenders than Fender. I've played Lakland, G&L, and Sadowsky Metros and while they are all awesome, none of them have that Fender vibe. And, sometimes, that is the vibe I, and many others, want.

But, hey, maybe you're right. Let's all go tell Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, Tony Franklin, Reggie Hamilton and even Steve Bailey that they "don't know any better". Thank god someone is here to enlighten them.

Or not.

Anesthesia · #64 10-02-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt R.

One thing you've failed to do in this monumental waste of bandwidth is explain what it is that makes your choice of basses legitimize the superiority complex you seem to be afflicted with.

Please enlighten me.

In my input into this thread i have not bagged out fenders only said i dont like them.

heres what i do like.
i have a yamaha rbx760AII and i love it nice slim neck, plays fast for me, has a neck profile i like and i only just realised actually how light and easy it is to play.

i also have an '81 Ibanez musician. i bought this because i also like the ibanez necks for the same reason. this bass became my workhorse when it arrived and it was after 6 months i strapped the yammi back on and realised the weight difference.

why i dont like fenders:
on the fenders i have played the necks felt cumbersome. on bothe the p and j models. i dont know why but it just doesnt feel comfortable to my left hand. if i was given or lent a fender i might sit down and play it a bit more than in a shop. now this may reinforce my belief or disprove it. but until it happens im not going to pay for something i dont like.

and as i have stated im not bashing fender or their users im just saying that i prefer other gear.

oh i dont have a superiority complex. i dont look down on them, i just see them as another brand. like holden is to ford.

Shooter McGavin · #65 10-02-2009, 10:43 PM

Proud member of 50+ basses owned club - never owned a single Fender. I agree, I think a lot of Fender's mystique is in the name. No offense to anyone here - I've owned a lot of junk in the past myself that I'm not proud of, but Fenders do absolutely 'zippo' for me.

Count me in.

king_biscuit · #66 10-02-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

It's not a Bongo?! Holy carp. Go on...........

Do you want to discuss basses or do you want to make it personal? I guess I could find a few photos of Sadowskys, Laklands, Stingrays, ACs, and the various high end basses people are actually using in place of Fenders, to counter your photo, but what's the point, you still wouldn't get what I'm talking about.

BassBrass · #67 10-02-2009, 10:44 PM

Just contrarian I guess. Started on an unknown hollow body that I defretted...1st bass with bass in it was a T40...had an EB1, SD Curley, played an 81 Carvin for 20 years (awesome 2 double coils, mahogany set narrow straight neck). Once in the mid 80s I almost got a fine 75 Jazz (with the sound) but the guy decided not to sell...at the time I bought a fretless Rickenbacker for $350 and I traded it for a set neck Guild triple pickup... so many cool basses that aren't Fenders!
Last year playing a Precision Delux showed me something about neck mass and low end output in bolt on neck basses and helped me choose an Ibanez RB500 that is a truly super backup bass at a lifesaving price...similar quality and versatility from Fender would cost 5 times as much at least.

Mastermold · #68 10-02-2009, 10:44 PM

Bassists who don't like Fenders are like those people I meet from time to time who don't like chocolate. I never understood them, but I guess that just means more chocolate for me!

sloasdaylight · #69 10-02-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

Aside from the active circuit in the Bongo (which is available on several modern Fenders), tell me all of the significant engineered design features that are different between a Bongo and a Jazz bass.

Piezo pickups for one if you get a bridge with them installed.
A higher mass bridge that A) looks better, and B) helps with balance and tone issues by being large with more wood to metal contact (If you don't think this helps with anything, play a traben big bridge then another A/B'd and get back to me)
24 frets.
Humbucking pickups.
The active circuit, which is not available on modern fenders (3 vs 4 band)
6 bolt neck for added security and better connections.

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

I'm not sure about the scale length on that (it's not a Bongo btw), but I'll bet its tuned in 4ths, has magnetic pickups, hardwood body, bolt on neck 34 inch scale or something very close to it, standard tuners (I see it has an acoustic guitar bridge so that is somewhat unique), and designed to be played hanging from the neck. You really don't see the engineering borrowed from Leo here?

Hey though by your logic everyone should be driving model Ts or other basic cars like that, since they all have a clutch, 4 wheels, a throttle, breaks, a steering mechanism, a place for you to sit, etc etc.

Edit: I should say however that I'm allowed to be a pretentious fender hater because I recently acquired a Chapman Stick, and if that isn't an innovative instrument I don't know what is.

Anesthesia · #70 10-02-2009, 10:46 PM

enjoy your metaphorical chocolate.

Jonny B · #71 10-02-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

I'm not sure about the scale length on that (it's not a Bongo btw), but I'll bet its tuned in 4ths, has magnetic pickups, hardwood body, bolt on neck 34 inch scale or something very close to it, standard tuners (I see it has an acoustic guitar bridge so that is somewhat unique), and designed to be played hanging from the neck. You really don't see the engineering borrowed from Leo here?

Dude, just get over it.

The car I drive has an engine, four tires, and a steering wheel. All of it copied in one way or another from Mr. Ford (and those before him). Some people like Ford, some like Toyota. So what?

Was Fender really such a pioneer? It's not like he invented the wheel. He took the electric guitar and turned into an electric bass. Innovative? Sure. But others were doing it at the same time he was. His just happened to become the most popular.

Betamax vs. VHS

Blu-ray vs. HD DVD

Someone always comes out on top. Kudos to Leo for winning the war. But it doesn't mean I have to like his instruments.

leofndr · #72 10-02-2009, 10:50 PM

I've got a question to you guys - Do you consider Musicman and G&L basses as "Fenders" or not?

Matt R. · #73 10-02-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anesthesia

In my input into this thread i have not bagged out fenders only said i dont like them.

why i dont like fenders:
on the fenders i have played the necks felt cumbersome. on bothe the p and j models. i dont know why but it just doesnt feel comfortable to my left hand. if i was given or lent a fender i might sit down and play it a bit more than in a shop. now this may reinforce my belief or disprove it. but until it happens im not going to pay for something i dont like.

I totally respect your taste and how you express it here.

I was responding to the creator of this ill conceived topic.

sloasdaylight · #74 10-02-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leofndr

I've got a question to you guys - Do you consider Musicman and G&L basses as "Fenders" or not?

Different companies, different sounding basses, different looking at least with regards to MM vs Fender, G&L kinda looks the same.

A Sting Ray is not a Jazz bass, nor a P Bass.

Double Agent · #75 10-02-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anesthesia

In my input into this thread i have not bagged out fenders only said i dont like them.

I believe the quote you reference is directed to the OP.

king_biscuit · #76 10-02-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Piezo pickups for one if you get a bridge with them installed.
A higher mass bridge that A) looks better, and B) helps with balance and tone issues by being large with more wood to metal contact (If you don't think this helps with anything, play a traben big bridge then another A/B'd and get back to me)
24 frets.
Humbucking pickups.
The active circuit, which is not available on modern fenders (3 vs 4 band)
6 bolt neck for added security and better connections.

Hey though by your logic everyone should be driving model Ts or other basic cars like that, since they all have a clutch, 4 wheels, a throttle, breaks, a steering mechanism, a place for you to sit, etc etc.

The car stuff is totally off point. Most of the innovative car stuff is related to safety, reliability and fuel mileage (and comfort if you are a senior citizen). That is a totally different industry.

Regarding basses: Piezos? That has got to be like .01% of the market and totally irrelevant. High mass bridge (the Bongo bridge whihc is the one I mentioned above is virtually identical to a Fender and it is not high mass. Even high mass bridges are for the most part just like the old fendre bridges only heavier -- whether they add anything to the sound or looks is subjective, but from an engineering stand point they are not too unique. 24 frets? that's 4 more right -- are they still scaled for half steps -- sounds like a slight variation or extension of Leo's basses, certainly not different. Humbuckers -- the Jazz bass pickups are humbucking when both are full on, and the split P was humbucking as early as 1957 -- again, nothing innovative here. Active circuits are just buffered EQs for the most part -- innovative yes, but unique, not since the early 70s Alembics (I gave them credit already, btw). Six bolt neck joint? Is the Bongo six or five? At any rate it's still a bolt on neck bass. Look all I'm saying is that it's silly to get self righteous about not playing Fenders. Yes, all of these instruments sound different, so play what you like. But don't suggest that most of the non-fender basses are somehow light years ahead of Fenders in the innovation department.

Matt R. · #77 10-02-2009, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anesthesia

enjoy your metaphorical chocolate.

Gonna have to sig that.

king_biscuit · #78 10-02-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny B

Someone always comes out on top. Kudos to Leo for winning the war. But it doesn't mean I have to like his instruments.

It doesn't matter to me if you like them or not.

Mastermold · #79 10-02-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anesthesia

enjoy your metaphorical chocolate.

I always do!

leofndr · #80 10-02-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Different companies, different sounding basses, different looking at least with regards to MM vs Fender, G&L kinda looks the same.

A Sting Ray is not a Jazz bass, nor a P Bass.

Yes of course, but the creator was the same - mister Leo Fender. So, from the practical standpoint MMs and G&Ls can be considered as "Fenders" too. Thats what I think.