A personal insight on Fender popularity...

[mynan]

The reason that this argument will never be settled is that both sides of the argument are correct.

Fender makes great-sounding, great playing basses. They have remained the "industry standard" for a reason.

OTOH...

A big part of the reason that Fender is the "industry standard" is because they were the first and , for a long time, only ones making a great-sounding, great-playing bass and I think that their status in the market has allowed them to get away with QC problems that would sink most other manufacturers.

 

[Lefty Geek]

Fenders became popular because their wasn't many alternatives available, especially when it comes to basses.

The current incarnation of Fender has NOTHING to do with Leo Fender's company. Not the same luthiers, designers, owners, material, building, nothing. What was sold to CBS was the trademark, nothing else. Today's Fender is only a name, it has nothing to do with the original company. The idea of the Fender mystique just isn't true.

I am not saying that the current Fenders produced are bad, just that they have nothing in common with their counterparts from 40 years ago, expect for the trademarks.

 

[Marcury]

stflbn since you list a SX P-bass in your profile I guess you bought it just because everyone has one.

 

[spade2you]

P.S. FWIW, the violin, double bass, cello, etc remain unchanged for how long now?

But the role of these instruments hasn't changed. Keep in mind, there were probably several versions of these stringed instruments before the ones we recognize came into play.

 

[fj_ventre]

To elaborate on what Jonyak said: Since Fender was there first, it's what most of us grew up hearing on a lot of albums that more or less have come to define Rock and Roll. The Fender sound is "correct" to many of us because it's a familiar sound we associate with some of our favorite albums/bands/musicians.

 

[P_bass]

No I don't play Fender because someone else does I play Fender because I do.

Why? Because when I started there was little competition that you could find hanging on the music stores walls, and of those Fenders felt and sounded the best. I was a kid in the 60's and Gibson and Fender was just about all you could find really and even being a Jack bruce fan I prefered Fenders over Gibsons.

Play what you want, it doesn't matter what name is on it... If it feels good and you like the sound then play it.

I do own more than Fender by the way.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Just a comment, not trying to put myself in the line of fire... It seems like most of the people who would defend Fender to the death would do so because they have been playing them for so long (e.g. "I've been playing them for 40+ years and they've always worked fine for me). But realistically, 40+ years ago what else was there? I'm sure there were alternatives, but Fender was the big one that everyone wanted.

I have an SX P/J, and I love the simplicity of the design, and I love playing it, but I would NEVER own an instrument that said Fender on the headstock. I look at a P-bass the same way I look at an old Ford from the 1950's: "Wow look at that neat old thing, look how far we've come since then."

IMO, the only thing fender has changed in the past 30 years is the price. There are many cheaper better basses. However, to each their own.

So you'd never own a Fender because of the name and IYO nothing has changed at Fender in 30 years. In that case you should have no problem posting pics of a 1978 Roscoe Beck you must've seen back then.

 

[Kgoodrich]

If anything do not take away the fact that they were the first.

I don't mind them but will always be a fan of Ibanez hands down.

My only problem is with the people who think that you must play Fenders.

 

[Rickett Customs]

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I think so many people use them because their passive tone is as "true" of a bass sound that you can get w/out all the bells and whistles. It's simply a lower octave of standard guitar which is what a lot of bassists want and a lot of bands need.

The P bass, for example, has 2 knobs. I can't imagine it getting much simpler than that...well, maybe if it had 1 knob...

 

[king_biscuit]

Q: What are the two least expensive departments in a University.

A: Math - they just need paper, pencils, and a wastebasket. But Philosophy is cheaper because they don't need the wastebasket.

That's funny, but the first post in this thread is not a philosophy, its a rant -- and a poorly written one I might add.

 

[slyjoe]

I think so many people use them because their passive tone is as "true" of a bass sound that you can get w/out all the bells and whistles. It's simply a lower octave of standard guitar which is what a lot of bassists want and a lot of bands need.

The P bass, for example, has 2 knobs. I can't imagine it getting much simpler than that...well, maybe if it had 1 knob...

Or 0. See, you can imagine it.

 

[pedro]

Correct, which starts the snowball rolling.


And just FYI... I've NO problem with people choosing or playing fenders. However waaay to many times i've found people suggesting them either just because 'tons of people play them' or because 'it was my first bass, and I own one'.

I've not said people shouldn't buy Fenders, or that people are stupid for owning them. The core of it is that "I" feel people should put more emphasis on playing what is right for them and getting the most out of that preferred item. Questioning positions on things does not make anything wrong, stupid or defamatory.

Just different people's outlooks.

Cool w/ me. But if someone ask for a recommendation, isn't it likely that we'll recommend what works for us?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Fenders became popular because their wasn't many alternatives available, especially when it comes to basses.

The current incarnation of Fender has NOTHING to do with Leo Fender's company. Not the same luthiers, designers, owners, material, building, nothing. What was sold to CBS was the trademark, nothing else. Today's Fender is only a name, it has nothing to do with the original company. The idea of the Fender mystique just isn't true.

I guess I just don't see the relevance of the people/building/owners from over 40 years ago not being the same. To say Fender is only a name is odd. How different is a basic P bass from 30 years ago? Or a passive Jazz bass? Or Strat? Etc.

I am not saying that the current Fenders produced are bad, just that they have nothing in common with their counterparts from 40 years ago, expect for the trademarks.

What else could they have in common? I honestly don't understand this line of thought. Should they be building out of the same facility? Using the same machines? Considering their production is probably higher today than back them, that's hardly a realistic premise.

 

[senorblues]

As someone returning to bass after many years, I am surprised to see so many Fender clones/copies. There must be a hundred?

 

[pedro]

But the role of these instruments hasn't changed. Keep in mind, there were probably several versions of these stringed instruments before the ones we recognize came into play.

Yes but I would argue that the main role of the bass guitar has remained largely unchained. And while the violins, cello, double bass had previous incarnations its been quite a long time since any significant changes have been made.

 

[pedro]

I guess I just don't see the relevance of the people/building/owners from over 40 years ago not being the same. To say Fender is only a name is odd. How different is a basic P bass from 30 years ago? Or a passive Jazz bass? Or Strat? Etc.



What else could they have in common? I honestly don't understand this line of thought. Should they be building out of the same facility? Using the same machines? Considering their production is probably higher today than back them, that's hardly a realistic premise.

Ditto Brad.

 

[stflbn]

stflbn since you list a SX P-bass in your profile I guess you bought it just because everyone has one.

Incorrect. I wanted a cheap toy to Mod, Relic and turn into a playable design/art project. And at the time I did not own a P bass. And I did not want to pay what I felt was an inflated amount for something I would likely not play as a main instrument. I have it, I play it periodically... but it's never HOME to me.

I've owned a lot of basses of different styles types and configurations. Including Fenders. Why? Because I you hear it so much that you simply can't help but feel like you're 'missing' something.

 

[spade2you]

My only problem is with the people who think that you must play Fenders.

I must say, this is really the only thing that bugs me about these debates. You don't see all Rob Allen or CB users saying that Rob Allen or CB are the only bass companies worth using and the rest are crap.

Then comes the "basses with too many knobs suck and have ultra complex tones that aren't usable in the studio." and my favorite "I'd rather have a bass that has one good tone than a bass with a bazillion ok tones". Some of the newer available pre-amps might surprise ya. It's true some of the old ones may have been high gain and often sounded metallic, but modern pre-amps can be very transparent these days and the vintage qualities might surprise ya. The excessive knobs might not look vintage, but serve a function. ...and no, they're not too hard to figure out. As to the one tone vs. many lesser tones........I want it all and I get it. My last bass can cop a vintage P sound, Jaco sound, and Pedulla sound.......none are lesser tones. I call that a win, eh?

 

[pedro]

PLAY THE BASS THAT FITS YOU BEST AND THAT YOU LIKE! Not the bass that others play because everyone else plays it.

I agree with that which is why I said it in my first post. For me that's a Fender.