Am I missing something about Fenders?

[pacojas]

FENDER,... (precision, jazz, stratocaster, telecaster, etc.)
EVERYBODY ELSE,... (playing catch-up)

there's people that love Fenders and those that soon will...
been playing ~30yr and have always had at least one Fender. many basses have come and gone, but i still have 4 of my fenders left. most of the others,... buh-bye!!! gl.

ps: i can't wait to find a bass that plays better than my '62 RI jbass and costs only $1200.00!!!! smooth, fast, articulate,...

 

[cnltb]

I've been playing for a long time and have picked up many Fender basses. I've never been impressed at all. I've played the high and low end Jazz basses and P basses only to be disappointed each time. I got my start playing in the metal world when I was a kid and everyone was playing more modern style basses. I wonder if it's that influence or if I'm just missing something?

I don't think you are missing anything.
No bass is for everyone but Fender seems to be a lazy and arrogant company at the moment that can't be bothered to sort out theyr QC once and for all but still charge quite a lot for what they sell. All on the strength of two designs(not counting the guitars).
I too am not impressed at all.
I very much like P basses though.
Maybe try Jazzes and Ps made by others(?).
Fender Japan too seems alright to me so far.

 

[air_leech]

Fenders are the meat and potatoes of basses. they get the job done, they are somewhere in the middle price-wise and they could fit in any genre.

another reason for their popularity is the recognizable tone. as long as people are going to be influenced by 60s and 70s music, Fenders will continue to be popular. I personally think Leo was onto something with these two designs but even if you don't like them you can hear the Fender vibe on almost every bassline on almost every track recorded in the last 50 years.

 

[sikamikanico]

my biggest problem with fender basses (and fender copies) used to be the fact that they all (the ones I tried in stores) had dead strings on them!

back then, i was into metal and some Chili Peppers, so I wanted a scooped sound - not a passive-Fender-with-dead-strings territory...

what I mostly appreciate about fenders nowadays is their simplicity and functionality. nothing fancy about them, it's just you and your ability to play. even more so if you use a precision...

 

[dalkowski]

If you don't like them, then you don't like them. Nothin' wrong with that at all. Go in peace.

 

[ookiedukes]

Your missing the experience of a great bolt on neck bass, or guitar for that matter. Granted as other's have said, not every Fender is a great one. However when you find the one that works for you, it will make you very happy. Plus you have the opportunity to accessorize.

 

[MtManiac]

...that can't be bothered to sort out theyr QC once and for all but still charge quite a lot for what they sell.

Uhhh... what?? WADR, when was the last time you played an American Fender? Nothing wrong at all IMHO with QC even before 2008, but in 2008 they seriously up'ed their game on the MIA Standards, and in 2009 with the Mexican Standards. Here in Canada I've never seen *any* of the QC issues I read about on TB, which mostly also involve stories about how said bass was tried out at Guitar Center... coincidence? I suspect some of this "expectation" of low quality also is a hangover from the late 70s - early 80s, when QC *was* poor by most accounts. Kind of like how American cars have never gotten past the reputation of being gas guzzlers, even though these days they're just as fuel efficient as anything else on the market.

I don't think they charge a lot at all, considering an import Lakland copy of a Fender is more expensive than an American made Fender.

 

[Korladis]

my biggest problem with fender basses (and fender copies) used to be the fact that they all (the ones I tried in stores) had dead strings on them!

back then, i was into metal and some Chili Peppers, so I wanted a scooped sound - not a passive-Fender-with-dead-strings territory...

what I mostly appreciate about fenders nowadays is their simplicity and functionality. nothing fancy about them, it's just you and your ability to play. even more so if you use a precision...

Why would you want a scooped sound for metal?

 

[ericw]

Plus you have the opportunity to accessorize.

And assemble a bass from custom and/or used parts, which are readily available.

 

[tdub0199]

My 1st bass was a Fender MIM P-Bass.... and thats the end....I play Ibanez and Schecter now....

 

[MtManiac]

Why would you want a scooped sound for metal?

Probably playing Metallica, "AJFA." The bass is mixed so low, it's non-existent, so for a while metal bass players were like vestigial organs, like an appendix or wisdom teeth. Seen and not heard...

 

[electracoyote]

Well, now I'm guessing that this is just flat common.

Yep, it's pretty much flat common that a lot of people scratch their heads and wonder why such a popular bass doesn't work for them, and that includes almost every brand out there, not just Fender.

One thing is hard to argue: Leo Fender came up with a design for a bass guitar that has been ripped off countless times over the decades, is still being ripped off, and hasn't really been improved upon a whole heck of a lot.

Whatever bass you're playing, it owes a tip of the hat to Fender.

 

[Boot Soul]

Here is a Fender ad from 1972. It really explains "it".

The thing about the basses to come after the P bass is that they all attempted to set the bar higher (or lower, ?). Lows had to get lower and punchier and highs had to get clearer. The emergence and evolution of the 'B' string and other detunings, is now a standard. But as the ad implies, the idea behind the P bass was more humble, and not about the lowest lows, but about tonality and working well in the context of supporting an ensemble.

"Not overbearing"

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Fender just got it so right. Simple, effective, passive Basses.

I own a variety of Basses and while I haven't played everything, Fenders just have great sound. Not the most modern sounding stock - no fancy preamps to adjust or batteries to replace.

Most of the Fenders I own are light, and you just strap them on - adjust the tone knob (slight pickup adjusting to your preference if you are playing a Jazz) and you are going to sound good.

I have been playing Lakland lately and love it - but I picked up my P-Bass the other night - and it can do no wrong. Just a great tool - sits great in the Mix - sounds good on almost any type of music and with touch and hand position you can get a sound that works so well IMO and IME.

 

[stflbn]

Personally I've never 'got it' about Fenders. Combination of Tone, Feel, Neck, etc just never seemed right for me.

However, a couple months ago I purchased a 2007 MIA Fender Deluxe 5-string Jazz with Sadowsky pickups and preamp. I like the smaller body on this. And the neck is a bit meaty for my tastes but tollerable, but the tone is what is doing it for me. Holy smokes this bass sounds great.

Which leaves me wondering if it's the Fender build or if it's the Sadowsky guts...

.

 

[JayAmel]

Uhhh... what?? WADR, when was the last time you played an American Fender? Nothing wrong at all IMHO with QC even before 2008, but in 2008 they seriously up'ed their game on the MIA Standards, and in 2009 with the Mexican Standards. Here in Canada I've never seen *any* of the QC issues I read about on TB, which mostly also involve stories about how said bass was tried out at Guitar Center... coincidence? I suspect some of this "expectation" of low quality also is a hangover from the late 70s - early 80s, when QC *was* poor by most accounts. Kind of like how American cars have never gotten past the reputation of being gas guzzlers, even though these days they're just as fuel efficient as anything else on the market.

+10,000.

 

[coreyfyfe]

My 1st bass was a Fender MIM P-Bass.... and thats the end....I play Ibanez and Schecter now....

I went the other way. I started on an ibanez and had a long line of "modern" style basses before I found a fender that worked for me. My current stable is 3 old fenders, and old gibson-attempting-fender-style, and a fender clone. When you find something that works, go with it. Even if it doesn't work for anyone else.

 

[JayAmel]

Here is a Fender ad from 1972. It really explains "it".

The thing about the basses to come after the P bass is that they all attempted to set the bar higher (or lower, ?). Lows had to get lower and punchier and highs had to get clearer. The emergence and evolution of the 'B' string and other detunings, is now a standard. But as the ad implies, the idea behind the P bass was more humble, and not about the lowest lows, but about tonality and working well in the context of supporting an ensemble.

"Not overbearing"

Great vintage ad !

I remember one, that was published in musical magazines in France, circa 74/75/76, that used to say something like : "You love the sound of bass live. 9 times over 10, it's a Fender."

Sorry I don't have the zines anymore, otherwise I would have scanned and posted it.

 

[DiabolicLow B]

I have played and owned quite a few different Fenders over the past 20 years, MIA P, MIJ Jazz... They are good basses but there are much better instruments out there IMO. I have been playing Laklands and Dingwall lately and sold all of my Fenders, I can't see myself ever purchasing a Fender again, my next bass will definately be another Dingwall!
But hey just play what you like.

 

[baddarryl]

I thought the same thing for years. What is it? Then I picked up an 08 USA Jazz bass last year. Holy smokes! But then I picked up another USA model this year and was disappointed. Must be the axe.