Am I missing something about Fenders?

[OutToPlayJazz]

I don't have anything against the brand, apart from the lack of innovation. I really do wish they would bring out something new and fresh, following the lead of Sterling Ball's EBMM company with their keeping classic designs such as the Stingray and forging a new way at the same time with Sterling, Bongo, Big Al, Reflex, etc.

As with all mass produced instruments, you're going to find only one of two diamonds amongst ten or more clunkers and that's just the way it goes. I've had a couple of very good jazzes, but never settled with a precision yet. That may soon change, as I'm buying an AV 62 reissue, so we'll see how that one goes.

But Fender, please please please bring out something new. I'm bored of the same old, same old...

 

[fenderfunker]

I have always had and played Fenders, so they seem/feel like my first choice. Just because I like red shirts, doesn't mean everyone has to wear one. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[sound of bass]

My Fender J is presently somewhere outside of Pittsburgh getting a new module (whatever that is) and wont be able to comment on Fenders QC until this is all done. It appears they upgraded the module with a capacitator and I need that. Cost doesnt matter to me because its all under warranty, just hoping for a quick, proper repair and return.

 

[JayAmel]

What basses you like/dislike depends pretty much on which your concept of bass playing is.

When I started bass in 1976, I was a huge Chris Squire fan, and I would swear on Rickenbacker exclusively. I got my first 4001 the year after, in 1977.

A few years later, in 1980, I picked up a used Fender Telecaster Bass in a shop. It was at a ridiculous price, so I told myself "hey, why not ?". I used it a few. Just a few. Sold it in 1981.

And I had no more Fenders until 2002, when I got an MIJ P-Bass.

Then I experienced many basses, including MusicMan, Warwick, Tobias, Status, etc., but everytime I felt unsatisfied I went back to Fender. My current bass is a '08 Am Dlx J-Bass V, purchased new in June 08, and absolutely no plan to change.

But my "rules" have changed through the years.

In my early bass days, as I said, I was a Chris Squire fan. For me, at this time, bass playing was playing complicated bass parts and playing them loud, being almost a lead instrument. Hey, I was just 18...

Experience taught me that the best way to groove is to have the bass _sitting_ in the mix, sounding as if the bass note was played by the bass drum. I learned that discretion is the key.

Fenders are great to sit in the mix, at least according to my experience. And probably due to the music styles I play.

Just IMO, as usual.

 

[Highfox]

My personel thoughts..

Going back a good few years (80's-90's) I only found a few Fenders that I liked, the good ones seemed hard to come by...
So when I was on the look out for a new Bass I ended up getting a Warwick Streamer, I had it 20 odd years, it sounded great live and recorded but felt it was time for a change, couldn't afford to hang onto it and buy another decent bass so sold it off and got myself a new 2009 MIA Fender Jazz, couldn't be happier with the sound and playablity and it's brought a new lease of life into my bass playing that had been missing for some time.
So don't count Fender out.

 

[MtManiac]

Why? Why must it die when you have the option of solving your personal problem with it simply by not posting in it? Out of sight...

Yeah, you're right, I know... I can't seem to stop reading it though! lol

It just drives me nuts to see people present their opinion as if it is gospel, and anyone who disagrees with them must have something wrong with them (and I've been guilty more than once and likely will be again), and I find threads like this one are full of posts like that.

Yet, like I said, I just can't seem to stop reading it...

 

[blockinlay]

The good thing about basses is that you're not married to them.
I like Fenders, I have three sitting behind me, but there's many other basses I'd like to give a one night stand.

 

[stepswork4me]

What do you prefer/use? Ive been blessed by an excellent Fender J MIK...although recent electronic problems (first ever) are making me take a second look at active basses, but even my Fender P is awesome. Im not strictly a Fender user, I have others, Im impressed with everything else first, such as tone,feel,looks etc., the name always comes last to me. Just curious what you like currently.

Thanks to everyone for posting on the topic. Like I said, I'm just glad to know I'm not alone on this one. After reading everything I just wanted to hit on a few points...
It's not a "GC set up" issue. It's not a "closed minded" issue either. It's also not a "not enough time playing issue". I've been playing for 20 years, have picked up many different Fenders, and it has never been in GC, Willis Music, or any other chain. I just prefer the mom and pop shops for better customer service and tech quality. I've played Fenders that were other guys personal basses. I used to frequent a shop called "Bass World" that had nice "everything" for bass and only sold basses and bass equipment. I picked up Fenders here, too. The necks on the J were ok but the P necks weren't for me at all. I've always hated, and I do mean hated, the styling. The main thing that I've never been able to wrap my self around is the tone. Don't get me wrong, there are some great lines by some great players that are done with Fenders and Leo's contribution is appreciated, but I just flat don't like the sound. The tones that I have fallen in love with have come from, Tobias, Spector, and Warwick. I can relate it to a guy that hates Budwiser and would much rather have a Guinness. Thanks again for all the input.

 

[Bassmickeyd]

You only missing something when you know the difference. Some people are just as happy going to Jones Beach when others have to go to the Bahamas. ...... Some people just as happy getting to work in a Hyundia others got to do the same drive a Mercedes. ....... They both do the same thing. ..... With the Fender basses I think it has to do with the feel in you're hand first then second is sound and look. Some people with a smaller hand like the J-bass for it's faster neck and slightly smaller body. ...... Leo designed the Jazz to be the Cadillac of basses compared to the workhorse P-bass.
Since you didn't, or I missed it, list what you prefer over a Fender it's kind of hard to guess what you don't get.

 

[stepswork4me]

You only missing something when you know the difference. Some people are just as happy going to Jones Beach when others have to go to the Bahamas. ...... Some people just as happy getting to work in a Hyundia others got to do the same drive a Mercedes. ....... They both do the same thing. ..... With the Fender basses I think it has to do with the feel in you're hand first then second is sound and look. Some people with a smaller hand like the J-bass for it's faster neck and slightly smaller body. ...... Leo designed the Jazz to be the Cadillac of basses compared to the workhorse P-bass.
Since you didn't, or I missed it, list what you prefer over a Fender it's kind of hard to guess what you don't get.

Thanks to everyone for posting on the topic. Like I said, I'm just glad to know I'm not alone on this one. After reading everything I just wanted to hit on a few points...
It's not a "GC set up" issue. It's not a "closed minded" issue either. It's also not a "not enough time playing issue". I've been playing for 20 years, have picked up many different Fenders, and it has never been in GC, Willis Music, or any other chain. I just prefer the mom and pop shops for better customer service and tech quality. I've played Fenders that were other guys personal basses. I used to frequent a shop called "Bass World" that had nice "everything" for bass and only sold basses and bass equipment. I picked up Fenders here, too. The necks on the J were ok but the P necks weren't for me at all. I've always hated, and I do mean hated, the styling. The main thing that I've never been able to wrap my self around is the tone. Don't get me wrong, there are some great lines by some great players that are done with Fenders and Leo's contribution is appreciated, but I just flat don't like the sound. The tones that I have fallen in love with have come from, Tobias, Spector, and Warwick. I can relate it to a guy that hates Budwiser and would much rather have a Guinness. Thanks again for all the input.

 

[tom once dead]

I never got the fender thing either, untill Recently. Now I'm seriously considering getting a Jazz. That said, I love my ESP and Spector more.

 

[MtManiac]

I love my P bass, love playing it, love hearing it, love hearing other folks play P basses. However, I also love hearing Paul McCartney (Hoffner & Ric), the dude from Sade (Stingray), and way too many Jazz players to list. It's all bass... and as a previous poster said, we're not married to these things. You're *allowed* to play around!

 

[Bassmickeyd]

Interesting. I'm not a big Warwick fan or maybe I haven't met one I couldn't live without. .... I do really dig the original Spector's, I always found them to be hot rod'd J-bass. Neck-thru, pre-amp very fast feel to them.
But when it comes to original design basses it either Fender or Gibson. If you don't like one you better get used to the other.

 

[TIMD]

Lakland, Mike Lull, and Sadowsky seem to be pretty big fans of the Fender bass. Even Spector and MTD are making Fender style basses. Actually what company doesn't make a version of a Fender? Also why are they the go to studio bass? Thousands of bass players who could play whatever they want, play Fenders or another companies interpretation of a Fender for a reason.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have an idea.

If you aren't interested in a Fender, don't buy one. There are plenty of options.

Plenty of people buy Fenders - they'll be OK.

 

[whisper14072]

I went through this myself. Every Fender I picked up I hated. Sounded like mud to me. Either MIA or MIM..... fast forward 2 years to now.... and I am trying to find my new bass. Looked at the Yamaha Attitudes, G&L's and the like. THen I sat back and looked at the ones I was looking at the most, the Attitude, said to myself... "self why buy a copy of a bass, try the real thing" sooo I went to GC and decided to give the P-Bass another try. The jazz necks are just too narrow for me. picked up a MIA, plugged it into a Mark Bass amp and yup, there was the crappy mud sound I hated, tried messing with amp and bass tone and still no luck. Then I went to the amp that was as close to mine at home... I have an Ampeg B200R, found a BA 215 200 watts into 15". hit like three notes and felt like I got slapped upside the head.... THERE WAS THE SOUND I WAS LOOKING FOR!!!!!!! Sooo long story short... gettin' a P-bass, prolly a MIM cause I tried one there too and sounded just as good for me, and can't justify an extra 500 bucks just for string through..lol..

So that is my take on Fenders From a guy that "didn't get it" but now does...

 

[SurferJoe46]

My personel thoughts..

Going back a good few years (80's-90's) I only found a few Fenders that I liked, the good ones seemed hard to come by...
So when I was on the look out for a new Bass I ended up getting a Warwick Streamer, I had it 20 odd years, it sounded great live and recorded but felt it was time for a change, couldn't afford to hang onto it and buy another decent bass so sold it off and got myself a new 2009 MIA Fender Jazz, couldn't be happier with the sound and playablity and it's brought a new lease of life into my bass playing that had been missing for some time.
So don't count Fender out.

OK - I'm gonna back down for a moment and say that there's a lot of thought in what you said.

Let me digress and then try to help you see what this odd-point will mean to me, as I feel I've learned something these past few days.

My first wife (deceased) was great at new things. She bought a few wigs so I had a blond- or a black-haired wife for a treat and then back to her normal color at other times.

What I'm making for a point here is that the P basses I own and don't really like much any more since I got my SR500, can prolly be rescued by a wig change.

My intention(s) is/are to make at least one of them (the Ps) my own by maybe some different strings and maybe adding a Music Man pup and another fader pot to mix it with the stockers.

I have kicked this idea around and since I am basically hacking just one of my two rather inexpensive and mass-produced MIA Ps, I don't feel I am causing sacrilege to a classic or one-of-a-kind instrument.

The weight I can do nothing about, but maybe I can overlook that for a bass that is mine and does what I want it to for a change.

Variety, might just be a spicy new idea after all and I can move one of my Ps to the front line, right after my SR500 of course.

 

[dogofgod]

With Fender i think quality is hit or miss. I have a 2006 MIA P and it is the best instrument I have ever played, even with the new 2008-2010 being of seemingly better quality. I did buy my P from a local luthier who loved and cared for it as his own, and it really still makes a great statement in the band setting. It also has a history and has the "sound" that people tend to recognize when they hear a bass in a band setting. I also have large hands so when I hold a J bass in my hand it feels somewhat like a toy compared to my lovely P bass. I think at the end of the day though, its different strokes for different folks. But I love the way AMERICAN fenders sound, Mexican and Japanese, meh, not so much.

 

[RBrownBass]

Yeah, you're right, I know... I can't seem to stop reading it though! lol

It just drives me nuts to see people present their opinion as if it is gospel, and anyone who disagrees with them must have something wrong with them (and I've been guilty more than once and likely will be again), and I find threads like this one are full of posts like that.

Yet, like I said, I just can't seem to stop reading it...

The bolded... this is what the anonymity of the WWW does to discourse when education and economics mesh like they do here.

What occasionally bothers me is that the culture surrounding this instrument, combined with its availability, brings in a lot of people who might not have studied music the same way a piano player or French horn player does. I'm absolutely certain that it carries over into how we view the "role" of the bass and efforts to influence newer designs to fill the same role.

<run-on sentence> Between the folks who can't afford a Sadowsky (I'm one of them), the folks who can't read music and the folks who, either thru taste or sour grapes, do not listen to or enjoy music that's more difficult than what they can play or requires an instrument with more strings than the basses they own, everything takes on a certain... subjectivity where quantifying is frowned upon, no bass is better than any other bass and we're all great musicians because someone dances when we play.</run-on sentence>

I'm not nearly as bothered by people who (regardless of listening and performing preferences) want to study the bass, become more technically proficient and are not concerned with how much their instrument sounds like an earlier design. See, they're not the ones trying to suggest that everything that can be or needs to be done has been. But on some level, parts of the Fender fanbase is exactly that.

 

[R Baer]

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 was never a fan of Fenders for most of my playing years. I played Ricks, Zon, Pedulla, Steinbergers...you name it. I kinda always looked down on the Fenders as I was into more "boutique" basses. I think a lot of the problem was that I never played them in a band setting, and when played solo at home or in a shop, I just always preferred a more modern sounding bass. Years back though I had the chance to share a rehearsal studio with another band and I would use the other bassist Jazz (which he left there) when I didn't feel like dragging mine to practice. It took a while for my ears to adjust, but I came to love the way that bass sat in the mix as well as the way it played. There just something so "meat and potatoes" about the sound. It just gets the job done and there just doesn't seem to be any gig that you can't pull off with a good jazz bass. I recently bought a '62 RI P-Bass and have really learned to appreciate that instrument as well. Reminds me of my hot rod days. Sure, driving a Porsche or Ferrari is cool, but there's just nothing like hopping in a '68 Camaro and punching the pedal down. Bare bones, no nonsense and a whole lot of fun!

When you think of the fact that just about every bass out there is some variation of a Fender bass, you have to figure that Leo pretty much got it right the first shot out!