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Anyone Else NOT Like Fender Basses?

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#22
It's nothing inherent to Fenders, but there are specifics I prefer on other basses, such as the neck on Laklands.

I could hardly hear the difference between a CIJ Fender P and a Skyline Glaub, but I definitely preferred the feel of the Glaub's neck, especially the satin finish. On the other hand, I did not care for the difference in fret size... And I even slightly preferred how tight the Fender felt... Overall, both fine basses, but I kept the Glaub for the neck...

so, I'll say it's nothing wrong to dislike Fender, but I prefer to be more specific... its less divisive - I've never seen anyone be offended by someone's preference for neck finishes... Cannot say the same for brands :)
 
#24
Fenders are ok. They kind of set the standard and for me, getting off my laklands and on a jazz bass is a little like going home.

That being said they seem to lean heavily on their name, and I don't think they're a great value. I can't see purchasing a MIA fender for 1000 some odd dollars when a MIM fender is damn near the same thing.
 
#26
The Fender sound is the bass sound that I hear in my head when I think BASS.

However , I don't own a Fender bass. This is because my hands prefer 19mm string spacing on a 34 scale with the asymmetric profile neck.
My back and shoulder prefer a light weight body under 9 lbs.
My ears prefer a p pickup in the sweet spot.
And I prefer 5 strings with a great low B string.

Fender doesn't fit my above listed criteria .
Therefore , I'm content playing another brand.

All of my favorite bass players either still use or became famous using Fender basses.
For this reason , I like Fenders.
 
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#27
For me there is no other brand. I grew up near Fullerton, went to CSUF, cut my gigging teeth in Orange County/LA in the late 80's, early 90's, started on a Fender and never looked back. I think there are other great basses out there and to each his own but every Fender I've owned, all US made, have had incredible tone and were/are super reliable. If it ain't broke... That being said if every bassist player a Fender the diversity in recorded bass and styles would be stifled. IMHO. Long live Fender.
 
#28
zacharybass76 said:
I've been playing bass for 23 years now, and I have never played on any Fender brand bass, whether it be a Jazz or P bass or other, that I have actually cared for. They sound decent (good, actually), yes, but to me, their playability is not to my standards. I get that they're the first, and that they revolutionized the bass guitar as we know it, but thank God for other brands and their improvements! Any one else agree, or am I part of a HUGE minority?
Click to expand...
It certainly doesn't have to be Fender. Lakland, Sandberg and G&L are good alternatives, if not better. :smug:
 
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#31
Not my favorite brand but I do like the early 90's "Plus" series with the kubicki preamp.My favorite Fender would have to be an '04 Zone bass.Though I haven't found any fender that can hold a candle to my Togar basses.especially for the price.these days it seems you can get so much more bang for the buck by going with a good luthier.
 
#33
Yup. Every time I ever heard someone play one on a gig they would sound great, but then I when I would try one at a store it would sound very average. After reading all the positive stuff here about them I got an ADPV a few years ago and it has the sound I was always looking for. I will have to shield the cavity a bit better and change the tuning pegs before I'm totally happy with it though.
 
#37
zacharybass76 said:
I've been playing bass for 23 years now, and I have never played on any Fender brand bass, whether it be a Jazz or P bass or other, that I have actually cared for. They sound decent (good, actually), yes, but to me, their playability is not to my standards. I get that they're the first, and that they revolutionized the bass guitar as we know it, but thank God for other brands and their improvements! Any one else agree, or am I part of a HUGE minority?
Click to expand...
One question deserves another.
What bass do you find worthy of your standards?

I never played a Fender bass, a Fender anything, until a little over a year ago and I played my first note way back in 1970. Then, I picked up my first Jazz and my first Precision, and guess what?
 
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#38
I like my Precision very much. I don't like Fender Jazz basses at all. But, I prefer playing Thunderbirds. Sometimes the P is the sound you need, but most of the time, nobody knows what the bass really sounds like except the bass player. When was the last time an extremely desirable member of the audience came up and commented on bass tone? Never? Yep. That's right. Never. It's always some weird guy who you hope wants to corner the drummer or guitarist, but no luck. That weird guy wants to talk about your bass tone. That's the ONLY time anybody cares. And, you wish he didn't.
 
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#39
Michael B said:
Again shared by all brands of bass. So is fret size.
Click to expand...

Scale length and fret size shared by all brands?

I think not.
There are numerous different fret sizes available, and as for scale length we have standard 34", short scale, medium scale, 35" scale, 33 1/4" scale, fanned fret/multi scale...

Personally, I prefer non-Fender and their clones, but that's my taste and preference for several reasons.
We are not all the same player, have many varied needs, and all have differing aesthetic values.
Vive le difference!
 
#40
I like Xylophones! How come nobody ever wants to talk about Xylophones? :rolleyes:

xylo gif.gif
 
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