Anyone Else NOT Like Fender Basses?

[logicman69]

I love the look of them. A white P or J with a tort guard, maple neck and the pickup covers in place is just sexy looking.

But.....

I really don't care for the feel of them. I've never been able to get one to sit right in my hands. Its a shame because they are great instruments. Ive had quite a few, from P-basses, to Jazz Fretless, a Geddy Lee (which I loved the neck, but despised the face that you had to remove it to set the bass up), several american standards, and a Sting bass (which actually was the one to last the longest in my ownership at a whole year).

 

[BassUrges]

I am nothing like either of my fenders. The last time I slipped one into bed and tried to go out without waking my wife, she noticed right away. I think the height difference was the giveaway.

I'm rather surprised that there's anyone here who IS like a Fender, but I guess on the internet nobody knows you're a bass.

 

[Matthew Barrack]

Well, I don't like jazz bass necks. That's about it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Oh yeah, we have to add this topic to the list, along with:

- is this bass real?
- Squiers are gud
- don't mix cabs

What have Imissed?

 

[BassUrges]

Oh yeah, we have to add this topic to the list, along with:

- is this bass real?
- Squiers are gud
- don't mix cabs

What have Imissed?

What's the best floral wallpaper for metal?

 

[Lowness]

There are two types of bass players in the world:
- those who can't play bass and whinge and complain about everything
- those who happily play Fender.

 

[PortlandBass77]

I like Fender basses, but I do not like Fender as a company, so what does that count as?

 

[Jeff Scott]

I won't say I don't like them, but I prefer other brand instruments for my needs.

 

[west al]

I like my Fender Jazzes, I even like my Rickenbacker 4003!

What I don't like is when a bass is called a Jazz, or a Precision, and isn't a FENDER!

 

[blocka]

I like them as far as they have the classic look and feel. But I would never buy an actual Fender or a new one because the Squiers and other budget Fender types seem to sound just as good. Most Fenders seem to have a hollow sound with a lot of string/fret noise and buzz to me, if I'm going to be spending the money they ask I'd want something that doesn't sound cheap.
I do have a P Bass copy that I like to play from time to time, if I'm walking out the door to a gig it would be the last one I'd grab though unfortunately as I really wanted it to be a Bass I'd love.

 

[Aidil]

I don't dislike Fender. But for me, Fender basses are too commonly seen in almost 30 years of playing bass. So, this loses my interest in playing or owning any Fender basses.

I'm sure that Fender basses are good, but there are other makers which also produce good basses. So, it's just a matter of personal preference.

 

[packhowitzer]

Well sir, pull up a chair and I'll tell ye a thing'r two:

I have two pbasses and I wouldn't get rid of them for all the tea in china. They just have a certain thump that sits well in almost any mix and they record like a dream. Also, the sound of a million rock and pop songs that permeates my thoughts includes a lot of pbasses utilized in their making, so there's probably some subconscious thing going on where a pbass just sounds right to me.

BUT...

Since I took a leap on a most decidedly UN-pbass and bought my NS design CR5, my pbasses have only gotten very sporadic use in a live setting. That dang headless, boutique, 18V monstrosity absolutely brings the thunder like no other bass I've played.

So what does it all mean? I'm not sure.
Is it a mystery wrapped up in a riddle wrapped in bacon? yes. yes it is.

 

[RedHatter]

I love the sound of my Fender J, but more often than not I find myself playing my Ibanez.

 

[username1]

The only basses I dislike are those Ibanez ones with the skinny little toothpick necks on them. The ATK series I like though.

 

[Nev375]

their playability is not to my standards.

And what standards are those then?

 

[darwin-bass]

Hmm, let's see if I can add something constructive here. Don't want folks to think I'm just bashing Fender.

P-Bass: I had a Am Fender P bass. Loved the sound and really liked the playability - but it was a heavy, and suffered from neck dive. Oh and the neck was a bit too wide. I am a J neck sort of guy. So I bought a G&L LB100 Empress body with narrow neck. I got that great Fender tone but in 7.5 lb bass that doesn't neck-dive and has a narrow neck. I just ordered another P-bass. Warmoth medium scale P body with a J neck. Another pseudo Fender that isn't from FMIC.

J-Bass: My old Fender J was heavy, had neck dive, dead spots and hummed when I solo'ed a pickup. I wanted a J that didn't have those issues. Ordered a Warmoth chambered J body in ash with a black/red burst finish, J neck, split coil pickups. My J bass (not from FMIC) is 8.1 lbs, no neck dive, no dead spots, no hum and looks great.

So yes, I love Fender-style instruments but when it is time to plunk down the cash, I end up going elsewhere to get something better.

 

[theduke1]

I don't hate any instrument make. There are some I like better then others. Bang for the buck Schecter hands down. I play G&L only. I have owned and played many others and liked them for a,short time, but always played my G&Ls more. I have two 2500s an 06 fretted I bought new in o6 and a 97 fretless I bought from the original owner. I modified both to be passive with full coil tapping.
I started playing G&L in 1987 because it was Leo Fender's company and his latest design and it seems like everyone plays a P, a J, or a PJ so I wanted to be different
So I guess you could say I play the last true Fender
IMVHO
Do I hate Fenders no they just don't work for me
Duke

 

[Rickybass4001]

I have old P's J's and Tele Basses, including my sledgehammer Peavey T40 to go along with my Rickybasses.
They all have their own character and sound.

I prefer Rickenbackers, but I still bring the Fenders out to gigs on for a change of pace.
It's like the old discussions of what's better...... Ford or Chevy?

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I liked my Fender P-Lyte. It was a cool bass. I think it was Japanese (?). I traded it in when I got my Rickenbacker 4001CS, in 1992. No regrets.

 

[hsech]

I like my 68 Mustang, 73 Musicmaster, 2001 American Standard P, 2011 Tony Franklin P, 2015 Fretless Jazz.... and yeah my 72 Gibson EB-3. Three short scale and three standard scale. What's not to like? I've tried Ibanez, Eppi, and many others but didn't even like them as a knock around bass. The point being we all have our personal tastes, but that is no reason to dis other folks brand of choice.