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Do You Play a Fender Because It's Expected?

#141
I play Fender because I choose Fender. I can afford any Bass I want and have played every different one I could get my hands on. Fender spoke to me and that is what I love. As a guy who worked in the industry as both and engineer and musician in Nashville, I would say that whom ever said this to Hamm obviously was not at the top of his game! He is a killer musician with amazing tone!!
 
#142
JimmyM said:
When someone talks about a particular scenario, taking it to its most illogical extreme is very ill-advised. Also, you and I ain't McCartney or Wyman, and this isn't 1963.
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I don't see any illogical extreme here - these guys are some of the most famous bass players (indeed many non muso, non genre specific or band specific fans wouldn't be able to name you any other bass player except these if asked). Move it to 1968-70 - Andy Fraser; Jack Bruce - neither played Fenders - killer bass players - all influenced my playing and i'm sure other people's. There are countless examples.

Bass is not just Fender - it may be in the 'session studio world' - although I would prefer to hear this from a range of studios/producers than Fender bass fans who would say that, wouldn't they!!

I tire of the stream of vintage Fenders which appear on televised band performances, often played by people who weren't born even when Fenders went so out of fashion (and nearly got replaced completely by keyboard bass) in the 80s - in mixes where you can barely hear the bass, and if you can it sounds like a guy humming whole bar notes, with little or no definition. Maybe I'm getting old but if that's how bass is viewed in modern music it sucks as far as I'm concerned - and if it's in the name of 'retro vintage', it's pretty inaccurate as well (I guess Mr six figure producer wasn't born then either so who can blame him for inaccuracy).
 
#143
BassKitty101 said:
Not exactly my point. I'm saying it seems like quite a few of these instances are people who judging the bass player based on the look of the instrument and having a good sound. I'm just wondering how many would catch on if you went under their noses like that.
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In some situations they might not, but anyone can tell the difference between EMG's and passive pickups in a recording situation. So you can't rely on the old "listening with their eyes" claptrap a lot of people like to claim happens in those situations. I can assure it's not listening with their eyes. Top producers don't get to be top producers by listening with their eyes.
 
#146
I did... once. Never again.

I joined a blues band, and my main bass at the time was a Steinberger XL-2A. The band leader made no secret of the fact that he didn't think that I should be playing "that thing" in a blues band.

We went into the studio, and I recorded with my Steinberger, and it sounded fantastic, but I was still getting grief about the look of my bass, so I went out and picked up an American Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe... and proceeded to struggle with the sound of that thing for years (but I looked good while I suffered). I just never got along with the preamp in that bass. I definitely bought it with my eyes, and not my ears and hands, as I should have. Lesson learned.

So after a prolonged period of banging my head against the wall—and getting nowhere, I traded it for an EBMM Stingray. It was exactly what I needed—nicer neck, great tone, just an amazing sounding and playing instrument. I now have three of 'em.
 
#147
JimmyM said:
I can assure it's not listening with their eyes. Top producers don't get to be top producers by listening with their eyes.
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Many are surely only interested in primarily the vocals/ vocalists - or in a rock band the guitarists - ie the most visible and audible content - perhaps this may explain the desire for a generic bass sound. Does bass even play an important role in modern music? I haven't heard a decent bass hook for several years in a contemporary pop song - perhaps I've been listening to the wrong music.

Go back a little way and there are many top producers who loved the sound of non Fender basses (Nile Roger/Bernard Edwards?)
 
#148
The more interested I become in bass as an instrument, the more I enjoy trying out all sorts of sounds, tones, and styles. If I was told by anyone with credibility in this business that I "had" to play a Fender or dress/look/live a certain way to be successful, I would try that...because ultimately I WANT to be successful...and you never know, maybe in some cases that IS what it takes. A year ago I was not into Fender basses at all. I now own a fretless Squier jazz which I really like, and I'm definitely interested in owning a P at some point in the near future. There is something to be said for That Sound. I guess what I'm saying is, maybe for me, at this point in my life, it's good to be flexible or even impressionable.
 
#150
It's a good question. Of my 5 basses only 2 are Fender, I enjoy them (MIM Jazz and Duff M sig) but I only have them because I felt I got a smoking deal on them. They sound OK but they can't (in my opinion) touch either of my Ibanez basses with the tones I can get out of them (without tweaking the amp, Im talking on the fly) but they still have a use for some of the work I do and it's not about the look (aside from my Duff which I changed a touch to make people look. see pic)

A lot of people in here say that the expectation had nothing to do with it and I believe it, but I'd also believe there are many who are not on the forum or whatever that have bought a fender because of "look", not necessarily of the bass, but their look by playing it. Ive heard this in shops before, but its usually a kid buying the name instead of the sound (that being said, I gravitate toward Ibanez at first, but I won't settle just because of the name)

It's also kind of on the music store in a way. I know I've been in shops where 80% of the bass stock is fender. If thats what you buy first, either from hype or just the availability, you get used to it and learn to work with it. My first Ibanez was one of the few non-fender basses they had in stock the day I bought it, if I didn't wait I would have been forced to settle on a fender.


ImageUploadedByTalkBass1359218615.004349.jpg
 
#151
Misterwogan said:
I was watching Stu Hamm on a video recently where he told the story of him turning up at a studio to do a recording. He brought his Alembic along. The producer saw the Alembic and said "Great looking bass, I'm sure it sounds great too - but can you go home and bring a P-Bass because that will at least look the part".

I have two Fenders: An Am Deluxe Jazz and an Am Std P. In all honesty, I bought both of them because they are must-haves that are jointly responsible for the vast majority of recorded music over the last 50 years.

How many of you own Fenders simply because your audiences or producers expect it?
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To funny, and my answer to your question is “no”.

So what did Stu do or say to the producer?
 
#154
Clef_de_fa said:
You are right ... and at one point ... if they are looking for a particular sound and may have a bass part written that the bass player would have to play ... then why don't they do it themselves ... they already know what they want and all, it will take much less work to do it themselves instead of trying to find someone who has what they are looking for. Especially when it is so generic bass line and sound ... the kind of thing everybody could do and it won't make any difference at all.
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Why would you assume that the engineers and producers are also players?

And why would it be a lot of work to find someone who has what they're looking for? Don't worry, they'll have a list of fine players eager to get the call. And exactly NONE of them are going to say.... "what, you called me in to play THIS crap? Do it yourself, I'm out".
 
#155
No. I don't even like them. Well maybe I like them a little, but not all that much.
IMHO, the difference between a Fender and a Lakland, for instance is like the difference between a Ford Taurus and a Toyota Avalon.
There a numerous companies that make a better Fender than Fender does.
 
#156
Top Ten Reasons I Play a Fender

10. Chicks dig me
9. I look cool
8. It's made of WOOD
7. I automatically became a member of a secret society that holds all the power
6. John Paul Jones played one on "Led Zeppelin II"
5. It's the nicest bass I could afford
4. MAPLE FINGERBOARD!!!!
3. Passive growl. Grrrrr, baby!
2. It fits me exactly

and the Number One Reason I Play a Fender:

1. It doesn't suck
 
#157
I could say I once played Fenders because I expected myself to. When I first started getting my own musical identity as a kid, all the music I loved was done mostly by those who played Fender guitars and basses. Or, at least, did at the time. So the influence for Fenders was there.

But, several years ago, I put them down and tried other things, wanting to see what else was out there. I wanted to see if Fenders really were the best instruments for me, or if I was merely clinging to them out of familiarity or stubborness (or even some leftover hero-worship).

But, in the end, I came back to Fender branded instruments. They are the best, for me. I just like the looks, the feel, and the sound of Fenders.
Nothing else is the same. For me.

If I were going to look outside of that, at some point, I would likely look at G&L. And if I could have only one high end, non-Fender bass: Sadowsky.
 
#158
no , i purposely don't play Fender because
A) I hate the tone of both the P and J
B) the necks feel like baseball bats
C) the body style is BORING
D) They are the Apple of the bass world, too many fanbois
E) everyone and their dog has one
 

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