Why is that necessary? Fender bashers are even more irritating to me than Fender lovers. Just pick up the damn bass and PLAY.
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"Do you play a Fender?"
- Thread starter Matthew_84
- Start date
call me crazy, but if a guitarist doesn't show up with a Strat,.. i get bummed-out! seriously,... if it's not a Strat it better be a Les Paul. 
call me crazy, but if a guitarist doesn't show up with a Strat,.. i get bummed-out! seriously,... if it's not a Strat it better be a Les Paul.
When you look at it from this perspective, I get it a little bit. I don't really care what guitar someone uses, but I definitely do get a warm fuzzy feeling when a Les Paul appears.
Never cared about making statements, just music. Growing up I would go to the music shop and they would occasionally have a Fender hanging in there and I always wanted one. When I got to where I could have whatever I wanted I bought a lot of different basses looking for "the one", turned out to be a US Jass Plus I bought new in the early 90's. Didn't own another bass until the late 90's when I picked up an MIM J to play some outdoor shows where the humidity would literally soak anything left out when the sun went down.
They would have had a lot more credibility if they had asked for a specific sound. Who cares what you use to get it unless it's a tribute, early R&R vibe band, etc. If that was the case they should have explained that in the original ad.
Roland GR 88
Commercial User
Ohhhh.....get me a P-Bass, it's the only sound they like.
For a grand or two you'll get something new and the rest can take a hike.
I understand them questioning your gear, but I would have replied with a question to them: "Do you require a Fender?" If yes, then say you have a high-end equivalent (they prob wouldn't know the diff). If no, then say "Nope", I don't have a Fender.
Also, if I show up and the guitarist(s) has a 4x12, I am more than likely going to turn down the gig at the end of the audition, even IF they keep it in check. "Who shows up to practice with a 4x12??? C'mon!"
Also, if I show up and the guitarist(s) has a 4x12, I am more than likely going to turn down the gig at the end of the audition, even IF they keep it in check. "Who shows up to practice with a 4x12??? C'mon!"
Go out and buy a Fender. Any cheap used Fender here on TB will do. The next time this happens tell them, "Sure, I play a Fender and I also play non-Fenders. Which would you like and why?" If you like the band otherwise you need to get your foot in the door by playing whatever bass they like. If you are a pro or intend to become one you should be able to stand to do that. Once you are an integral part of the band you will have more say in the matter and you just know that the guitarist is going to show up with a new guitar before too long. At that point you can bring your "new" bass and chances are no one is going to say anything about it. A bass is a tool used to get the job done. Maybe it isn't fair but getting hired is job one so if you like the band and the decal on the headstock needs to say Fender for you to get hired why would you not play a Fender? For a while.... Seriously, that is reason enough to have a Fender in your collection.
Next time, casually reply, "yeah, I have a Fender". If you get an audition, bring your Fender-like bass; and if asked, your Fender is in the shop. After the audition, you should have a good idea if you want to play with these guys, and then decide if you want to go out a get a Fender if they insist.
I can see a "Squier" - "Fender" logo swap here!
Or when that's not aroundSo then, in your opinion, who is?
Fenders are sweet as maple syrup. Everything else is Aunt Jemima's.
Or a Maraudercall me crazy, but if a guitarist doesn't show up with a Strat,.. i get bummed-out! seriously,... if it's not a Strat it better be a Les Paul.
Agreed! Think of it as a test THEY failed, and an opportunity THEY missed! My Fenders get 90% of my play time, but there are plenty of other good basses out there. Far more important is what you can DO with a bass, as opposed to the decal on the headstock. Their attitude reeks of stupidity. Life is too short to hang with idiots!
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Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Close as I could find to somebody playing a fender:
I like it how that big, old, mean Safari is raping that poor little rusty car.Close as I could find to somebody playing a fender:
So, you make a statement against Fender because……why? And what do you listen to?
Carvin basses are fantastic. But, I don’t think I would use a 6-string fretless for something like a meat & potatoes, straight ahead hard rock band, which the Fender or equivalent is more suited for, YMMV and all that. It’s very possible that the band that replied to the OP’s ad had some very specific reasons for wanting someone that plays a Fender bass, or perhaps wanting someone that doesn’t play a Fender, as it seems a bit ambiguous. It’s also very possible that they are just being shallow.
I will admit that I prefer that the guitarists I play with use a Strat or a Les Paul, though in the end if they can play it and it sounds good then I don’t really care.
Yep...the standards of the industry are a Strat, Les Paul and P-bass. But who cares as long as the player has a good sound and it sits in the overall band mix well.
Bands care wayyyyyy too much about the image (or gimmick) and not enough about the music. Any decent musician would say "It's dependent on the player, not the tool"
37 years without playing a Fender and I've never had that issue come up. I've been asked what gear I use, but it's never been an issue and never lost a gig because of what I play.
Like someone else have said, they may have wanted to match the old player's sound.
Fit is as important as ability... It doesn't sound like a gig you'd like anyway.
Like someone else have said, they may have wanted to match the old player's sound.
Fit is as important as ability... It doesn't sound like a gig you'd like anyway.
