Does liking Fender instruments make you Unoriginal?

[callofcthulhu]

Yes it does.

 

[smeet]

Yes, it's unoriginal to like fenders. It's also unoriginal to play root 5th and straight 8ths. But so what? Play what you like. If you're destined to be a truly original artist, the "brand" of instrument won't stop that. Choosing the instrument that fits you is part of what defines you as an artist. Even if you're just a bass player.

I'll tell you what does bother me. I used to be a violinist, and anybody who wasn't a beginner had an instrument made by hand, even if not by a single master luthier. They are all basically the same, design, but there is an individuality that sets each instrument apart. The fact that almost everybody playing an electric bass or guitar is using a mass-produced instrument makes me sad. It's a sign of the times I guess. They work and sound fine for the most part (some are even great), but it is sad that an instrument crafted by a human is prohibitively expensive for most people.

 

[chungweishan]

I think one of the unoriginal things is people recommending Fenders because they believe only those basses can get an expected sound/tone, and it's the only tone worth having.

However, not liking Fenders, or recommending them, wouldn't make me original. It's just means I prefer a different way (technique, gear) to achieve my goals in sound.

All that matters is you finding a bass you love to play whether it's a Fender, some handmade custom job, or a bass from a Starter Pack at Guitar Center.

 

[Kmonk]

I have never played an MIA Fender that I did not like. I have also never played an MIM Fender that I did like.

 

[paulears]

It's not the bass.
I'm a photographer. I often hear after a session, "What kind of camera is that? It takes great pictures." I know the clients mean well, but it's not the camera, it's the skill, ability and gift of the artist.
The same with music. You've probably heard it before... A professional musician can pick up a cheap instrument and make it sound fantastic, whereas a novice with a $10,000 vintage Fender Precision sounds like (fill in the blank).

It's not the instrument that matters, it's the player.

Love it! So true. I actually have some really nice cameras, but a friend with an iPhone takes absolutely stunning pictures with it. I never seem to 'see' what he does.

I don't actually like my Jazz that much - but I like the sound for what I am doing at the moment, but if I need to go back and play in a pit band, then I'll pick something nicer to play for that.

 

[Quilbert]

At least 10% of threads on this site seem to be fender love/hate etc. IMO they're 'fine' but a little imagination can land you a better playing and sounding instrument for the same price. So long as you're not hung up on brand snobbery.

 

[AMJBASS]

Does it really matter?! If you love the sound of them, and they are that comfortable for you to play, then play one! I've owned a TON of basses in the last 15 years(including many boutique basses worth quite a bit of $$$). Both of my current electrics are Fenders. They just work.

 

[Nobody]

Fender basses are good.

 

[One Drop]

Photography was elevated to art recently in the skewed world we live in now. In a world turned upside down. In a world where family values, tradition and real creativity does not mean anything anymore. In a world where DJ's playing iPods are headlining music festivals and autotune is not a novelty but a necessity. And you are right, it is not about the camera but how well you can use phtoshop to tweak what your camera shot. Up till recently photography was a trade, something that was taught to people in the same institutions that taught them how to repair shoes or a refrigerator.

Photography has been an art since it was invented, and manipulation of the image from setting up the subject to framing it, adjusting focus, depth of field, and lighting, and then the printing process itself has been a part of it since its inception. it also radically altered the art world and the way we perceive art itself.

What this has to do with family values is a subject I'll leave to you. BTW photography was subject to the same criticisms from the paint and sculpture crowd from day one as you mention now.

 

[FretNoMore]

Choosing a certain instrument because you worry about what others think probably indicates you have a tendency to go for the safe and unoriginal.

If you choose it because you like how it plays, sounds, looks, maybe you just have similar taste as many others; there are reasons why certain tried and true designs work well. It's then not the instrument that makes you unoriginal or not - it's what you do with it.

 

[FretNoMore]

As to photography (that's another of my hobbies) people do ask "what did you use to take that picture" and I think the answer shouldn't be "I used a Canon 1D Mark IV with a 35/1.4 lens", but rather "I used my eyes, skill and creativity". Pictures are great because of the content, not because of what equipment was used, and the same goes for music.

Said by a real gear head I admit, but I think collecting toys is OK as long as you don't have illusions about what's important.

 

[sigmafloyd]

Fenders are a blank slate, up to you to be original with it.

That said, playing a black 70s style J or a fretless sunburst jazz with no Pickguard might skew your look towards Geddy/Jaco

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Yes, it's unoriginal to like fenders. It's also unoriginal to play root 5th and straight 8ths. But so what? Play what you like. If you're destined to be a truly original artist, the "brand" of instrument won't stop that. Choosing the instrument that fits you is part of what defines you as an artist. Even if you're just a bass player.

I'll tell you what does bother me. I used to be a violinist, and anybody who wasn't a beginner had an instrument made by hand, even if not by a single master luthier. They are all basically the same, design, but there is an individuality that sets each instrument apart. The fact that almost everybody playing an electric bass or guitar is using a mass-produced instrument makes me sad. It's a sign of the times I guess. They work and sound fine for the most part (some are even great), but it is sad that an instrument crafted by a human is prohibitively expensive for most people.

Bass, guitar and drums has that "average-joe" feel to them and of course the music is also the "average-joe" while classical music require more to the listener ... just to see how having hand-made-high-class-instrument is the norm while every bass player with hand made are made fun of because their Squire with their SVT is just as good ...

 

[sigmafloyd]

As to photography (that's another of my hobbies) people do ask "what did you use to take that picture" and I think the answer shouldn't be "I used a Canon 1D Mark IV with a 35/1.4 lens", but rather "I used my eyes, skill and creativity". Pictures are great because of the content, not because of what equipment was used, and the same goes for music.

Is that the camera equivalent of 'tone is in the hands'?

 

[sigmafloyd]

Bass, guitar and drums has that "average-joe" feel to them and of course the music is also the "average-joe" while classical music require more to the listener ... just to see how having hand-made-high-class-instrument is the norm while every bass player with hand made are made fun of because their Squire with their SVT is just as good ...

I don't think anyone makes fun of victor Wooten for playing a handmade bass. The lawyer who has been playing for 2 years that has a fodera, sadowsky and 2 laklands and doesn't ever gig, maybe yes.

 

[FretNoMore]

Is that the camera equivalent of 'tone is in the hands'?

Not really, technical tone and image quality do to some degree depend on the gear, but the chord changes and lyrics, and the story in the picture don't. Some timeless songs were recorded with rather sub-par equipment with today's standards, but we still think they are great songs.

It's not either/or of course - best have both a good story to tell and good equipment to present it in the best quality.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

As to photography (that's another of my hobbies) people do ask "what did you use to take that picture" and I think the answer shouldn't be "I used a Canon 1D Mark IV with a 35/1.4 lens", but rather "I used my eyes, skill and creativity". Pictures are great because of the content, not because of what equipment was used, and the same goes for music.

I find that kind of respond to be a little wrong. Why ? because your Canon whatever may have a filter or better resolution so you can take closer picture without it being blurry, sure you hade the idea or the talent to take the picture in a great angle to let the feeling but still, it may not have the same impact if you didn't have that better resolution ... just like in music, the first time fretless was something no matter they did, the tone can't be acheive without that fretless ... or the first time people heard a B string and be like "how did you get that low"

Where I want to go is : the tool is important to let us create what we have in mind.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I don't think anyone makes fun of victor Wooten for playing a handmade bass. The lawyer who has been playing for 2 years that has a fodera, sadowsky and 2 laklands and doesn't ever gig, maybe yes.

But we hear a lot of people saying that he would have the same tone out of Squire ... sure no matter the instrument is creativity will be the same, it is the same guy playing both instrument but I'm sure that his Fodera is so well made that he can do stuff that he wouldn't dare on a Squire

 

[Geri O]

No, liking Fender instruments is not unoriginal. But some people's obsessive adoration is irritating. They're just instruments.

Like everything else.

 

[lfmn16]

Not being able to think for yourself makes you unoriginal. If you like fender, play a fender. If you don't like fender, don't play one. If you think liking fender or not liking fender makes you special, your wrong.