Everyone has really made the points. Leo Fender invented the bass guitar. It didn't exist before Leo. Simple as that. He also managed to set many of the "standards" for the instrument (34 inch scale, 4 string (at least at first), tuning, etc).
Finally, he developed two of the most successful designs in all of modern instruments - the Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass (And the Strat & the Tele but that's bringing in Guitars).
The bass owes more to Leo than even guitars because while Leo pushed solid body electrics forward by a huge margin - he flat out invented the bass guitar. In fact, in most early recordings the reference is not to "the bass" or "the bass guitar" - but to the "Fender Bass". The entire instrument was synonymous with Fender for the first decade of its existence.
Finally, because of all this (as many have noted) the instrument is the most recorded, most photographed and most played manufacturer of bass guitars by a country mile. I wouldn't be shocked if there were more Fenders than the next 5 manufacturers combined. I don't know that - I'm just saying I wouldn't be shocked.
Having said all that I don't have one anymore. Why is that?
Well, I used to. The trouble with Fenders I find is that they are mass produced in huge huge quantities. Someone once said to me that 9 in 10 Fenders are "ok" and 1 in 10 is magical. I'm kind of guessing that's true. The ones I've had have been "ok", but I know that there are indeed "magical" Fenders out there.
For my fretted bass I've moved on to Fender 2.0 - Musicman. I call it Fender 2.0 because (as has been said already) it was also invented by the mighty Leo Fender - after he sold Fender Inc. to CVS. In some ways you could say it's still a Fender. What attracts me is that (mine at least) really is magical. Maybe I got lucky or maybe most Musicmans are built that way. I don't know. Perhaps it doesn't matter.
Bottom line, most people who have found magical Fenders will never give them up. But play before you buy and know that there are other terrific choices out there. This isn't 1951 anymore.
Finally, he developed two of the most successful designs in all of modern instruments - the Precision Bass, and the Jazz Bass (And the Strat & the Tele but that's bringing in Guitars).
The bass owes more to Leo than even guitars because while Leo pushed solid body electrics forward by a huge margin - he flat out invented the bass guitar. In fact, in most early recordings the reference is not to "the bass" or "the bass guitar" - but to the "Fender Bass". The entire instrument was synonymous with Fender for the first decade of its existence.
Finally, because of all this (as many have noted) the instrument is the most recorded, most photographed and most played manufacturer of bass guitars by a country mile. I wouldn't be shocked if there were more Fenders than the next 5 manufacturers combined. I don't know that - I'm just saying I wouldn't be shocked.
Having said all that I don't have one anymore. Why is that?
Well, I used to. The trouble with Fenders I find is that they are mass produced in huge huge quantities. Someone once said to me that 9 in 10 Fenders are "ok" and 1 in 10 is magical. I'm kind of guessing that's true. The ones I've had have been "ok", but I know that there are indeed "magical" Fenders out there.
For my fretted bass I've moved on to Fender 2.0 - Musicman. I call it Fender 2.0 because (as has been said already) it was also invented by the mighty Leo Fender - after he sold Fender Inc. to CVS. In some ways you could say it's still a Fender. What attracts me is that (mine at least) really is magical. Maybe I got lucky or maybe most Musicmans are built that way. I don't know. Perhaps it doesn't matter.
Bottom line, most people who have found magical Fenders will never give them up. But play before you buy and know that there are other terrific choices out there. This isn't 1951 anymore.
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