Fender Design versus boutique - ever go back?

[Fawkes007]

Again, for me, it's about the ergonomics more than anything. The Fender designs just feel "right" to me physically. Now, I probably should have come right out at the beginning and said that my P and J basses are actually Mike Lull instruments - I find his take on those classic designs about as good as it gets - they sound great (fralin pups), are light weight and best of all - NO NECK DIVE.

Spent a good deal of time last night with my '87 'Ray, and it's probably my favorite in terms of ergonomics, but it is a bit heavier than my Lulls. Still, it's a gem.

I'm also discovering that I don't like 18 volt preamps, and leaning heavily toward basses with ONE pickup and passive controls. Anybody got a nice old G&L L-1000 they want to sell?

 

[SwamiRob]

I think the problem is that people seem to see boutique as everything that's the opposite of Fender, although it seems that is the case quite often. I'm sure if you looked you can find plenty of "boutique" instruments that have fatter necks, higher action, no preamp, more muted sounding bridges etc etc.

 

[Matt Dean]

The Fender designs just feel "right" to me physically.

+1

I've owned and played a lot of different basses over the years (35 to be exact)...

...and I've decided the Fender Jazz body/neck shape is what works for me the best. My current bass is a Nordy vJ4 with big singles.

 

[Baird6869]

Just sold MTD, Sadowsky, Dingwall, Lakland and a few EBMM Anniversary basses (100th NAMM, 20th anni and a 30th anni) basses as my Fenders are getting all the work these days. New (2008 4 and 5 string Ps) and old (73 and 77 Jazz and a 74 P) are all getting used and I am loving my tone.

I think the fact that the 2008/09 American Standards have been so well received doesn't hurt.

 

[Norwegian Bass]

Yeah, Ps, Js and Stingrays. It's the basses I want to play.

I play a little guitar too. My favorites are Strats, Teles and Les Pauls.

I've tried and/or listened to everything and those are the ones I love the most.

God bless Leo.

 

[AndroWal]

I love Fenders and still have my first bass, a 75 Jazz...ash body, maple neck with block inlays with the white binding. I did put a badass on it....but not one of the Fenders has ever been as comfortable to play as my Wal Mark IIIs. The Wals hang perfectly, aren't heavy, sound fantastic (lots of pressence, full, sing, etc.), cut-through or don't as you want, and are so organic sounding...like Electric Wood...the name of Pete' and Ian's company now passed and at production now being resurrected by Paul Herman.

I would like a couple of Jazzes...5-string, 24-fret, fretted and fretless that have no neck-dive, are comfortable, have the pressence and great sound and are as well made as my Wals...but Fenders don't reach the mark in my experience. Which boutique builder has the best Jazz bass?

 

[malthumb]

I'll be the outlier here. Even though I've been doing MORE with Fender types over the last three or four years, my Alembics are still my "go to" basses and my Roscoe is the only fretless I need. Period.

A couple Marcus Miller Jazz Basses have come and gone and I assembled a hot-rodded Jazz and a hot-rodded P-Bass. I just sold the Jazz and the P is up for sale. The P doesn't bring anything to my tone portfolio that I don't already have. The Jazz I just sold is being replaced by a MM Sabre that's en route. Since that's a Fender type bass, I'll call that a wash. My other Fender type bass, a Devon 5 string is also up for sale, although if it doesn't sell, I won't cry. It's a great bass. Played it today at church. If it sells, the Alembic will see more time in church and split duty with the Sabre in cover band work.

Peace,

James

 

[RAM]

I've always been a fan of boutique and currently own them exclusively. Oddly, as much as I love them, I've found myself thinking about picking up a Fender P recently. It's not the simplicity of controls so much as the tone.