Fender in General

[40Hz]

There are lots of Ps and Js (and PJs) which aren’t Fender, often (always ?) with a better “bang for the buck”. Choose the type THEN the brand.

Agree. Shop with your ears rather than your eyes.

Just for the record, I was never blown away purely by the name on a headstock. My current all time favorite PB is the Squier Matt Freeman I got new for around $300. Like it so much I don’t miss any of the three MIA PBs I used to own.

 

[TheCouchBassist]

What PU you used? I'm going to replace the PU on my MIJ P but not sure which one to choose

I went with the Fender Pure Vintage 63’s and LOVE them.

 

[tyohars]

I went with the Fender Pure Vintage 63’s and LOVE them.

I'll try to find one then! The only downside of MIJ is really the PU, I think

 

[TheCouchBassist]

I'll try to find one then! The only downside of MIJ is really the PU, I think

Yeah, it really depends on the specific MIJ/CIJ model. If you’re going to change the pickup I’d recommend you upgrade your electronics (pots, caps, output jack etc.). Very few of the MIJ/ CIJ models came with US electronics.

 

[B-Lo]

New here. Used to dabble with bass many years ago and I got the itch to look to purchase. Couple of my friends from high school's parents had I guess original Fender basses, one a Precision and another Jazz from the 1960's so I'm told. I looked at some on Ebay and they're asking prices are well upwards of $10,000, well beyond my budget. Makes me think about all these secondary and tertiary models from Korea, Mexico and they're cheap relative to one of these Fenders. I want to buy on sound, tone and not price. I want a bass to sing but I don't think the cheaper ones would do that and can only be a waste of time and money since resale of such must be bottom barrel -- barely good for firewood. Anyone wanna converse about this? Thanks. Bad A.I.

Do you play golf? If the answer is no or very seldom or just getting back into it after 20 years, then you should check out a set of PXG clubs to start out. They'll only set you back about $5K.

Meanwhile, a tour pro can take the cheapest set of clubs from Walmart at $129, spot us about 30 strokes and still whip our butts. Similarly, a used $50 made in China starter bass in V-Dub's hands will sound head and shoulders above a $10,000 Fodera in yours or my hands...something to think about.

 

[bad_ai]

FWIW - I'd like to point out that it wasn't the bass it was the player that was making people jump up & down.

I disagree. The instrument has everything to do with the playing of it. Why would someone want to play a Stradivarius over another violin?

 

[bad_ai]

Do you play golf? If the answer is no or very seldom or just getting back into it after 20 years, then you should check out a set of PXG clubs to start out. They'll only set you back about $5K.

Meanwhile, a tour pro can take the cheapest set of clubs from Walmart at $129, spot us about 30 strokes and still whip our butts. Similarly, a used $50 made in China starter bass in V-Dub's hands will sound head and shoulders above a $10,000 Fodera in yours or my hands...something to think about.

Not remotely the same. But thanks, I guess.

 

[bad_ai]

I have had a 1965 jazz, Fender USA jazzes, MIM jazz basses, G&L Tribute and USA jazz basses, and parts jazz basses. Rating from "love" to "would never buy again," they are in reverse order.

The G&Ls and MIMs are worth every penny.

In the case of a casual, sometime-bass player, or new guy, IMO the G&L Tribute or the MIM is the way to go.

I'm looking into G&L and that does seem to be the way to go. Their JB in particular.

 

[vindibona1]

I disagree. The instrument has everything to do with the playing of it. Why would someone want to play a Stradivarius over another violin?

Edit: A lot of purchases are driven by ego. What percentage of players would play a Squier bass side by side with a Fender, feel and hear that the Squier is a better musical instrument and still buy the Fender because of the sticker on the headstock in spite of double the cost? I think the numbers would be surprising.

I guess you didn't see the video of the blind tests of vintage violins vs modern violins. But violins aren't a good comparison in some respects, but maybe in others. I used to photograph expensive violins for a violin broker years ago.

Violins are an oddity in the way they are selected. The first priority is the maker. Then the flaming and color and scroll... Lastly the sound. It blew my mind when I was first introduced to that stuff. Stradivarius violins are often selected because of the maker and reputation. But even though he did make excellent instruments that doesn't mean that there aren't equal (or better) modern violins at a fraction of the price.

 

[TheLowDown33]

Just to add my experience...

I recently sold a deluxe precision V, which some say is one of the best basses fender ever made, for a squier CV P with an EMG GZR and it nails the precision tone way more and was a 1/4 of the price. Don't let the number of digits fool you.

 

[knight of ni]

I'm looking into G&L and that does seem to be the way to go. Their JB in particular.

Indeed, and also the MJ-4 Tribute if it's in your price range.

 

[bdplaid]

I'm looking into G&L and that does seem to be the way to go. Their JB in particular.

There were two things about the JB Tribute I had... It was on the heavy side, over 9 lbs, and my first one was defective with a truss rod nut placed such that it could not be accessed. But it was much higher quality than MIMs, and played and sounded great.

 

[howlin]

Why would someone want to play a Stradivarius over another violin?

Because they don’t know any better...

 

[bad_ai]

There were two things about the JB Tribute I had... It was on the heavy side, over 9 lbs, and my first one was defective with a truss rod nut placed such that it could not be accessed. But it was much higher quality than MIMs, and played and sounded great.

What bass in G&L's price range isn't heavy unless special customer selected woods or something? I look all over Musicians Friend and Guitar Center and most of these basses are straight off production lines including G&L -- from what I'm reading. I refuse to buy any instrument I can't first get into my hands, plug that sucker in and give it a test through several amps. That might take another $1000 road trip to either Norman's Rare Guitars or Bass Central. OK. Not quite that I think a trip to Norman's might be what I need to do to look at their vintage basses that are not limited to Fender. I think Gibson used to make very good basses like their hollow body ones. Thank goodness dreams are free and that's all I got at the moment.

 

[bdplaid]

What bass in G&L's price range isn't heavy unless special customer selected woods or something? I look all over Musicians Friend and Guitar Center and most of these basses are straight off production lines including G&L -- from what I'm reading. I refuse to buy any instrument I can't first get into my hands, plug that sucker in and give it a test through several amps. That might take another $1000 road trip to either Norman's Rare Guitars or Bass Central. OK. Not quite that I think a trip to Norman's might be what I need to do to look at their vintage basses that are not limited to Fender. I think Gibson used to make very good basses like their hollow body ones. Thank goodness dreams are free and that's all I got at the moment.

Well, the g&l tribute basses are I think made by Cort in Indonesia. Imo everything from there runs a little on the heavy side, but my focus for the last couple of years has been on lightweight basses.

As for getting one in your hands in a store that probably won't happen. GC et al just don't stock them. What I did was buy one and return it if I didn't like. That's just the way of the world these days.

But were I not focused on lightweight basses g&l would be my first choice.

PS: I have a g&l USA jazz made from empress and it smokes.

 

[bassbenj]

Agreed. It really becomes a game of "really find a good/great specimen" when it comes to Fender. We just got the new Player Series in the shop (well, they're still in the warehouse), I'll check it out for sure.

Exactly correct. When I was in the market for a "Fender shaped Headstock" I did the grand tour of all shops within road trip range. I kept an open mind and checked out all stock including Squire, MIM and USA. Results were not surprising. At the time I found no Squier I liked (I do own a very nice Squier PJ now) and in the end I found a nice used USA but the price was rather stiff, but not in the vintage range. I just about to plunk 'em down when I happened into GC (of all places) and found a nice MIM Fender with a totally Killer neck. Money talks so I got it. Super super bass. Only thing I never liked about it was the pickups and later I just swapped them out for Fender SCN pickups (which were standard on the USA models at the time) and the bass just came alive. Point being is just play 'em all and find a good specimen. A lot of money helps you find a good one but is no guarantee.

Of course these days, the Fender mostly sits because my G&Ls are my babies. And yes they are a little heavy but not hideously so and weight doesn't bother me anyway. Again, tone is where you find it.

 

[Korladis]

Haha! No. My name here is meant to be "Bad A.I." like Terminator run amok or actually doing what it's designed for. How can I hear these things? And just as comparison from what I'm reading, G&L, all Fender's designs, don't make instruments in other countries. I suppose their prices on a comparative basis to a Lakland USA made is less for what I can only determine to be top grade quality and only that. I have a complaint about the greed aspect of Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Musician's Friend like the're a conspiracy based upon the WalMart business model of having all these disposable beginner's models which should have never existed to begin with. That might have been better for instrument makers because certain woods available in the 40's - 60's are no longer available. Maturity of certain wood species like the Brazilian rosewood Fender used initially aren't available, forested out of existed, protected, etc. There's no substitute for that, is there? I actually don't know. But there was something in those instruments that must have everything to do with prices asked on Ebay. You get a '64 Fender Precision and that's all one needs. The instrument was like the old Hammond B-3's. There were no intermediary. And the premier stuff ordered from a catalog or online with a limited three day return policy isn't enough time to get to know an instrument. I was in marketing for many years and this aspect of musical instruments grates my nerves raw and the policies of these stores even more so.

The best Fenders are the ones made in Japan.

 

[jd56hawk]

What bass in G&L's price range isn't heavy unless special customer selected woods or something? I look all over Musicians Friend and Guitar Center and most of these basses are straight off production lines including G&L -- from what I'm reading. I refuse to buy any instrument I can't first get into my hands, plug that sucker in and give it a test through several amps. That might take another $1000 road trip to either Norman's Rare Guitars or Bass Central. OK. Not quite that I think a trip to Norman's might be what I need to do to look at their vintage basses that are not limited to Fender. I think Gibson used to make very good basses like their hollow body ones. Thank goodness dreams are free and that's all I got at the moment.

Well, I bought mine without getting the chance to play it…7.4 lbs, swamp ash. Some people might call it gambling, but the odds were in my favor…3rd G&L I purchased online and each one was better than the one before.
I'll be buying my next G&L the same way, based on a few pics and the seller's description…and I'm willing to bet it'll be better than the last 10 or 20 basses I tried in this store or the other and walked away from.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

New here. Used to dabble with bass many years ago and I got the itch to look to purchase. Couple of my friends from high school's parents had I guess original Fender basses, one a Precision and another Jazz from the 1960's so I'm told. I looked at some on Ebay and they're asking prices are well upwards of $10,000, well beyond my budget. Makes me think about all these secondary and tertiary models from Korea, Mexico and they're cheap relative to one of these Fenders. I want to buy on sound, tone and not price. I want a bass to sing but I don't think the cheaper ones would do that and can only be a waste of time and money since resale of such must be bottom barrel -- barely good for firewood. Anyone wanna converse about this? Thanks. Bad A.I.

Zipping lip, and getting popcorn.

 

[mtdkingstonheir]

Absolutely true, regarding "buying with your eyes versus buying with your ears". There are a tremendous amount of great basses out there, of all prices and brands, that will fit most folks needs. My Squier Classc Vibe Jazz sounds really good, although I hope to own a Status Kingbass Paramatrix/Warwick Fortress Masterman/Sadowsky/Dingwall, etc... Even if I do get one of these higher-end basses, I'll still play/use my Squire CV.