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Fender vs. EBMM in terms of construction

K-Funk

K-Funk

Sep 24, 2007
1,182
21
Auburn Hills, MI
#1
I've heard many people mention that EBMM's are some of the best mass-produced basses today, and surpass brands like Fender in instrument quality.

Between the Stingray and Fender Precision/Jazz, which is the better-made instrument? And where would G&L fall into the mix? Disregarding subjective tone opinions, of course.

Also, besides means of adjustment, is the truss rod system the same between all three brands?
 
#4
I have limited experience with G&L (the ones I have played have been very high quality though) but have owned over a dozen each of Mucicman and Fenders.

Personally, Fenders CAN be as well made as Musicman basses, but if you are looking for a broad comment on overall quality.... Musicman by a landslade IMO.
 
#5
All this is true - but more and more I find myself leaving my beautifully built EBMM in the case while I gig with my perhaps shoddy CBS-era Fender P-Bass.

I've also heard from many people that Fender's build quality today is better than it's ever been.
 
#6
debassr said:
Build quality:

1. EBMM
2. G&L
3. Fender MIA

Truss rod adjustments are easiest on the EBMM.
Click to expand...

Historically, this is true. However, many of us who bought early-run 2008 MIA Fenders are pleasantly surprised with the consistently good build quality of these basses. IMHO they do not take a back seat to EBMM and G&L. Now...it remains to be seen if Fender can maintain this superb level of fit & finish...

And definitely the EBMM truss rod adjustment is the easiest - the adjustment wheel requires no allen wrench or screwdriver and is virtually strip-proof. The adjustment wheel, that is, not the rod itself...

Truss rod type: As I understand it (which is imperfectly), early Fenders (up to mid 80's?) used single-acting truss rods. Now they use something called a bi-flex truss rod. I believe EBMM and G&L use double-acting truss rods which are not exactly like the Fender design. But I'm not a truss rod expert - maybe someone else has a better understanding?
 
#7
had a mid nineties G&L, a '97 MIA P and own two EBMM Rays, one a '95 the other a '00.

my P was among the best MIA Fenders I played, the G&L was better, the '95 EBMM comparable to the G&L and the '00 EBMM a little bit better than both.

btw, the MIJ/CIJ Fenders I played had better fit and finish than most MIAs I've played/seen but I heard the '08 MIAs are the best ones in years (though I do get to hear that every time FMIC revamps their production line).
 
#9
debassr said:
Build quality:

1. EBMM
2. G&L
3. Fender MIA

Truss rod adjustments are easiest on the EBMM.
Click to expand...

i might agree with this if it were pre mid 90's ernie we were talking about. however, all the recent stuff ive played has been remarkably standard. the shop i work at just got a sterling hum single in with sharp fret edges. that stuff never used to happen. we had a limited edition bongo in for forever that had bad neck pitch and with the saddles slammed, it still had too high action in the upper register. id put fender right there with ernie ball's output over the last 8 years or so as level with each other.
 
#10
I have an '04 Ray that I bought new - shipped to me in the factory box. I also have an '07 Tribute L2000 that I bought new. I own and have owned several Fenders. In the end, I like them all a lot.

But, I've never done anything but adjust the truss rod on the Ray. This bass is excellent in every way. My Tribute needed some nut work and there are a couple very minor fret problems. Every Fender I've ever owned goes through a whole setup process to get it where I need it to be.

I've yet to find any finish flaws in the 'Ray either. There are a few minor problems with the Tribute and I can always find something with the finish on a Fender, if I spend enough time with it. Sometimes you have to look real hard for quite a while, though.

Some of this is about the factory setup, but a lot of it is about the quality job done building the thing in the first place. MM is the best here construction-wise (can't speak about US G&L, though), even though my Ray isn't in the top five of my favorite basses, and Fenders and the Tribute are.
 
#12
narud said:
i might agree with this if it were pre mid 90's ernie we were talking about. however, all the recent stuff ive played has been remarkably standard. the shop i work at just got a sterling hum single in with sharp fret edges. that stuff never used to happen. we had a limited edition bongo in for forever that had bad neck pitch and with the saddles slammed, it still had too high action in the upper register. id put fender right there with ernie ball's output over the last 8 years or so as level with each other.
Click to expand...

+1, sadly :(
 
#13
My own Stingray is a 1986 transitional-era model with the 4-bolt neck joint, bullet trussrod, transitional logo, string mutes, the works. It's very solid, but it's got a lot of mojo. My only worry was with the neck. It's wide like a P-Bass, but extremely flat. So flat, in fact, that I can bend the pitch by moderately touching the headstock face with one finger. It's very comfortable to play, but you'd think something that flimsy would be very susceptible to warpage. On most modern Stingrays I've played, the neck is very solid and stable.

With Fenders, I've seen tons of hits and misses. Both my friend and I owned 2006 Fenders- mine was a P-Bass, his was a Jazz. Both were purchased new. His bass was absolutely stunning; the finish was perfect and the setup/fretwork was flawless. It sounded better than any Jazz I've ever played! My P-Bass- bought from the same store- was terrible. The fret edges were sharp and downright painful, there were numerous dead spots, and the finish had numerous flaws. It sounded weak and terrible. I've played three 2008 Fenders, two Precisions and a Jazz. Out of them, only one Precision was good. The other two were plagued with the same exact issues as my old P-Bass.

I've played several US G&L's, and all were flawless, same as the Stingrays I've played.
 
#14
scottbass said:
And definitely the EBMM truss rod adjustment is the easiest - the adjustment wheel requires no allen wrench or screwdriver and is virtually strip-proof. The adjustment wheel, that is, not the rod itself...
Click to expand...

This is true but I also find that most Musicmans I have dealt with have been very hard to get the neck adjusted and staying there. They just did not want to take a set up very well.

I have not been any more impressed with a MM lately then a MIA Fender.
 
#16
my 00 stingray was gorgeous looking. birdseye maple neck was great(would have been awesome if it had a satin finish like a fender would), and finish on the body was very durable. some really cool things on a stingray. between the treaded screw inserts, to the way the bridge clamps down to the body.

however, after a pretty tough schedule, some of the parts didn't hold up very well. i went through 3-4 input jacks, 1 tuning peg, busted battery compartment and 1 pre-amp bundle.

on my 03 mia p-bass, the finish isn't as durable, but it looks just as nice. i've not had any issue with any of the wiring, pickups, or anything. and i've put it through way more then i did the music man.
 
#19
debassr said:
Build quality:

1. EBMM
2. G&L
3. Fender MIA

Truss rod adjustments are easiest on the EBMM.
Click to expand...
x100000000

Fender is LIGHTYEARS behind EBMM in build quality.

scottbass said:
Historically, this is true. However, many of us who bought early-run 2008 MIA Fenders are pleasantly surprised with the consistently good build quality of these basses. IMHO they do not take a back seat to EBMM and G&L. Now...it remains to be seen if Fender can maintain this superb level of fit & finish...
Click to expand...
You shouldn't be surprised when you pick up a $1000 bass and find that it's actually what you would EXPECT from a bass of that price tag. Yes they may be improving in standard, but when you find yourself surprised that an instrument is actually set up as it should be, well then that says a LOT about the company the bass is made by, don't you think?

Also, i've never had setup issues with my SUB bass and neither have any of the stingray owners i know.
 
#20
Music Man is better made than a Fender Standard, but it does cost significantly more money than a Standard too. I think the Deluxe and more limited edition Fenders are closer to Music Man. I think Music Man are some of the best made basses in the world, period. In terms of fit and finish, I think Music Man can hang with boutique bolt-ons like Sadowsky, A-C, or Lull. The biggest difference is that Music Man is not as selective about the wood it uses, which makes them both less expensive and heavier.

I think G&L is very comparable to Music Man, but American G&Ls doe not have consistent B strings, IME. Frankly, Tributes have more consistent Bs.
 

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