Hating on anything but Fender

[J Sudjian]

So I was watchin some lessons on stuff on YouTube about tone and such, in the comments one guy says the most important lesson to learn is stick with Fender Jazz and P bass and don’t have the urge to be different by getting Ibanez or other.

That you will spend your entire life trying to please the band and get the right tones.


Then someone replied asking if he was talking about the Soundgears, that they don’t understand why anyone likes them.

Then more guys came on hating Ibanez like my SR505 which I love, also love my Jazz bass but what the heck

So I’m thinking of how many bands out there play Ibanez and other basses,there a countless, I’m looking at my SR505 like She is my baby lol, I also have a 4 string vintage modified jazz with dp123s in it, but I just love the Ibanez, well I love both.


What do you guys think about that hate, is it justified? Are we not past the”you gotta have a Fender to be in the band” stuff or what

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

What do you guys think about that hate, is it justified? Are we not past the ”you gotta have a Fender to be in the band” stuff or what

You assume 'we' were at that point to begin with.

In 40 years of playing bass, 35 of those on fenders, I've never encountered this. No one's ever hired me because I play a fender, or fired me because I played something else. They hired me because I play well, regardless of my chosen brand of instrument.
​

I never worry about what opinionated people think - least of all those making comments on youtube - because those quick to venture an opinion tend to be dogmatic and don't often think about what they are saying, and those quick to take offence, do; and so the cycle continues - on infinite repeat.

Enjoy playing your instrument, get a good sound, and more importantly, play well because *that's* what'll get you the gigs, regardless of your chosen brand.

 

[J Sudjian]

You assume 'we' were at that point to begin with.

In 40 years of playing bass, 35 of those on fenders, I've never encountered this. No one's ever hired me because I play a fender, or fired me because I played something else. They hired me because I play well, regardless of my chosen brand of instrument.
​

I never worry about what opinionated people think - least of all those making comments on youtube - because those quick to venture an opinion tend to be dogmatic and don't often think about what they are saying, and those quick to take offence, do; and so the cycle continues - on infinite repeat.

Enjoy playing your instrument, get a good sound, and more importantly, play well because *that's* what'll get you the gigs, regardless of your chosen brand.

Well I just recall hearing things like that before as well, about producers getting whacky when someone comes in with something other than a P,Jazz or music Man.......just little things I hear or read here and there, but wondered how much that holds up.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[dmt]

Enjoy your SR505. Personally, I kinda feel like the guys in the video, actually - it’s mainly Fender basses for me; they have the right sound for me and a classic look. Nevertheless, everybody doesn’t have to play the same instrument. If you and your band are cool with your SR505, then there ya go; everything’s fine.

I’m actually pretty visual. In some bands/playing situations, a Fender might not have the right look (one band might want something that looks "more evil", another might want something with Hello Kitty on it, etc.). Likewise, the Ibanez might not be your first choice for an Americana band (not saying its impossible, "just saying", especially depending on the finish). Lots of bands, either would be fine.

And then there’s tone - sometimes a bass just doesn’t sit right tone-wise when played in the mix of instruments the other guys are playing. So then you can get into messing with EQ, pedals, pickups, even amp, to try to get what you want. Or use a different bass. A friend of mine had an Ibanez SR and it sounded fine in our classic rock-style jams, so i can’t agree that only a Fender can sit right in a mix. And like you said, lots of well-know bassists play Ibanezes. So, you have to use your ears and taste and see how a bass fits in a given situation.

Well, you’ve got a Fender and an Ibanez, so you’ve got options depending on the need. Life is good!

 

[jd56hawk]

So I was watchin some lessons on stuff on YouTube about tone and such, in the comments one guy says the most important lesson to learn is stick with Fender Jazz and P bass and don’t have the urge to be different by getting Ibanez or other.

That you will spend your entire life trying to please the band and get the right tones.


Then someone replied asking if he was talking about the Soundgears, that they don’t understand why anyone likes them.

Then more guys came on hating Ibanez like my SR505 which I love, also love my Jazz bass but what the heck

So I’m thinking of how many bands out there play Ibanez and other basses,there a countless, I’m looking at my SR505 like She is my baby lol, I also have a 4 string vintage modified jazz with dp123s in it, but I just love the Ibanez, well I love both.


What do you guys think about that hate, is it justified? Are we not past the”you gotta have a Fender to be in the band” stuff or what

I'd like to see a photo of this genius...you know, just for laughs.
Other than that, I'll put up my L2000 against his Fender any day of the week.
I doubt if he's heard of G&L, I doubt if he's heard of Music Man, either, so he definitely should be schooled.
(I hope I don't sound like the typical YouTube troublemaker...usually I'm more of a pacifist.)

 

[Vanheusen77]

This is a complicated question, but I definetely think that people listen with their eyes. My experience is that you have to at least be prepared for questions if you show up with a more modern looking bass. Same with five strings etc. It’s just what people expect a bass to look like in most genres and they get nervous if they see something different. The look of an instrument is at least as important as the sound for this reason I think.

 

[imabuddha]

Well I just recall hearing things like that before as well, about producers getting whacky when someone comes in with something other than a P,Jazz or music Man.......just little things I hear or read here and there, but wondered how much that holds up.

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, I’ve heard that too, but ask yourself: how often are you doing pro recording sessions? Unless you’re being paid by them other people’s opinions don’t matter much.

 

[eJake]

The one thing I agree with is that some of these other basses have too much tonal variety with active circuits. A passive P or j of any brand is just easier (IMO) to plug, play and get great tone.

 

[chris_b]

So I was watchin some lessons on stuff on YouTube about tone and such, in the comments one guy says the most important lesson to learn is stick with Fender Jazz and P bass and don’t have the urge to be different by getting Ibanez or other.

What he should be saying is try lots of basses and buy the one that feels and sounds best to you.

If I'm checking out a lesson on YouTube the last thing I want is the guy lecturing me about which bass to play. Anyone who says you should only play this make or that make is giving you bad advice.

 

[Bassmike62]

Hate is useless.

 

[Vanheusen77]

Tonewise there are many good ones, not just one or two. Music is supposed to be fun and creative.

 

[DWBass]

I've been playing over 40+ years. Never ever ever ever ever has any musician said anything about any of the basses I've ever played!! I've owned 2 Fenders in my life. Not a single person said 'hey, that bass sounds better than your other basses!'

In my opinion.........his statement and the others statements are asinine!!

 

[bassman10096]

To each his own is a two way street.

 

[Snaxster]

So I was watchin some lessons on stuff on YouTube about tone and such, in the comments one guy says...

Why should one care about what a random stranger says on the internet?*


* Irony intended, since most of us in this forum are a random stranger to each other. Yet the point stands.

 

[garp]

Are we not past the ”you gotta have a Fender to be in the band” stuff or what

Well, let's see...Fender introduced the Precision in '51, and the Jazz in '60. And yet, somehow, over the next several decades, thousands of highly successful bands still managed to do just fine without either one.

It's worth noting that Paul McCartney didn't even touch a Fender bass for the first time until circa 1968 – after The Beatles had already sold millions of albums and stopped touring – and it was only because Fender was jealous of the heightened visibility enjoyed by Höfner and Rickenbacker, and gifted a pair of Jazzes to The Beatles.

 

[bhendrix]

Nobody really cares what brand of bass you are playing - except for other bass players!

 

[Bassdirty]

So I was watchin some lessons on stuff on YouTube about tone and such, in the comments one guy says the most important lesson to learn is stick with Fender Jazz and P bass and don’t have the urge to be different by getting Ibanez or other.

That you will spend your entire life trying to please the band and get the right tones.


Then someone replied asking if he was talking about the Soundgears, that they don’t understand why anyone likes them.

Then more guys came on hating Ibanez like my SR505 which I love, also love my Jazz bass but what the heck

So I’m thinking of how many bands out there play Ibanez and other basses,there a countless, I’m looking at my SR505 like She is my baby lol, I also have a 4 string vintage modified jazz with dp123s in it, but I just love the Ibanez, well I love both.


What do you guys think about that hate, is it justified? Are we not past the”you gotta have a Fender to be in the band” stuff or what

Screw that noise.
It would be nice if people today could choose what they like instead of being "pressured" into what youtube says is cool. Then again, Its always been like that, if you didn't have the cool sneakers/accessories, you were a loser.

I've played in a few bands since 1999 (when I got my 1st Ibanez SR405.) Nobody ever questioned it. The 405 was the one that never got sold, but since 99, I've had the sr405,SR885,SR735?, sr505 and they all played perfectly like an Ibanez SR should. I've heard people say all sorts of different things like that "there is no Ibanez sound", or "that sterile Ibanez sound" or "clackey"(yes, because of 1 bass player from 1 band).. or "boomy bass" and everything in between. Yea, you'll hear many descriptions, as there are sooo many Ibanez players. and yea, a lot of beginners start on the low end (inexpensive) of Ibby basses. So lots of players think beginner bass=Ibanez. But guess what? they make very high quality professional bases as well. (you just don't see a lot of beginner youtube bassists makin vids with those models). And TONS of intermediate models.

AND, the Ibanez of today is waaay better than the great Ibanezs of yesteryear. Tone wise, I would choose any Ibanez SR505 (or higher) over ANY fender Jazz. While I do enjoy classic tones of a pbass, The Ibanez crushes a Fender Jazz Bass.

Playability? heck Ibanez crushes any fender. I LOVE the SR string spacing, but if people enjoy spacing where ya need to know the bus schedule to get from E to A, well Ibanez make SEVERAL other models besides the SR. I bet a lot of the IBBY haters didn't even know that. But, I digress.
YMMV of course..

 

[MtManiac]

So I was watchin some lessons on stuff on YouTube about tone and such, in the comments one guy says the most important lesson to learn is stick with Fender Jazz and P bass and don’t have the urge to be different by getting Ibanez or other.

That you will spend your entire life trying to please the band and get the right tones.


Then someone replied asking if he was talking about the Soundgears, that they don’t understand why anyone likes them.

Then more guys came on hating Ibanez like my SR505 which I love, also love my Jazz bass but what the heck

So I’m thinking of how many bands out there play Ibanez and other basses,there a countless, I’m looking at my SR505 like She is my baby lol, I also have a 4 string vintage modified jazz with dp123s in it, but I just love the Ibanez, well I love both.


What do you guys think about that hate, is it justified? Are we not past the”you gotta have a Fender to be in the band” stuff or what

Meh... people have opinions, and many of those opinions are stupid.

If anything, I find Fender tends to be the one brand people here on TB most commonly feel pretty comfortable attacking. It's all stupid, IMHO. Just play what *you* like, and don't mind what anyone else decides to play. Or how they play. Like, there is room for a lot of different things, it would suck if we were all alike.

 

[el jeffe bass]

Do you have a link to that video, I would like to hear what he said in his own words.

 

[40Hz]

Started playing in 1967. Joined my first real band in 1970. I’ve played, recorded, worked with people on various projects, subbed, and been a member of a variety of on and off ensembles ever since.

In all that time I never once ran into the “hate” thing you’re talking about.

Go figure.