I’ve gone Fenderless

[MrAB4003]

And, as a middle-aged tinkerer, I've heard a lot of doomsayers throughout the years. Guess how many of them were on the mark.

Still, companies come, improve, evolve, prosper, lose and/or gain focus, devolve and decline. It happens all the time. What happens to Fender is anybody's guess...anybody's! Whatever it is, we'll just have to wait and see.

What I hope is that FMIC will get it's head screwed back on straight, seriously reinvest in their quality control and do a cross-the-board Fender/Squier overhaul, just like they did back in 2008. Perhaps, by then, they'll have purged the marketing schmucks who insist Fender needs to be a "lifestyle" (re: losing focus) and re-devote themselves to their core values...making instruments that knock people's socks off. (Of course, people being "people", there will always be their detractors, no matter how good they get...whether due to wanting different things or as a mere knee-jerk reaction. Whatever it is, that's down to the individual consumer.)

I hope you’re right! You have a more optimistic outlook than I do and I have to respect that. But at the same time, who knows what will happen?

 

[Bag of Lazers]

The minute I pulled a ~$200 (including shipping) Harley Benton out of a box that crossed an ocean a couple days prior with absolutely perfect setup and intonation I said, "Oof, Fender might be cooked". Now I'm not saying we should all sell our expensive P basses for cheap versions, but I think it's clear that the current quality gap between Fender and Gibson vs. the smaller names, including their own budget lines, has shrunk. This makes Fender's pricing unjustifiable, especially when they're laying off QC staff. I'm an FSO guy b/c other brands are doing Fender's thing as well or better than Fender for far less money.

 

[MojoPin]

Well for one, calling my post in this thread a "troll post" over in my "my daughter is getting a psych eval" thread was a pretty low blow chief!
At least have the decency to call me a troll in the thread you think I'm trolling!

Well I know when I'm in a "family crisis" I just love trolling other threads before oversharing about my life and creating another thread. For the record I didn't know that thread was yours until after I posted and couldn't delete it. Couldn't even edit the post, you are ignored now so I suggest you do the same to me.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...today I sold my last Fender. Finally, and it gives me much joy and satisfaction to declare that I have gone Fenderless.

Mazelations & Congratultov!

 

[ElectricBass72]

I have 3 Fenders.... all Mexican.

 

[Geri O]

I don’t have any Fenders, but I have an FSO and a Stingray.

Fenderless? Yeah….

Leo Fender-less? Don’t know, don’t care. I have songs to learn for next week.

Someone else can pontificate on that one.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Well I know when I'm in a "family crisis" I just love trolling other threads before oversharing about my life and creating another thread. For the record I didn't know that thread was yours until after I posted and couldn't delete it. Couldn't even edit the post, you are ignored now so I suggest you do the same to me.

So this guy mucks up a crisis thread continues to throw shade and ignores me out of denial? SMH. Hide your head in the sand, or grow up. This is not how you deal with other humans

 

[Queue]

Reverends are cool, as they aren't trying to be so Fender-ish.

I felt confident ordering a MIJ Junior Jazz from Tokyo for around a grand. They're so rare here in the US that I figured I could turn it over easily if it was a dud.

It has been my #1 since it arrived, and cured my GAS.

 

[logdrum]

The best Fenders in recent history are the 2008-2014 American Standard IMO But somebody up top said their was not good. and Fullerton's. AM Performer IIs as well.

All my Fenders are used. They all play fine. I do not nit pick over finish and cosmetic flows. Considering how dry it is here, they all need some fret jobs anyway

 

[Parzival]

It’s cool to hate on the biggest brands.

Damn Yankees syndrome.

 

[VicDiesel]

Went to a gig a few months ago and it seemed all the bands had a bassist playing a Fender. I was definitely jealous.

I saw the same thing and drew the opposite conclusion. Just to be contrary. Some people get a good sound out of a Fender. Great. I'm happy with the sound I get out of non-Fenders.

 

[Derek Kay]

The secret is you gotta take the goods parts from various Fenders and Frankenstein 'em together

Absolutely true for me too.

I've owned Pbasses, Jbasses, etc. Now my only basses are custom or parts basses.

The only Fendery thing I have is a Precision split PU (reversed).
Oh and a couple of shoulder straps.

 

[PFBASSO]

I guess I'm not technically Fenderless either then. I have a one-off unicorn FSO, and a pre-EB Music Man Sabre, with a Joe Dart coming in November or December..... but I don't have anything that's Fender-badged.

I’m kind of put off that music man wouldn’t allow my dealer to get me the Joe dart. I’ve been buying basses at this shop for a decade. Taking profit margins away from dealers is kind of scummy I’d never order another bass from them again if I were the owner.

 

[Jugghaid]

I'll take my G&L's over Fenders all day, every day.

 

[PFBASSO]

I'll take my G&L's over Fenders all day, every day.

are you fender less also?

 

[Jugghaid]

are you fender less also?

Yup. I have a Squier strat for an office guitar, but no fenders. Conversely, I have 5 G&L's still. I also have a few FSO like Sadowsky and Wilkins.

 

[PFBASSO]

I like the g&l line. Seems no bullsh*t

 

[tIANcI]

I like the g&l line. Seems no bullsh*t

Just got the Tribute L2000 like a month or two ago … it’s very nice! No regrets at all. Superb value for money. Am loving it.

 

[SteveLo42]

Absolutely true for me too.

I've owned Pbasses, Jbasses, etc. Now my only basses are custom or parts basses.

The only Fendery thing I have is a Precision split PU (reversed).
Oh and a couple of shoulder straps.

That reminds me, I have a Fender cap!

 

[USAJO]

I don’t flip bases like pancakes but I’ve never had a Fender that was bad. I had one that was too heavy for me but it played great and sounded great.

Why is it important to you to announce you don’t own a Fender?

I’m never buying a pizza from Pizza Hut again. Should I start my own thread?