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I have never wanted a P or J bass

#61
Didn't like them growing up as somehow it reminded me of my parents kind of instruments. Back then, you wanted something newer, more advanced and hip. Growing up in the Eighties, it meant opting for Ibanez, Steinbergers, something with FOUR knobs and two Humbucker type pickups to keep up with the guitarists in the band.
With the feeble Roland Cube 60 amp I had, it meant having a pre-amp on my bass to boost up the power was my way of keeping up.
NOW... with maturity comes wisdom and what may have been old, is still around for a reason. It is the quintessential bass and why change something that works just right? So basically, yes, I now appreciate and understand why Fender bass guitars are so popular- because they do define the "Bass Guitar" in it's simplest, most effective design. The fancy basses in the Eighties just didn't stand up to the test of time.
 
#63
Kenzy said:
What a coincidence! I had time to kill and I was passing by Guitar Center, so I decided I'd drop by and see what basses they had out. A guy was eyeing a MiM Fender Jazz 5 that had been smashed into a wall twice, as evident from breaks in the finish. They were selling it for $300 as well... it was a fine guitar. I helped the guy to settle on it.
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Thanks man for helping me out with the bass, sorry about the awkward hand shake, I am kind of a big geek. Small world huh?
 
#64
coyote1 said:
I know they are good instruments. Yet somehow, while I looove playing Stratocasters and own two, I've never had a desire to own a Fender bass.

It has just always seemed to me that a bass ought not be a Fender.... or a Gibson for that matter. Can't explain that conceptualization, but there it is anyway.
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You're nuts! lol!

Fender basses are a cornerstone of modern music! From Led Zepellin to Joni Mitchell...They are on more hit albums than all the other brands combined!

You're missing out in a HUGE way and for no logical reason that I have deduced from your comments. ;)

Just sayin.
 
#66
Maxdusty said:
Didn't like them growing up as somehow it reminded me of my parents kind of instruments. Back then, you wanted something newer, more advanced and hip. Growing up in the Eighties, it meant opting for Ibanez, Steinbergers, something with FOUR knobs and two Humbucker type pickups to keep up with the guitarists in the band.
With the feeble Roland Cube 60 amp I had, it meant having a pre-amp on my bass to boost up the power was my way of keeping up.
NOW... with maturity comes wisdom and what may have been old, is still around for a reason. It is the quintessential bass and why change something that works just right? So basically, yes, I now appreciate and understand why Fender bass guitars are so popular- because they do define the "Bass Guitar" in it's simplest, most effective design. The fancy basses in the Eighties just didn't stand up to the test of time.
Click to expand...

Kind of a false dichotomy you're setting up there.
 
#70
I have two Fenders (Am Dlx Jazz V and P5) and two Nordstrands, one of which is a Nordy P/J, so very Fender-derived. All 4 of them sound fine in pretty much any context. The Fenders sound like Fenders (which is good). They play pretty well, and have decent B strings (unlike most Fenders). But the Nordstrands are in a different world for me, in terms of comfort, evenness, and cutting/sitting in the mix.

I grew up playing with bassists (I played violin and guitar) who had crappy late 70's Fenders (it was the late 70's), and I really didn't like the sound of most of them (and I HATED the way they played). My first real bass was a "low-end" repaired Alembic, and that set the tone for my basses over the next 20 years or so. I eventually came to realize that there is a special something to the Fender sound, and that I liked it. But to me most of them still feel a bit crude, like a 2x4 with wires nailed to it (not that that's a bad thing :D).
 
#71
You can work on trying to be different by playing a non fender style bass.
I've played a lot of good basses of other brands and designs but in the long run, if you're openminded about it, the fender P- or J- sound is a cornerstone in electric bass history, and if you're a proffessional bass player it's probably just a matter of time before you'll come around and see the light :)
 
#72
drTSTingray said:
Disgraceful thread.....................

But having said that has anyone ever found a Fender P or J that balances well on a strap - they always seem dreadfully neck heavy to me - perhaps a fault of the original design, but then again the basic design was conceived over 60s years ago. Many subsequent designs have improved on this.
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dude, what? every fender I've ever played has balanced just fine. the strap button is at the 12th fret which is like the rule of thumb.
 
#74
coyote1 said:
I have never wanted a P or J bass. I know they are good instruments. Yet somehow, while I looove playing Stratocasters and own two, I've never had a desire to own a Fender bass.

It has just always seemed to me that a bass ought not be a Fender.... or a Gibson for that matter. Can't explain that conceptualization, but there it is anyway.
Click to expand...


steamthief said:
I have never wanted to eat sushi. I know it's supposed to be very good. Yet somehow, while I looove eating broiled halibut, I've never had a desire to eat sushi.

It has just always seemed to me that fish ought not to be raw....or undercooked for that matter. Can't explain that conceptualization, but there it is anyway.
Click to expand...

I have never wanted to watch scandal. I know it supposed to be very good. Yet somehow I love watching swamp people, I have never had a desire to watch scandal.

It has just seemed to me that sleeping with the president has already been done, and alligators need to be given nicknames before they are caught and shot. Can't explain that conceptualizaton, but there it is anyway.

(Let's keep this thread going) ...... everybody is different and its ok. People should celebrate their differences as long as the difference doesn't infringe on anybody. So let's have some fun with this instead of justifying our point of view or you can do that too. I can see this thread getting pretty funny if you guys are game. Here are a few off the wall opening lines somebody can run with. I have never wanted a man or a woman..... I have never wanted to get a job...... I'll subscribe and let's see what happens.
 
#77
BLASPHEMY!!! Haha
OK, I must admit I do not own a Fender bass. Use to but life goes on.
Recently tried a P and a J Bass and hey, I'm spoiled with my 2 Tobias basses.
What I don't like is custom builders building Fender clone basses.
What gives, build a different style body at least.
Thank God for the wonderful variety of basses available.
 
#79
In another thread you say "Meanwhile, over the past few months I'd played a plethora of different basses. From Schecters to Warriors to everything else. And I'm finding that virtually all of 'em have some glaring weakness or problem that pushes me away."

Maybe it's time you try a fender?
 
#80
I have never wanted a Spector, Warwick, Alembic, Ibanez, Yamaha, SX, Gibson, Carlo Robelli, Rickenbacker or any boutique bass...................., a Kia, Hyundai, Corvette, Rolls Royce, Lear Jet, a motorcycle or a house near the ocean and many other things. So, what?

(But me likey Fender Basses!!!!!) (and any other bass Leo Fender touched)
 

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