I think Fender is seriously crazy!

[peledog]

Yet you read all 11 pages.

Not really. The thread title has 'Fender' and 'crazy' in it. I looked at the page count and decided to call it 'crud'. Am I wrong? No need to answer.

 

[Mola Ram]

It wasn't obvious at all. In fact, what you're saying is absurd.

I don't know what leads you to believe that people with strong views would be crippled by the notion of creating music. Logically, one would assume that an opinionated, aggressive person would be exactly the type of person to do this kind of thing. People who make heated arguments for either side of a point aren't necessarily concerned with what other people think. They're expressing their viewpoint, which by definition is the opposite of "insecure". They feel secure enough in what they think to put their thoughts in print for all to see. Insecure people don't do this. They usually say nothing.

This is a public forum. The entire point of this site, and all others like it, is to encourage discussion. It's an intellectual excercise going back thousands of years in human history. You partake in a public debate, and the reader decides who has the stronger position. Hell, I've been involved in heated discussions on TB where I came in with one viewpoint and left with the opposite. This because I felt the person(s) making the opposite point had a stronger argument.

If what I saw in this thread was "discussion" I wouldn't have said anything. But perhaps you have a different definition of the term.

When the argument dissolves into people stating their opinions are "facts" and that one guy is a sucker because they bought an expensive bass and the other is just cheap for buying an inexpensive bass then I don't really feel like there is discourse. It's just guys trying to validate their own purchases.

Just put a bass on, whether it be $200 or $2,500, and play some music.

 

[BurningSkies]

I've played arena shows with a bass that cost $100 and a bass that cost $1500. I clearly win.

I bought a bass for 700 bucks a number of years ago that I later sold for 2500 bucks. I didn't even know I was a high end gear snob when I used it. Or how about the fact that its now "vintage" making me a vintage snob even though at the time it wasn't very vintage.

Also I've had one person in the Amps section give me crap for being a 'boutique' cabinet user, when I cobbled together my cabinets in my attic; one for under 700 bucks and one for under 400 bucks. I power it with my hoity toity Peavey amp.

WGARA.

 

[tgriley62]

The only person that I care about what bass they play and if its cheap or expensive is me, because I'm the one who had to pay the dollars and I'm the one who has to stand on stage with it.

Well, And Jimmy, I care about his basses too.

You know, if Fender charges too much for a bass or a guitar, I'm sure that the general public will let Fender know by not buying it.

+1. Most of you guy's & gal's on here could play circles around me with a SX or any other "cheap" bass no matter if I had I $10,000 bass. I use a 89' Peavey Foundation because it is a good USA made bass & it was in my price range

 

[BurningSkies]

+1. Most of you guy's & gal's on here could play circles around me with a SX or any other "cheap" bass no matter if I had I $10,000 bass. I use a 89' Peavey Foundation because it is a good USA made bass & it was in my price range

I also bought a PRS bass. It was a $2200 bass, but I only paid 900 for it (still new). So I'm pretty sure that it's not a snobby thing to have either, besides, all those guitarist have PRS instruments and no one bats an eye.

 

[smcd]

Not really. The thread title has 'Fender' and 'crazy' in it. I looked at the page count and decided to call it 'crud'. Am I wrong? No need to answer.

You already know the answer.

 

[Pilgrim]

What I think is crazy about Fender is now costs $4000 and takes a "Masterbuilder" to replicate what was originally put together by unskilled Mexican girls in the 1950's.

That's crazy!

The fact is that it does NOT require this to replicate those mass-produced basses. Some of them were good, some not so good - just like today's Fender models. The 70's Fenders are well known to be good & bad, and it's constantly commented upon here that there is variation.

I have never been convinced that it's worth spending the money for the higher-end Fenders when the MIMs are good, solid instruments that can easily have pickups or hardware swapped.

The key is to get a good one, then work with it.

 

[peledog]

You already know the answer.

Crud

 

[georgestrings]

Don't feed the trolls. It's the old TalkBass standard of thinking you are better, having played in your mom's basment for years, than someone who has sold millions of records.

Yeah, I know - for example, bassbully isn't being very forthcoming: a look at a couple of threads he started reveal that playing music just isn't very important to him:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/fading-away-1012921/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/old-band-reforming-need-help-1037932/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/if-you-ever-sold-gear-tb-i-need-advice-1013051/


Just sayin'...


- georgestrings

 

[peledog]

Or give them low-fat posts.

 

[Dredmahawkus]

The fact is that it does NOT require this to replicate those mass-produced basses. Some of them were good, some not so good - just like today's Fender models. The 70's Fenders are well known to be good & bad, and it's constantly commented upon here that there is variation.

I have never been convinced that it's worth spending the money for the higher-end Fenders when the MIMs are good, solid instruments that can easily have pickups or hardware swapped.

The key is to get a good one, then work with it.

I dont agree with this....the higher end Fenders Feel much better then anything you can do to a MIM. I changed everything but the body on mine....sounded great with Fralins and a bubinga neck and a badass bridge...It might feel as good as MIA the next step up after putting 1400 total (including the cost new) but the fit finish and fretwork and sound on the AVRI select and customshop blow away anything you can possibly do to a MIM.

 

[bassbully]

Keep polishing those turds - I'm sure the 10 drunks at the local watering holes you typically play at are impressed by them


- georgestrings

Yea to them bass is bass as bass is to bass with 99.9% of anyone you have played your gold lined axe in front of..truth.

 

[bassbully]

Yeah, I know - for example, bassbully isn't being very forthcoming: a look at a couple of threads he started reveal that playing music just isn't very important to him:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/fading-away-1012921/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/old-band-reforming-need-help-1037932/

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/if-you-ever-sold-gear-tb-i-need-advice-1013051/


Just sayin'...


- georgestrings

What in homer's heck does that have to do with the gear you or I play?
Yup I decided to buy a boat and move on but might be playing again soon....not sure. After 11 years of my crappy scene I'm pretty burned out....what's your point?
I think you are kinda getting to like me? Maybe you might miss me.......hummmmmm?


BTW the drunks from the corner bar you play at said you sounded better when you used to play your cheap Squiers.

 

[One Drop]

Ahh, solidarity amongst bassists, a beautiful thing to see.

 

[HMZ]

What I think is crazy about Fender is now costs $4000 and takes a "Masterbuilder" to replicate what was originally put together by unskilled Mexican girls in the 1950's.

That's crazy!

I never thought about it that way but you are probably right! lol

 

[georgestrings]

What in homer's heck does that have to do with the gear you or I play?
Yup I decided to buy a boat and move on but might be playing again soon....not sure. After 11 years of my crappy scene I'm pretty burned out....what's your point?
I think you are kinda getting to like me? Maybe you might miss me.......hummmmmm?


BTW the drunks from the corner bar you play at said you sounded better when you used to play your cheap Squiers.

It's all about priorities - a person who doesn't care whether they play music or not, will not be willing to spend very much money on musical equipment - therefor, their "good enough" is going to be MUCH lower than that of a working musician, or a pro making good money...

I played Squiers thru Peavey when I wasn't making very much money from playing - and they got the job done just fine - but when I started making more money, I could afford to buy nicer gear. There is no question that the MIA Fenders and EBMMs thru Mesa and Genz-Benz I play these days is MUCH better than what I used to gig with - all the BS and spin in the world will not change that, regardless of how much you fling....

Lastly - sure, I play bars sometimes - but I also play some really nice venues: NYE, I'm playing in the Adirondacks, in a place that'll hold over 500, have 3 more gigs in January in places that hold 1k, 800, and 1k, respectively - besides bar gigs on fridays... My band is booked up past April, and all my gear has been paid for by gigging - playing music is a BIG priority in my life - so I don't mind putting money into it...


- georgestrings

 

[pedroims]

I have a $ 3,500 Bass, another $ 2,000 bass , $1, 000 amp and $ 1,000 cab... I play in my bedroom and church. There 1000's people like me, we spend thousands dollars because we can, does not mean that we care about music, we have other priorities in life, damn, I have spent more money in basses in the last two years than Steve Harris that tours the world with a crappy Fender MIA ( he changed the original bridge and pickups for a reason)

 

[I am Soma]

I have a $ 3,500 Bass, another $ 2,000 bass , $1, 000 amp and $ 1,000 cab... I play in my bedroom and church. There 1000's people like me, we spend thousands dollars because we can, does not mean that we care about music, we have other priorities in life, damn, I have spent more money in basses in the last two years than Steve Harris that tours the world with a crappy Fender MIA ( he changed the original bridge and pickups for a reason)

If you honestly think MIA Fenders are "crappy" you lose all credibility as far as I'm concerned. They might not be your bag but they are by no means a bad bass. Don't let your opinion cloud your reasoning. We all have preferences and that's all they are. :what:

 

[rocmonster]

That's because for the vast majority of the time, it just isn't true - it's more a fantasy born of those who can't/won't spend more money to obtain a higher quality instrument... So, they attempt to convince *themselves* that their cheaper basses are "as good or better" than their more expensive counterparts, with that tired old line of BS...

The truth is, spending more money will nearly always get you a better instrument - although the law of diminishing returns comes into play, as the *gains per dollar* will generally get smaller as you go up the ladder... I say, buy the best instrument you can comfortably afford, then enjoy it - and don't worry about it any more...

Best of luck in your search,

- georgestrings

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

I think what also plays in to the confusion is not how MUCH bass you can buy, but how MANY basses can you buy with your limited funds and then justify their price/quality. One just needs to take a stroll through the Essex (SX) or 'Rickenfakers' threads to see this behavior in action...

BTW, I have nothing against cheap basses, but there is a law of diminishing returns when you buy a $100 SX P-bass and trick it out with 8x that amount in hardware/pups/TI flats, etc. If you need to make upgrades costing multiples more than you paid for the bass new, then your money is better spend upgrading to a better bass.

 

[Batmensch]

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

I think what also plays in to the confusion is not how MUCH bass you can buy, but how MANY basses can you buy with your limited funds and then justify their price/quality. One just needs to take a stroll through the Essex (SX) or 'Rickenfakers' threads to see this behavior in action...

BTW, I have nothing against cheap basses, but there is a law of diminishing returns when you buy a $100 SX P-bass and trick it out with 8x that amount in hardware/pups/TI flats, etc. If you need to make upgrades costing multiples more than you paid for the bass new, then your money is better spend upgrading to a better bass.

And that, IMO, is a huge misconception that cheaper basses absolutely must be modded in order to make them even just usable. In my experience with an SX Ursa 1 and two Squier VMs. they were good to go right out of the box (aside from a string change and maybe a slight tweak to the setup). The only changes I made were strictly cosmetic. On y $110 SX Ursa1 all I did ws replace the white PG with a $10 black one I bought from Rondo. The bass sounded terrific, it played like a dream, and all the hardware worked as well as it should. Sure, it wasn't effect, but any flaws it had were not related to the actual function of the bass, so, IMO, were totally irrelevant.