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I think Fender is seriously crazy!

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you played an MIA Fender??? - I ask, because IMO(and others), Fender is putting out some of the best instruments they ever have - and have really upped their game since '08... Even if you have no intention of buying, check one out if you can - I'm sincerely interested in what you have to say about it... I'm kinda wondering if your opinions were formed during some of Fender's "not so great" years...


- georgestrings

Let's see. I owned 2 -73's a 74' a 78' and a 2000'. My last was a really nice 08'...best P of the bunch except for one of the 73's which I kick myself for trading. All of these P basses were great basses BTW.

I sold the 08' P to help fund my boat in the late summer and also my Squiers got all the stage time. It was the blizzard pearl one..awesome bass.

It was built better than most P basses I have played for any period and the neck was like a rock..never needed adjusted.

I agree the 08' and newer Fenders really are sweet but so are the RW and classic MIMs. There some difference in the necks but overall to me the MIM classics are as good for the money.

I have to see a big difference is a bass especially if its a model made by the same company. I'm a Fender guy and tried quite a few different basses till I found my sound and it's Fender. Plus I love their history and to me Fender's sound is all I need.

Do I need it in a CS? No. In fact two of the dullest basses were CS P basses I lusted after a few years ago in a local shop. My Squiers sang better than those dogs.

I'm simply looking for the sound and if its on a good Fender platform so be it and I will buy and play it.

Today my only bass as you know is a late 80's MIK Squier. I rewired it CTS pots, Orange drop, switchcraft jack. I shielded it, put Duncan Antiquity P pups and a MIA, RI Threaded saddle bridge. I reworked the neck and added a little to the chips and scatches...My roadworn :D

Would I buy another 08' if the time and price were right...yes probably would.

My bass now ain't a looker for sure but does it make me miss that great 08' MIA? ..No way.
 
Part of the Joy of being a Creative Person is passing along the "Tales of Old".....How life used to be~Parts 2 & 3. :)

One of the Fun Tales for me is how one YEAR was better than another and if you find a bass from that particular year, it's got a better chance of being a keeper than that made in some other year.

That's quite similar to walking through a forest and picking out trees that were planted in 1957 instead of 1958 and somehow coming to the conclusion that one tree was better than another.

Everything comes down to a couple of simple factors.

Suitable Wood is getting harder and harder to find...

Technology is better than it's ever been...

Humans have less and less to do with the building process of ANY big manufacturer.....no matter WHAT the product.

The last person in the Decision-making line decides which basses go out the door and which corners to cut to make a bass......If he/she is looking to score points and get a raise, more junk gets out the door. THAT is the American Way. :)

Illusion and dreams are what make consumers buy product. Next come Logos. Next come what Basses Your Heroes play.

I Love Leo.....have since 1951.......Didn't play but was a Good Man and a Wonderful Innovator. He CARED about his customers...and slowly developed products AS NEEDED....not to be able to have 35 NEW things at the next NAMM Show to keep you from buying someone else's 35 NEW Things.

I like SOME Fender basses....and MANY Music Man Basses and Some G&L Basses. Should that have ANY bearing on what YOU like? Nope...None at all.

Pricing: This one is a beauty....and it's VERY easily Explained.

The President of a VERY well known company (not Fender) was in a sales meeting and when asked about ever-increasing prices of their product, said.....

"We'll continue to raise the prices until they (you) stop buying them. Then we'll lower them just a bit". Think about that for awhile. :)

Tone. Sound. (And the funniest thing since the Adventures of Wally & the Beaver: "How does it sit in the mix?"~~the New 'Sweeeeeeeeeet' ")

These discussions are, IMHO hysterical...Why? So many talk about buying a certain bass cuz they loved it!, changing many of the parts, adding this, taking away that....and then discovering that you no longer LOVE the bass. What Happened??!! With all due respect, DUH! :)

And last but not least......You pay hundreds or THOUSANDS of dollars for a Nice bass; Tons of Dough for a Killer amp....and $27 each for a dozen foot pedals to make your substantial investment sound like a Turd in a Fishtank. We ARE an odd Species.

Follow the Money and You'll Find the Greed......but keep your Dreams Alive.....cuz there ARE some GREAT folks building Fabulous basses....including Fender. <3

And there are some Fabulous Players USING them....as seen here. :)
 

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Let's see. I owned 2 -73's a 74' a 78' and a 2000'. My last was a really nice 08'...best P of the bunch except for one of the 73's which I kick myself for trading. All of these P basses were great basses BTW.

I sold the 08' P to help fund my boat in the late summer and also my Squiers got all the stage time. It was the blizzard pearl one..awesome bass.

It was built better than most P basses I have played for any period and the neck was like a rock..never needed adjusted.

I agree the 08' and newer Fenders really are sweet but so are the RW and classic MIMs. There some difference in the necks but overall to me the MIM classics are as good for the money.

I have to see a big difference is a bass especially if its a model made by the same company. I'm a Fender guy and tried quite a few different basses till I found my sound and it's Fender. Plus I love their history and to me Fender's sound is all I need.

Do I need it in a CS? No. In fact two of the dullest basses were CS P basses I lusted after a few years ago in a local shop. My Squiers sang better than those dogs.

I'm simply looking for the sound and if its on a good Fender platform so be it and I will buy and play it.

Today my only bass as you know is a late 80's MIK Squier. I rewired it CTS pots, Orange drop, switchcraft jack. I shielded it, put Duncan Antiquity P pups and a MIA, RI Threaded saddle bridge. I reworked the neck and added a little to the chips and scatches...My roadworn :D

Would I buy another 08' if the time and price were right...yes probably would.

My bass now ain't a looker for sure but does it make me miss that great 08' MIA? ..No way.

OK, fair enough - to each their own...


- georgestrings
 
Part of the Joy of being a Creative Person is passing along the "Tales of Old".....How life used to be~Parts 2 & 3. :)

One of the Fun Tales for me is how one YEAR was better than another and if you find a bass from that particular year, it's got a better chance of being a keeper than that made in some other year.

That's quite similar to walking through a forest and picking out trees that were planted in 1957 instead of 1958 and somehow coming to the conclusion that one tree was better than another.

Everything comes down to a couple of simple factors.

Suitable Wood is getting harder and harder to find...

Technology is better than it's ever been...

Humans have less and less to do with the building process of ANY big manufacturer.....no matter WHAT the product.

The last person in the Decision-making line decides which basses go out the door and which corners to cut to make a bass......If he/she is looking to score points and get a raise, more junk gets out the door. THAT is the American Way. :)

Illusion and dreams are what make consumers buy product. Next come Logos. Next come what Basses Your Heroes play.

I Love Leo.....have since 1951.......Didn't play but was a Good Man and a Wonderful Innovator. He CARED about his customers...and slowly developed products AS NEEDED....not to be able to have 35 NEW things at the next NAMM Show to keep you from buying someone else's 35 NEW Things.

I like SOME Fender basses....and MANY Music Man Basses and Some G&L Basses. Should that have ANY bearing on what YOU like? Nope...None at all.

Pricing: This one is a beauty....and it's VERY easily Explained.

The President of a VERY well known company (not Fender) was in a sales meeting and when asked about ever-increasing prices of their product, said.....

"We'll continue to raise the prices until they (you) stop buying them. Then we'll lower them just a bit". Think about that for awhile. :)

Tone. Sound. (And the funniest thing since the Adventures of Wally & the Beaver: "How does it sit in the mix?"~~the New 'Sweeeeeeeeeet' ")

These discussions are, IMHO hysterical...Why? So many talk about buying a certain bass cuz they loved it!, changing many of the parts, adding this, taking away that....and then discovering that you no longer LOVE the bass. What Happened??!! With all due respect, DUH! :)

And last but not least......You pay hundreds or THOUSANDS of dollars for a Nice bass; Tons of Dough for a Killer amp....and $27 each for a dozen foot pedals to make your substantial investment sound like a Turd in a Fishtank. We ARE an odd Species.

Follow the Money and You'll Find the Greed......but keep your Dreams Alive.....cuz there ARE some GREAT folks building Fabulous basses....including Fender. <3

And there are some Fabulous Players USING them....as seen here. :)

Nicely said, my friend.
 
And last but not least......You pay hundreds or THOUSANDS of dollars for a Nice bass; Tons of Dough for a Killer amp....and $27 each for a dozen foot pedals to make your substantial investment sound like a Turd in a Fishtank. We ARE an odd Species.

There are plenty of us who don't use pedals, and also plenty who use some fairly high dollar pedals - just sayin'...


- georgestrings
 
There are plenty of us who don't use pedals, and also plenty who use some fairly high dollar pedals - just sayin'...


- georgestrings

George......Trying to communicate "in Writing" is always difficult and I never lump EVERYONE together.....except for those playing in "Death Metal Polka Bands".....I don't particularly care for ANY of them. :)

My threads and comments are almost exclusively meant for the Young and/or Inexperienced; those easily influenced by what they read.

But I'm always honest and never trying to say that MY way is the only way. Having said that.....I see LOTS of bass players playing lots of notes....fingers and feet FLYING.....and you can't tell what they're playing..... at all.

When it comes to bass effects....my theory is and always has been.."Less is More".


Others are entitled to Personal Freedom of Choice......also believing that the $2 cable they're using between all their effects is "Just Fine". :) I'll be following along close behind them.......politely suggesting that they're wrong. :)
 
George......Trying to communicate "in Writing" is always difficult and I never lump EVERYONE together.....except for those playing in "Death Metal Polka Bands".....I don't particularly care for ANY of them. :)

My threads and comments are almost exclusively meant for the Young and/or Inexperienced; those easily influenced by what they read.

But I'm always honest and never trying to say that MY way is the only way. Having said that.....I see LOTS of bass players playing lots of notes....fingers and feet FLYING.....and you can't tell what they're playing..... at all.

When it comes to bass effects....my theory is and always has been.."Less is More".


Others are entitled to Personal Freedom of Choice......also believing that the $2 cable they're using between all their effects is "Just Fine". :) I'll be following along close behind them.......politely suggesting that they're wrong. :)

No prob - and agreed 100% with you on effects, as I like to hear every note I play......


- georgestrings
 
OK, fair enough - to each their own...


- georgestrings

Yes George to each their own. I'm a Fender fan boy for sure and have tried quite a few. I'm taking a new perspective on basses that if the build and sound is good... then it is.

Price is not a factor but I'm learning I really do not need more than I want :p I play classic rock ,oldies and country.

Anything with more than 4 strings is a puzzle to me (did play 5ers in the past) I play simple music , lock with kick, stay out of the way and love my flats.

But the mind is a funny thing and you never know what direction it can go...mine goes crazy now and then. I just said a couple months ago I was thru playing ..keeping my guitars selling my basses no more bands.

One phone call has me semi interested again in playing and who knows maybe a new MIM or MIA will fllow me back :D
 
I use effects when I get tired of sounding just like i did yesterday. But like anything else, you've got to use them right. I use my wah pedal all the time when I'm by myself, but I don't think I've ever used it when playing with other people.
 
I know I have another thread but if you build a $3K custom bass, just be aware it is ONLY worth $3K to you- if for whatever reason you have to re-sell- expect 50-60% at best.

LOL mate .. you do realize that people that invest in 3k custom basses either are making money playing bass or just wealthy.

For those making money playing music it is an investment. For the latter group .. well, whether they spend 3k on a bass, visiting fancy restaurants, bling or just blow and hookers is actually none of your business :)
 
LOL mate .. you do realize that people that invest in 3k custom basses either are making money playing bass or just wealthy.

For those making money playing music it is an investment. For the latter group .. well, whether they spend 3k on a bass, visiting fancy restaurants, bling or just blow and hookers is actually none of your business :)
Nice but not necessarily true- I've known plenty of people even young kids scrounge and save up all their money to buy over-priced stuff. Hell, I saved and bought a used Rickenbacker 4001 for $799 back when I was 17- got ripped off hard too, because that bass had bad tuners, and all kinds of issues. Still hate Ricks to this day (though it is not their fault), just another shady, rip-ff used music store in GA- used to be called Dirt Cheep Music- not even sure if it exists now.