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Is Fender overrated?
- Thread starter punkbass45
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The best Jazz bass I have ever played is my Lakland Skyline. The best P bass I have ever played is my Fender P Bass Elite. Make of that what you will.
Also, for the same price as both of these, I managed to get an Alembic Persuader which is by far the best bass I have ever played (except maybe a Fodera).
Also, for the same price as both of these, I managed to get an Alembic Persuader which is by far the best bass I have ever played (except maybe a Fodera).
I like my Fenders....the MIA items have always been worth the money for me.
I'm not convinced on MIM though...my BariTele has issues to correct...well documented intonation problem and a small cosmetic flaw. The first one I had all the hardware was mounted crooked. At the same time my MIM Jazzmaster is really nice, so MIM may depend on the individual item and builder.
My Squiers have been dollar for dollar the best buys overall. Always have my CV Jazz handy but it is a bit weak when compared to my MIA Jazz.
Buy what you desire...you have to live with it.
I'm not convinced on MIM though...my BariTele has issues to correct...well documented intonation problem and a small cosmetic flaw. The first one I had all the hardware was mounted crooked. At the same time my MIM Jazzmaster is really nice, so MIM may depend on the individual item and builder.
My Squiers have been dollar for dollar the best buys overall. Always have my CV Jazz handy but it is a bit weak when compared to my MIA Jazz.
Buy what you desire...you have to live with it.
I don't play Fenders for a few reasons....
1. The string spacing is way too wide for me and hurts my hands. It's not that my hands are small. It's that I play 5'ers and do lots of chordal and tap style.
2. Too few options on 24 fretters. I use those extra few notes in a few originals and want the option to do so. Also, for other upper register frets the added cutaway is nice.
3. Every one that I've ever played has sounded bland to me. I prefer two humbuckers and active electronics.
4. No real Neck thru options. It's a preference for feel and access up high.
What do I look at and try? Anything that fits those preference critieria. What do I own? An ESP ltd. 5'er with EMG pups and electronics and a Dean 5'er Acoustic Electric. Oh, and a Squier Affinity P4 that was given to me that never gets any play at all.
1. The string spacing is way too wide for me and hurts my hands. It's not that my hands are small. It's that I play 5'ers and do lots of chordal and tap style.
2. Too few options on 24 fretters. I use those extra few notes in a few originals and want the option to do so. Also, for other upper register frets the added cutaway is nice.
3. Every one that I've ever played has sounded bland to me. I prefer two humbuckers and active electronics.
4. No real Neck thru options. It's a preference for feel and access up high.
What do I look at and try? Anything that fits those preference critieria. What do I own? An ESP ltd. 5'er with EMG pups and electronics and a Dean 5'er Acoustic Electric. Oh, and a Squier Affinity P4 that was given to me that never gets any play at all.
Sounds like an SLO Special would be right up your alley - 'Ray sound, Jazz-like neck...
- georgestrings
another prime example from personal experience..
I love the nice round solid thump from a p bass...howeve P Bass necks are NOT comfortable to me at all...
Jazz necks feel so much better...
so I decided the best of both worlds would be good...but i couldn't find a Fender/Squier under 1,000.00 that i liked the feel of....played one of these...Bam! Sold!
much more comfortable than and Fender i tried
same basic design...Just FEELS better to my hands
I love the nice round solid thump from a p bass...howeve P Bass necks are NOT comfortable to me at all...
Jazz necks feel so much better...
so I decided the best of both worlds would be good...but i couldn't find a Fender/Squier under 1,000.00 that i liked the feel of....played one of these...Bam! Sold!
much more comfortable than and Fender i tried
same basic design...Just FEELS better to my hands
as soon as i can find one in stock someplace that i can try...i will be all over it!
MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Don't buy ANYTHING simply for the brand name.
If you honestly don't like a single thing about the Squier, go play as many different models and manufacturers as possible to find out what you like; there are so many variables that go into the design of a bass that you really owe it to yourself to find out what your ears and hands prefer.
If you honestly don't like a single thing about the Squier, go play as many different models and manufacturers as possible to find out what you like; there are so many variables that go into the design of a bass that you really owe it to yourself to find out what your ears and hands prefer.
No, it's a "Fender type" bass, much like an SX is... that's not to say that it isn't a good instrument, but calling it a Fender is not correct...
- georgestrings
They're not that common - you might want to try a Sterling - same neck, slightly different sound than a 'Ray - but still has that Music Man sound... For the money, the "by Sterling" basses are pretty good, IMO...
- georgestrings
Fenders are neither overrated nor overpriced. All the other brands exist because not everyone likes Fenders at all and not everyone likes Fenders exclusively. If you don't want a Fender then there is no shame in that whatsoever. If you don't feel any pride in your Squier there is no shame in that whatsoever either. There are many proud Squier owners here who defend them to the death and well they should because they are fine basses. But there are also many Squier owners here who are so "proud" of them that they sand off the Squier decals and replace them with Fender decals....
I own Fenders exclusively at the moment, as it happens. I can generally find a Fender that suits my needs and they are a lot easier to find locally than most other brands. But other brands that I have tried and like include Ibanez, Schecter, Godin, ESP/LTD and MTD/Kingston, in no particular order. I can say I like the looks of Eastwood basses but I have never seen one to try in a store. I'm not sure how my opinion helps you though!
Ken
I own Fenders exclusively at the moment, as it happens. I can generally find a Fender that suits my needs and they are a lot easier to find locally than most other brands. But other brands that I have tried and like include Ibanez, Schecter, Godin, ESP/LTD and MTD/Kingston, in no particular order. I can say I like the looks of Eastwood basses but I have never seen one to try in a store. I'm not sure how my opinion helps you though!
Ken
FWIW. I love my Fender basses. Bought 'em cause they were what everyone (seemingly) played.
10 years later and I still love my MIA P-Basses.
Have both a Bongo and a pre-EB Stingray on loan to play through my gear.
I am trying to figure out why people like these things. I for one can't seem to find a sweet spot with either.
YMMV
10 years later and I still love my MIA P-Basses.
Have both a Bongo and a pre-EB Stingray on loan to play through my gear.
I am trying to figure out why people like these things. I for one can't seem to find a sweet spot with either.
YMMV
I don't think fender is over rated but its all going to fall back on everyone's personal opinion. When I buy fender I know I'm going to get a solid bullet proof instrument that will sound good. They did invent the electric bass guitar after all. Buy what you think sounds good and plays well.
I've owned both. The Schecter was a Studio 5 and the Fenders were a Mexican Jazz 5 and a Mexican fret less Jazz 4. The Schecter was a great bass but it is active and the EMG pups made it a little bright for my taste; both my Fenders were passive. Also, the Schecter neck was chunky compared to the Fenders. Finally, it was a 35" scale and the Fenders are 34". None of these things may matter to you. But I think, for me, it comes down to liking the Jazz bass tone over any other tone I've heard. I still own the fretless and have no plans to ever sell or trade it. As for the Jazz 5, I even tried to buy it back from the guy I sold it to.
lol um NO...
musician and inventor Paul Tutmarc from Seattle, Washington, developed the first electric string bass in its modern form, a fretted instrument designed to be held and played horizontally. in the 1930's
Leo Fender, with the help of his employee George Fullerton, developed the first mass-produced electric bass. His Fender Precision Bass, introduced in 1951, became a widely copied industry standard.
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