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Is Fender overrated?

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Fender is a great bass just not for me. I prefer MM. Just try out as many as you can and find but what feels and sounds best for YOU. And I suggest to purchase used. You can save a lot of money and if it turns out to be not for you- you can sell it without a loss and try something else. For most of us... Finding the gear best is almost a never ending quest! Good luck!
 
Fenders, like most basses, are what they are. I have played many basses and it all boils down to how you like a particluar instrument. You can pay lots of money for a name and discover that you don't like it. As well, you can find a bass for lots less money that just speaks to you.

Play as many as you can. Find the one.
 
The models are based on original Fender designs and the specs are exact, for the most part. That is why a MIM Fender neck will fit on a Squier Affinity. Not sure if MIA necks are interchangeable.
They are Fender's brand, and for all intents and purposes, are Fender.
It even says so on the headstock! :D
Unless the OP was dissatisfied with his Squier J, I see no need to change it if he wanted to stick with the same design.

S

Yeah, I don't think so...

Squier doesn't = Fender, just like:

OLP or Sterling by Music Man doesn't = EBMM, or...

Epiphone doesn't = Gibson


You can say it all you want, but that doesn't make it any more true... Different companies, different factories, different countries of origin, etc... That doesn't make any of the above bad instruments, but it is what it is...


- georgestrings
 
Whatever bass you feel like you need to have to make you happy, go for it. Is a USA Fender cool? Yes. So are a lot of other basses. You need to determine what it is that YOU need out of a bass, not what others do. You play punk? A Fender, MusicMan, Ric, or Gibson will get the job done. So will a Schecter, Epiphone, Ibanez or Jackson. You want something that will adapt and fit all types of music, because things change. For me, that is a Fender Precision bass.
 
It's only almost 6 hours and this thread is 6 pages long. Wow.
I read 4 posts and immediately jumped to the end.
I say TROLL! OMG how much more obvious is a thread title be:
Are Fenders overrated?
Then the OP spells Squier as SQUIRE, and he supposedly owns a Squgher?
Have fun, guys. Oh, I'll tell ya right now, any Squier Affinity blows any American Standard out of the water.
 
It's only almost 6 hours and this thread is 6 pages long. Wow.
I read 4 posts and immediately jumped to the end.
I say TROLL! OMG how much more obvious is a thread title be:
Are Fenders overrated?
Then the OP spells Squier as SQUIRE, and he supposedly owns a Squgher?
Have fun, guys. Oh, I'll tell ya right now, any Squier Affinity blows any American Standard out of the water.

Troll thread or not, mellowinman's awesome pics make it soooooo worth it.
 
Aside from the different price levels of the various Fenders, there is varying quality within each level. So the answer is yes and no, depending on the specific bass and the price you get it for. I recently picked up an American Deluxe Jazz, and it's one of the nicest playing basses I've ever owned.
 
It should be noted that ANY Squier is light years away from a US Fender in many regards, regardless of how well one might play or sound. Pick up a nice, well set up example of an American Standard or American Vintage, and you will know immediately why people like them. Coming from a Squier, it may just be the most natural step to take.
 
I actually made a pretty good simile the other day about fenders.

A fender is like a 57 Bel Air. Both are undeniable classics, have a cult following, have undeniable influence over subsequent models, and generally are a total piece of americana.

However, I feel there are much better models for everyday use now
 
It should be noted that ANY Squier is light years away from a US Fender in many regards, regardless of how well one might play or sound. Pick up a nice, well set up example of an American Standard or American Vintage, and you will know immediately why people like them. Coming from a Squier, it may just be the most natural step to take.

"how well one might play or sound" are the most important
things regardless period. Who makes it is not important.

Light years away? Sorry this is just not true.

Pick up a nice, well set up anything and
some people will like it and some won't.
 
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