• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The 3 fender companies... which one?

The 3 fender companies... which one?

  • Fender

    Votes: 200 43.3%

  • Musicman (Ernie Ball)

    Votes: 167 36.1%

  • G&L

    Votes: 95 20.6%
  • Total voters
    462
#63
Fender American Vintage Reissue, Stack knob or P
MM Stingray
G&L
FWIW I don't care much for the new fenders outside the AVs
MM stingrays are built like tanks with excellent fit and finish.
Love the feel of the G&L necks.
I own all of the above 5 Ps ,4 Jazz all fullertons except 2 AV Stackknobs.
MM Stingray 94
93 G&L SB1
Leo knows how to get it right.
 
#64
you could argue about this all day. i'm only saying what you already know. They all kick butt. But how can you compare a jazz bass with a MM. They are just different and suit different sounds.

I'm a big jazz fan but can never see it making that punch you in the face humbucker stingray sound nor can i see a stingray outing that dirty 70's funk better than a jazz.

The only way to solve this problem is you just have to have both.

Who wouldn't?

Fender 75 (4) reissue, Stingray 5. (I have a Jazz 5 but have to agree the stingray wins the 5 war) Yes its on th gas list.

If it aint broke don't fix it. That's why so many reissues, sadowsky vintage, lakland joe's, and so on and so on. Why not just have the real thing and spend all of your spare time on skill practice.:) Boutique will never make up for poor chops.
 
#65
IMO
Fenders are great but it's the 21st century already.
G&L's seem very nice but every time I've played one I felt like I couldn't figure out the knobs, they're too subtle.
I would really love a real Stingray 5 but my OLP Tony Levin will have to do for now. :bassist:
 
#67
Dr. Cheese said:
Music Man is my personal favorite, but I have come to the conclusion that G&L are the best made mass produced basses. They have bi-cut, quatersawn necks, they have fancy tops, than can come with ebony fingerboards, the
L-2000/2500 have incredibly versatile electronics. Their only downside is less than great B strings.

Music Man basses are not as tricked out, but they are flawless, including their B strings. Their only downside is weight.
Click to expand...

I amend this statement because my G&L L-1505 has a great b string.
 
#70
cb56 said:
LeoQuote.gif
Click to expand...

Probably a lot better after the first edit. Original text:

"G&L basses and guitars are almost as nice as my original instruments".

:hiding:
 
#72
rd1oo3 said:
Fender and G&L both have turned to off-shore stuff.
I say buy American,
Click to expand...
G&L's premium line is made in the good old U.S.A.

Like all manufacturers today G&L also offers a lower priced foreign made alternative as does Fender,Lakland,Sadowsky...etc.

G&L's manufacturing equipment in Calf. has been updated in the last couple of years to state of the art and is resulting in noticable improvements in an already good build quality.

If the signature G&L MFD pickups don't do it for someone tone wise, consider the JB-2 with traditional Alnico pickups in Jazz arrangement. Designed with the 62 Jazz as template. The options offered in their basses from gun oil neck treatment , gloss or satin neck finish,hugh selection of colors, many wood choices.

I have no relationship with G&L ...I've just owned one since 1984 that has yet to be equalled in build quality.
 
#73
I say this with a smile but your all on crack. You should be buying Belmans out of Melbourne in Australia. They are all made here in the good old downunder with only quality Aussie parts with only quality Australian timbers and electronics and true craftsman of Australia.

Did I say Australia and quality enough. Australia - Quality.

Compared to Australian made, mia, mim mik, mij are all second rate build and materials.

Think quality think mia, Made in Australia, you steal the english language and call it your own and now your stealing the mia abbreviation.

Did I mention quality???

I forgot, the premium line is made in Australia, but if you haven't got the bucks you can get the budget model that's foreign made in the US. And the middle of the range is also made in US but has Australian electronics!

;) ;) ;) ;)
 
#75
mlowe said:
I say this with a smile but your all on crack. You should be buying Belmans out of Melbourne in Australia. They are all made here in the good old downunder with only quality Aussie parts with only quality Australian timbers and electronics and true craftsman of Australia.

Did I say Australia and quality enough. Australia - Quality.

Compared to Australian made, mia, mim mik, mij are all second rate build and materials.

Think quality think mia, Made in Australia, you steal the english language and call it your own and now your stealing the mia abbreviation.

Did I mention quality???

I forgot, the premium line is made in Australia, but if you haven't got the bucks you can get the budget model that's foreign made in the US. And the middle of the range is also made in US but has Australian electronics!

;) ;) ;) ;)
Click to expand...

You are intensionally playing with the point I and others make when supporting products of our country.

News flash...a U.S. company usually makes their domestic line the premier models and their foreign made line t for people who like the products but can't or don't want to spend quite that much. a.k.a. budget minded models. Which,in order to offer at a lower price also have some short comings in some way. Such as hardware,fit-finish...etc. That is where the comparisons come from.

Just to bring you up to speed...in the U.S. their also is a problem some families are facing where jobs are lost to U.S. companies taking production out of country for increased profit or to just stay afloat (which is a bigger issue in itself) So when someone voices their desire to buy only MIA products it may hit home a bit more for them than you or I.

Yes...there are many great products to be had from forgeign manufacturing and all us Americans do and have stated this directly and indirectly many times in conversation about bass gear.

So the one and only conclusion I can make here is that YOU have a problem with American Patriotism !

I know where you are hitting with this. I saw your speal on the other thread.
 
#77
chiplexic said:
You are intensionally playing with the point I and others make when supporting products of our country.

News flash...a U.S. company usually makes their domestic line the premier models and their foreign made line t for people who like the products but can't or don't want to spend quite that much. a.k.a. budget minded models. Which,in order to offer at a lower price also have some short comings in some way. Such as hardware,fit-finish...etc. That is where the comparisons come from.

Just to bring you up to speed...in the U.S. their also is a problem some families are facing where jobs are lost to U.S. companies taking production out of country for increased profit or to just stay afloat (which is a bigger issue in itself) So when someone voices their desire to buy only MIA products it may hit home a bit more for them than you or I.

Yes...there are many great products to be had from forgeign manufacturing and all us Americans do and have stated this directly and indirectly many times in conversation about bass gear.

So the one and only conclusion I can make here is that YOU have a problem with American Patriotism !

I know where you are hitting with this. I saw your speal on the other thread.
Click to expand...

That's a fair set of points, the US market will dictate to Fender what they want. If the people don't buy the MIM's and MIJ's Fender won't build them there as there wouldn't be a market. That's democracy working for you in a sense.

But when someone on here asks what technical difference are there in these basses and the answer is tainted with other goals it's unfair to the poster. IMO. I said this countless times now.

If you want to recommend MIA because it keeps jobs in the US just say so. I don't see anything wrong with that. Just don't blanket all foreign gear as second rate. That's two separate points.

Just remember, the rest of the world can stop buying American too and support their local jobs. I could buy every single bit of bass gear from here. The quality is great. I still bought US because I don't have any problem with Americans getting work from it.

I've also said that I respect and admire patriots. Just not blind ones.

Despite all this I understand what you said about the jobs there. Moving off shore for profit greed is another thing all together. I'd feel exactly the same if it happened here.

Guess what? It does!. Again, another example. US is not the only ones that are losing jobs to overseas. I work on the IT industry here and huge numbers of jobs are off to India.

The automatic implication that gear is better quality if it's made in the US is the key here. It's just plain ridiculous. My post just showed that arrogance in reverse. Yes, if my post was serious I'd say it was stupid too.

We have a lot more in common than you may be aware of. We are just more sensitive to knocking other countries gear while promoting our own.

I'm sorry if it hits a nerve that side but every time we foriegers hear theses comments it hits a nerve here too, and I believe the audience on this forum is an international one.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back