I'm guessing no.
Hints: Three letter first name, three letter last name, both contain O in the middle... Beat up by Superman. Oh wait, that was Zod.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 Real Thing -or- Not So Real
- Thread starter girlonbass
- Start date
I'm guessing no.
Hints: Three letter first name, three letter last name, both contain O in the middle... Beat up by Superman. Oh wait, that was Zod.
Of course USA is original source of high quality electric basses and guitars, but since 30-40 years back those have been made in a couple of other countries too. Don`t misunderstand me, i like very much to have some good American axes. I have now 5, but i don`t despise Japanese or German made instruments either, among others. I don`t put too much importance on brand name, i look after playability, tone and robust build instead.
Most writers in this thread are American, i can understand your feelings well, but let`s keep that proud in sensible level.
Too much of everything is simply too much.
My twenty year old nephew believes that instruments built in the USA are somehow superior . I do not . I judge an instrument by how it feels , sounds and plays , not the decal on the headstock .
That's what I thought, up until recently. A local store had a Lakland Skyline 44-64 and I wrote it off before ever playing it because it's Korean made. Sure enough, even I walked into the store a couple months ago, it was the first thing to catch my eye. It was also the best playing instrument I've ever met. I had my heart set on a MIA Fender, but now that Lakland will be coming home with me.
The "real deal" stuff was used because it was there. The people who played that stuff in the 50s and 60s weren't thinking, "Man, this bass sounds swell because it's the real deal." They used what was available.
Is a '65 Mustang the real deal? The newer ones will blow their doors off AND run circles around them.
When it comes to playing I'll take a Peavey Predator (swapped electronics) over any Fender Strat I've ever played, real deal or not. But it must be a USA Peavey, because they ARE the real deal.
Is a '65 Mustang the real deal? The newer ones will blow their doors off AND run circles around them.
When it comes to playing I'll take a Peavey Predator (swapped electronics) over any Fender Strat I've ever played, real deal or not. But it must be a USA Peavey, because they ARE the real deal.
Stop bringing up quality. It doesn't matter whether the overseas copy is good or not. Quality isn't the issue here. A copy is a copy, i.e. NOT the real deal.
Funny, huh? Do this - Buy a MIM Fender at the price level of a US model. Then try to sell it later. In your for-sale ad, you can talk about how awesome the quality of this particular MIM bass is, and how fantastically it plays, and how you've never played a US-made instrument that could come close to it, and how stupid it is to think of MIA Fenders as the real deal. After you take a big financial loss when you sell it, then tell me how funny THAT is.
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
- 2,460
- Disclosures
- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
I gues we should have begun by defining the real deal. Is that in websters? For sure a copy is just that a copy. But we all know that some of those copies are righteous axes, even better that the originals. In one sense the real deal is when a particular axe delivers. James Jamerson was the real deal, Jaco was the real deal, so is Bootsy. When you see Flea live on stage it's plain to see he's the real deal. So there are many and many kinds of real deals. Having said all this BS I still have a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass in my arsenal. Oh snap, it was made in Japan, is it the real deal.....LOL!!!!!
Cost-savings, not inequality in name. Why do you think a lot of Fenders are being made in Mexico & China? Fender feels they live up to the Fender name & are labelled as such for this reason.
It is complete smarminess & "penis envy" on the part of the buyer who solely looks at American-made or German-made instruments as the superior upper echelon of quality. Yes, quality control is better on SOME American made basses, but that's because of low production numbers allowing them to take the time to do this. If the production numbers of the imports were lower, they could easily take this time to increase quality to the standards of the American shops...and the cost would still be less! Cheap parts is subjective. Is the HMV bridge on the MIA Fenders really that much better than the bent plate vintage ones used on all imports? I'd argue that it's not. In fact, Fender uses the bent plate bridges on all the American Specials. Are the neck joints really that much better on the MIAs? They're all cut on CNC machines! I've seen some MIAs with absolutely horrendously large neck pockets that made it passed QC. Wood quality is "better" in the sense that less pieces are used, so the body's not weighed down by glue, but the fit & finish is very comparable across the MIAs, MIMs and imports.
Funny, huh? Do this - Buy a MIM Fender at the price level of a US model. Then try to sell it later. In your for-sale ad, you can talk about how awesome the quality of this particular MIM bass is, and how fantastically it plays, and how you've never played a US-made instrument that could come close to it, and how stupid it is to think of MIA Fenders as the real deal. After you take a big financial loss when you sell it, then tell me how funny THAT is.
More brand loyalty-ridden arrogance! MIMs don't sell for MIA prices, so it's inconceivable that you'd buy one at said price & then try to resell it. Use an example that makes sense to prove your argument (if there even is one), and get off the high horse.
Do some blind tests. Literally. Sit down with a blindfold on & have someone else pass you random Fender & Squier basses of all models. Try to discern what they are & which ones feel/sound best to you without having the logo slapping you in the face. I think you'd be surprised and humbled by how a bass is when there's no ego involved in the selection process.
A Standard Precision Bass, MIM, with a Fender logo, made by Fender, is in fact a REAL Standard Precision Bass. An American Standard Precsion Bass with Fender logo made by Fender, is in fact a REAL American Standard Precision Bass. The company clearly separates the two by distinction. No matter where Fender makes a P-Bass, it will be REAL relative to its denomination. You don't get to pick and choose what is REAL and what isn't under this scenario, Fender does. A Standard Precision Bass with Fender (or anything else) on the label that is NOT made by, or under licence of Fender, is a FAKE. Same goes for every other instrument out there. If a company designs, has the rights to and produces said instruments, it's whatever the heck they say it is. If Fender decided to start calling Jazz basses 'NippleTwisters', then that is what they would be called.
REALLY!!?? They DON'T!!?? Why?? Why is that?? What would be the reason for that? Hmmmm....??
Gee... I can't think why! You tell me, awilkie. Tell me why they don't sell at MIA prices.
This isn't about looking up the definition of "real" in the dictionary. The term "real deal" is a informal phrase used to identify authenticity. To claim something is real because it exists as a collection of molecules is being fatuous.
The ONLY reason Fender or anyone else moves production overseas is to exploit cheap foreign labor. And just because Fender has a poor Chinese worker slap a made-in-China decal that says "Fender" on the headstock, that does not make it the real deal. A uniquely American product manufactured wholly in Asia for economic reasons is NOT the real deal. And the market confirms this as a FACT.
Because they cost less to produce. That doesn't make them any less REAL Fenders. Your black & white view of this topic needs some serious colour added.
The market does not back up your logic or your FACT. MIM basses sell used for about 30% less than they did new. MIA & MIJ basses are the same way. Dollar-wise, there is actually more lost on an MIA than there is on their import counterparts. So, who's really retaining value?
Fender decides what is the Real Deal, not the consumer. But, that's ok. You go on paying double to triple what we would for an excellent quality instrument and we'll go on saving more money and being equally as pleased.
Funny, huh? Do this - Buy a MIM Fender at the price level of a US model. Then try to sell it later. In your for-sale ad, you can talk about how awesome the quality of this particular MIM bass is, and how fantastically it plays, and how you've never played a US-made instrument that could come close to it, and how stupid it is to think of MIA Fenders as the real deal. After you take a big financial loss when you sell it, then tell me how funny THAT is.
Still funny stuff. Who buys an MIM or MIJ for the price of an MIA?
But, I totally get the point that public perception is what makes the "real deal" and no matter the quality of the copy, most people will not see it as being of the same value. On that, we certainly agree.
What players? Seriously? Here is a bass player rocking a Squier
Hahaha this guy wanted a REAL old school Fender but spends all of his money on dope and booze. I know this firsthand.
