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THIS IS WHY FENDER IS HERE TO STAY

#84
SgtHulka said:
Why?
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Just my experience.

For example, when I auditioned for this act:


…the player, 1 of 8 that day, immediately after my audition slot brought in his rack with 5 or 6 high end basses - an F Bass, Smith, etc; and I thought, "oh well, it was a fun audition," and that I had a snowballs chance in h311.

But, I got that gig (a really good one), and later the drummer told me that I was the only bass player who showed up with a Fender, and just got on with the playing.

Now, the playing was certainly part of the calculation. But, I have heard time and again from bands in auditions that the Fender is what they are familiar with and looking for. On the audition, my goal is to get the gig. I can change things up later on, as appropriate.
 
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#86
The whole "Fender - Not Fender" argument is very reminiscent of the "get off my lawn" arguments.

Like what you like, don't like what you don't like. My main bass is mostly Fender but now sports a Squier neck. I never set out to be brand loyal but have no interest in changing now.

If your $2k boutique bass, or your black or 3 tone sunburst, or tort give you a warm feeling that's great. Just not for me.
 
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#87
bucephylus said:
Just my experience.

For example, when I auditioned for this act:


…the player, 1 of 8 that day, immediately after my audition slot brought in his rack with 5 or 6 high end basses - an F Bass, Smith, etc; and I thought, "oh well, it was a fun audition," and that I had a snowballs chance in h311.

But, I got that gig (a really good one), and later the drummer told me that I was the only bass player who showed up with a Fender, and just got on with the playing.

Now, the playing was certainly part of the calculation. But, I have heard time and again from bands in auditions that the Fender is what they are familiar with and looking for. On the audition, my goal is to get the gig. I can change things up later on, as appropriate.
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Makes sense. I like your strategy - get the gig then bait and switch after! But yes, good idea. Also, who brings 5 basses to an audition?? Haha. Is that the F-bass guy playing in the video?
 
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#89
AlexanderB said:
"THIS IS WHY FENDER IS HERE TO STAY"

Just like these below (much bigger) and rock solid companies:

Kodak
Pan Am
Xerox
Compaq
Polaroid
Block buster
General Motors

So, yes, I am sure Fender is 100% immune to whatever changes might come in the future! :meh:
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All of those companies, with the possible exception of Pan-Am, we're relegated to history through industry wide technological advances they didn't keep up with.

Fender's challenge today is electronica. If kids today don't want to learn to play an instrument then the entire industry will suffer for it. And not only the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation.
 
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#92
Bass Viking said:
Exactly. But there are still people who believe every bassist should own a Fender and that you should always show up to auditions with one. :rollno:
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90 percent of the time, if two people audition, one with a six string Ibanez and another with a Fender Precision, the latter would get the gig every time.

Especially if the BL is a guitarist.
 
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#95
marchone said:
If kids today don't want to learn to play an instrument then the industry will suffer for it.
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All too true. And, it does appear that there is a significant disconnect happening. It is crucial that for an art form to be passed on, the succeeding pool of talent must seize the reins and take ownership by choice. It remains to be seen where popular music goes moving forward.

One can pretty much draw the lines of influence from early Americana Blues, Jazz, and Folk stylings all the way through to more or less current bands / artists, like One Republic, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Jason Aldean, to name a few. But, if the ownership is asserted by outright rejection of previous art, then, as you suggest, all of that becomes museum fare. Far bigger topic than Fender.
 
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#98
bucephylus said:
No offense intended;
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None taken.
bucephylus said:
but, you, kind sir, are suffering from a rather grim vision of your music scene, if you think the whole thing is strictly about the visual posing.
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It is to a huge degree, and this is based upon decades of experience and comments, not just when I was playing, but in the hundreds of times I did FOH for other bands and overheard their comments. Some didn't care, but many did, not just a small vocal minority like twatter users.
It's also not in the MI world, but in hifi, pro-audio, recording and broadcast too. Such and such an item is perceived as the best or expected and when that is not presented I've watched many just close their minds to it.
bucephylus said:
In my world, there is just a little more to it.
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Maybe it is, and I never, ever claimed it was universal, but certainly in a majority of circumstances.
 

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