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To Fender or NOT to Fender...

madbassplaya

madbassplaya

Supporting Member
Dec 28, 2007
8,397
142
#1
Let me start off by saying that I don't wanna start a flame fest or anything. But this is a dilemma that I'm currently debating on...

I'm not a big fan of Fender typically. Yes, I did have a bad experience with one of their basses but I've also had some good experiences with them. One of the reasons that I haven't played them in so long (besides that negative experiences) is that like Gibson and many other big companies they tend to cut corners here and there and produce so many basses that quality control isn't consistent on them. So I'm typically worried about getting a bad bass and there's that part of me that would rather support something other than the "big guys" on the block.

I've been playing Music Man basses and man, they are awesome. I like that everyone of them I've owned has felt wonderful and I can tell that they are a top quality bass. I also like that they are family owned as well. However, here lately for what I'm doing, I like a J bass. Always have really.

So I have some coin to spend on a bass and I've found a used American Standard Jazz V (08) and the seller tells me that it's a great bass. Good fit and finish, good B string, solid neck, & well built. I trust the guy because we've had dealings before. But there is a part of me that still doesn't wanna buy a Fender even though this is a "good one." I hear so many negative things about the company that it makes me not wanna play them. However, they are the only company that is putting out anything remotely similar to what I can afford right now. Would love a Lull, Sadowsky, Valenti, etc...but that kinda money isn't available right now.

And yes, I know all about the Carvin SB's. I want a traditional body. :D
 
#2
Is it possible for you to try it before you buy? That'd be the real test. Lots of great players still use Fenders, and while their quality control isn't the best they can still make a quality instrument.

If for some reason you get it and can't stand it, I would imagine you could sell it fairly quickly as well.
 
#3
I picked up an American Vintage 1975 Jazz Bass a couple of years ago and it has become my main bass, Top notch fit and finish, a neck to die for and it sounds awesome. I have a Musicman, Gibson and a Rick and they don't get as much play time as they used to. The American Fenders are Very Nice.
 
#6
Have you considered Lakland? Lakland Skyline's are cheap used (around $800) are the same price as an American Standard when bought new. Quality wise they are as good, if not better IMO than American Fenders.

I had a Lakland and I sold it in Favor of a used Fender which I'm happy about because it weighs, feels and sounds like I wanted, but as far as quality is concerned, while it's not TOO far apart, I can tell the difference between the Lakland and the Fender. The Lakland has the upper hand.
 
#9
JMimbs said:
Is it possible for you to try it before you buy? That'd be the real test. Lots of great players still use Fenders, and while their quality control isn't the best they can still make a quality instrument.

If for some reason you get it and can't stand it, I would imagine you could sell it fairly quickly as well.
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Can't try before I buy sadly. :hmm:

Billy Bassboy said:
I picked up an American Vintage 1975 Jazz Bass a couple of years ago and it has become my main bass, Top notch fit and finish, a neck to die for and it sounds awesome. I have a Musicman, Gibson and a Rick and they don't get as much play time as they used to. The American Fenders are Very Nice.
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I've had a few American Fenders. Some were better than others. There's one 4 string that I loved. If it would've been a 5er, I'd have held onto it longer.

pedroims said:
I am a Lakland guy, but the only bass I want now is a Fender road worn :)...I am saving money, hopefully I can get a P by summer.
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Good luck bud!

Epitaph04 said:
Fender's a great company GETOVAIT!

/aldavis
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This made me laugh. :D

fourstringdrums said:
Have you considered Lakland? Lakland Skyline's are cheap used (around $800) are the same price as an American Standard when bought new. Quality wise they are as good, if not better IMO than American Fenders.

I had a Lakland and I sold it in Favor of a used Fender which I'm happy about because it weighs, feels and sounds like I wanted, but as far as quality is concerned, while it's not TOO far apart, I can tell the difference between the Lakland and the Fender. The Lakland has the upper hand.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I have a hard time spending the same amount of money on a bass that's made in Korea or Indonesia. I've had a few Laklands and they were all pretty good but most of them had QC issues that US basses haven't had.

darkstorm said:
Not. If you want another bass, Id look at stuff like MTD and various others with better QC etc for the price.
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Sorry man, but I can't afford a US MTD and don't actually know if I'd buy one if I could. With that being said I'm not interested in their foreign offerings. They've never impressed me for the money.
 
#10
I am not impressed with my Fender. It's a good bass but the pickups buzz whenever my hands are not on the strings or bridge. It's got about 1... maybe 2... well maybe even 3 deadspots! The frets are just a little sharp on the right side of the neck. It doesn't bug me too much though.

Other than that, it is very easy to play compared to my first bass and it sounds awesome!!

As long as the Fender you're interested in plays and sounds good, then you should definitely get it.
 
#11
See if you can try out the bass, and do so with an open mind. I used to hate p-basses - I thought they were muddy sounding and unwieldy. Then one day I found myself killing time in a local music store. I picked a 2006 ash p-bass off the wall, began noodling on it, and eventually ended up buying it. Today it is one of my main basses.

All bass companies make duds, so don't let a few bad experiences deter you from what may become your favorite axe.
 
#16
Fender fan here. I totally agree about the variation in offerings and QC. I own a few P basses and J basses, MIM, CIJ, MIJ, USA, you name it. I've had very good luck with Fender.

However, I draw the line at fivers with Fender. I've played one too many that simply underwhelmed me. Only if I could play it first, and find it worthy, would I ever consider buying a Fender fiver. IME, IMHO, there are just too many other companies doing it better in that department, and sight unseen (and unplayed) would be too much of a gamble for me.
 
#19
If you can play it then you will know if it was meant for you.

To me it is the feel and the sound. When you play it, if it was meant to be it will feel "right".

For example, I take my daugher to guitar lessons, so I kill 30 minutes each week playing in the music store. I keep playing every Amercian made Fender P then J then Road Worn and after about 5 minutes I put each oneback on the rack. Good, nice instrument, it is just not for me. It is hard to describe, just the feel of the instrument and especially the feel of the neck just does not do it for me. :rollno:

On the other hand, I love Warwick and I bought a Rockbass which to me played really nice, had nice tone (not as good as German Warwick but I liked it). I liked the feel, I liked the tone and I found that I would play it for the entire 30 minutes I was waiting in the store. After a few weeks, I did not want to put it down so I bought it. :hyper:

I felt similar with a Gibson. I like the feel. :D

To me it is not the name brand ( I don't care to impress others). I buy the instrument that makes me feely "groovey". You just know. You feel like it is part of you. That is what I mean. :bassist:

As others have said, they are made out of wood so even 2 exact same models will not play exactly the same. There may be slight differences. To me you gotta play it and you will know if you are drawn to it. Otherwise it will end up gathering dust as you will always be drawn to your favorite.

Fenders are great with great tone but for me I just cant get into the feel of the necks, just something is not right for me. Meanwhile, others won't play anything but so buy it if you really like it.
 

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