To Me, Fender Is.......

[hrodbert696]

The Ford of basses...

+1

Are you a Ford hater, or a lover? This statement could be taken two ways

Exactly. I think that was the point.

Fender is the original, the basic, the icon that pops into average joe's head when you say the words "bass guitar" even if he thinks a single-coil pickup is some weird kind of truck. For some people, that's why they like them.

For me, though, it's why I don't. I had an MIM P for a while and there was nothing wrong with it. Played nice, sounded good. But I never felt like it was MY bass. It was a copy of the same thing everyone plays. It's not like I'm some virtuoso who needs some exotic boutique instrument or anything, but I just always have been drawn to instruments that are a little different.

 

[SolarMan]

To me Fender is...

...the definition of bass guitar.

 

[purfektstranger]

Often imitated, never duplicated.

 

[Turock]

The standard.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Fender is very interesting for me.

I started playing in 1981, and mostly ignored Fender basses for much of my playing career. I stuck with more modern basses like Ibanez.

I owned a few Jazz basses throughout the years, but they never really stuck.

Then late last year I was bitten by the P-bug. I went on a quick buying spree, two copies and an MIA Fender.

Now I'm planning my next P purchase. And a Warmoth P build.

 

[Mike M.]

To me, playing a Fender is like holding a piece of history in your hands. While I know I'll probably never make any kind of musical history myself I can see why so many who have played Fenders. Any time I see a Fender guitar or bass from the 50's or 60's I can't help but think "man...if that guitar could talk!"

They sound good, play good and work good. An American classic that I love owning and playing. Got a P bass, three Jazz Basses, a Tele and a Strat.

 

[Stinsok]

..is a placebo for my ignorant gear snob band mates.

 

[Eckie]

.... just fine for me.

I know there's better out there but in a band / gig environment, "Better is the enemy of good enough"

 

[LDonnie]

The brand you go to when all else fails.

 

[mellowinman]

...a huge part of the history of rock and roll.

 

[Wallace320]

Hell yeah men

Nothing cuts thru better than sweet ol' Fender "punch n'growl"

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[dougjwray]

...the brand that unenlightened folks like to call "overrated" when they're feeling particularly juvenile.

 

[mongo2]

...easy to hot-rod.

 

[the yeti]

a shadow.

 

[PBnJBassist]

...Cheesecake. Everybody loves cheesecake. If you don't - then you haven't had the "right" kind of cheesecake. Even the lactose intolerant want cheesecake, even though they can't have any.

Yup. It's cheesecake (to me).

 

[jwj1701]

Americana. Pop Culture.
And still the leader.

 

[bassbully]

IT.......

 

[bjabass]

...the benchmark for every bass guitar that followed.

 

[MegaSwing]

here to stay.

 

[spiritbass]

Inspirational. I don't own a bass with a "Fender" decal on the headstock, but except for my Ric, they are all variants of Leo's groundbreaking designs.

There's a whole thread on the subject, but the reason "Fender Bass" is/was used for electric bass sheet music: it is the first brand name that comes to most minds when bass guitar is mentioned. Thanks again, Leo!