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Uh Oh!!!

#21
zeppelinfreak said:
Everytime I saw a fender bass, I immediately thought the bassist was an amateur.
...I know fenders usually play okay, and have decent tone
...what are some good basses that famous people will look like noobs using??
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That is some of the dumbest stuff I have read all day. Revisit this thread after you've actually been around real bassists for a while, and hang your head in shame.
 
#23
Sheesh, lay off the heat a bit.

Wait... his name is zeppelinfreak?

Yeah, that John Paul Jones really looked like a noob using Fender before switching to Alembic.

Edit: Yes, I'm certain there have been bass players who bought Fender for the name on the headstock. However, you really went about this thread the wrong way.
 
#27
I believe I kind of understand what you are saying.

If I played in a band like that, I don't think I would play fender (at least thats what I think now).

I would get a lakland, celinder or an AC or something.

On the other hand, I think some fenders are great, and I can believe fender gives them great conditions. Apart from that, I allso think a lot of people play fender, because all their idols played it. And last but not least, a lot of those fenders are probably friggin good fenders (vintage, custom made for them) so it's perhaps not that crazy.
 
#28
Thunderthumbs73 said:
...Looks, brand, color, how high/low the bass is hung, etc... matters not in the whole scheme of things...
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Gary Moore once said you shouldn't be able to walk past your guitar without pickup it up. A sexy bass that makes you feel you've got something beautiful and special is more likely to make that happen.

I kinda empathise with original premise. I used to feel that people played Fenders because they hadn't really shopped around*. And black-with-a-white-scratchy makes me think of cheapsh;te starter packs.

HOWEVER I've now come full circle and realise that a P-bass is exactly what I want, because they are rugged, simple and classy (like me ;) ). But I think I'd struggle to buy a black/white one for the reason stated above.

*or they had shopped around and couldn't find anything else because everyone copies the damned things.
 
#29
Zerozeddy said:
Gary Moore once said you shouldn't be able to walk past your guitar without pickup it up. A sexy bass that makes you feel you've got something beautiful and special is more likely to make that happen.

I kinda empathise with original premise. I used to feel that people played Fenders because they hadn't really shopped around*. And black-with-a-white-scratchy makes me think of cheapsh;te starter packs.

HOWEVER I've now come full circle and realise that a P-bass is exactly what I want, because they are rugged, simple and classy (like me ;) ). But I think I'd struggle to buy a black/white one for the reason stated above.

*or they had shopped around and couldn't find anything else because everyone copies the damned things.
Click to expand...

I bought the best bass in the biggest music store in a small town, and it happened to be a Fender Fretless Jazz Bass. Black. White pickguard. MIJ. The best thing I ever bought. Anyway, what Gary Moore said actually seems to underscore my point of *it's about the musicianship and not the instrument*. What I think Gary meant was that you should be inspired to pick up the instrument and touch and play it so that ideally, the ultimate end result, is that you end up being a better musician for it, and not that you have the ability to admire a beautiful object, firsthand, when you see it. I say this also as from what I understand, Gary Moore is a fine musician, and while he may be a collector of sorts, I can't imagine him advocating just "looking" or "touching" an instrument, and not advocating the end result of that kind of interest, which I think would be, again, improvement.

There is this guy named Geddy Lee. He's been seen around some major venues for a number of years onstage with a black Jazz Bass with a white pickguard. He's in a band, called Rush. They're kinda famous...

;)
 
#30
As another example, I've played my Harmony brand P-Bass copy (I paid $40 for it, secondhand in '96) for some big gigs and for very good money. Yes. It is a Harmony bass. It also, as best I can tell, was sold by Sears in 1986 out of the holiday "Wish Book" catalogue that comes out every year. Yes. Sears. But this thing sounds awesome, and plays just like a dream. Why NOT use it? I can't say I really care about the one person in the audience who might discern that the bass isn't a Fender or some "better" or more recognized name brand, and would be dismissive of the bass and/or me because of my choice to play it. Hopefully my playing, musicality, performance and professionalism speaks for itself.

One of the best "event" bands I ever saw was some guy using a Fender Jazz, fiver at a huge national convention of an association. I talked to the guy afterwards. Turns out it was either a MIM Jazz or Squire. I can't remember. It too, sounded good because the player was good. Anyways, the brand of the bass, at least in my opinion, has very little real connection to the ability and/or professionalism of the player.

Regards.
 
#31
To the OP,

instead of asking us why dont you ask the players themselves.

Justin Meldal-Johnson is on talkbass and he's even got his own forum.
i reckon he'd be more than happy to tell you why he uses fenders...but he does play more than just fender
 
#32
Colin Greenwood is a fantastic bassist and uses an old Fender P-bass, in fact I never see him playing anything else

I was surprised how much it actually cut through the mix, what with 3 guitarists and a bunch of electric bullcrap they have going in their songs
 
#38
Oh come on... this has to be a troll thread... and not a serous question..

Anyway to play along...
Or try and have fun with this thread and stop being so defensive, everyone
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OK..:D

Everytime I saw a fender bass, I immediately thought the bassist was an amateur.
Click to expand...


So is that why I'm still just playing bass in the bedroom and not on a big stage????? I wounder what bass would I could play that would have me looking like a pro...

Well I'm off to find a Pro Looking bass...Wal*Mart and Best Buy here I come...
 

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