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What is it about Fender?

#22
Not that I have much to add that hasn't already been stated by others in this thread, but to throw in my own $0.02 answer to the OP's question 'Why does everyone love Fender so much?" For me, I just wanted THE classic bass. I tried a Precision, but even before I found out that the neck was too chunky for me, I knew I wanted a Jazz Bass because of how it looked, like a bigger, sleeker Stratocaster. And I still love my Jazz, and I don't think I'll ever part with it, even though I own one custom Fodera, and another on the way. There is something about the way that Leo Fender did what he did, as others have said. He did EXACTLY what was needed, not a bit more, and executed it perfectly. For something that was created primarily as an instrument that was perfectly FUNCTIONAL, easy to manufacture, and of an ideal fit to the player, the Jazz Bass in particular, IMHO, is just an absolutely beautiful instrument. A perfect example of form following function, and form, additionally, being lovely to look at. Why else would so many others build what are essentially copies of the Fender design, with enhancements?

I must admit that one of the reasons, besides the simple matter of perfect playability with the narrow neck and close string spacing, which the Jazz Bass offers, is the fact that John Paul Jones played one prominently and on many of the greatest tunes ever recorded by my favorite band. Is there a better reason?
 
#24
What is it about Fender? IMHO it has more to do with sound people and producers than anything else. Fenders are incredibly easy to record and most producers and sound people know how to get a good mix with a fender. Thats why you will find one or two in just about every big name studio (sitting in the corner just in case). You can't go wrong if you bring a Fender to a recording session or a gig where you have to go through a sound person. Other basses may sound and play better (live) but may not record as well. Primarily because the person behind the console doesn't really know how to eq them as well as a good old Fender. Just my 2 cents:)
 
#25
An after thought. Nothing against basses with preamps....lots of folks use 'em and get great results. No disputing that fact.

I've had basses with preamps too and while they're nice....it just wasn't me, ya know? I just like that passive grind too much because it fits so well and besides, I know what I'm about. Like someone else in this thread said..."Im home."
 
#26
A good Fender, and they're not all good, nail a very specific frequency range in recordings that no other bass does consistently. They have a huge low midrange punch that sits just above the bass drum so that together they make one big bottom sound. Modern basses tend to have too much low information below the bass drum that can make a track plod if the player's not careful. And they're very easy to record - a good one needs no EQ and just a tiny bit of compression. Set up well they play very much in tune if the player is consistent. A lot of modern basses are so easy to play with the left hand that you don't really have to learn to anchor the notes and the pitch can be ambiguous or just bad. And they're tough as hell.
 
#27
as a beginner, i wanted to up-grade from my pawn shop special to something better. i asked my then bass teacher to come to GC and choose a bass for me. i didn't care what he picked. he grabbed a Fender P and began playing it. after 60seconds he told the salesman to ring me up.

my next teacher fell in love with it and begged me to let him record with it. years go by and i began jumping from this bass and that bass, but 27 years later i am almost exclusively a Fender guy! i am totally a better player on these basses. they are super easy to play for some reason. i'll put my AV62RI jazz up against any boutique in the world in terms of comfort and playability. YMMV :)
 
#28
The tone is the first and most important thing. It's been pointed out very well in previous posts and I agree. However the ergonomics are a big reason too. Weight, balance, comfort against the body, where your forearms rests on the body, where the thumb anchors itself. And more items as it relates to the ergonomics of a bass.

I own three Fenders with one more on the way and they are just the full package.
 
#29
Honestly, I couldn't give a rat's ass if Fender was the first, or if a bunch of my heroes played them, or any of that. I like Fenders because it doesn't matter what situation you're in, they just plain work. Every other type of bass seems to have some sort of type of music that it doesn't do well. Some don't do fat 60's and 70's sounds well. Some don't do the brighter "modern" sounds well (it's been 30 years...when does that sound stop being called "modern"? ;) ). But I can take a Fender Precision or Jazz to any gig in the world and it'll work. More than any other basses, I think they take on your personality when you play them, rather than giving you an identifiable sound of their own.
 
#30
tomyaubass said:
The bass for the most part is not a solo instrument so it is more important to sound right in the pocket and Fenders do that extremely well.
Click to expand...

Absolutely correct. Still, it even works perfectly for soloing, think of Marcus Miller, Jaco etc. You simply can't go wrong with a Fender. Why else would so many other manufacturers copy them in one way or another?
 
#31
A Fender bass just gets on with the job, it stays in tune really well, is very very robust and, to be honest, only has one sound; perfect workhorse, no fuss.

If I want to put something different on a recording I will use a different bass but, time after time, the Precision seems to do 98% of the things I want from a bass.
 
#32
JimmyM said:
Honestly, I couldn't give a rat's ass if Fender was the first, or if a bunch of my heroes played them, or any of that. I like Fenders because it doesn't matter what situation you're in, they just plain work. Every other type of bass seems to have some sort of type of music that it doesn't do well. Some don't do fat 60's and 70's sounds well. Some don't do the brighter "modern" sounds well (it's been 30 years...when does that sound stop being called "modern"? ;) ). But I can take a Fender Precision or Jazz to any gig in the world and it'll work. More than any other basses, I think they take on your personality when you play them, rather than giving you an identifiable sound of their own.
Click to expand...

Let me say this in a different way. No matter where I left the control settings on my Fender, when I plug it into an amp (any amp) it sounds good.

Can't say this about my other ten basses. I can make any bass work but some basses like some amps better than others. I like my Lakland best but the "tone" has to get dialed in. I go to a lot of jams so I plug into lots of different backline gear. If I'm there to impress anyone I better take the Fender.
 
#33
to me, it's more about design and shape. simply just look of the instrument. it's perfect. I don't like Ibanez bass shapes for example and a lot of other different brands out there try really hard to make some new designs so it won't look like fender but all they do is make instruments look ugly. On the other hand, it might be that Fender designs are ugly but the world just got used to it, because there weren't so many others or..... it might be just some kind of hypnosis that Leo did to world :d
 
#34
I used to gig with Rickenbacker and Ibanez. One day in the late 1980s I was tracking for an EP and I didn't own a fretted bass at the time, so I borrowed a friend's P bass. That was the first time I experienced how they do a great sound without effort, and it just sits in the mix.

I have other basses that are more versatile (including the Rick and Ibanez), and feel better to my hands, but the Precision is a real bread-and-butter bass. It's also well respected. I never turn up to gigs and get questioned.
 
#36
I don't think being the first has anything to do with it, otherwise we would all be using Heathkit personal computers. Leo was an engineer and inventor who listened to his final users (customers.) He simply had a great design, made it affordable and it became a standard. It was a huge leap forward in technology, a touring group did not have to transport a large bass (doghouse.)

The best bass depends on your personal opinion and how you use it. For me, my trek has gone full circle and when I leave for a gig, it's a USA passive Jazz or P.
 
#37
curt basner said:
Not that I have much to add that hasn't already been stated by others in this thread, but to throw in my own $0.02 answer to the OP's question 'Why does everyone love Fender so much?" For me, I just wanted THE classic bass. I tried a Precision, but even before I found out that the neck was too chunky for me, I knew I wanted a Jazz Bass because of how it looked, like a bigger, sleeker Stratocaster. And I still love my Jazz, and I don't think I'll ever part with it, even though I own one custom Fodera, and another on the way. There is something about the way that Leo Fender did what he did, as others have said. He did EXACTLY what was needed, not a bit more, and executed it perfectly. For something that was created primarily as an instrument that was perfectly FUNCTIONAL, easy to manufacture, and of an ideal fit to the player, the Jazz Bass in particular, IMHO, is just an absolutely beautiful instrument. A perfect example of form following function, and form, additionally, being lovely to look at. Why else would so many others build what are essentially copies of the Fender design, with enhancements?
Click to expand...

Yes agreed on many of those points! As a professional musician I rely on Fenders for a lot of the work I do. They just have a sound that sits in the mix right, and I love the necks on the MIA American Vintage basses. Of course, the classic look helps in some situations where its important.
 
#38
I think of fender like the PC of basses. Yea it was the original but there's still room to grow. I find Warwick and jens Ritter to be the MACs of the bass world. And if anyone knows anything about mac and pc. Steve jobs took an already invented thing, pc, and made it better, mac
 
#39
curbowkid...my point exactly. When it comes to putting your customer first and making a product they will want, Steve Jobs has to be at the top. Whether it's better is a matter of opinion, but like a 8 string bass made out of some rare wood, I would have to say it's different. Not necessarily better.
 

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