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Who's never owned a Fender bass?

Have you ever owned a Fender bass?

  • yes

    Votes: 252 50.9%

  • no

    Votes: 243 49.1%
  • Total voters
    495
#142
I've never owned a Fender bass... yet.

I learned on a Squier Jazz and currently play an EBMM Stingray so I've always played Fender-designed basses, just not Fender-branded ones (I've got a G&L Legacy guitar too, so full house!) I'd love a Jazz one day, and a Coronado too, maybe. I've got a list of about fifty Fender amps I'd love to try, too!
 
#144
Been playing only a little over a year, and I now own 5 basses, none of them Fenders. I do own some Fender combo amps, though.

It's not a stance, though, it's just a circumstance.

What I mean is that I don't have anything against Fender, I just don't happen to own one.

They just don't really speak to me and they're expensive for what they are, so I'm not motivated to get one. I don't like the feel of the P neck, plus I think Ps look boring. Js are a little better and I kind of like the look of the Aerodyne, but I've never had the chance to play one, and I certainly don't feel like I need one.

However, if the right circumstances came around, I'd certainly consider getting a Fender. Those circumstances just haven't arisen yet.
 
#149
Doublesixes said:
I'd say that most posters that proudly claim they never owned or desire a Fender bass, are either in denial or simply not aware they want one, yet. Of course, this is my personal opinion and as such, couldn't be further from the truth.
Click to expand...

Do you think most posters claiming to not have owned a Fender are doing so proudly or are just stating fact in reply to the original question?

I ask because while I have seen Fender hate (and for other brands) here on TB the question was not about hate just ownership and so I didn't assume replies would be "proudly" yes or no, just factual. You might be correct that many or most are brand hate based but Id be surprised if that was the case. The is my opinion only, I have no facts here other than what pertains to me.
 
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#150
I prefer to buy used basses that are being sold for less than their value and I've been lucky to find a way to do that.
My requirement is that it's a well made bass, without real concern for brand.
The one MIM Fender PJ Deluxe Series that I owned was a really nice bass, I sold it at a profit after a couple years.
I currently have a VM Squier bass that I got for a steal, and I have a new Player Series Jazz neck on an old mahogany P Bass body with a Dimarzio pup.
Fender makes some nice basses, as do a whole bunch of other companies.
All good if you know what you are looking for and get what you wanted.
 
#152
When I started playing in 1982 and highly influenced by punk and new wave, the last thing I wanted to own was a Fender bass. These boring hippy/rockstar instruments. Started with a 100,- nobrand used bass. Followed by an Ibanez Rick-copy (Peter Hook!), then the first real serious bass: a Yamaha BB1100 I bought new (Peter Hook!).
Years later I stopped playing bass for 2 years, sold the Yamaha. Then I started again, bought a BB1100 again. Then I started flirting with Fender - Jamerson obsession was the reason - and bought a G&L L2000 instead.
My first Fender was a used Squier JV Precision I bought instead of a used '74 US Fender, although it was more expensive.
Long story short: Today, with the exception of a MusicMan Classic (rarely use it) and a Warwick Star Bass (never use it) I own 10 Fender basses and I am completely satisfied with them.

Conclusion: if you play long enough and have REAL knowledge and experience, there is no need for something else.... :)
Never got those coffeetable basses... or active basses. If I want a preamp, I buy a preamp, if I want a bass, I buy a bass. Love the simple electronics of passive Fender basses, esp. what you can do with the VVT of the Jazz Bass, if you really know, what you're doing.
 
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#153
Slade N said:
Do you think most posters claiming to not have owned a Fender are doing so proudly or are just stating fact in reply to the original question?

I ask because while I have seen Fender hate (and for other brands) here on TB the question was not about hate just ownership and so I didn't assume replies would be "proudly" yes or no, just factual. You might be correct that many or most are brand hate based but Id be surprised if that was the case. The is my opinion only, I have no facts here other than what pertains to me.
Click to expand...


I honestly don't know, it's just a far fetched conjecture on my part regarding some posters attempting to make a somewhat political statement. Some overtly claimed that going against the grain and by that I mean refusing to get a Fender just to be "different" or non conformist, better suited their personality. This is a topic that should be addressed on a personal basis, generalizing as I did is an invitation to dissension. Perhaps I just wanted to ventilate my thoughts on the matter, as biased and erroneous as they may be.

In my case, I got a Fender Jazz in the mid 70s once I reconciled the sound produced by John Paul Jones with a Jazz Bass. The whole thing grabbed my attention to the point of a mild obsession : )
 
Last edited:
#154
Doublesixes said:
I honestly don't know, it's just a far fetched conjecture on my part regarding some posters attempting to make a somewhat political statement. Some overtly claimed that going against the grain and by that I mean refusing to get a Fender just to be "different" or non conformist, better suited their personality. This is a topic that should be addressed on a personal basis, generalizing as I did is an invitation to dissension. Perhaps I just wanted to ventilate my thoughts on the matter, as biased and erroneous as they may be.

In my case, I got a Fender Jazz in the mid 70s once I reconciled the sound produced by John Paul Jones with a Jazz Bass. The whole thing grabbed my attention to the point of a mild obsession : )
Click to expand...

does a J still do it for you?
 
#155
Geri O said:
I don't understand the "badge of honor" mentality at having never owned a Fender bass.

G&L has some of the most fervent fans I've ever come across and that alone could have turned me off from checking out G&Ls. But I've not been on a crusade about it. Nor do I consider it a "badge of honor" that I've not looked at G&L closer.

Hey, I just didn't get around to it....
Click to expand...

Is not a mentality is only value for money. I never had a Fender because the only Jazz Mex that I could afford at time was sold little before I went to the shop to buy....and for that money a Yamaha, used or also new is far better for the price.
If I could a Custom Shop is a great Instrument at all....
 
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#157
In general, I don't much think of myself as a Fender person. But if I ever found a mid-60s Jazz bass at a great price, that might be something I couldn't resist. Also, being a fanatical Jimi Hendrix Experience fan, if I ever ran across a Fender Noel Redding Jazz Signature bass, that might get my interest, too. I know through the years a lot of people seem to think it's cool to bash Noel Redding. But I like him and Billy Cox, too. Neither one may have been Jaco, but Jimi Hendrix didn't need a Jaco.
 

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