Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why does everyone use Fenders?
- Thread starter batmilk
- Start date
I play a USA Hot Rod Fender P and I'm pretty sure I came to it by thinking. I was playing Gibson thunderbird, thought it looked cool then went to Music Man Stingray got a super deal but found my way to the Fender P. I For me the neck dive and sound of the thunderbird were not pleasing then I just did not like the neck on the Stingray. Bought a Squire to have as a back up and found myself preferring it to the Music Man. Played the USA Fender P for ten minutes in a small shop and had to have it. It's my workhorse. I'll never get rid of it.
i wish i had a nickel for every time i've said that. i'd have at least a buck fiddy... and i always get rid of it.
I have a personality flaw.... as a bassist I learned on a precision and to this day when rented it borrowed I play one more comfortably, accurately and naturally than any other bass. However I don't own one.... it's been a looong time.
Same with guitars.... most responsive electric guitars for me are good strats. Best neck? Tele. I own zero fenders though. Instead i play my beloved lp and Ibanez rg prestige and other axes while sometimes wishing I had a strat.
Why? Maybe I'm afraid I'll never play the instruments I have now and also really really like? I'm not sure but I definitely drive myself crazy!
Been at this for decades lol
Same with guitars.... most responsive electric guitars for me are good strats. Best neck? Tele. I own zero fenders though. Instead i play my beloved lp and Ibanez rg prestige and other axes while sometimes wishing I had a strat.
Why? Maybe I'm afraid I'll never play the instruments I have now and also really really like? I'm not sure but I definitely drive myself crazy!
Been at this for decades lol
That's about as well-reasoned as this: Only the original NBA teams are legitimate, all the rest are bogus.
If it's a Fender or another brand it shouldn't matter just play what you love, love what you play.
you should play what you love.....but, i gotta tell ya, i love Fender's because i love the SOUND of Fender's..... I started on a Hagstrom....and then a Rickenbacker 4001....but now i'm a Fender Addict!! .....and, i didn't plan it that way.... my ears made it be that way!
Fender forever for me! lot's of love to other brands Too!! it's all good!!
Fender forever for me! lot's of love to other brands Too!! it's all good!!
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Why does everyone use Fender? This is simply not true. Some of us use Squier.
I like both (squier and fender) because they're very easily customizable and I enjoy modifying my basses. It's fun and the end product usually sounds great. I suspect many others do the same and use fender/squier equipment because of it.
I started on a Kent semi-hollow bass back in the 60's.
Upgraded to a Vox Astro IV in the early 70's.
Pretty much dropped out of bass playing for 40 years (focused mostly on the guitar and keys, if anything musical).
Recently got back into playing the bass and now have added the following to my collection:
American P bass
Squire Jazz
Epiphone LP
My experience has been that all of these basses are really pretty good. What matters MUCH more is the amplifier. When I was in bands back in the 60s/70's, I was playing through this POS heathkit solid state (did I mention POS?) amp. It was disaster. Could barely hear myself above the guitars and drums.
Though I no longer play in a band, I still try to keep up my skills on both the guitar and bass. I now play my basses through a Fender Rumble, which is very modest by most standards, but a world of difference from the Heathkit. Even my ol' Vox sounds great.
In short: focus on the amp! I've been even thinking about upgrading to a Fender Super Bassman 300, just because I can. But that's sort of a stupid reason because I really don't need it. The Rumble is fine.
Upgraded to a Vox Astro IV in the early 70's.
Pretty much dropped out of bass playing for 40 years (focused mostly on the guitar and keys, if anything musical).
Recently got back into playing the bass and now have added the following to my collection:
American P bass
Squire Jazz
Epiphone LP
My experience has been that all of these basses are really pretty good. What matters MUCH more is the amplifier. When I was in bands back in the 60s/70's, I was playing through this POS heathkit solid state (did I mention POS?) amp. It was disaster. Could barely hear myself above the guitars and drums.
Though I no longer play in a band, I still try to keep up my skills on both the guitar and bass. I now play my basses through a Fender Rumble, which is very modest by most standards, but a world of difference from the Heathkit. Even my ol' Vox sounds great.
In short: focus on the amp! I've been even thinking about upgrading to a Fender Super Bassman 300, just because I can. But that's sort of a stupid reason because I really don't need it. The Rumble is fine.
I only have two basses at the moment. One is a Fender, and I'm not using it much lately. I found it really isn't all that comfy for me to play.
I've been using a way cheaper but way more comfy Ibanez GSR. It's way lighter and it has more tonal range. I'm starting to become more of an Ibanez fan, more so than a Fender one.
But maybe it's the bass itself. I might have to browse around to find a Fender that suits me better.
P.S. I'm keeping the Fender due to sentimental value. Plus, it is gorgeous to look at.
I've been using a way cheaper but way more comfy Ibanez GSR. It's way lighter and it has more tonal range. I'm starting to become more of an Ibanez fan, more so than a Fender one.
But maybe it's the bass itself. I might have to browse around to find a Fender that suits me better.
P.S. I'm keeping the Fender due to sentimental value. Plus, it is gorgeous to look at.
This almost mirrors my thoughts. When you play an electric instrument, the amp is part of your instrument. The thing with the strings doesn't make much sound without one. But in terms of history, it's interesting how amps have affected instrument and string choices. Despite popular mythology, Fender basses did not have the market share today's myth indicates "back in the day". You were just as likely to see a Guild, Gretcsh or Gibson. Those basses usually had a mudbucker, or some pickup in that position. Why? The amps stunk. they didn't have much volume or bottom end. So flat strings and a pickup at the end of the neck was the work around, to get some amount of thump. Then we got solid state power supplies and amps, and suddenly the sky was the limit in terms of volume and low end. And boy, did they pour on the low end. The amps got very muddy and the mudbuckers did not compliment these amps. We got round wound strings to help cut through this mud. Fender bass pickups are/were much closer to the bridge than than most of the competition back then. It worked. To me, this is when the Fender bass 'took over'.
But today? The amplification is so sophisticated that they can handle anything you can throw at them. They can even let those old mudbuckers sing.
For the record, I started out on a Tiesco Del Ray, then moved on to an unfinished, Fenderish shortscale of unknown origin.
But today? The amplification is so sophisticated that they can handle anything you can throw at them. They can even let those old mudbuckers sing.
For the record, I started out on a Tiesco Del Ray, then moved on to an unfinished, Fenderish shortscale of unknown origin.
I have a few different brands, and I’ll always have a few different brands, but I know I’ll always have a Fender(s)-- there’s just so much that’s right with their designs.
For me, it all started when I sold my soul at the crossroads. If I play anything but a Fender, my eyes turn black and I start twitching and coughing up bile. Oh sure, I can own other basses. But only one owns me.
Also, it just sat so well in the mix.
Also, it just sat so well in the mix.
i wish i had a nickel for every time i've said that. i'd have at least a buck fiddy... and i always get rid of it.
That says loads more about you than the basses.
I know. Seriously. I half-thought this was a new thread.
