Why does everyone use Fenders?

[boristhespider9]

Did you guys notice the Stingray in the third pic down (on the right)? ;-)

Yea, that rules! Find a video of The Ox playing a Stingray and we can take this thread in a whole new direction!

On another note, I think this thread started off about hipsters playing Fenders. It is indeed ironic that hipsters would all spend their money on mass produced ubiquitous instruments made by a massive corporation. But I guess being ironic is part of the hipster thing. They could at least get a Skyline Glaub or Joe Osborn and support a smaller more independent brand.

On one more note, some of the most iconic Fender players such as Duck Dunn, Geezer Butler, George Porter Jr., Rick Rosas, etc. either completely switched to Lakland versions of their Js or Ps or made them a major staple in their performing instruments (e.g., Nick Mendel, Adam Clayton, Sean Hurley). Some guys aren't afraid to have a different name on the headstock if the instrument is superior in feel, tone, and/or playability even if it's a Fender style bass.

On one last note, I found interesting to hear Ed Friedland say that he wasn't a fan of the "modern" Fender Am Std necks at 9.5 radius with medium jumbo frets (and a sometimes sticky thick satin finish) because they didn't feel like the most playable specs to him. Despite love for other aspects of post-2008 Am Standards I do kind of agree with his comment.

That's it. The Ox rules!

 

[boristhespider9]

An interesting interview with Sean Hurley discussing how he discovered the P-Bass is the one.

 

[Salicete]

To each his own. I personally don't believe there is any "best" bass, at any price. It really is subjective.

What Fender has been very successful at doing is creating a high quality line of bass guitars in several price ranges, so that nearly every player can find one to meet their needs; additionally, they have proved over time that the range of tones attainable from their instruments apparently appeals to a greater cross section of the bass buying public than most other lines combined.

Go ahead, try to build a better mouse trap.

 

[GregC]

just because it is marketing 101 doesn't mean it also cannot be true in the maker's eyes or mine

it is such a subjective thing anyhow

It could have been true for Leo. I have seen that quote used many times by G&L fans as some kind of "proof" that they're the best Leo basses ever made (perhaps you didn't mean it that way yourself). But we'll never know for sure how he felt. And as you say, it is subjective for the rest of us.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Sweet! Which exact model is that?

 

[davy4575]

What the hell is/was "shoegaze"? sounds like paint for a shoe or something. But its two reasons, most readily available tone condusive to that genre and appearance consistent with certain genres. Same reason you see more modern looking and sounding basses in metal/doom/dessert rock/etc yet not nearly as much fenders. The predominate basses sound and look a certain way are can more readily get the predominate sound for genres.

Soo, Just because I hate being a sheep, Id play what most people are not if it fits in with the tone I like for a project.

 

[RobinG]

This thread is amusing to me partly because I don't personally notice a lot of Fenders when I'm playing out.

Every once in a while an older person would ask for "Fender bass" on a gig. That is a sign that the person's mindset comes from an older time when Fender bass = electric bass. This thread reminds me of that quaint mindset. Don't get me wrong, I started on a Fender Jazz and am coveting the new American Deluxe V but it's just part of the palette to me: the starting point maybe.

That is a good point. When I was in HS Jazz Band back in the 70's, a lot of the charts were for "Fender Bass". Maybe that was to indicate it was written for electric rather than upright, thinking about it now, but it does go to the fact that Fender did drive the Electric Bass market.

They are good Basses, and I may be purchasing another one tomorrow, but I tend to gig with a 4001 and a Longhorn. Just my personal preference, but I always have a Fender in tow as backup.

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

The Sean Hurley vid says it all. You can get that direct tone with the neck pickup soloed on a Jazz too, though.​

 

[JimmyM]

Is it actually a specific tone these guys want or more of a fashion statement?

I don´t believe that it could be for a specific tone. I´d say that is a fact of aesthetics.

Mostly those bass players they´d buy a Fender only by having this logo in the headstock. We know well how seductive/tempting is having this vintage forms/shapes for many bass players. I think that some of them really don´t should realize if they bougth a good instrument not only by the sound, even in terms of dead spots, low action, bridge and straigthness of the neck.
I seen some local bass players chosing his Fender only by his color (black, white...) that it could fits well in the band. So I regard that the sound isn´t the matter for them. I think that only a few of those bass players they could find some differences about tone and sound between a few models of the same kind of basses (PB, JB,...). But I´m pretty sure that probably they´ll never don´t buy another bass that it nails the Fender sound/tone if in the headstock it can´t read: Fender.

You don't really believe that, do you?

 

[boristhespider9]

The Sean Hurley vid says it all. You can get that direct tone with the neck pickup soloed on a Jazz too, though.​

The J won't give you the exact sound of the P. Plus, you're getting a lot of hum with the neck pickup soloed which is absent on the split coil P.

The video is pretty interesting given the credibility he has for studio and live work.

 

[Iridescentone]

You don't really believe that, do you?

Isn't it amazing?

That a Fender....the most commonplace, mundane, blend-in-with-the-woodwork bass on the planet....could be considered a "fashion statement" is mind boggling.

Seems to me, if a player explicitly DID NOT want to make a statement, that player would choose....a Fender. Or am I crazy?

 

[SGT. BAKER]

Seems to me, if a player explicitly DID NOT want to make a statement, that player would choose....a Fender. Or am I crazy?

Surely that player he don´t was a mind boggling and when he´d go to the shop and he found the choices he´ll compare´em all an he´ll know take to home the best Fender posible. Or maybe he´ll get something better for the same money.

Everyone can choose whatever. But there´s some players that they´d don´t know see far beyond for Fender logo.

 

[SGT. BAKER]

Is it actually a specific tone these guys want or more of a fashion statement?

You don't really believe that, do you?

Unfortunate, in many cases for some players I think so.

I´m not saying that it be a big rule for everyone that having Fender. I knwon some bass players that they started a real searching to finding the perfect bass. It taken a while, but many of them have Fender and they´ll get having a better Fender that before ´cause they keep on mind not only the band. They known when a good bass is really a good bass. So my two cents for them.

But there´s many Fender´s fans out there that really they´ll forgive too much things for having the Fender logo in their instrument.

 

[FretNoMore]

Isn't it amazing?

That a Fender....the most commonplace, mundane, blend-in-with-the-woodwork bass on the planet....could be considered a "fashion statement" is mind boggling.

Seems to me, if a player explicitly DID NOT want to make a statement, that player would choose....a Fender. Or am I crazy?

Actually fashion statements are very much about blending in with the currently fashionable crowd, why would everyone buy the same stuff otherwise? Fender has just never gotten very much out of fashion.

I think Fender is so commonly used simply because it works, it's tried and true, and it's a "safe" choice. It won't offend anyone and most people will like or accept it without much question. It's a standard for a reason and while there are a gazillion other choices that may or may not be better at certain things Fender is simply one that is likely to work well in most situations.

For the record, I don't play Fender basses, but as my main basses are pretty traditional Jazz bass clones they could have been Fender if they had offered slightly different specs and electronics.

 

[Batmensch]

You don't really believe that, do you?

A lot of people do apparently, Jimmy. Seems to me they think that the only reason a person could possibly like Fender is if they are either gullible sheep or fanboys with no mind of their own, because, as we all know "If you like what I don't like, then you're an idiot."

 

[Landy67]

I've gone looking for a P a couple of times, and instead came back with a Stingray, a Godin A4, G&L tele bass, etc. I keep meaning to buy one, but something always comes up.

 

[JIO]

Sweet! Which exact model is that?

It started life as a new '06 Fender CIJ '51P RI - http://www.talkbass.com/threads/black-blond-p-makeover.1087946/

 

[Luckydog]

Didnt look at the video (yes I should, before I run my mouth), but two things come to mind...

- Sean Hurley, with his 60 or 61 P, is no doubt an awesome player, but perhaps he's not immune to the same attraction that other folks have to the "Fender mystique", whether hipster or not.

- Sean Hurley, has a signature Fender model, which he appears to use in the video, based on the screen shot, with the somewhat weird Jaguar-inspired mute. Fender does little to make their artist signature based instruments much like the originals on which they are based...other than the basic looks IMO. While I'm sure the basic P tone is a staple in his palette, my guess is, he is also doing what he can to drum up business for sales of his signature model.

I use P style basses mostly, but although I have numerous very nice vintage Fenders in great condition, they either place or show in any race with my primary bass.

 

[JimmyM]

Didnt look at the video (yes I should, before I run my mouth), but two things come to mind...

- Sean Hurley, with his 60 or 61 P, is no doubt an awesome player, but perhaps he's not immune to the same attraction that other folks have to the "Fender mystique", whether hipster or not.

- Sean Hurley, has a signature Fender model, which he appears to use in the video, based on the screen shot, with the somewhat weird Jaguar-inspired mute. Fender does little to make their artist signature based instruments much like the originals on which they are based...other than the basic looks IMO. While I'm sure the basic P tone is a staple in his palette, my guess is, he is also doing what he can to drum up business for sales of his signature model.

Nooooooo! Say it ain't so! Freaking capitalist pig!

 

[boristhespider9]

Didnt look at the video (yes I should, before I run my mouth), but two things come to mind...

- Sean Hurley, with his 60 or 61 P, is no doubt an awesome player, but perhaps he's not immune to the same attraction that other folks have to the "Fender mystique", whether hipster or not.

- Sean Hurley, has a signature Fender model, which he appears to use in the video, based on the screen shot, with the somewhat weird Jaguar-inspired mute. Fender does little to make their artist signature based instruments much like the originals on which they are based...other than the basic looks IMO. While I'm sure the basic P tone is a staple in his palette, my guess is, he is also doing what he can to drum up business for sales of his signature model.

I use P style basses mostly, but although I have numerous very nice vintage Fenders in great condition, they either place or show in any race with my primary bass.

Yes, you should watch the video first to see what it's even about.

He also can regularly be seen using his Lakland USA Glaub.