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Why does everyone use Fenders?

#601
When did this thread become a shift to what jingle producers prefer and the boo hoos who can't handle them not accepting the 5 thousand dollar spalted bookshelf they brought? It's a spec job, you're on hire, do what they ask and like it or eat ramen.

And the "grotesquely conservative" comment and the *knowing, enlightened pity* that followed. Give me a break. Stop trying to make yourself feel better for your choices and being so "awesomely against the grain / edgy / ooh, look at me I'm anti Fender P or J [waah waah, like it matters at all]" and actually wow me with your playing. Do you have something to say musically? You can say it on whatever you want, I play a freakin Fender because I want to play a freakin Fender. I played a G&L first. Then for a while I played bass collections, and italias, and some other stuff. Came back to Fender. What of it? I didn't feel a need to consult anyone on the matter. Didn't occur to me. WHY does it bother so many and raise so much ire and inspire so much apathy in people? It's freakin nuts. It's so nuts that it happens over and over on this forum, regardless the original intent of the thread. The first volley and then the me-too's chime in, and then it's all to pot. It's stupid thinking and wasted energy. Shut up and play.
 
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#602
FretNoMore said:
Yes, I overstated it a bit.

No, you can't make a P bass sound like every other bass out there. Sure you can cover every genre, in some respects you can play any music on any instrument, but maybe just not with the sound you are looking for.
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Yes you can play any music on any instrument, and more often than not its a P bass that fits the best in that capacity.
 
#603
hover said:
When did this thread become a shift to what jingle producers prefer and the boo hoos who can't handle them not accepting the 5 thousand dollar spalted bookshelf they brought? It's a spec job, you're on hire, do what they ask and like it or eat ramen.

And the "grotesquely conservative" comment and the *knowing, enlightened pity* that followed. Give me a break. Stop trying to make yourself feel better for your choices and being so "awesomely against the grain / edgy / ooh, look at me I'm anti Fender P or J [waah waah, like it matters at all]" and actually wow me with your playing. Do you have something to say? You can say it on whatever you want, I play a freakin Fender because I want to play a freakin Fender. I played a G&L first. Then for a while I played bass collections, and italias, and some other stuff. Came back to Fender. What of it? I didn't feel a need to consult anyone on the matter. Didn't occur to me. WHY does it bother so many and raise so much ire and inspire so much apathy in people? It's freakin nuts. It's stupid thinking and wasted energy. Shut up and play.
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Oh, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel. ;)
 
#604
hover said:
When did this thread become a shift to what jingle producers prefer and the boo hoos who can't handle them not accepting the 5 thousand dollar spalted bookshelf they brought? It's a spec job, you're on hire, do what they ask and like it or eat ramen.

And the "grotesquely conservative" comment and the *knowing, enlightened pity* that followed. Give me a break. Stop trying to make yourself feel better for your choices and being so "awesomely against the grain / edgy / ooh, look at me I'm anti Fender P or J [waah waah, like it matters at all]" and actually wow me with your playing. Do you have something to say musically? You can say it on whatever you want, I play a freakin Fender because I want to play a freakin Fender. I played a G&L first. Then for a while I played bass collections, and italias, and some other stuff. Came back to Fender. What of it? I didn't feel a need to consult anyone on the matter. Didn't occur to me. WHY does it bother so many and raise so much ire and inspire so much apathy in people? It's freakin nuts. It's so nuts that it happens over and over on this forum, regardless the original intent of the thread. The first volley and then the me-too's chime in, and then it's all to pot. It's stupid thinking and wasted energy. Shut up and play.
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We need an "I love this, and completely agree button"
 
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#606
batmilk said:
Not to hate on Fenders at all, I love the way they look and sound and would definitely love to have one...

But in the world of indie rock/alternative rock/shoegaze/etc, it seems like every single bassist uses some kind of a Fender (and almost always uses a pick).

I'm going to be starting a shoegaze/dreampop band with some friends and I play a 5 string Warwick Corvette, and I can't help but feel somewhat out of place, not that it will bother me much, but I just don't understand the fascination. I also can't use a pick to save my life, so that's another thing.

Is it actually a specific tone these guys want or more of a fashion statement?
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People play Fenders because they're fun to play - comfortable to wear - and you can usually get the tone you want from them.
 
#608
Don't want to bust any bubbles here. I love Fenders, I have eight of them - but to be completely honest - when I show up at a session the engineers can't wait for me to plug in PRS #11. You should see the look on their faces after plugging in and playing a few notes. Disclaimer: I am in New York with some pretty spectacular engineers and producers - folks who are always searching for something KILLER but different.

Most of these talented folks pride themselves on NOT recording cookie cutter bass tracks that sound like everyone else. Folks who giggle and roll their eyes at the idea of how a bass "sits in the mix". They realize that is THEIR job. YMMV depending - I suppose - on lot of things, but particularly on your geography.

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 
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#609
^^^ Awesome stuff.
My 6 a.m. voice came off preachy, but my question and such was not so much aimed at stating "only a Fender will work" in the spec work scene or anything, again, use what you use and if you're asked for something different, weigh your disgust against whether or not you want to get paid, that's the simple in and out of it. Glad you found a team that digs your gear. I certainly was not implying that Engineers / creatives on that side of the coin are close minded, I was more saying be prepared just in case. If it's a meet in the middle and get to work affair, the creativity will be there and everyone's happy.

Do what you do, get known for what you do and how you do it, and keep workin and creating. In the end that's what counts, be it on a Fender, Modulus, or Broomstick. Leave the hang ups re: what gear you're using you do it to the wannabes, brandwhores and doubters.
 
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#613
drTSTingray said:
Why would they be bothered if they get a great bass sound and accurate playing from the player how it's being achieved - surely it's the player not the instrument?

I know there are people with pre conceived ideas of what instrument other people should use and if you choose to work with them you either have to accept their irrationality or fight them.
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Rocky said:
So my view is the fixed views on guitars and basses are often based on musical snobbery.
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In short, really three excellent sentences that show us what´s happening.:thumbsup:

I think that this snobism it does an attitude of superiority of many people over the others of this business. And some of them they really have too much power to decide. So it seems that if somebody don´t share this mind/thought about the magic tone of Fender it will look like an enemy of this tendency and a negative musician. So sadly the reallity is: or it accepts this snobism or don´t expect some callbacks for some works of studio, gigs,...

Edit: I took a mistake on the quotes.
 
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#620
This is really personal, specially on my experience as I wasn't a Fender guy for soooo long until I come across my American Deluxe JB V... What a tone, and a really wide range of possibilities on that preamp...

Now I'm selling 2 of my other 3 basses, all Corts, and looking for an American Precision V...
 

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