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Why does everyone use Fenders?
- Thread starter batmilk
- Start date
Yes, on both sides of the argument.
Rock & roll is more about attitude then being "untraditional". An example: "I play Fender basses because I like them. If you don't like it, tough s&8t!!!"
Why does it matter if you like/dislike Fenders? Play what you want, and if someone else is playing a bass you don't like, then deal with it.
Wow... why is this even a debate?
Some fenders are nice. Some are truly Meh. They do NOT make the best basses in the world, but they do the job. So why is this even a subject for debate?
Some fenders are nice. Some are truly Meh. They do NOT make the best basses in the world, but they do the job. So why is this even a subject for debate?
I'm afraid that the inference that Leo changed the trajectory of pop music with his basses is quite wrong and overlooks history. It is true Americans seem to have embraced them.
The Beatles were responsible for changing the entire trajectory of pop music after the rock and roll era for a range of reasons and their bass player used Fenders little or never and certainly not enough (if at all) to have any bearing on their music.
The Hofner and Rickenbacker basses thus had the biggest bass influence within the band with the biggest influence on the trajectory of pop music.
OK. What bands do the Beatles list as their influences, and how many of those bands were using Upright, Hofner, or Rickenbacker basses?
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Unless you don't play Fenders, in which case you don't get the job (based on this thread).
(I have a AmStd Strat so I like Fenders. I do think it would be nice to see more diversity in the rock bass world though. Surely music isn't defined by a singular tone.)
I just find it extraordinary to think some of you guys think Paul McCartney wouldn't get a bass job because he doesn't play a Fender!!! What a load of bolxxckx!! There again perhaps he wouldn't have cared to play on such ground breaking tunes as Sugar Sugar by The Archies lol!!!
You are a veritable pinball machine of nonsensical topic deflections.
What does Paul McCartney's undeniable brand-cred have to do with why a lot of producers and recording engineers may want to specify a predictable bass sound and then move on to the 99% of more important things of the sonic palette and pop-culture statement that they may wish to focus on?
Face it: Your "expertise" in "cutting-edge bass awesomeness" is just not very important in the big picture of what these people want. Play whatever instrument you please when the folks writing the paycheck render no opinion, by all means.
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Some of the biggest names in the studio musician world played on those Archies records, and the basslines were badass. I do gigs occasionally with the Archies singer, Ron Dante, and some of those songs are a real bitch to play, especially when you have to sing backups, too. They were not the Beatles, of course, but respect to the Archies. The musicians did 40 songs in 3 days, and it was great bubblegum music, and a far cry better than most pop music to come along in the last 10 years. You're still singing "Sugar Sugar" in your head every time you hear the title. I rest my case
Way to totally miss the point and exaggerate what's been said for maximum butt-hurt. Nobody ever said McCartney couldn't get a bass job. Of course he could. He did.
My comment was a generalization. Allow me to add more:
"I play Ibanez basses because I like them. If you don't like it, tough s&8t!!!"
Or
"I play Alembic basses because I like them. If you don't like it, tough s&8t!!!"
The Rock and Roll attitude: Play what you want. Fender? Rickenbacker? Alembic? Some 3K boutique bass? Whatever. Just play what you want. It doesn't matter what everyone else plays, and if they turn their nose up at what you play, then that's their problem, not yours.
If it's a matter of not getting a job because you don't like Fenders? First, I think that in this day and age, that's hooey. Second, even if it is true, then you are obviously making a go at music as a full time job. If the job at hand requires a Fender bass, due to the requirements of the folks signing your paycheck, you had better have one on hand or rent one, or find another job. Period, end of story.
As far as diversity in the rock bass world, I do hear it, and in some cases there are bassists out there that rarely use Fenders, if at all. And some bassists, over the years, either start with Fenders then move on to something else (John Paul Jones and John Entwistle, for example), start with Fenders, move on to something else then come back to them later (Geddy Lee), or many other combinations that many or many not have Fenders involved.
Personally speaking, I didn't start playing Fenders regularly until 13 years ago. Before that, it was Rickenbacker, Ibanez, and a slew of other brands that I'm not going to get into right now. I found what I wanted in a Fender, and I've played some great ones and some awful ones. So what? It works for me, I love that tone, and that's it. So, to reiterate from my last post:
"I play Fender basses because I like them. If you don't like it, tough s&8t!!!"
Definitely - respect to the Archies, and any other studio musicians.
Apologies for any butt-hurt - I was simply responding to the guy who inferred Fender basses had changed the course of pop music signicantly - they only did that if you ignore large chunks of history and some of the most important - I thought this was a debate about why everyone uses Fenders - unless I'm very much mistaken the general principles allow for contrary views. The fact everyone overlooked arguably the most influential band in history is their problem, not mine!
That is not to say I don't think Fender basses are any good. However they are not the only professional level basses - far from it!!
- Jan 12, 2011
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Fenders are simple production line parts basses for the most part and they often can take a beating and still play well. An industry standard. Even if it's not a Fender, that basic (classic) look makes a lot of band leaders, MD's and producers, sound guys etc relax about you and your sound. A rock/blues/funk guy hired me for a gig so I showed up with several different basses, he said play the Fender Jazz. Was not interested in me playing any other bass. It was his gig, he was paying, so I played the Jazz. Having said this yes I have a Fender Jazz and an SX Jazz although my two main basses for gigging are Brubakers. A Brute which is my favorite bar bass, and a KXB-5 Custom for the higher level gigs. Still take the Jazz with me just in case.
Well. I understand your words but I´m not thinking the same.
The mostly Fender designs (specially PBass an JB) I find them so attractive for me. I never stranged the headstock shape. In others basses it don´t happens the same for me. And I find their bodies with their pickguards so nice to my eyes. Even I has less ergonomics problems/issues with this bodies shapes that with another modern bodies shapes of another brands like Warwick, Yamaha, Ibanez,... I like feeling this bodies in a bass, and the size and finishes necks are so good too. When I play ´them my hands they feel "like in home", this is a sensation that I only get with Fender and/or some brands that they copy those designs of Fender like Sadowsky, Mike Lull,... Maybe I used to be too much of playing that kind of basses. With them I don´t need strecht my left hand so much to reach the first frets, and the fingers of my right hand they know where to go quickly.
My complaint is that the Fender control quality sometimes is not so good for most popular and cheaper models of MIA and MIM, and this fact it gives that some instruments they´d have some problems to setup allright and don´t sound really so good. So for the same money I believe that you can get something better. I know that it´s harder to find a good instrument in terms of resonating woods and playability. Probably with another brands it was a little bit easier than Fender. But if it can find a good Fender (even MIM) it´s difficult let it go.
The P and J are not dated - they are timeless.
The P and J are not dated - they are timeless.
I think it too. Ask for to somebody that draws a bass guitar. Surely he´ll draw a PBass.
