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Why does everyone use Fenders?

#742
Frist off I play 5string and I don't hate Fenders. I have played a few over the years but never found a Fender 5string that felt good in my hands. Price was always a problem for me but when I had the means to take a step up price wise I found G&L to be the brand that picked me. There are many good brands at all price points and I have had as many as 6 basses at one time all nice and playable. I just sold a Schector 5 because it did not get played.
I now have only 2 both G&L 2500 and one is fretless. I have never been asked to play any music that my two G&Ls could not cover.
So do I hate the Fender brand no. Do I play a Fender creation yes. I don't play them because anyone else does I play them because they feel good in my hands and sound the way I want to sound.
Thanks
 
#743
Not everyone plays a Fender. Some of us grow up and explore a little and end up finding many treasures out there that do not contain the name Fender on them. Give Leo and George the glory they deserve and then go grab something new and incredible. There are many, many other killer brands out there. I chose Warwick but then again I believe that German engineering is the earth's best. Some disagree. Look at it this way, are you riding the same bike you had when you were 5 - no. Same girl as when you were 15 - no. So I say go explore and ignore what everyone else plays. If basses were girls would you want the one everyone already had? Hope not.
 
#744
I have played Fender basses - jazz. I liked them fine. Ive tried many basses and am playing a Roscoe right now. Best playing, sounding and looking bass I've ever had. No one ever asks me to play a Fender. I don't run in the same circles (obviously) that some of you do. Maybe that isn't so bad as I can play the bass I want instead of the bass someone else wants. And yes, before you jump allover me I get it. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with it.
 
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#747
And here they are:cool:
 

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#748
Basspolizei said:
Not everyone plays a Fender. Some of us grow up and explore a little and end up finding many treasures out there that do not contain the name Fender on them. Give Leo and George the glory they deserve and then go grab something new and incredible. There are many, many other killer brands out there. I chose Warwick but then again I believe that German engineering is the earth's best. Some disagree. Look at it this way, are you riding the same bike you had when you were 5 - no. Same girl as when you were 15 - no. So I say go explore and ignore what everyone else plays. If basses were girls would you want the one everyone already had? Hope not.
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Yep, that's what I did when I grew up. Then I went back to Fender ;)
 
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#751
96tbird said:
What does German engineering have to do with carving wood?
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The fact that you just had that huge momentary lack of common sense and asked that, proves to me that you could not possibly understand the answer! Ok to be fair you probably have not witnessed the factory videos in Germany that I have so I am sorry. Warwick has it going on man. Trust me when I say they have some of the greatest, most complex, and talented bass makers. The wood the German's use is the most incredibly unique and hard to find woods and that is one of the huge differences. It's really very rudimentary. The Fender is a Ford and a German Bass is an AUDI. Enough said. :sleep:
 
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#752
JimmyM said:
Yep, that's what I did when I grew up. Then I went back to Fender ;)
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Jimmy I wish you were my neighbor. You slay me! I actually did the same thing but I would choose my Warwick over my Fender if only one would fit in my coffin with me.:bassist: Jimmy I just have to know in all seriousness, is that a DEVO flowerpot top on James Brown? If so that is genius!
 
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#753
I've asked myself this very question. I think it comes down to a Jazz or a P tone in an instrument that strikes a good balance between quality and price. Lots of basses offer a Jazz tone, some super cheap (SX) some super spendy (Sodowsky). A good MIM or MIA Jazz is not too expensive and is a solid workhorse. Note I said a GOOD MIA or MIM, as they are not all created equal.

That being said, there are better built basses in the same price range as a MIA Jazz, such as a Stingray and Sterling, which really feel, to me anyway, like evolved versions of the Precision and Jazz.
 
#755
Basspolizei said:
Jimmy I wish you were my neighbor. You slay me! I actually did the same thing but I would choose my Warwick over my Fender if only one would fit in my coffin with me.:bassist: Jimmy I just have to know in all seriousness, is that a DEVO flowerpot top on James Brown? If so that is genius!
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It is, but it's not a flowerpot...it's an energy dome ;) Thx for the nice words!
 
#757
A-train said:
I think that they are so common is because A. They have fairly cheap entry models that sound good for a beginner right away and B. Because almost every other guitar company makes some kind of fender copy or aftermarket addition so you can go into any music store and easily buy a replacement part for anything on the bass. Try having an emergency and need to buy a piece for a Spector or Warwick bridge in the middle of Texas at the local mom and pop music store or even at Guitar Center for that matter.
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Good point here!!!
 
#758
There's something about Fender Basses! Timeless in design. One of the best examples of "industrial art".

Iconic like the Coca Cola bottle, the American flag, the baseball bat, the hamburger, Mariln Monroe, Geo Washington. They look just as modern today as they did 50 and 60 years ago!

Strapping on a Fender Bass is like wearing Levi's button fly jeans, a Tee shirt and Chuck Taylors.
 
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#759
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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As a dyed in the wool Fender guy, the answer is both sound AND fashion statement.
Fenders are just plain good basses, they sound good, mix well and are very reliable (and readily available as other have said) This means they are popular and played a lot, so the sounds people grew up with mostly got recorded on Fenders so that's the sound in their head.
Fashion wise, I lived through the Super-Strat Scare of the late 80s, early 90s and let me tell you, Fender was not at all cool to be playing then, but then the Alternative Crisis occurred with all of the Seattle bands and they were playing old Fenders (not vintage, old that was the point - they were cheap and looked different). From there Fenders' alterna-cred was renewed and they have remained popular since then with individuals who want to look cool. They are, ironically the "alternative standard".
But as others have mentioned, unless your bass actually sounds bad or wrong in the context, play it - if you rock, you'll stand out for being different.
 
#760
After owning loads of basses (at 1 point 8 at the same time - all non-Fenders) I'm in fact reverting all to Fender. They fit all kinds of sounds, genres and above all, they're easy on the neck and back.
 

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