Why does everyone use Fenders?

[Liam Wald]

Fair enough, my good man. However both of the basses I mentioned might not work now that I think about it. They both have strings, pickups, tuners, bridges, and strap pins. They must have got that from Fender.

Not to mention the fact that they are both made of wood. And as we all know, prior to Leo Fenders work in perfecting the bass, all of the ancient or B.L. (Before Leo) instruments were made of either hard rock or heavy metal.

 

[Basspolizei]

Sharks & Crocodiles continue to evolve. If you look at skeletons collected even 100-200 years ago, there are huge differences in the species. As with most evolution we just don't see the little things, or consider them evolution.

The same can be said for basses. The Fender P & J have evolved & changed. Pick-ups, tuners, materials, electronics, bridges, etc. They've all changed over time. The general shapes haven't, but the little things have.

Your right and I am glad the corporation hasn't mandated some ignorant change. There are some killer bass shapes out there such as T bird, Explorer, Kelly, Warlock, Vampyre, Thumb, Grabber, just to name a few but I will always think the Fender Jazz is the sexiest bass ever! I like the P too but it's the dorky cousin like the Tele is compared to the gorgeous Strat!

 

[danosix]

Gibson EB-2
Hofner 500/1

I too want free lunch.

They were brought out in answer to the P that's influence. Also they're bass guitars and both Hofner and Gibson would both credit Fender not audiovox or Carl thompson's dad

 

[awilkie84]

Your right and I am glad the corporation hasn't mandated some ignorant change. There are some killer bass shapes out there such as T bird, Explorer, Kelly, Warlock, Vampyre, Thumb, Grabber, just to name a few but I will always think the Fender Jazz is the sexiest bass ever! I like the P too but it's the dorky cousin like the Tele is compared to the gorgeous Strat!

That's funny, cuz the J is the 3rd Fender bass and the 59 P was based off the Strat. lol

 

[Basspolizei]

That's funny, cuz the J is the 3rd Fender bass and the 59 P was based off the Strat. lol

ouch! I have been schooled.........

 

[DerekW]

Not to mention the fact that they are both made of wood. And as we all know, prior to Leo Fenders work in perfecting the bass, all of the ancient or B.L. (Before Leo) instruments were made of either hard rock or heavy metal.

Which leads to the question...

What's the best hard rock or heavy metal bass for hard rock or heavy metal?




Edit: never mind, found it.

 

[awilkie84]

Which leads to the question...

What's the best hard rock or heavy metal bass for hard rock or heavy metal?




Edit: never mind, found it.

Can you use a hard rock bass for country? How about a pink bass for blues?

 

[Basspolizei]

Which leads to the question...

What's the best hard rock or heavy metal bass for hard rock or heavy metal?

Oh another debate entirely. Gibson T bird is one. Jackson is another. Let's not leave out Fender or G&L - watch Wanda from The Iron Maidens tear it up on a G&L - impressive!!!
Most ferocious looking and sounding metal bass - if you have a spare $4500.00 - Vampyre!

 

[awilkie84]

Oh another debate entirely. Gibson T bird is one. Jackson is another. Let's not leave out Fender or G&L - watch Wanda from The Iron Maidens tear it up on a G&L - impressive!!!
Most ferocious looking and sounding metal bass - Vampyre!

Is her bass lead or granite?

 

[Basspolizei]

Have to ask her man. I can't know everything. Either way she does more on it than we ever will dream of doing............

 

[ofajen]

I think when you're starting usually you don't know much about anything but if there's a brand you'll know its fender or gibson. Gibson basses aren't as ubiquitous as fender though, so the majority of newcomers will probably figure they should probably play it safe and go with Fender/Squier.

Unless you're looking for your first bass and there's a Gibson Ripper for sale cheap and the bass player you know and trust says "buy this, it's great" and then you end up liking it and playing it for decades.

Otto

 

[drTSTingray]

Can you use a hard rock bass for country? How about a pink bass for blues?

I use this one for both - the tone and look can't be beaten - Leo lineage but properly engineered

 

[TinIndian]

Okay, I give...
Leo Fender figured out what everyone else missed and all other bass guitars are simply inferior copies of Fender's designs.
That is why Fenders are the best and nothing else comes close.

As long as you're ready to admit that.

 

[awilkie84]

I use this one for both - the tone and look can't be beaten - Leo lineage but properly engineered

View attachment 483275

It's cute but I don't know about properly engineered. The only thing I'd want off that bass is the truss wheel. The body's flat with no forearm contour. The headstock puts 1 tuner randomly on the other side, where it's a PITA to get at. The pick-up isn't as versatile as a J or P/J, and there's no active/passive switch. It's still a nice bass, though.

 

[awilkie84]

Unless you're looking for your first bass and there's a Gibson Ripper for sale cheap and the bass player you know and trust says "buy this, it's great" and then you end up liking it and playing it for decades.

Otto

If my first bass had been a Ripper, I'd likely have given up bass & gone back to Sax/Drums. lol I despise those things more than Rics.

 

[ofajen]

If my first bass had been a Ripper, I'd likely have given up bass & gone back to Sax/Drums. lol I despise those things more than Rics.

To each their own I suppose. Mine is not wired stock, and has a neck p/u only setting (stock instruments don't have this) which I mainly used, so it sounds very different from stock instruments.

Otto

 

[awilkie84]

To each their own I suppose. Mine is not wired stock, and has a neck p/u only setting (stock instruments don't have this) which I mainly used, so it sounds very different from stock instruments.

Otto

Exactly. Everyone has their own preferences. I like Fenders & Spectors, and a couple MMs. Have never been fully satisfied with Gibsons.

 

[ofajen]

Exactly. Everyone has their own preferences. I like Fenders & Spectors, and a couple MMs. Have never been fully satisfied with Gibsons.

It's funny, 30 years later I just bought my third bass, and my first P-style bass, an SX. Turns out my favorite setting on the Ripper sounds a good bit like a P-bass. Go figure.

Otto

 

[drTSTingray]

It's cute but I don't know about properly engineered. The only thing I'd want off that bass is the truss wheel. The body's flat with no forearm contour. The headstock puts 1 tuner randomly on the other side, where it's a PITA to get at. The pick-up isn't as versatile as a J or P/J, and there's no active/passive switch. It's still a nice bass, though.

Six bolt neck attachment; heavy duty deeply anchored bridge; lack of neck dead spots; individual string muting all help also [emoji2]

 

[awilkie84]

Six bolt neck attachment; heavy duty deeply anchored bridge; lack of neck dead spots; individual string muting all help also [emoji2]

The neck bolts, bridge & string mutes aren't really engineering advancements. I've yet to meet a neck where the standard 4 bolt neck was an issue. The bridge anchoring's not a huge issue, either. Those bent plate bridges have outlasted many other designs without challenge. String mutes are nice, but really not a necessity to better engineering. As for the dead spots, I can't say I've owned a Fender where I've noticed a dead spot. That said, dead spots have the potential to show up on any bass, just due to their cause.