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Why does everyone use Fenders?
- Thread starter batmilk
- Start date
I would like to think it is personal preference, at least it is for me. However with others it may be about looks, their favorite players used one, etc. It's kind of like why do some play four strings and some prefer five? Or those who prefer Lakland, Gibson, Music Man, etc over Fender's for that matter?
Because everybody before us used Fenders, especially in the 60s and 70s. Les Paul/SG/Strat/Tele for guitar, P, J, Music Man for bass bass. Its that simple. Yes you have your alternatives but those instruments are all over recordings for the past 50+ years.
No fascination with Fender, they're just good. Sound good, look good, feel good and solid rugged machines. Real utilitarian workhorses. Good North American maple necks that can take a beating; solid body that isn't so fancy that you're afraid to ding it up. Dings happen and Fender isn't so rich that if you do get a ding, your regularity won't be disturbed.
Edit: ^Cliff is correct. And, I'm gonna join a white cheddar cheese popcorn, meat and potatoes, canvas sneaker, big naturals, acne puss, shock and stroll band.
WTH is shoegaze??? How is that a genre? ;p
Edit: ^Cliff is correct. And, I'm gonna join a white cheddar cheese popcorn, meat and potatoes, canvas sneaker, big naturals, acne puss, shock and stroll band.
WTH is shoegaze??? How is that a genre? ;p
This thread is like an engorged tick on a donkeys arse.
Edit: I like the connection they share with the past, way back when GOOD music was made. Also, I like how they play, feel, sound and look.
Edit: I like the connection they share with the past, way back when GOOD music was made. Also, I like how they play, feel, sound and look.
Why not elaborate on that? It's good to fact check, but facts should be provided when someone does. It isn't common knowledge that Fender was not in fact the first electric bass guitar, so why not shed some light on the matter instead of just throwing around the "I know more than you" ball.
Google Paul Tutmarc. We thought everyone knew this by now.
No, I did not know this. Never heard of Paul Tutmarc so I read about him. Interesting, as I fully believed that Leo Fender was the inventor of the first electric bass guitar.
Google Paul Tutmarc. We thought everyone knew this by now.
That's kinda why I didn't elaborate. I knew somone else would bring Tutmarc up, and TBH, I was feeling a bit lazy at the time. Sorry if that bothers anyone.
I sound 'wrong' whenever I play anything that is not a Fender. It just sits well in the mix with minimal or no EQ at all.
The Chevy of bass guitars. Like a rock.
Seriously though, lots of people here have multiple basses to have fun with in different ways, for different gigs, different sounds etc...My P is just my goto workhorse for most things...easiest to play, most forgiving, great sounding and reliable.
Seriously though, lots of people here have multiple basses to have fun with in different ways, for different gigs, different sounds etc...My P is just my goto workhorse for most things...easiest to play, most forgiving, great sounding and reliable.
OP, you don't have to have a Fender to fit in... there's always Sadowsky and Lakland, both upscale builders that respect the classic lines of the Fender and build basses that retain the Fender aura.
Anyway, your Warwick will do fine. You're the guy at Sturgis on a BMW instead of a Harley, so what. Shoegaze on. Whatever shoegaze is.
Naw, get a Fender, drop the Shoegaze and just play rock'n'roll instead.
Anyway, your Warwick will do fine. You're the guy at Sturgis on a BMW instead of a Harley, so what. Shoegaze on. Whatever shoegaze is.
Naw, get a Fender, drop the Shoegaze and just play rock'n'roll instead.
It's for a bunch of reasons, the ubiquity of fenders that is.
For me it's that I picked one up and it did something awesome . . .
Played well and sounded amazing.
For me it's that I picked one up and it did something awesome . . .
Played well and sounded amazing.
Jeff Scott said:
I went to a big box store and inquired about a DVD player. The sales associate points to this one model and says, "this one has done really well for us".
What's that got to do with me?
Anyway, I have two for their sound. My G&L blows them away. People drive Camrys because they see people driving Camrys. They need an appliance and they get it. No passion, no considering what that really want or like.
Another take is that is what the foot gazers play. There was a time when the bassists of Nashville and country suddenly switched to multi string higher end large manufactured and boutique basses. Did they lose work or get run out of town?
I was playing a gig and this bassist said he was playing with his bass down around his knees he tried up really high and was flying all over the fretboard because he had greater access. His band mates asked, "where's your image?"
Play what you want make a name for yourself playing what you want. Have personal satisfaction playing what you want.
Bat Milk,
Leo Fender's first two designs, the Precision and Jazz, just kinda' of knocked everyone else out, of the ballpark, right off the bat. When I was growing up in Muncie Indiana, there were other fine competitors, Gibson T-Birds, EBO's, Rickenbackers and Hofner's to name a few. Although those basses have a beautiful signature sound, IMHO, IME, because each one of them has a really distinct voice, they aren't as tonally flexible as the Precision and Jazz in a variety of playing situations. Sometimes, simpler is truly better.
It's heartwarming, to see all the beautiful basses built by Nordstrand, Sawdosky, Lakland, and Mike Lull, that are boutique versions of Leo's original designs and sell quite well. Fender tried to break the mold in the 90's with basses like the Performer, but, alias all most people wanted was either a Jazz or Precision.
Alembic, Fodera, and Warwick were certainly able to change the playing field, but some of their most popular instruments have elements of Leo's first two basses. It's kind of uncanny how he just hit the mark so well, that every one else is has to follow in his foot steps.
Ric
