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Why does everyone use Fenders?
- Thread starter batmilk
- Start date
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
If this thread were new with only 1 or 2 posts in it I'd respond. Since it's gone on as long as it has I'm certain whatever I want to say has already been said. I therefore say +1 to all that feel the same way I do.
Besides, everybody DOESN'T use Fenders. But there is no escaping that no matter what you use, Fender's influence is usually a factor.
Lot's of arguments came up.
If you played on a hundred different Fenders or so one fact cannot be denied any more: Some Fenders are good, some are bad quality and others are somewhere inbetween. It's not the brand that garantees a good instrument. So much for this crappy argument.
Still the main one is not mentioned yet:
Most people act like sheep...
If you played on a hundred different Fenders or so one fact cannot be denied any more: Some Fenders are good, some are bad quality and others are somewhere inbetween. It's not the brand that garantees a good instrument. So much for this crappy argument.
Still the main one is not mentioned yet:
Most people act like sheep...
Fender invented what most people consider THE electric bass both in terms of look and sound and for about 99% of music where electric bass is called for, a Fender will be perfect.
Reading through this post it seems like a lot of people confuse finding 'their voice' with what brand bass they play. Playing a brand other than Fender doesn't make you any more original or unique. It's like the kid in high school who dresses 'punk' to try to be different only it's obvious so everyone else that trying too hard to be different for difference sake is just another form of normal.
A Fender P bass is a blank slate, it only brings the bare essentials to the table, everything else is up to you.
A Fender P bass is a blank slate, it only brings the bare essentials to the table, everything else is up to you.
Some people buy them because they like the look...for what reason I don't know. I mean I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all...but...
Some people buy them because they like the sound, though I can scarcely imagine a bass guitar sound less pleasing to me than a P.
Some people buy them because they are trying to emulate their heroes.
Some people buy them because Fender is the best they can afford.
Some people buy them because "they're the best selling basses out there, so they HAVE to be the best, right?" Yes, that is exactly why artless pop is so successful.
But I would reckon most people buy them for various combinations of the above.
I dislike them because I don't like the way they sound, I don't like the way they feel, and I don't like the way they look. I dislike the company because they are allergic to innovation, thought I know that it may not be 100% their fault. They have, from time to time, tried to make new and interesting products. Fender fans don't want innovation from Fender. They want endless rehashes of the same old ideas.
Some people buy them because they like the sound, though I can scarcely imagine a bass guitar sound less pleasing to me than a P.
Some people buy them because they are trying to emulate their heroes.
Some people buy them because Fender is the best they can afford.
Some people buy them because "they're the best selling basses out there, so they HAVE to be the best, right?" Yes, that is exactly why artless pop is so successful.
But I would reckon most people buy them for various combinations of the above.
I dislike them because I don't like the way they sound, I don't like the way they feel, and I don't like the way they look. I dislike the company because they are allergic to innovation, thought I know that it may not be 100% their fault. They have, from time to time, tried to make new and interesting products. Fender fans don't want innovation from Fender. They want endless rehashes of the same old ideas.
On the other hand, when you're an unpopular person who plays unpopular music for other unpopular people, you might as well use an unpopular bass to do it.
I just wanted to clarify my joke-comment about "sheeple." I only have Fenders or Frankenfenders. I've been in love with the sunburst P bass since I saw my first one back when I was a high school fresman in 1970... and felt the sound blast through my chest and thump my inner organs. I was standing at the foot of the stage in front of a guy using an Acoustic 360. Then I got a Fretless P bass, but couldn't do much with it and got rid of it in mid-college. And now I am fated to live in a state of eternal regret.
Way to be open minded! It seems fairly obvious why Fender never strays to far from the original designs, SUCCESS! Whenever they offer something radical, it flops because more people want P's and J's that ANY other basses in history and probably more than all other basses combined. No one bashes Gibson for not changing the Les Paul...
Not everyone uses Fender basses.
Many people use Fender inspired designs or direct copies of Fenders.
No need to hate on a successful popular design.
Or is there?
.
Many people use Fender inspired designs or direct copies of Fenders.
No need to hate on a successful popular design.
Or is there?
.
I can't comment on the snobbery, but here's why I play Fender.
I've played for over 30 years, everything from Ibanez to Epiphone to Gibson to Traben to BC Rich to... Well, you get the idea.
But never Fender. I had a Mexi Jazz briefly during the 90's, but sold it off quickly. I just never went for the style, just wasn't me.
After a back injury made me start looking for a lighter, well-balanced bass, I tried a few Fenders, and they just work for me.
My main bass is now an MIA Fender, which will be buried with me. Who cares if nobody else likes it, it works for ME like no other bass does.
I've played for over 30 years, everything from Ibanez to Epiphone to Gibson to Traben to BC Rich to... Well, you get the idea.
But never Fender. I had a Mexi Jazz briefly during the 90's, but sold it off quickly. I just never went for the style, just wasn't me.
After a back injury made me start looking for a lighter, well-balanced bass, I tried a few Fenders, and they just work for me.
My main bass is now an MIA Fender, which will be buried with me. Who cares if nobody else likes it, it works for ME like no other bass does.
If you are aiming for the style of music I think you described, check out Don Broco... Their previous bass player played a Warwick Corvette $$ 4 string and their current bass player uses a Spector of some description (Not good of Spector models), so not everybody in this vein of music is using Fender... They just happen to be available to the 'general public'
Way to be open minded! It seems fairly obvious why Fender never strays to far from the original designs, SUCCESS! Whenever they offer something radical, it flops because more people want P's and J's that ANY other basses in history and probably more than all other basses combined. No one bashes Gibson for not changing the Les Paul...
Obviously.
I've played bass for 10-11 years and NEVER owned a Fender. Why? Because I didn't want to use the same bass that EVERYONE used. I figured people just blindly used them because their idols used them. "Jamerson used a Fender P-bass, so I wanna use a Fender P-bass", ect.
Well, last night I bought a mint Fender Jazz MIA from some guy because it was SUPER cheap, with the intentions of reselling it for more money.
But the problem is... in just one night of playing I've been converted! I'm going to keep this one and get rid of my Warwick now lol.
Well, last night I bought a mint Fender Jazz MIA from some guy because it was SUPER cheap, with the intentions of reselling it for more money.
But the problem is... in just one night of playing I've been converted! I'm going to keep this one and get rid of my Warwick now lol.
Out of place!?
NO WAY!
Just think you're playing a solid beast of a bass, ok I'm biased so what...I think you are playing one of the best, pro quality super awesome basses. Fenders are a dime a dozen, Warwicks take more time to build. Fender doesnt dry their wood, Warwick does, for years. Be different anyways....
IMO, nothing special about Fenders anyways, to me they're the generic basic bass or guitar, they're not bad...just boring. I've seen 'em built, nothing special there.
If I went to audition for something, if that ever happens, and they don't like the fact I dont have that Fender, well, sorry I'm a Warwick player...*walk out*...Fenders are fine, but you don't need one of you love your Wick or whatever other bass you might have.
