Will Fender lose popularity?

[franvarin]

May seem like a silly in question. But it seems like everywhere I play, I'm the only guy with a Fender. Everyone else has Ibanez, Cort, Washburn etc. Is there something I'm missing with these instruments? Whenever I'm talking to the other bassists they're always saying how these new Ibanez basses are much better than a Fender.
Any thoughts?
*edit*
Obviously Fender is still popular. The point was kind of missed, I notice even my local music stores are carrying less Fenders and leaning towards Ibanez and other basses of that nature. The point is that, are these Japanese made basses better? And will fender still be king

Well, I can't speak for Canada but, I can share a few thoughts. I've played many different instruments over the years and never did have a Fender until a few years ago. My favorite basses were the Ric 4001, Gibson EB3, Guild Pilot. A few years back my wife bought me a MIM Fender Precision for Christmas (see my avatar). After playing that axe I was hooked. I now have a second precision which I modified, a Jazz Bass, Fretless Jazz, and a 5 string Jazz. To say I really like them would be an understatement. Before any of them, one of the Basses I had was an Ibanez 5 string. I played it for about a year and absolutely hated it. Up until that point I had not really found an instrument that I had nothing good to say about. I gave it to a local high school to use in their Jazz band. It was not a super cheap bass either; it was in the $800 range...don't remember the exact model. One of the Soundgears I think. So, that experience soured me on the entire idea of Ibanez, I'll not likely own another. There's lots of good quality instruments out there. It seems you need to just find what works best for you and go with it. Maybe someone else would just love that Ibanez I mentioned...but not me! They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. Well, if you consider the number of P-bass and J-bass clones, I say Fender got the design right! I think they'll be around for years to come.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Depends a lot of what kind of music you play. But when most people think of the sound and look of a bass, they think P and J. SAme way when you think electric guitar, the first thing that comes to most people's minds are either a Strat or a Les Paul.

 

[Lowendtech]

@Lowendtech,... you tired of that certain Fender yet??? if you are, holla!

Ha, no. I'll sell my custom Roscoe fiver first. Or my G&L's. Or any of my other Fenders. But it stays.

 

[Herrick]

It depends on what type of music one plays but overall, Fender is the most popular brand methinks.

Edit: Whoops, I see buldog5151bass already made that point!

 

[Medicine Man]

I go to a ton of US music festivals and 9 out of 10 players have a Fender bass. It drives my wife crazy. (Cuz I complain about it). They don't seem very obsolete.....

 

[eloann]

Fact is basses have improved a lot since the very first ones plus there's a lot more choice now. While Fender does try to evolve every now and then, the "traditionnalist" demand is forcing them to stick pretty close to Leo's original designs.

So among a certain crowd of players for whom comfort is paramount I'd say they already have lost popularity - not in spite but because of their legendary status.
Overall though they're unlikely to run out of fashion in the foreseeable future.

 

[Doner Designs]

Comfort is always in style. I don't own a Fender, but my four Warmoth's are all Fender spec clones.

A jazz bass fits me like an old pair of jeans and everybody makes replacement parts...they're almost like Legos.

 

[Phildevoid]

I don't think it matters if Fender basses are popular or not unless you are in the market to buy one.

I am actually new to owning a Fender, and not saying I never played one prior to owning one. I learned bass on an inexpensive Ibanez. For the money, and my opinion, Ibanez makes a decent bass. My only gripe with the Ibanez basses I have played or seen was they were all active. I don't mind the active sound, but I hate the battery issue. I picked up the Fender American Deluxe Jazz for the Active/Passive switch and that I prefer the Jazz over the P. I gauge an instrument purchase on one factor. If I take it out of the case, and look forward to strapping it on and playing it, I have succeeded in getting the instrument I want and like. As for popularity, I think Fender goes in and out. Sire seems to be the buzz word these days. I have a friend that is an outstanding bass player, went to Berklee School of music and all that jazz, and he just added a Sire and is very happy. I resist trends and usually go out of my way to do so, but I will give credit where credit is due. I suppose there may be something to the Sire thing. Anyway, like I said, unless you are buying a Fender, it really should not make a any difference what anyone else is playing.

 

[Phildevoid]

No. Fender will not lose popularity. They have a huge "installed base" and their vintage instruments will always be desired. That alone will fuel their popularity until the electric bass is replaced by something else.

Ha, "installed base", I see what you did there.

 

[higain617]

Without bothering to look it up, I think Fender and Gibson are the only two names I can think of mentioned in songs, rock at least.
I never heard anyone sing about his Ibanez and I hope I never do.

It's because Steve Vai plays instrumental music.

 

[StephnG]

I've recently acquired a USA Geddy Lee and a American Deluxe Jazz V and I have not been able to put them down. The Geddy had this amazing SNAP & brilliance I have not found on others, not even my 92 American Standard J. The Jazz V has amazing electronics, I'm not a big fan of active electronics on basses BUT they hit home run on this one, you also have the option of passive mode as well. What impressed me the most was the fact the active is a 3 band and the midrange is absolutely phenomenal, I could actually push it to OD saturation just like the Orange Bass Terror I Used to have, it is also the smoothest, most responsive 5 banger I have ever played, she came with flats which I'm not a big fan of either BUT I'm leaving it be for now! For the longest time I used to be like "Cmon Geddy, play another bass already " but I must say I can see why now! Hopefully when my Epi T-Bird Pro 5 er finally comes back from the shop I will actually play something else lol till then I will remain under the 7ender spell, just don't know what's going on here...

 

[lfmn16]

May seem like a silly in question.

Yes

Will Fender lose popularity?

No

 

[Phildevoid]

I have played bass for about 33 years. The only fender I had was a guitar when I was 14 years old or so. When I went to play bass as a young lad I was more concerned with style than functional instruments, so I ended up with some 80's bass of some kind. As the years went by I picked up Fenders at every store I went into, and some of those stores that was the only choice. I never held one in all these years that I really felt like I could get on with. I do like the styling, and I love the tones I hear from a good bunch of them. I held one once that really spoke to me, it was a road worn I think, but it just played really well. Sadly I didn't have the cash then. Lakland and Sadowsky are what floats my boat now days, so a good nod towards the ole Fender for sure.
I have to agree with the OP though, in many clubs I go to now days I don't see Fender bass being played, however, the guitars are like 85% Fender. IDK. They are still a/the major brand but I don't think they will ever be as big as they once were, the Pandora's box of boutique models, mass produced but very well built and better priced basses is there with many of them sounding very, very good - stiff competition.

I am surprised there are not more Fenders in clubs. It seems like the Hipster crowd looks for nothing but vintage, and more likely, vintage looking instruments. I play guitar and mandolin as well and I was looking for a Natural Tele. I asked why the prices seemed a little high at some places and the people behind the counter told me that guys with the "manbun" have been buying them. I laughed because the technical term is "Hipster". I suppose they need the Tele to look the part. I guess I will wait until that crowd moves onto the next trend. I bet I can find a never played, used Tele for half the price. Ha, Ha.

 

[40Hz]

Just out of curiosity, what's the feeling on Squier basses nowadays? Does anybody like them?

Hard to say…

I like some of them.

But I'm not really 'anybody,'so I don't know it that counts.

 

[Phildevoid]

Just out of curiosity, what's the feeling on Squier basses nowadays? Does anybody like them?

I like them, especially the VM models. They have made significant improvements since I first played one so many years ago. I have seen better quality in the Squire basses than the MIM Fenders. I almost bought one but decided to go for an American Deluxe Jazz. I know, big price spread but I decided the Deluxe Jazz had everything I wanted. I have thought about picking up the VM Natural P Squire though. Even though I can get a lot of different tones out of the Jazz, I just cannot replicate the P sound.

 

[johnson79]

Fender? Never heard of them.

 

[Bassdirty]

Always wanted to love them, & love the sound but dont play 1 regularly. I have a 4 st squire that I mess around with..
As a former guitar player, the string spacing on the fender seemed huge compared to the 1st bass I played (Ibanez 5 string).

As far as popularity?
Well it appears to me that EVERY tv show that has a 'band' (or bassist) on the show features a bass made by fender.
So yea, there is just an image that most people (as proven by the tv show point) have about a bass player. And it's that he/she is seen holding a fender bass.

IME

T $

 

[Sweet Willie]

Ha, no. I'll sell my custom Roscoe fiver first...

As I quickly skimmed through the comments on this thread, I first read this as your "custom Roscoe liver". That made for interesting thoughts...
(1) Wow, Keith really has expended his product line.
(2) Black market organ sales prioritized over gear sales.
(3) How many livers is a Fender bass worth, anyway?! And does the year of the liver or the year of the bass matter more?

 

[Binary1]

...but sometimes I feel a large portion of the price is just a silly decal on the headstock.

Yeah, that's it. You got us. You figured out the secret.

 

[Michael B]

I prefer my Ibanez over my Fender.
But tastes vary. Fender will be fine.

My local GC didn't replace Christmas inventory for the most part. As far as I know the 2016 Ibanez was one of a few new basses that has come in recently.