Will Fender lose popularity?

[lfmn16]

Both true; and there is zero discrepancy between the two points. When you stop and think about it.

Actually they aren't both true; brand does matter. I don't care how good or bad you are, everyone sounds and plays better on a quality instrument. If brand didn't matter, Victor would be playing an SX.

As another TB member so correctly pointed out, despite all the threads extolling the virtues of inexpensive instruments, if we were all given $10,000 to buy any bass we wanted, there would be damn few Squiers purchased.

 

[Mvilmany]

Fender IS my favorite brand of Bass. And yet, for some strange reason, I own more Stingrays than Fenders.
I'm still trying to figure that out.

Well, in a very big way, your Stingrays are real Fenders. For those not in the know, Leo sold Fender when he was in bad health, and co-founded Music Man when his health returned. After that he also co-founded G&L, where he worked until he passed away.

I have 2 Fender basses: one has "fender" on the headstock, and the other says "G&L".

 

[Linnin]

Will Fender Loose Popularity?

It already has. C.B.S. bought Fender in December of 1964. By the time the 1970's hit C.B.S. had managed to do great damage to the Fender reputation. Quality continued to sink. Their new solid state amps sucked to high heavens. The 1980's were even worse. C.B.S. hired Bill Schultz away from Yamaha U.S.A. to save Fender and turn it around. He did just that. He and a group of private investors bought Fender from C.B.S. in 1985 and formed F.M.I.C. Bill cranked up Fender Japan. He bought out sunn O)) for it's amp factory and solid state R&D. He cranked up Fender Mexico and built a huge facility in Ensenada, Baja Mexico. He saved Fender. After doing so he died in 2006.

Fender is the World's Largest manufacturer and marketer of electric guitars and electric bass guitars. Number 1 and second to none.

Right now the very best selling bass amp in the world is the Fender Rumble 500. The best selling guitar amp is the Fender Champion 100.

Yamaha is now and has been for many years the number one selling music company in the world. Their PA systems and keyboards continue to be top sellers. Their total sales is something in the neighborhood of $5 Billion/yr.

Fender is number two in total world wide sales sales at roughly half or $2.5 billion/yr. Fender has never been better, but they continue to increase their quality and market share every year.

 

[bucephylus]

Actually they aren't both true; brand does matter. I don't care how good or bad you are, everyone sounds and plays better on a quality instrument. If brand didn't matter, Victor would be playing an SX.

As another TB member so correctly pointed out, despite all the threads extolling the virtues of inexpensive instruments, if we were all given $10,000 to buy any bass we wanted, there would be damn few Squiers purchased.

Ok, we can agree to disagree. I don't play Squiers; but, probably the most talented jazz guitarist I had the privilege to work with did play a Squier. Of course he had it set up to the 9's, and therefore, it was not a lousy instrument, irrespective of brand. I do feel that the more skill and knowledge of tunes a player has are overwhelmingly more important than the brand on the bass. But, I also know that great players can make "inferior" branded instruments to be reasonable players. OTOH, I also know there are gigs where the brand on the bass matters to the bandleader. So, they both happen; but, I will personally take the more knowledgeable and skilled player over the lesser skilled / experienced player with marquis gear any day. YMMV

And regarding Victor, who is a very cool cat; his gigs are wholly unlike the gigs played by a majority of TB'ers. The Fodera for his purposes and his gigs is a great fit. But that does not mean that every player on TB would be better off with a Fodera, for the simple reason that cats here have different needs for their gigs.

 

[BassmentPlayer]

Fender less popular?

Nah, that would be like GM going bankrupt and cutting whole brands of cars. Never gonna happen.

BP.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

Well, in a very big way, your Stingrays are real Fenders. For those not in the know, Leo sold Fender when he was in bad health, and co-founded Music Man when his health returned. After that he also co-founded G&L, where he worked until he passed away.

I have 2 Fender basses: one has "fender" on the headstock, and the other says "G&L".

Perhaps I should have said its ironic that I have more Stingrays than Fenders.
In my mind, a Music Man instrument is a 'Generation 2' Fender, and a G & L is a 'Generation 3' Fender.
If I could justify the expenditure, I'd like to buy a G & L Bass.
You know, to fill out the Leo Fender trifecta.

 

[Cole Louis Allar]

talk bass is pretty much a fender fourm. Without it, there is no TB. So no. I think it's here to stay

 

[Killer Canary]

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.

Thanks for giving me an excuse to post this.

 

[ThePoloHobo]

Side note on basses in TV appearances.. Bassist for the Roots is always playing a beautiful Fodera on Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon.

I like Fenders, and I imagine the J/P is(are) what non-musicians think of in regards to an electric bass. It blends in. We're supposed to be invisible, remember? Don't draw any attention...

 

[aaronious]

No. End thread.

 

[Linnin]

talk bass is pretty much a fender fourm. Without it, there is no TB. So no. I think it's here to stay

Hardly. There is a most definite anti-F.M.I.C. vibe through out TalkBass.

 

[D M C]

The Fender bass is 65 years old this year. Ready for Social Security & Medicare. I don't think it's going to become less popular as it ages.

 

[Killer Canary]

Actually they aren't both true; brand does matter. I don't care how good or bad you are, everyone sounds and plays better on a quality instrument. If brand didn't matter, Victor would be playing an SX.

As another TB member so correctly pointed out, despite all the threads extolling the virtues of inexpensive instruments, if we were all given $10,000 to buy any bass we wanted, there would be damn few Squiers purchased.

You're speaking for yourself, I take it?

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Just sitting with my pad and watching live music on TV for the last 2 hrs or so. Here's the count so far.

15 bands total
1 MTD
1 Gibson
1 Rickenbacker
1 Sadowsky
2 bands with no bass

9 Fenders

 

[Linnin]

The Fender bass is 65 years old this year. Ready for Social Security & Medicare. I don't think it's going to become less popular as it ages.

Indeed! The Fender Precision is the both the most purchased and most copied electric bass guitar of all time. The Fender Precision is the original and most popular electric bass guitar of all time.

 

[neal davis]

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

Where in Ontario are you? Bi find it the exact opposite.

 

[AcridSaint]

Actually they aren't both true; brand does matter. I don't care how good or bad you are, everyone sounds and plays better on a quality instrument. If brand didn't matter, Victor would be playing an SX.

As another TB member so correctly pointed out, despite all the threads extolling the virtues of inexpensive instruments, if we were all given $10,000 to buy any bass we wanted, there would be damn few Squiers purchased.

I'm guessing part of the reason that he plays a Fodera is because he gets a cut of that 6 grand that his signature model sells for. I don't disagree that a quality instrument is worth the money, but I doubt many would stop listening to him if Ibanez started sponsoring him.

 

[Flaked Beans]

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

Link Removed

 

[barry irwin]

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

Will the sky always be blue? Well sometimes some people would like to see a different shade of blue. Fender is the bass that all bass sound is judged by, like when we look at the sky we judge other shades of blue by that shade of blue we personally see as the color of the sky. Your question is interesting but since the 50's there have been other brands of basses cheaper and more expensive. Which brand can say well that's a "so and so" sound? P Bass, Jazz bass, Rickenbacker,Hohner Gibson Alembic....to name a few of signature tones. Ibanez Washburn,Cort, all imitators. Could be well made,good value for the dollar,but none have a signature tone,but get the job done. Don't you worry. A Fender will always be a great bass to have. I just traveled over 16,000 miles to pickup a 63 Fender jazz bass that a friend gave to me. I played them since the 60's and I know that sound will always be imitated but never the same thing. Fenders P or jazz don't all sound the same but you have a bass with a signature tone which you can refine over the years until it sounds 100% right to your ears.

 

[Mvilmany]

Thanks for giving me an excuse to post this.

Uh...