Free from Fender, what a relief (kinda long, sorry)

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The good thing is that there are a lot of options now. There are builders perfecting what's already been done and ones that are pushing the envelope within a wide range of prices. Choice is good and there's a lot to choose from. It's a great time to be an electric bassist!

 

[nicjimbass]

My first "real" bass was a MIM Jazz, which, come to think of it, I picked based on tone more than anything. There was a sunburst one there too, which I prefer, color-wise, but the white one I bought sounded better to me... funny.

Anyway, when I found EBMM basses, in particular the SR5, it felt like home to me. Still does, even though my Bongo is the tone machine, the SR5 feels oh so right. When I figured out I could actually BUY an SR5, man was that a rough couple of days at work! I kept looking at pics online, daydreaming and such. When I finally brought her home, and convinced my fiance (now wife) that it was a good thing, all was right with the world.

I've used my SR5 ever since, even using it to sing a couple songs to my wife at our wedding. I've messed with it in so many ways that the resale value is probably nil. But you know what? I would never sell it. It's too good a bass, and had too many memories attached to it to sell. Can't say that about the Fender. I traded it and some other stuff for a Bass POD, which I sold years ago.

Now, I have the SR5 and the Bongo. I have a hard time playing other basses when I go to a guitar store. Not that I wouldn't buy them, but because I feel like all my tone needs are filled in those 2 basses. That's hard to say with other brands, I imagine.

PS- Sorry for the novel.

 

[carpedebass]

I remember the days when all I could think about was what Fender I was going to buy. But then I came along a Sterling....

I guess when you find the right sound for you, everything else pales in comparison. I'm sure that holds true for everyone, even if that sounds comes from Brand X or Brand Y.

Amen brother...preach it!

 

[thunder]

What you see with Ernie Ball is this, They are the only company who through different owners has actually made the Stingray BETTER, Something many Other Companies have not done once they've purchased their Company.
Ernie Ball Also has set out to put their Quality in Other Basses & Guitars to fit what's happening in the 2000's,
So not only have they made the Stingray Much Better & easier to play, they've moved with the times and made Basses for the Modern Musical Musician.
Just an In Tune Company, Nothing Better out there.
DJ

AMEN!

 

[phatduckk]

i like sterlings

 

[carpedebass]

i like sterlings

Never had the opportunity to actually play a Sterling, but I eagerly await the day...

 

[The Crow]

This is not to start a war or anything, but just MY opinion.

Posted by Musicman Nut

Fender Lost it Somewhere around 1972, and hasn't made a decent fender Bass since

Talk about a glittering generality. Not one decent instrument, you should play my 2007 Fender MIA Pbass. I find it an excellent instrument, Great tone, excellent fretwork from the factory, & once I put a set of flats on it, my #2 bass.
I have gone the opposite direction from you Soul Man. I own 3 Music Man basses: a Stingray 4 in Burnt Autumn, a Stingray 5HH & a Bongo 5HH. They all sit in their cases because they are just not for me. Are they well made? You betcha. Although I really don't like the Stingray's neck finish, prefer the Bongo's. Quite a variation in tone, especially on the Bongo. If the Bongo was a 4 string, it would probably get a lot more play, after switching & playing 5 strings for about a year, I realized 4 strings are my cup of tea.
The Ray 5HH is a boat anchor, comes in over 11 pounds as I recall, the only real complaint I have against any of them. I do keep the Ray 4 tuned down half a step, for the songs we play that use that tuning, it seems to be real comfortable there.
Again, this is in no way a slam agains EBMM, they are fine products, but as some have made the move TO MusicMan, I have made the move away. My main player now is an Epiphone Jack Casady Sig that I bought used on EBay, that has the tone & the action I've been looking for.

 

[scowboy]

I think that EBMM has the ability and frankly the freedom to innovate. Fender does not and when they do it just cannot live up to the P and J. It is like a child actor that got typecast in their prime. They simply cannot do anything else because the general population can only see them in that one role. Fender will continue to have great success with the P and J as it is but anything else will always be less popular and probably not a long term product for them.

And if great and innovative products where not enough; I always love to see Big Poppa's posts. Though I do not know you or anything else about you except what you put on this website... It just says a lot for the company, your character and vision that he takes the time to hang with us. It says that your customers mean the world to you and of course they damn well should. That is something I have NEVER seen on any other on-line forum. Big Poppa my hat is off to you!

Other business owners should step up an take note!

 

[Soul Man]

This is not to start a war or anything, but just MY opinion.

Hey Crow,
I completely understand your situation - the goal is to find "the" instrument for you and my original point is that while I do not dislike Fender, I think I found myself under the spell for so long that I never realized there was something else out there.

I kept on trying to find the perfect FENDER bass for me even though I could never could. I spent a lot of time only looking in that direction - now that I am out of the cloud, I feel much happier being able to turn to (at least in my opinion) a very different instrument that works for me.

 

[Duarte]

I'm playing my Jazz bass as we speak. Maybe thats just becasue my SR4 hasn't arrived yet.

 

[bovinehost]

The problem with these types of threads is that the original intent of the originator is often misunderstood; then things veer off into a "bash" or an unnecessary defense of the "other brand" and next thing you know, there's a post on Talkbass claiming that "we" think Fender is garbage because they haven't come up with anything new or some such dribble.

I'm about two or three posts away from closing this.

 

[Slater]

The problem with these types of threads is that the original intent of the originator is often misunderstood

From the thread title, I thought Fender was giving away free gear.

 

[Soul Man]

Lord Bongo,
Forgive me if I've led people in the wrong direction.

To clarify, I've no problem with Fender but I'm happy to be here & happy to have found a Sterling!

Leave it at that and CLOSE IT UP!

 

[Big Poppa]

Crow
no offense taken whatsoever.....I have said a billion times that it's all about choices....The talk bass stuff gets taken out of context and thats fine too. As I have repeated again I love Fender Basses...The Epi Jack Cassidy is humourous to me but if it is the tool fror you than you are a tool......JUST KIDDING>>>>if that is the bass that works for you Bingo!

The post about typecasting is a chicken vs the egg...are they typecast because of the lack of innovation.....I still say it is BS...They have the money and the greatest trademark in the industry and they seem to lack to courage and or vision to move it forward. They could push it forward but they choose to repackage. The latest ad in guitar player is introducing a RED Telecaster!!!!!!

If they would take the lead that I feel is thier resposibility it would make it easier for smaller companies to innovate....Opening the minds of musicians is a tough task....

 

[Straight UP]

I hear what Soul Man is saying.
I also agree with Bovinehost and BP.

I just wish that in my long extensive journey (looking for the bass that fits me) It had not taken so long.

I'd become very disatisfied with Fenders offerings 15 or 20 years ago, and like so many thought Fender was it, but could not understand why I was having so much trouble with the "fit me part".
Then One day I picked up a Godin bass...And found it felt a lot better than any Fenders ever did.. So I bought it and enjoyed it untill that fate full day when I picked up the Bongo5.
A long story short. The Godin has been sold.. reason lack of use..The Bongo felt even better than the Godin..and the sound I could get made my mind boggle... The fit part was pefect. All the updated thinking and design changes were there to as well.. As most here know I own that Bongo5..
Time spent looking for that perfect fit 42 years..

I just want to say thanks for the Bongo BP. It has already been used a number of times in working situations. I've received compliments on it's sounds..and looks..
In my head / mind "I have found the instrument that really dose fit me."

Now to find the next Bongo.. Ohh! did I say that..

Regards All

 

[Mongo]

I own and play several different basses including a P, a J, a Bongo, a Dano, a Sukop, a Reverend, an Ibanez, and yes, even a (gulp) Jack Casady.

They all work for me.

 

[RitchieDarling]

Well, I am about a 99% EBMM convert!

I still have a Steiny or two laying around.

And that Checker Cab thing.

But, to be fair, from 1978 until 1989, I owned only 1 bass.

A Fender Jazz bass.

I don't own any now. And am not looking for one.

But, if a nice one crossed my path, then yes, I would buy it.

Ritchie

 

[philthygeezer]

The Stingray is the best built of the 4 with the Hot Rod P a very close second. All are extremely well made or I wouldn't own them. The J (Brown Moses II) was made from a Warmoth body with electronics from an older bass that got smashed.

But who is to judge on sound?! To me, the Bongo about the ultimate. It's closest to the Sterling growl and P bass sweetness with serious bottom that I hear in my head. The SUB5 has that woody groany mwah in spades and a hell of a powerful sound. The HRP has a honky kind of 'Sunshine of your love' sound to it. The J has something of the Ray and the P but is not the same as either. Who can choose?

I love the way the Stingray delivers the mid and low range booty while remaining focused and clear. I saw a guy switch from a J bass to an SR5 during a gig and he immediately sounded better and more audible. That's why I like the EB sound.

Variety is the spice of life!

I have flame redwood; no PG, honeyburst ash, pg; painted black, classic fenderburst... Now all I need is a blue dawn or Dargie Bongo!

 

[Big Poppa]

It is possible to discuss this...thanks Lads.

 

[The Crow]

As I stated, I have nothing against Musicman in the least, they are outstanding, & I'm certain that had I bought a 2005 LE Bongo as a 4HH instead of a 5HH, would probably be playing it a lot of my time.
The Problem I have are the companies that make a clone of the Fender Jazz & P, can't even be creative enough to change the headstock shape much, charge triple the price & never create an original design of their own.
The Stingray don't look like a J or P & the Bongo certainly does not. I admire that, originality goes a long long way. I'm a fan of passive basses & tube amps. At 57, it's a pain to lug my Fender 300 Pro amp head around, but the tone through 2 Mesa 1x15 cabs is awsome. I also have a Fender MIA Deluxe Jazz, that sits in the case next to the MusicMan's, it's a 5 string also.
Again, more power to you Big Poppa for having the cajones to come up with the instruments you have. Hell, put a switch to go from active to passive & you might even have me.
& Bovine, there is no reason that this should ever be brought up on TB, it was just my response to a post that one of your members stated that NOT 1 Fender was decent in modern times.

Crow