Fender vs Gibson

[Denis]

The other day a friend of mine sent me a link to a new ESP bass. It's sort of got a Buzzard look to it, with a little RD he said.
I don't care for it but mentioned that I recently saw a band in which the bass player WAS using an RD. I thought it sounded good and said so.

My friend said, "They looked cool, but were pretty crappy."

I replied, "You Fender guys."

"Yeah, I'm a Fender guy all the way. I like Gibsons, but can't justify the cost. RDs are pretty common. Known as sort of the Edsel of basses. Or more like Gibson's Edsel."

I wrote back, "I could point to the Fender Katana bass... Seen one of those? Suddenly the weirdest Gibsons aren't so odd."

"Touché. Fenders had it's share of misfits too."

Me: "There's a Gibson 20/20 on eBay now. One of the "headless" basses."

Him: "Great if you're Devo. I'd rather play a Steiny. I miss the hell out of my old one."

Me: "Steinberger designed the 20/20.

Him: "I know. I guess everybody gets "one".

Me: "Check out Fender's new classic player Rascal bass!"

Him: "Little too Danelectro-ish for my taste. Not a fan of those pickups."

This whole exchange amused me.

[Dave W]

Amusing but there's some truth to it. Fender has had its share of misfits but there's no doubt Fender has been a lot more successful with bass sales.

The Rascal Bass pickups are made by Seymour Duncan; they were designed for a Strat, believe it or not. At any rate, you can tell by the promo video I posted in the Rascal thread that they don't sound the same in a solidbody bass as they would in a vintage Dano. You can't tell some people though, they don't want to listen. I understand, since I'm the same way about some things. 

[Denis]

You are absolutely right.
It just seems to me that I've run into a lot more Fender players who say things like this or say things like "I ONLY play American made P-basses" than I run across Gibson players who say similar things.

I did listen to that promo thread and those lipsticks definitely do not sound like they do in a Dano. I thought they sounded great!

[slinkp]

Is the resemblance to Dano pickups anything more than cosmetic?

[Dave W]

Is the resemblance to Dano pickups anything more than cosmetic?

They have Alnico 6 magnets like the originals. I don't know about the windings but they seem hotter, not that that would take much. In a Strat, they are chimey kind of like the originals in a Dano guitar, but of course even an original will sound much different in a Strat than a Dano..

[lowend1]

You are absolutely right.
It just seems to me that I've run into a lot more Fender players who say things like this or say things like "I ONLY play American made P-basses" than I run across Gibson players who say similar things.

Us Gibson players tend to be a pretty tolerant lot. Hard to be smug about an old EB-0 (or whatever) anyway.  Plenty of gear snobs out there, that's fer sure, though. I think alot of it has to do with justifying money spent. That and the shame of having an expensive J-Bass that sounds almost as good as an SX. Me? I think nothing of gigging with a $100 Craigslist ho.

[Denis]

Us Gibson players tend to be a pretty tolerant lot. Hard to be smug about an old EB-0 (or whatever) anyway.  Plenty of gear snobs out there, that's fer sure, though. I think alot of it has to do with justifying money spent. That and the shame of having an expensive J-Bass that sounds almost as good as an SX. Me? I think nothing of gigging with a $100 Craigslist ho.

Roger Glover seems to be willing to play about anything!

[Pilgrim]

It just seems to me that I've run into a lot more Fender players who say things like this or say things like "I ONLY play American made P-basses" than I run across Gibson players who say similar things.

The snobbery among Fender players is impossible to defend.  There are too many who automatically reject any instrument that isn't their choice among the staggering but often meaningless number of variations that Fender has built during the years.  There are many of them who claim that anything but an American made bass (and they are usually very unclear about whether that includes one with Mexican-made pieces) is so much dog poo. 

And it's simply not true.  The Japanese made basses are good, the older MIJ P-basses have an excellent reputation, and for that matter, even the Squier VM series have made a big impression on many.

But there are people who have cars, firearms, instruments, computers, and any other machine and device you can name, who sneer at the people who own the models that the snob has decided are "lesser".  Screw them and the the horses they rode in on.

Me? I like Univox, old Kay cheapie basses, Squier basses, and lots of other makes.  I've found very few basses of any make that I couldn't get a sound I like out of. And my 1963 P doesn't sound any better than a number of newer basses I've owned.

[lowend1]

But there are people who have cars, firearms, instruments, computers, and any other machine and device you can name, who sneer at the people who own the models that the snob has decided are "lesser".  Screw them and the the horses they rode in on

Known in other circles as Yankee fans...

[nofi]

Denis, this place is full of gibson snobs who even refuse to spell fender correctly.

[clankenstein]

blender?

[westen44]

Us Gibson players tend to be a pretty tolerant lot. Hard to be smug about an old EB-0 (or whatever) anyway.  Plenty of gear snobs out there, that's fer sure, though. I think alot of it has to do with justifying money spent. That and the shame of having an expensive J-Bass that sounds almost as good as an SX. Me? I think nothing of gigging with a $100 Craigslist ho.

I wish the SX basses would be sold in stores here instead of having to be ordered.  In Ireland, I could walk in a store, buy one, and be playing within minutes.  I just hate ordering stuff and in my local area literally the only thing available in music stores is Fender/Squier.  As for SX, one of the best cheap basses out there, IMO.  Take one anywhere and if it's damaged or stolen, no problem.  Once you get something valuable stolen (even at a respectable venue,) stuff like this begins to make sense. 

[TBird1958]

Denis, this place is full of gibson snobs who even refuse to spell fender correctly.

I have four fenders..........






On my Subaru, where they belong 

[Pilgrim]

I have four fenders..........

On my Subaru, where they belong 

Hey now!  I gotcha Fender right cheer.....

[westen44]

I have four fenders..........






On my Subaru, where they belong 

LOL.  I fell for that one.