Author Topic: "Feral" Fenders? (Read 863 times)

lidon2001 · « **on:** July 20, 2005, 06:56:20 PM »

It never ceases to amaze me how certain members of this group will take ANY opportunity to bash Fender products. One would think that product bashing could be kept out of what was an already contentious post, but no, it was added for some type of effect. I'm not sure of the poster's intention.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Alembic's first product was patterned after, ummm, was it, ummm, a Fender?

Imitation is the HIGHEST form of flattery.

My Bible:
On the 6th day, God made lots of stuff, including Fenders (including Burgundy Mist, yum...). They were really good. Seventh day, He rested, and listened to what He created. It was pretty darn good, but He thought he could do better. Eight day, He made Alembic. What a day that was....

So put your Fender bashing or praise here. It's a nice single place to put all of your hatred/love for pieces of wood and metal bearing a true innovator's name.

I'm still waiting for the recipe post....

(Message edited by lidon2001 on July 20, 2005)

jagerphan84 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2005, 07:23:41 PM »

I'm the owner of a '76 P-bass in addition to my Alembics, but I wanted to make a somewhat neutral comment here:

I don't think any of the 'Fender bashing' is meant to be serious. I would guess that a majority of the members here currently own, previously owned, or have at least played one or several Fenders throughout their careers. I don't think there's any malice intended in the statements, just poking a little fun. We're all pretty well aware of the contributions made by Fender to the development of electric guitars, basses, amps, etc., and I doubt anyone here would try to contest the significance of the company.

That being said, my P-bass is a great instrument. The quality in construction is not in the same league as Alembic, but it's an entirely different animal which I use for entirely different purposes. Both will have a permanent place in my bass arsenal.

Just my $.02!
Adam

j_gary · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2005, 07:37:36 PM »

Easy lidon, easy. Take a pill and relax, jeeze o' Pete. Make sure you pick up a sense of humor with your next set of strings. Hey man, I'm just messing with you. My crack at the unwashed Fender hordes was aimed at tongue in cheek land. I own three of the old boat paddles myself, easy mad dog, more humor there. I have a Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, a Mike Dirnt Precision with a custom pickguard, and my favorite, a 50th Anniversary P Bass. They are great basses with their own feeling and sound. But,but,but, then came Alembic, all bow down, Alembic. No harm, no foul there lindon, it's those Rickenbacker guys I don't like. Oh wait a minute, I got a few of those too. I'll have to get back to ya when I think of a bad bass. If I may quote James, Peace.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2005, 07:51:56 PM »

Yes, that lump in my cheek is my tongue. I was hoping someone will read this and start the recipe post. I'm hungry.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2005, 09:49:19 PM »

My formerly feral Fender, now existing domestically until I bring it in the wild and let it go off

My currently feral Rick - last seen passing through Uncle Bob's about 7 years ago. Please come home.

And my feral cat. Born in my back yard, currently sleeping on my recliner, and still feral when he wants to be. I'm gonna end up like that magician in Vegas.

bob · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2005, 09:52:46 PM »

Good, now that we're past that, what sort of food do you like?

lidon2001 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2005, 10:15:48 PM »

Someone once told me there's only one thing more amusing than a feral Fender - a Grateful Dead concert!

I can't comment, I've never been to one, but I sure like Touch of Grey! lol

jetbass79 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2005, 01:22:15 AM »

Somebody on here compared Alembic to a 5 star restaurant and Fender to McDonald's. Hold on a minute. They are different animals entirely. You can say what you want but a Fender Precision or Jazz (and variations on themes thereof) is still a perfectly acceptable way to make fine bass sounds. They wouldn't still make them if people didn't buy them.

Simple, effective, and portable was the mantra for Fender's bass designs and they got most of it right. My only beef with Fender of today is that they market like a corporate giant. They have the ability, if they wanted, to have a few standard models and then have the sky be the limit and make it work for most people. But they see the product as something that needs to be categorized: low, low mid, mid, mid high, high, and very high end. That way they make as much money as possible. Don't go ripping the Precision or Jazz or you'd have to toss out 70 percent of your record collection. Let's not forget the guitars either...

Furthermore, some people just don't have the money for deluxe ebony neck lams, quilted cocobolo tops and backs with Series II electronics with a volume knob per string and a parametric EQ for each string. The greatest thing about the electric bass is the diversity that has spawned in the last 54 years. But it came from somewhere: Fullerton, CA in 1951 when some madman named Leo Fender came up with an instrument that nobody knew who was supposed to play it.

j_gary · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2005, 11:46:10 AM »

Hey jb79, wadda talking about some folks can't afford a Series Alembic? How much ya think it will cost to care for that fearsome feline from above? You are right, Fenders sounded good on those old, hard to hear, low tech, pieces of wobbly vinyl. But on a crystal clear CD, oh yea, they sound darn good there as well. Come to think of it, James Jamerson would sound brilliant using my old Crestwood Hofner copy bass, drunk with nine of his fingers broke. Scary to think what might have happened had he an Alembic lying around. Hmmm Mr. Clarke?

57basstra · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2005, 12:41:53 PM »

I Promise pics soon....I had to jump in...

I have a 1969 Fender Telecaster Bass that has a voice all of its own and boy does it thump! I also have a 1984 American Fender Precision and a 2005 American Fender Jazz (Plus two American Strats, one a Jeff Beck and an American Telecaster. Not to mention my Fender Bassman Amp..)....as I've said before, Alembics are King, but there are Fenders inthe Royalty Line

j_gary · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2005, 01:24:05 PM »

Nice collection, single fella eh? Gotta favorite? Bass and amp? Trust fund?

57basstra · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2005, 01:42:10 PM »

My favorite rig right now is my '98 Mark King Custom 5 played directly through my Gallien Kruger 700RB biamp. Then with the balanced, independent direct out on the GK (with seperate volume control) I run into my Digitec 8Valve stereo process, and then stereo into my Sunn Colisium with 2-18-CVs and the other side into whatever other amp I'm favoring that day. Could be the Hartke w-410s, the Rogue wi-4-12s, or the smaller stuff...SWR, Peavey, Fender... (Everyone around my parts has a bass boat. I play my bass boat. Bass or bass, same spelling, sounds different....anyway.....I hesitate to compare Guitars to Women, but I like 'em both in all shapes and sizes.......(Oh, I bought a cream white 1977 Ric 4001 that has doubled in value in two years. It's outperformed stock portfolios that I know of.....But back to the point of the thread....I like Fenders....

southpaw · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2005, 02:21:23 PM »

Where's Rami on this thread? He has a few beautiful Fenders he has proudly shared with us before. Rami get in here!
As for me, I have a '75 Jazz bass that is great. Swamp ash body, 8.5 lbs, pearl block neck, great low tone for motown, jazz , blues... As stated earlier, apples & oranges... I got a few Ricks too... Variety; the spice of life.

(Message edited by southpaw on July 21, 2005)

dannobasso · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2005, 03:25:19 PM »

No wife, no kids, no pets, no Fenders (bassesI mean, I have 4 of their guitars). Waiting on my 12th Alembic. Time to sell my non-Alembic stock! Basses, poweramps, cabs gots to go! BTW I'm always having my stones busted by Fender lovers who sound badly on my basses. C'est la gerre!
Danno

j_gary · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2005, 03:59:33 PM »

Hey jb79, look at all this big buck Fender artillery. I would venture a guess that some of these rarities would make an Alembic price seem very reasonable. Are we on the correct site? Where did all the high priced talent come from? You fellas lucky enough to own some of this cool old hardware, please consider throwing out some photos.

57, I think I burst a blood vessel in my eye trying to follow your set up. I'm going to have to insist on diagrams from you boys out on the ledge. Sounds like you spent some time and effort to arrive at your present set up. What type of band, music and rooms are you playing? For the scary rooms, what's your favorite weapons system?