Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Since Leo's legacy has just been heavily contested in court (does it belong to Fender, or to everyone... with regard to the Fender line), I got wondering about which of the "Leo Fender brands" I appreciated the most. Whether you are primarily a guitarist or a bassist probably influences this. I have a feeling, for instance, that bassists will be quicker to side with Music Man than guitarists... and rightly so... And then there's G&L which has a unique cult following all its own.

My vote goes to Music Man.

I have to say Fender, but only because that's the only brand I've ever had any personal experience with...

I really like Musicman basses but not their guitars. Fender gets my vote.

I vote Fender for the classic designs he created while he was with them. I prefer short-scale guitars in general, so my personal raves are the Mustang, Duo-Sonic, and Musicmaster. Other than those models I'm not a big Fender fan, though I'd love to find a nice old slinky Jazz Bass sometime. His later work also broke new ground, but for esthetic appeal (which is more important to me than the technical refinements) you can't beat his early work.

My personal favorites are anything in the line before Leo sold out to CBS. Anything since is expansive (and, come to think of it, expensive) methane.

kiramdear wrote:His later work also broke new ground, but for esthetic appeal (which is more important to me than the technical refinements) you can't beat his early work.

Really? I think the Stingray totally outsexes the P and J Basses. Plus I just like it better, at least most of the time--I've got to say every now and then a certain P or J Bass really calls my name. I owned a J for 5 years and it was a great player but it became a closet fixture so I let it go.

I will have to agree that G&L's do look awkward by comparison but I think they have a lot of potential otherwise. However, every one I have played had gigantic frets... boo.

Naturally, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess my thinking is that I could make a pretty bass faster or smarter, easier than to get my heart into an unappealing (even if it's great) instrument. Look well, feel well, play well, sound well; for me it's all connected, all important.

cassius987 wrote:

kiramdear wrote:His later work also broke new ground, but for esthetic appeal (which is more important to me than the technical refinements) you can't beat his early work.

Really? I think the Stingray totally outsexes the P and J Basses. Plus I just like it better, at least most of the time--I've got to say every now and then a certain P or J Bass really calls my name. I owned a J for 5 years and it was a great player but it became a closet fixture so I let it go.

I will have to agree that G&L's do look awkward by comparison but I think they have a lot of potential otherwise. However, every one I have played had gigantic frets... boo.

Agreed on the StingRay. Those big G & L frets are a product of the times they were intended for--'70s and '80s, IMO. Lots of players bitched about older Fenders having too-small frets. Even jumbos were not enough for Yngwie "Ditch Witch" Malmsteen...

I'm a pretty big Fender fan. I think Strats, Teles, offsets, etc. are gorgeous instruments, very comfortable to my hands, and generally sound great. The upscale MIM Fenders (Classics, CPs) are, IMO, every bit as nice as most of their non-CS US-made stuff.

I used to own a couple G&Ls--a US-made Legacy Dlx, and a couple Tribs. The Tribs are very good guitars for the money, US G&L pickups, nice finishes, etc.. All the G&Ls I've ever tried were fairly heavy, but then my Baja Telecaster is a bit hefty as well. Aesthetically, I'm not nuts about the G&L headstock. My only real advice to anyone considering a US-made G&L is try to buy used--they simply don't hold their resale value IMO--of course that means there are some great deals in the used market.

Bill

kiramdear wrote:I vote Fender for the classic designs he created while he was with them. I prefer short-scale guitars in general, so my personal raves are the Mustang, Duo-Sonic, and Musicmaster. Other than those models I'm not a big Fender fan, though I'd love to find a nice old slinky Jazz Bass sometime. His later work also broke new ground, but for esthetic appeal (which is more important to me than the technical refinements) you can't beat his early work.

jingle_jangle wrote:My personal favorites are anything in the line before Leo sold out to CBS. Anything since is expansive (and, come to think of it, expensive) methane.

+1 on both of these comments; I only like the original style Fenders, which I would include the reissues in. Probably the sole exception to these in my book are the block inlay, bound fretboard, maple neck J-basses.

Are the pre-CBS models really that different from the standard models offered today?

I'd vote Fender,i love Teles,Strats and Jazzmasters, oh, and P-Basses.

But i have an old Musicman amp too,so...

I think that anything that looks like a Fender is a possible candidate now:

Check this out!

Not on the list - SX (Essex). Cheap and very playable, sounds fine stock. If you can do a setup and basic fret dressing, best $120 you'll spend on a bass. Now flame me.

johnallg wrote:Now flame me.

No arguments here! I have heard a ton of rave reviews from SX owners.