Controversy

[mat-O-matic]

This forum remains delightfully pleasant and free of animosity. Perhaps that is why I have seen no mention of the grumpiness being directed at a certain guitar brand due to recent aggressive business practices.

I hate to add difficulty, but since so many people look for gear recommendations, the lack of awareness on that issue also seems like an oversight. Had it been an issue when I was first buying, I would’ve wanted to know before I spent my shekels.

If this is inappropriate to raise here, I’m happy to have the post deleted. Or, if no one knows what I’m talking about, let’s just pretend it’s the excellent album by Prince.

[Vader]

Most of the discussion of that guitar brand’s antics are discussed in this thread…

Fender copyright ruling

Let’s be honest, someone dropping €3,000 on a reliced bass isn’t going to be hard up. It’s an emotional purchase, rather than a functional one. “I want!”, rather than “I need…” If it was a functional purchase, the a standard Sandburg would in the basket, or a Harley Benton for that matter. Equally, buying a reliced HB is a statement regarding the looks of the thing, not the function of the instrument. We all have different price-points and different motivations. If we were all the same, it…

[StevFargan]

Reading your post made me want to see what basses Prince actually played, so I went over to Equipboard.
Here is a link:
https://equipboard.com/pros/prince-guitar?gear=bass-guitars

Out of the 15 basses listed here, only one is a Fender.

P.S. I saw Prince in concert in Oakland, CA in 1983.

[kamikos]

Btw, you should check out the Prince page on Schecter’s site. Good video on them making his Symbol guitar:

Shopping

[Gloucestre]

I feel so invisible-I started a thread in March that is still going.
Fender copyright ruling - Lounge - BassBuzz Forum

[sunDOG]

@StevFargan

I saw Prince in concert in Oakland, CA in 1983.

I never really liked Prince back in the day, but with time, I now see how good some of his material really was. I wish I’d seen him live.

[TheMaartian]

@sunDOG

I never really liked Prince back in the day, but with time, I now see how good some of his material really was. I wish I’d seen him live.

I was 50/50 on some of his songs, but Ida Kristine Nielson was my primary reason to see him live.

From Wikipedia:

Ida Kristine Nielsen (born 1975), also known as Bass Ida, Bassida, and Ida Funkhouser, is a Danish bass player, composer and vocalist. She is known for being a member of several bands, such as Belgian Zap Mama, Danish pop rock band Michael Learns to Rock, American funk band the New Power Generation, and funk rock trio 3rdeyegirl (2012–present). The latter two were backing bands for Prince.

Ida Nielsen -"Fake the Funk/Positivity"

Check out the matching jacket and pickguard!

Ida Nielsen & The Funkbots - Full Live at Montreux International Guitar Show #MIGS

[howard]

@sunDOG

I never really liked Prince back in the day,

Erotic City was such a club anthem, whats not to love. Such a great bassline. Parliament did a great version covering it too.

Erotic City

[howard]

George Clinton - Erotic City [HQ]

[Wombat-metal]

@mat-O-matic

I hate to add difficulty, but since so many people look for gear recommendations, the lack of awareness on that issue also seems like an oversight. Had it been an issue when I was first buying, I would’ve wanted to know before I spent my shekels.

I don’t think lack of awareness is an issue. Most of us know what’s going on. But if you want to spend your shekels on a Fender product, by all means do so. We won’t be critical.

Remember when Gene Simmons tried to copyright the horns? Music industry is full of overreach.

[kamikos]

I think I actually heard the George Clinton version first, from the movie PCU.

[howard]

@kamikos

I think I actually heard the George Clinton version first, from the movie PCU.

Yeah that video was a scene in the movie. They released it as a single and then it got included in the film.

The Prince/Sheila E song was from about 10 years earlier and was 100% guaranteed to be played every night at most dance music nightclubs in the US. Radio play was a problem for that song as the FCC kept fining stations that played it. I think it’s Prince’s best song.

[kamikos]

@howard

Yeah that video was a scene in the movie. They released it as a single and then it got included in the film.

The Prince/Sheila E song was from about 10 years earlier and was 100% guaranteed to be played every night at most dance music nightclubs in the US. Radio play was a problem for that song as the FCC kept fining stations that played it. I think it’s Prince’s best song.

I was only 13-14 years old when PCU came out, even younger for the original Prince song. I wasn’t hanging out in clubs at 3-4 in the middle of Iowa, heh.

[howard]

The song released just as I was a teenager sneaking in to clubs (plus going to underage ones, which were a thing back then).

[mat-O-matic]

Thanks, all! Sorry I hadn’t found the previous thread. Enjoyed going back through it. I don’t have any real concern about what Fender’s doing, but I do find it ugly and symptomatic of the increased activity of giant feet constantly squishing the Little Guys and Gals.

As for Prince, it’s hard to argue with his talent and influence on music and culture. I find many of the musicians I admire gain my interest for reasons beyond–or even in spite of–my wish to actually listen to them. Some for who they are and what they did. Some because they play or perform in admirable ways (though virtuosos without a point of view leave me cold). Some because I love their songwriting and composition, even if I like it better when someone else performs it. So many variables. So many opinions.

So many giant feet. (As distinct from the always-welcome Giant Steps!)

And now I want to watch PCU, which I somehow never heard of. '94 for me was early college and the golden dawn of indie movies.