When I first started with Bass Buzz two years ago, I was absolutely not a “Fender guy”. Every Fender I’d played or looked at up to that point just did NOT do it for me in any way. Too heavy, too “thick”, too ubiquitous.
Now I look around and… the only bass I have is a Fender Aerodyne Jazz P/J. My amp is a Fender Rumble 100. All my cables? Fender. My clip-on tuner? Yeah, Fender. Right now, I’m sitting here wearing a Fender hoodie.
Go figure.
Well, well, well indeed. My first few basses back in the days were not Fender. I own Yamaha Motion Bass, Carvin Bunny B, Ken Smith Burner, Tobias Growler, Renegade, and Killer B, and Student model Spector. Look at me now, after Covid things changed, now I own more Fenders than a small music shop, lol.
I am exactly 50% Fender/Squier, 50% all others.
Balance is key, lol.
I started out Fender, but find myself more Fender adjacent now. I own a few FGNs
I started out Fender. Then went Rick. Don’t have any of either anymore.
I’m not a Fender/Squier hater, but I sure ain’t a fan of ‘em. Can’t ever see getting either. Too many others available that get my motor running.
Fender P, Fender J and a Fender PJ here. All bases covered 
Fender Dimension Bass, Fender 51 Bass, Fender Tele Bass, Fender Gold Leaf…
My guitar collection has more Fender than my basses, but if all I had left was my SG and my Stingray, I wouldn’t be disappointed. That said, last night I played out on my MIM strat and brought a Squier 5 for the bass player to use. Go figure.
I am right there with you brother. In fact I am probably the poster child for this.
Three years ago: “Why bother with them, overpriced compared to the quality elsewhere.”
Today: main bass is a MIJ Fender P-bass, new guitar is a MIJ Telecaster. Though I do love my two Yamahas just as much, in my defense. But they are pretty awesome Yamahas.
I am perfectly balanced at 50% Fender Japan, 50% Yamaha
Me too. 50% Fender, 50% Squier
Actually you might also need 1 active pref with a humbucker. So a P a J and 1 active. 
That’s what my son and I have now.
100% Fender-free… and feeling OK about it 
(Wait, I might have a Fender pick somewhere… 
)
…fender… blah blah blah i can’t hear all of you 
I’ve got a Fender Rumble 40 as per Josh’s recommendation, but that’s it for the Big F.
LOL…I was the same about the looks, etc. of Fender Basses, then I bought a Precision Pro II last year and it’s the best bass I have ever played…love it. Now I am contemplating getting an Ultra, don’t need it but keep GASing for it! 
I keep looking at the ultra, but have been able dodge the expense for the time being. It helps the I can never get a GC employee to take it down from the top shelf, where it is safe from my greasy fingers. Something about a compound radius that is intriguing 
Charvels have a compound radius and that’s a sweet, fast neck. But I find a good 14" radius like my FGN or Custom just as good. YMMV
The Charvel neck is amazing.
