Fender CEO Bud Cole acknowledged in a Bloomberg interview that the company’s legal crackdown against 60 guitar builders over Stratocaster body shape copied “got ahead of us.” Of roughly 60 companies targeted, 32 are negotiating with Fender and 18 have signed agreements. The company now claims focus on large manufacturers only, though boutique builders like LSL Instruments report no clear relief from legal threats.
I got a fender squire p bass a few years back and upgraded some components and it sounds and plays well. I only had a 5 string Traben before that but wanted a 4 string to noodle on so went cheaper. I always wanted an American Jazz but I’ll definitely go a different route. I was eyeing Sire basses a couple of years back, so maybe I’ll check them out again. I got a nice used 7 string schecter guitar a year or so back and have been really happy with that, so I might look that direction. Regardless, there are many other quality options outside of fender.