[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='901671' date='Jul 22 2010, 09:54 AM']The electric bass was designed by Leo Fender and introduced in 1951 as the first Precision bass. Leo designed it to be a more portable alternative to the double bass with accurate intonation from the fretted neck. It was loosely based on the Telecaster guitar design. Interestingly, if you look at all of the 50's literature and advertising, there's no mention of the word "guitar" at all. So therefore, the electric bass is descended from the double bass. It just happens to be shaped like an elongated guitar for convenience.[/quote]
It's guitar shaped, and basically a member of the guitar family, and is therefore a bass guitar. 'Bass' refers to its sonic range, like 'baritone' or 'tenor' or whatever. If an orchestral player asked what you played and you replied "bass", his logical answer would be "Bass what? Clarinet? Sax?".
[quote]Perhaps we should all call our instruments, "Fender Basses" like Leo did? [/quote]
Or "GUITAR", like Leo did?