Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019...

[Seraphial]

A friend of mine and I had a debate, as to whether a real 1950s/60s strat is, in terms of build quality, the same as, an MIM, MIJ or MIA strat.

My take is it would be in line with a good MIM (ie a Classic 50's or 60 in nitro), because the components would be essentially the same in terms of manufacturing (maybe even slightly better because they've been refined) and QC would be more stringent.

The only differences I would say would be finish techniques, and country of origin. My argument against the latter is that production techniques have probably more than come up to the American manufacturing standards of that era. My other argument is that, an MIA strat name, would far surpass playability and features compared to any from that era.

What say you?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

The same as the AO series, if anything.

AVs (late 2012 – 2017) were closer, but just in terms of specs, not build quality.

The American made non-reissue ones are of about the same build quality too. But specs are quite different.

The MIMs just don't have the level of fret work of the old Fenders, and the hardware isn't as nicely made (not that the old stuff was high end by any means, though). A lot of the necks are embarrassingly bad IME (though many are quite nice, especially the Classic Series and other reissue lines, and quality of MIMs has increased over the past decade IME).

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

My comment here will just be that recent production MIJ might be bottom-tier in comparison with recent US or MIM. MIJ thick poly, thin chrome/metal components, inferior electronics are not the same as the MIJ Squiers of the ‘80s that made the reputation. Even if they are built well, the details aren’t really spot on with MIJ; to the point that in many cases I’d prefer the MIM and take misaligned dots/crossthreaded screws whatever - but even MIM is much better than it was a decade ago. Vintage is very year-depentant and almost a moot point to discuss this far from a pristine example being easily referenced.

I think recent MIA Fenders are underrated and a great deal used; even quality, good components, nice thin urethane finishing etc. Some recent MIM series like the Lacquer Classic are amazing guitars too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

I had the chance to play a prototype strat from late '53. It was really crudely made, and as a guitar, it was terrible. Consistency is better these days in modern guitars. Vintage guitars, after production started, had wildly inconsistent quality.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

I bet that on average most modern Squiers would kick the **** out of most 50s/60s Fenders. Cnc machining and streamlining of every part of the process has produced consistently good guitars for less money.


Not to say I dislike old Fenders . . . but the reason that most of the vintage guitars still kicking around are so well regarded is a survival of the fittest thing. All the ****ty ones were binned long ago as they wore out. Only the best have survived and were deemed worthy of the cost of repair/refretting.

 

[Blille]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Yeah... But what about the mojo, guys?!

Everybody knows that today's guitars no longer have mojo.

[emoji849]

 

[elelpe]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Yeah... But what about the mojo, guys?!

Everybody knows that today's guitars no longer have mojo.

[emoji849]

Some will have it in the next 30 years [emoji6]

 

[Archer250]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Not to say I dislike old Fenders . . . but the reason that most of the vintage guitars still kicking around are so well regarded is a survival of the fittest thing. All the ****ty ones were binned long ago as they wore out. Only the best have survived and were deemed worthy of the cost of repair/refretting.

This.




Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Exactly...the better examples have survived the filter of time.

You really can't beat the consistency of today's production methods. You can get $400 guitars today that would have rivaled or even bested a $400 guitar in the '60s from a build quality standpoint. Considering inflation ($400 in the '60s would get you a new Gibson LP), that says a lot.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

It’s the same as music... Everybody yells about all the music from the past being good because no one hears the crappy ones now.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Not to understate the obvious, no one had CNC back then so I guess quality perception was good or bad only relative to that standard (whether or not the ‘bad’ examples are extinct.)

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Those older guitars are precisely why luthier/repair businesses thrived in the '60s, '70s and '80s.

Modern production methods are precisely why those services aren't nearly as lucrative today.

 

[Francois]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

A friend of mine and I had a debate, as to whether a real 1950s/60s strat is, in terms of build quality, the same as, an MIM, MIJ or MIA strat.

Build quality ? Do you include wood quality ?
The world is running out of good rosewood and this is morever the time of cost killing...

A friend of mine of mine had a 62 Strat and it sounded very organic.

As for numbers of pieces in the body I was recently shown a 66 Strat (= post CBS) with all finish removed... It had three pieces !

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Three pieces is not abnormal for any Fender from anywhere. The most I’ve seen on an actual Fender-branded guitar (MIM Telecaster) is five (plus veneers.)

I sort of wonder when cheap Rosewood necks will be hiked up on eBay like Brazilian, but it’s possible that we may never have pau ferro/laurel fretboards outnumber Rosewood, that having been the norm during the biggest boom in guitar production; so perhaps it will stay attainable.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Debate - In terms of build quality, a 1950/60s Fender is the equivalent to a 2019

Maple boards are better than Rosewood anyway, and we're in no danger of running out of maple trees.