Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

Gearjoneser

Gear Ho
Last night, I strolled into the local Guitar Center, just to see what's new.
Immediately, I was drawn to Fender's newest guitars....the MIM Road Worn Series, which are the Mexican equivalent of the Custom Shop Relics.

I know the fascination with relics is starting to fade a bit in the fashion sense, but the bare wood and thin nitro finish always feels better to play and typically sounds better. My first test with any guitar, but particularly Fenders, is to put my ear to the upper body and hit some chords, then move to the next one, and the next one......seeing which ones ring the best. I did that with 6 of these Road Worn strats and teles, and 2 or 3 felt and sounded just as good as most US Custom Shop models.

The setups were acceptable, and the necks felt great, but I know with a bit of fine tuning on the nut and bridge, I could have gotten all of them to play as good as a Custom Shop.

Overall, I'm more impressed with these than I've ever been with any MIM and even many CIJ models. But mostly, you've got to sift through a bunch of them and pick the gem.

The 3 I liked the best were a 60's sunburst/rosewood strat, 50's sunburst/maple strat, and 50's black/maple strat, which looked a lot like Clapton's Blackie. If you've ever wanted to own that guitar for a good price, this is it!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/fender-roadworn?src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0
 
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Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

The more I look at that blonde Tele, the more I am seriously considering putting that scratch and dent for $829 on the card................ Throw in a set of Rio's Muy Grandes and I would be set!!!!
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

One thing I'm glad they did was leave every spec vintage, except for the tall and thin 6105 frets.
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

as much as i try to hate Relics that series just feels right... hate the looks, but they feel good!... i could see myself buying one... the V 50's neck with little finnish is what i want!!!
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

Can't wait to test drive them. I'm in dire need of a white strat....guess have to wait for other finish options?
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

something about the necks on these relics... just feels great... The price is just too high for the instrument tho... can't justify it... just can't... Anyone know if you can buy just the neck anywhere?

-J
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

Soon...people are going to start parting these out, but expect to pay $$, at least for awhile.
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=526798X


They have one that's a "scratch and dent"... WTF.????

Now that's funny. I can't help but laugh at that.

I played a small handful unplugged yesterday and more than half of them resonated really well and felt really good. The others were still solid, just not as resonant. I'm not too keen on the whole relic'd thing but these are good players. Very solid.
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

Now that's funny. I can't help but laugh at that.

I'm still trying to figure out how they consider some scratch and dents. I am seriously considering getting one. I called MF and all they could tell me was they would have a cosmetic flaw or blemish. I'm still asking WTF??? How do they judge a guitar that's already beat to hell from the factory a scratch and dent? Something has got to be totally wacked on the guitar I would think in order for them to consider it such, ya know?
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

All of my Strats are G&L--14 of them. I don't even bother looking at Fenders anymore. I sold my vintage 1960 Strat back in 1991 haven't really missed it.

But I got to tell you, I totally agree with Gearjoneser--other than the big buck Custom Shop models, these are some of the nicest Strats around--the '60 sunburst I played felt exactly like my old '60, played better--and sounded really close.

Now, I'm really commited to using the G&Ls--started using Legacys and S-500s shortly after I sold the Strat (and now Comanches, too). But if I were goig to go buy a Fender tomorrow, it would be one of these new Roadworn guitars. I think they're great guitars, and I think a pretty good value, to boot.

Bill
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

I have never bought a new guitar in my life, other than a $100 Epi as a gift, so that doesn't count. This one is tempting me hard! I been wanting a blonde Tele and I love that beat to hell look. Gotta calm down and wait to see some on the used market.............
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

I have never bought a new guitar in my life, other than a $100 Epi as a gift, so that doesn't count. This one is tempting me hard! I been wanting a blonde Tele and I love that beat to hell look. Gotta calm down and wait to see some on the used market.............

It's hard to turn the GAS off once it gets to goin'.

You can go to the Guitar Center web site and check out tons of Teles in the used section...some nice USAs with a bit of wear for under $700...:scratchch might save a bit o green.
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

I know the fascination with relics is starting to fade a bit in the fashion sense...

Really? I thought people were still going nuts over them. While I don't like the crazy over-the-top relic jobs, I have to say I don't mind the aesthetics of the Road Worn series at all. Not to mention every one I've tried has been a great player.
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

ive been praising them from the get go. the handful i played at my GC were all very good guitars. At least on par with most of the USA standards, a lot of them bypassed the USAs by a good bit. I think the strats look too fake but the teles look awesome.
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

I'm still trying to figure out how they consider some scratch and dents. I am seriously considering getting one. I called MF and all they could tell me was they would have a cosmetic flaw or blemish. I'm still asking WTF??? How do they judge a guitar that's already beat to hell from the factory a scratch and dent? Something has got to be totally wacked on the guitar I would think in order for them to consider it such, ya know?

i bought a scratch and dent MIM strat from MF in 2000? the only thing i can find wrong with it, is that the finish is really thick in the trem cavity, and the springs rub the paint when you hit the whammy bar.

thats IT! cosmetically its perfect. not a visible flaw.

the spring noise sounds kinda neat coming thru the amp too
 
Re: Fender MIM Road Worn Series. Thumbs up.

Can't wait to test drive them. I'm in dire need of a white strat....guess have to wait for other finish options?

Nope. They've got a white/rosewood 60's strat in the lineup. It looks a lot like a vintage 65 strat. One thing I like is that they also feature checked finishes......pretty authentic looking.
 
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