Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

[leevc5]

I did today and was literally overwhelmed by all the different Fenders there were. I spent about an hour and a half checking them out and I think only got through about two thirds before the kindly proprietor got tired of hearing my rendition of crossroads and asked me to move along.

It amazes me how Fender can make so many versions of basically a Stratocaster and a Telecaster. It's like the options war the car companies went through before (I think it was at Honda) some bright guy went to a senior manager and pointed out that they were offering over three thousand different Accords. He also pointed out the astronomical cost associated with this business model. Things changed pretty fast after that...but as usual I digress.

It might be interesting to compile a Fender sightings list and see how many of them are out there or maybe more to the point why in the name of Leo are there so many?

 

[greekdude]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

To create an illusion of individuality or tech-trendy or just to justify their existence as a maker.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

On Fender's website, not counting signatures and limited editions, or left handed models... Or Squiers...

The tally appears to be thirty-nine for Strats alone. Can't say I can complain as a consumer, I'm not "overwhelmed" so to speak; if I'm going to sink $500 - $2000 into any purchase I will for sure do my research beforehand and make myself knowledgeable, though I guess Fender shouldn't count on customers to necessarily self educate; I'm sure a bunch of naive kids/rich old men will walk into the store, play a random one without caring which, say it's great, and buy it without realizing that it's a "sixties classic series deluxe tex-mex lacquer Shawbucker iOS edition."

The opposite sort of comments would happen if "they only built one version of the Stratocaster; their signature guitar! Why don't they make a Strat I like?" Hard for a big corp. to win in that respect, especially when there's so much emotional baggage associated with their product. At least they seem to have picked a strategy; that extra money for the name on the headstock has to go somewhere.

 

[Obsessive Compulsive]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

No. It amazes me how guitar players with years of experience still fall for deceitful marketing strategies like offering basically the same guitar only with different fancy names, different radii and the number of plies on the pickguard.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Their all variations of the same ****ing thing. :werd:

 

[AlexR]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Wait til you get the varieties of LP.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

I took a quick look and found:
Fender offers 101 Stratocasters and Telecasters
Squier offers 95
So the tally is 196 Strats and Teles with the Fender stamp on them so far. I think I saw others yesterday but will have to go back and check them out.

Leo must be rolling in his grave over what Fender has done.

I found a new Squier Bullet for $99, I didn't have my glasses with me but I think it said "crafted in Uganda."

Can anyone find a Fender guitar cheaper than that?

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

I am afraid to say that lots of people want a strat but not a single set of specs fits for everyone... being that said, it is always drived by the marketing strategy of announcing a new product and rise expectation on consumers.

 

[Chad]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

...before the kindly proprietor got tired of hearing my rendition of crossroads and asked me to move along.

Got pics or video?

 

[leevc5]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

This is a new one to me. A Telecaster on the Fender site that is made in china. No mention in the write up about being made in China the only indication is the picture of the back of the headstock. Pine body Telecaster "crafted in China" with the Fender Logo...seems like they are diluting the Fender name with this type of offering. I would think they would have put it in their Squire line with the other Asian guitars.
http://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/modern-player-telecaster-plus/0241102569.html#start=1

http://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/ZoomJpg/10002/0241102542_gtr_hdstckfrt_001_nr.jpg

http://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/ZoomJpg/10002/0241102542_gtr_hdstckbck_001_nr.jpg

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/mod-shop/

Now fender has this overpriced stupidity..
As a guy who just bought a new Strat this week, I understand exactly what you are saying. I must have played 100 Teles and Strats and Wilcutt in Lexington,Ky has a ton of Fenders in stock as well as GC and Sam Ash..
There were a ton to choose from and that wasn't including the G&Ls I played as part of my decision making process.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/mod-shop/

Now fender has this overpriced stupidity..
As a guy who just bought a new Strat this week, I understand exactly what you are saying. I must have played 100 Teles and Strats and Wilcutt in Lexington,Ky has a ton of Fenders in stock as well as GC and Sam Ash..
There were a ton to choose from and that wasn't including the G&Ls I played as part of my decision making process.

That is an interesting link. Fender is offering 3,446 different possible Stratocasters and the same number of Telecasters.
So now between Fender and Squier they are offering 7,088 different Stratocasters and Telecasters.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Honestly; I don't even look at Fenders anymore. Only one of the five guitars I have is a Bolt Neck; USACG Iceman, as I have steered away from Bolt Necks in general over the last couple years.

 

[leevc5]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Honestly; I don't even look at Fenders anymore. Only one of the five guitars I have is a Bolt Neck; USACG Iceman, as I have steered away from Bolt Necks in general over the last couple years.

What is it that you do not like about bolt on neck guitars?

 

[DMR]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

It is pretty crazy. That said, in a few months i'm going to get either an American Standard tele or an Elite series tele (although I think the jump in price for the Elite is kind of ridiculous).

Have also been having a look at John Page guitars as an alternative. Anybody have any experience with them?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Considering what goes into a Fender Stratocaster and how easy it is to modify, there is no need for most of the variants.

Perhaps, the thing could be marketed like some cars? Tick the boxes for wood types, finish, hardware, pickups, controls. Tot up the prices. Agree to purchase. The downside is no chance to try before you buy.

The reality is that all manner of humans desire the Fender Stratocaster but not all of them are willing to pay the true price. Hence, the budget lookalikes with the magic word on the headstock.

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

What is it that you do not like about bolt on neck guitars?

I wouldn't say I don't like them; I've had plenty that were awesome (Kramer, B.C. Rich, Ibanez, etc.) and I love the USACG I have...there's just not much that attracts me on the Fender Product Line...at least not what I see in the local GC.

 

[Dahla]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Perhaps, the thing could be marketed like some cars? Tick the boxes for wood types, finish, hardware, pickups, controls. Tot up the prices. Agree to purchase. The downside is no chance to try before you buy.

Isn't that basically Warmoth?



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[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

I like Fenders, but I'd love for them to stop making the same instrument and offer a few more variances. I'm gassing bad for a Jazzmaster with a maple board and 22 frets.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Have you walked through the Fender section of your local music shop recently?

Isn't that basically Warmoth?

Yes. Or Carvin.

There is a well-known internet mail order outlet that dismantles electric guitars with the specific intent of reselling them as parts for self-builders. It is also possible to purchase Fender bodies and necks that have never been assembled into complete instruments. Of course, not everyone knows how to put them together properly and set them up to be playable and sound pleasing.