Re: NGD! 1981 Fender Bullet
I have just done a search on the USA Fender Bullet & found this, I just have to laugh out loud, I am replying now some 6 years down the line from this original thread !
Most people that diss the USA Fender Bullet as a bad guitar, have never ever played one, that in itself is bad & to further discuss things they know nothing about is even worse.
Owners like the original poster will revel in the fact that these quirky but very playable Fullerton manufactured Fender guitars have increased a great deal in value since 2009, I personally own 40 or more of the different variations of this guitar. I gig two USA Bullets regularly & can state that they play & sound as good as any other Fender I own & I also own some of what the slaters would deem very good guitars.
Despite what the purists may think, the Bullets were made at the same factory, using the same parts as all of the other Fender models from the same era, the necks are superb & exactly the same as any tele neck, the only difference is the lack of a 21st dot marker on the 1st edition rosewood necks, this was a cost saving & a way of distinguishing the guitar from other models & something that many people are totally unaware of, when stating that the Bullet was made using left over 60's tele necks ! The guitar was designed by John Page, the man himself went on to head up the Fender Custom Shop, his intention guided by Fender, was to manufacture a guitar that could compete with the cheap imports that were basically very good copies of strats & teles. With The passion from John Page to make an affordable, playable guitar, the Bullet was born - yes it was meant to appeal to students or those that could not afford a tele or a strat, but quality was not compromised. This was a story is similar to the Mustang story & anyone worth their salt will know what I am talking about, if they know anything about "Fender".
Facts about the Bullet - they do tend to sound thin, due to the thinner smaller body & the use of the alloy all in one bridge stop/tailpiece on the first model, the 2nd model also tends to sound thin, due to thinner body etc & it will not make much difference changing pickups due to the same. Changing pickups is always a subjective thing & I would say if you want a bigger sound such as a humbucker style Gibson sound, then buy a bloody gibson or a similar equipped humbucker guitar, its not rocket science, a single coil pickup guitar will never sound like a humbucker equipped guitar. Now after stating that, any guitar can sound how you personally like it, if you use a decent amp or chose to complement that with good quality pedals or digitally enhance the sound, the Fender Bullet will not disappoint through playability, its all in the hands of the player ........
So think on people it is now 2015 & the tele shaped Bullet is selling for between $350 - $600 depending on condition etc, the later strat shaped Bullets going for around the same price, so who is the mug ?
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