by cockroach » 13 May 2010, 15:07
If it absolutely HAS to say FENDER on the headstock to be the real thing, how come Hank and Bruce have often effectively used hand built custom copies with Fender decals?
I'm up on my soapbox again...!!
I've seen, played and owned a few Strat design type guitars that were far better quality, consistency and materials etc than a USA built Fender. and they were often cheaper new or used just because they weren't 'real' Fenders.
OK, I'm a bit parsimonious these days, due to finances, and I currently use stuff I can afford and pay for with gig earnings- such as a Chinese Squier Affinity Tele- which is possibly not as well made, or materials wise or well equipped hardware wise as a USA 'genuine' Tele- but a genuine USA Tele costs about 10 times the Squier price...and what I have is not that much inferior soundwise or in playing action, feel etc. Same with the Chinese Squier Bullet Strat I had previously.
In my opinion, stuff like Carvins and Godins, let alone many other brands and luthier built specials, often leave most Fender stuff way behind in quality, finish etc- and at the prices charged for Fender Custom Shop models they damn well should be good...!
It is called badge engineering with cars- you often pay much more for essentially the same thing with extras- but people still buy 'em- those marketing guys are probably worth their high salaries, as they understand the buyers and human nature!
