Let me start by saying I am 54 years old and have been using and buying Fender stuff exclusivly for my 35 years of playing. Always top notch, dependable gear. I remember the days of one model of Strat, one model of Tele, one model of P Bass, etc. Sure, they had color options and some hardware options, but that was it. Now when someone has a Strat or Tele for whatever Fender gear for sale, you never know until you have it in your hands if its a Mexican, Japanese, Indonesian, Chinese, or an American Model. You've seen the ads-Strats for $300. Yeah-for a Mexican model. And I've seen some Mexican and Japanese Fenders that are killers-the Road Worn Series comes to mind. I'm sure Fender is trying to reach more of the market and make more options, but in my opinion, and many of the music store salepeople, it just ain't the same if it's not American made. An American Strat or Tele will hold its value and become more valuable as time goes on. It's an investment. The other stuff loses value the minute it's pulled off the wall. Anyone else feel the same?

Let me say I have both!!!! That said let me say do I want something that sounds great!!!! Do I want something that holds its Value???? YES!!!! Do I want something that drops in value???? NO!!!!
If I can get something that holds value and sounds great I am going that way if I can.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Well I'm 59 in a few days and yep! I remember when.
Life was simple then, you just bought a Strat or a Tele and you were good to go.
So many choices now but overall I think that's a good thing.

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I'm 53 and I remember it well. I still have my 72 Strat. It was simpler and everything was built here in the US. Just about all amps were hand wired using US made components. Even though $300 was a lot of money, things were built for the long haul. That's why those ols amps amps last 40+ years. Some of the amps today are landfill before they're ten years old.

The guitars have improved a lot, but some of the affordable tube amps are pretty poorly designed and cheaply manufactured. That's disappointing. I just bought my first non-Fender amp in a long time, not because of how they sound, but because of how they're built.

I tend to agree. I'm not even going to get into NAFTA, but I think Fender makes great instruments with many options and built in many countries. I will most often buy American guitars. I do look at it as an investment, although I play all of my guitars. I also realize that not everyone can afford to buy American instruments and for this reason I'm happy that Fender is able to produce something for almost everyone that is still a good quality instrument. I am also considering the purchase of a mim guitar just to modify it as a project guitar. I also like Seagull acoustic guitars, which are made in Canada. On the other side of the coin I do take some pride in helping American workers to keep their jobs which is partially why I will buy more mia's.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

Let me just say I agree with the post 100% Let me also say I love my MIJ teles as much as anything MIA. Since I found out I need an operation on my elbow as well as my thumb and have not played in 18 months every guitar I have bought has been MIA.To compensate the bleak medical reports ,instead of losing my mind I have just been teaching my 11 year old and buying gear to keep myself a part of the scene. I wish everything could be MIA from low end to custom shop. I do not get caught up in the made where debates but to keep it real nothing is going to hold the value or rise in value like MIA Fenders that is just a fact. To be honest I never thought of the value of guitars until I could not play. I always liked a top line product but could of really cared less about it going up in value as long as it performed up to par plus no one wants to lose money on an ax. What I could accomplish musically is what it is all about. Gear is great and it is nice to have nice axes but if you are not serious about music or becoming the best player you can be then all you really need is an acoustic guitar to strum some chords to be content.

I think the only american instrument I own is my G&L actually o_O

I don't really look at guitars as an investment though.

It's just a sign of the times......This is exactly what the G20 economic forum protesters are on about. When the leading (rich) western countries get together and decide who will manufacture products (cheap labour, undeveloped countries) this is what happens. Products made to the cheapest bottom line, maximising profits for the western owned companies.

The good old days were about a local product made to meet a local demand. It's no different in Australia. 30 years ago every shovel, saw or hammer in a hardware store was made here. Now we have wharehouse type superstores full of cheaply made items which break after a few uses.

Having said this, Fender's products are great quality for each price point. Like many companies, Fender needs to compete for market share against cheap knockoffs, hence the overseas manufacturing.

The only option we have as individual consumers is our power to exercise personal choice. Buy and use whatever makes you happy.

+ 1 you get what you pay for, I only ouy american made.

Agreed in that there is no question that the MIAs will hold their value far better, between consumer perception and merely the fewer numbers made. However, that does lessen the fact that the MIMs are still some killer guitars... sorry.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Actually, I have VG siting in the closet back in the states. So I have 2 American guitars. Both bearing the name of Leo Fender

But in general, every level of Fender is #$@*&!% quality. Squiers are phenomenal guitars for their price, far outclassing their competitors and with some work world-class, MIMs are that much better requiring a little work to fully realize their potential, MIJ/CIJs rival MIAs in my playing experience-outstanding instruments, MIAs and especially MIA deluxes are damn near good to go out the box with a setup. I haven't had the pleasure of playing with the lowest end Starcasters or a high-end custom shop yet. Natually, the MIAs are what everyone wants however and those are the ones that will increase in value, though I have seen MIJ/CIJs up there as well.

My strat is 1980, American, and not in the best shape: but I've worked it hard for 29 years. My tele is 200X, American hot-rod deluxe. Every ounce a tone monster; it feels and sounds awesome. My Les Paul is Gibson, late 90s, sounds and feels great. I have a Line 6 Variax 700 made-in-Japan computerized guitar. It feels great, too, but not quite the feel of my others.

What about Ibanez? Aren't they made overseas?
Of course, Ramirez classicals are awesome and they're European, right?

Ibanez are Japanese

My Ibanez AS73 in made in China. I don't know about their solid body guitars, just because I don't like them. The AS73 is actually really well made and plays incredibly well. I traded an old Roland guitar synth for it. I'm thinking about dropping either SD Phat Cat P 90's in it or Gibby Classics. I haven't decided. I usually bring the AS73 out instead of my 72 Strat. I don't care if the AS73 gets stolen it's easily and cheaply replaced.

I have the one made in korea and one made in USA....I love them both because they both sound great and feel great... with no problems.

J

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I can't find the Crossroads, my GPS must be broke....


2001 Fender Highway One, 2004 Fender SE Ash, 2011 Fender 200 SCE '99 Washburn WR120Pro, Amps: Fender Stage 160, Vox Valvetronix 30, Peavey 212 400 watt, Ibanez 50 watt Toneblaster