LOL!

Wow, there's so much backlash in this thread, it's unreal. Also, I'd like to mention this entire trainwreck is also one long revisit of a thread we had on here back in April.

Anyhow, allow me to throw more fuel on the fire: I agree with the underlying sentiment of Mr. Boss' post. I've said it on these forums in the past, FMIC is getting way out of hand on how many variations they're willing to make on a theme. Road Worn Fender guitars, Road Worn Player's Fender guitars, Lone Star Strats, Big Apple Strats, Deluxe Roadhouse Strats ... it's absolute madness.

How would I fix it? Well let's start from the top down.

Step one: Take the name "Fender" out of FMIC for starters. Crazy? Perhaps. But FMIC is more than just Fender. It's also Guild. It's also Gretsch. It's also DeArmond. It's also Jackson and Charvel. It's SWR, Sunn, and Tacoma. There's Squier too, let's not forget. FMIC is a corporate entity that doesn't rely on just Fender to make money. It has nine other brands that pull their weight in making that goal as well. It isn't just Fender. I don't care what they rename themselves. American Musical Instrument Company? Whatever. Sure. That works.

Step two: Next it would be time to rearrange things. Pair up brands and treat each paired up brand as it's own autonomous company. GM did it with their car lines (Pontiac, Buick, Chevrolet, etc.) when they reigned supreme in the '50s, '60s, and early '70s (they didn't go to hell and start losing market share until the 1980s when Roger Smith completely screwed up their business model without any real rhyme or reason, before you make any rebuttals without any research) and when Fiat recently restructured Chrysler Co. they did the exact same thing. It seems large corporations make their best products when each brand is treated as more than just that and each brand can focus on and manage itself without corporate sticking their $@! into everything.

So the pairing up would go like this: Squier/Fender; Gretsch/Guild; DeArmond/Tacoma; Jackson/Charvel (EVH would be folded into this division or discontinued or sold); SWR/Sunn. Groove Tubes would still stand alone as pairing it up with any of these new divisions wouldn't suit its mission. Each division has it's own custom shop that employs different master builders. You don't have the Fender CS guys building Gretsches and you don't have Jackson CS guys building Fenders.

Step three: Focusing specifically on Fender, I'll just revise and repost what I wrote months ago.

I think a unique approach for Fender to take would be to have a simple line-up like this:
-Fender Telecaster
-Fender Stratocaster
-Fender Jazzmaster
-Fender Jaguar

Simple, right? Like in the old days. But there's a catch so that Fender can make folks happy; folks who have a budget, folks who want variety, folks who want both, folks who like blondes in porn ... well, you get the picture.

You would still utilize the Mexican, American, and Japanese plants (more on the Mexi plant later). You would only have American Standard Stratocasters. The Japanese plant would still make more guitars for the Japanese Domestic market versus export markets.

What you would do is eliminate models like Roadhouse Strats, Classic Player Baja Telecasters, and so on and on. Instead, just offer an Fender American Standard model of each instrument and offer cost and no cost options for each guitar so that someone can order and buy exactly what they want.

Say you wanted a Fender Jaguar in Capri Orange with one Pearly Gates humbucker and one Seymour Duncan Hot Jag pickup at the neck, a V-shaped neck profile with a 9.5 neck radius, a Adjust-o-Matic bridge, bound maple neck with '62 Jag detailing. You would go to your Fender dealer and place that order. Each option would add an additional price to the base MSRP (MSRPs would go by street pricing in the future, eliminating the two different prices and all of that silly BS) of, say, $1099 for the Fender American Standard Jaguar.

Guitar shops would still have floor models that have some of the available features for sale. Think car dealership here.

I'm sure someone would wait a few weeks for a guitar that's exactly what they want at a good price if it weren't in the shop, hanging up on a rack.

I know I would.

It's like buying a car, essentially, except you don't have useless trim names like LS Brougham Supreme Deluxe Landau.

Also, the guitar's origin would be more discreetly hidden. For all guitars, the "Made In U.S." decal would go out the window and the guitar's origin would be represented by a very discreet American Flag on the heel of the neck.

There would still be reissue models, though. There is a big market for them, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The Custom Shop would still have their own catalog and still build one-offs.

Japan exports would be rare Special Edition guitars and reissues with collector value.

Signature models would go out the door, but someone could select a "Slowhand Group Package" option and get all of the equipment of any signature Clapton Strat out there, just without the John Handcock on the headstock.

Coincidentally, while the variety goes away, you get far more options this way and guitars can be factory built for individual tastes without a insane Custom Shop price.

Bass guitars would be treated the exact same way.

Squier would adopt the same model, but transfer all of their production to Mexico as Fender production ends there.

Admittedly, I like the thinking of G&L's model (if G&L can do it, why can't Fender?) as well as Gibson's to a large majority.

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2006 Fender AVRI 70s Stratocaster: Natural Ash | Sovtek MIG 60 & A No Name Cabinet | Pedals & Junk

You forgot Ovation

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pheonix-Caster you are brilliant that is an awsome post! thanks man

Phoenix, you are awesome. Just a couple things though- maybe this should have happened in the early nineties. I see the method to your madness and I see it could work. However Fender still have a following of vintage collectors and historians that they must stay correct to. Changing they way they do things will have an positive/negative impact later on. Having 'Options' would be a great idea, but where does the line between 'make your own' and 'customshop' get fuzzy?
Ordering these options would also create demand, backorders too- so here's the crucial thing.. would fender be able to keep up?

Fender Japan. It needs to be opened up again- I mean, if they arent being sold in the USA or Europe, then whats the point of them making guitars for a domestic-only market? They must sell guitars like they sell their cars. Buy 'em and keep it for 18months and sell it back to upgrade, whilst old gear gets exported. They are interesting. They're much cheaper than the Mexican product- the quality is of a high standard, but they will never appreciate in value. They build them and offer options seen only in customshop- but dollar to dollar- much cheaper than MIM. Thats why they dont them sell in USA and that is also why demand is high.. but appreciate in value- no they wont.

Ordering these options would also create demand, backorders too- so here's the crucial thing.. would fender be able to keep up and would this make wait times longer than they are for certain colours?


As with all things, half the people will like it, the other half not. I would welcome the idea myself- but like I said this is probably what they should have done in the 90's

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As everyone will know I’m new to Guitars playing for the short time that I have.. However even I can recognise a guy with a chip on both shoulders.

Just about everything that can be said in reply has been. Here’s my two pence worth.

I have a cousin like BKB. He has been made redundant from more jobs than you can shake a stick at. Not because he can’t do the job, but because he alienates everyone round him with this pseudo superior attitude.. How, by telling his superiors where they are going wrong and how by adopting his regimen all will become clear.

As previously mentioned on this site, Fender are in the business of making profits and what’s wrong with that? If the product range did not have a market it would not be on the shelves.
Not everyone want’s to spend £2,000+ on a Guitar even if they can.

I can’t speak on the high end technical part of this debate, don’t have the knowledge or experience.

I started with a Squire, then a MIM and now have a Highway.. And while I am unlikely to spend much more on a Fender, personal choice. I have enjoyed my transition and can say that with each modest upgrade. I obtained great pleasure and improvement in tone quality, even for my cloth ears.

PS: If someone could go into a Guitar shop in the 50’s with all the knowledge claimed by BKB. You would have to be at least 20+ , you do the maths. You just don’t stack up BKB.

Who? I've heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan and I've heard of Jimmie Vaughan. I've even heard of Sarah Vaughan and Tyrone Vaughan, but never Jimmie Ray vaughn.

Honey, I fed the troll!

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



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