+1
If they made amps under the Fender name that were handwired clones of iconic amps like the Bandmaster or tweed Super or Pro,or a Brownface Vibrolux like I just bought,then the boutique guys would have a problem staying in business....but I doubt thats going to happen.
Anyway like Nev said,you can't please everybody.

I'm hoping for limited factory runs of the Sub-Sonic and Fender XII or Strat 12-string. Apparently the sales of these models don't justify a permanent place in the product line.

How about letting Guild or Ovation resurrect the Master Series - Esprit, Flame, Ultra? They have the technology, tooling and expertise to pull it off.

BTW - Why doesn't Guild make electrics like the Bluesbird anymore? Everything is acoustic now.

OK, I'm done.

Because Fender Guild, Ovation and tons of other companies. God help us if Fender ever goes completely under.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I'm not sure I understand your reply.

+1

Likewise, ditch the so-called "artist signature" models.

I don't know anybody playing a Blackmore, Beck, or SRV Strat who even comes close to sounding like Blackmore, Beck, or SRV.

Nothing but marketing hype in its rawest form IMO.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

+1,000. Some of these guys are unapproachable to even get an autograph, but yet a few people will pay a premium to play a guitar that the performer never even took a pen to. Half these guys get a sig guitar just because of their record sales.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

Supro I'd have to firmly disagree that by ditching models Fender could sell at cheaper prices.

Look at the facts. All the blanks are cut on the same handful of machines. Thereby making manufacture far less labour intensive. So they knock out say 1000 bodies a week. That then go on to become whatever artist or series model. They all come off the same machine, same with the necks.
Aside from a bit of electrickery gizmo's theres not a lot found on the Artist or Series guitars that you wouldn't find on Strats of any year between 1974 and 1954. How much do you think the tronics cost Fender? Not a lot I'll bet. Same for the paintwork.

On the other hand sales of such instruments are a major source of profit. A Clapton really costs no more to produce than a Highway1. Yet sells for mucho spondoolicks more. Because it appeals to fans, Fender know they can get away with it.
Take that away and Fender will have to look for that money somewhere else, as well as reduce their target customer base. Cos they sure aint gonna drop the profit margin.

I think Fender's marketing and R&D departments are doing good enough. They are the best selling guitar manufacturer after all.
Nutter knows the specifics but as a overall instrument manufacturer Yamaha owns the world. They sell more than anyone else across the board. Because they sell everything from karaoke microphones to symphony orchestra standard violins.

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No no and no

I've been around a few musicians who were fairly well known and were better players by far than some of the "artists" who have their own model...and I have never gotten one signature on my guitar....

The neck radius, frets, pickups and electronics even the decals are all different. As well as different models only offer only certain colors. Look at the Road Worn guitars. We pay not because the guitars are great, but because they have to be production time vampires and that time needs to be paid for. Changing production lines over to another product costs time. If it doesn't cost more, why are the bulk of these things coming from Mexico, and China? Probably because the EPA and OSHA don't exist there. I'll bet the paint booths in Mexico and China are quite different from paint booths here in the U.S.

I worked in manufacturing and was a machinist and then a supervisor in a machine shop for a good while before all the manufacturing companies left for cheaper labor, so I think I have some understanding about manufacturing costs and processes.

The Custom shop guitars won't cost much more in materials, but the labor costs are considerably higher in the U.S. and that's where the difference lies in the profit margin. Also, when I was in Mexico a couple of years ago, the locals I spoke to told me that a good paying job is around $40 per day. They laughed when I asked about benefits. I have no idea what the labor rate is in China or Korea.

Less options and product models simplify the manufacturing process.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

-Revoke Jim Root's signature models. In my mind, his crappy music detracts from Fender's legacy.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

LOL! Somebody´s seconds away from getting their own show on the comedy channel!

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If guitars were cocaine I’d be John Belushi.

I'm sorry but printing those decals costs all of the price of the transfer and the ink. Those are long established designs that were put into a computer yonks ago. Much the same for your point about radius and the roadworn finish. You can tell it's machine applied or atleast enabled, by how all the line match the same pattern.
Supro
How much do you think that costs per guitar? I can safely estimate no more than £3. Those machines have to change no tooling. It's just a button press. You're dealing with mass produced guitars. You say as much deeming them cookie cutter's. Which applies to the majority of FMIC's produce. CAD programming controlling CAD milling machines. A template for the roadworns in the worst (most cost intensive) case. It comes to so near next to nothing it's untrue. It's 2011 not 1961
Whilst all the time refusing to accept the enormous profit they produce when they sell in their tens of thousands.

Fender's success is apparent for all to see, It's the one thing that can't be argued with. How come all the success stories of manufacture have a huge catalogue. From Rolex to Ford it's the same the world over.
You're preference is your own and is neither right nor wrong, simply yours. You don't need to hide it behind the profit margin argument.

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No no and no

We are all telling Fender what to do, and yet (considering everything good and bad in the history of the brand) we're fortunate the company is in business at all. They must be doing something right.

I continually gripe because I want a Fender Bass IV and a solid body electric twelve string (Strat or Tele), but every time a model similar to my request has been issued, they didn't sell well, so they're not in production.

They have enough niche guitars to satisfy almost everyone, yet we still mod our guitars when we buy one...many of us buy specific guitars with the sole purpose of modding them! They cannot possibly please us all.

I'm just glad we don't have the problems (poor quality, high price, stupid design ideas) that Gibson players are suffering right now.

However, I was serious about eliminating any mention of the Slipknot guy...if Tab Benoit and Roy Buchanan don't have signature Teles, that douchebag shouldn't.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I'd love to see the return of the American Std in hardtail form... especially now that they're using the vintage style bent steel saddles... just my 2 cents. Other than that... most bases seem covered IMO. Cheers.