To get the full spectrum (history, pride etc) of owning and playing a Fender "Is a Fender Really a Fender if it wasn't made in the USA?"


Thank you to all who posted and voted.

I was going to wait until poll ended to state why I asked this question but its obvious by the pole how the majority feels.

Plus I couldn't remain silent with all the kind words..."yard stick", "troll", and "this thread is stupid."

No, I'm not sitting back eating popcorn watching all of you go at it. That was funny though.

I was serious when I asked the question/poll.

What started this was I recently bought the new 2011 model Fender Japan 70s Precision Bass. It's an amazing sounding and looking bass. However, I prefer the 1.5" nut width like on a Jazz Bass.

So, I bought a "licensed by Fender" Warmoth Jazz Bass replacement neck with black binding and block inlays to keep the look of the original neck and put it on the P Bass.

That's when the P Bass lost a bit of its appeal to me. I didn't know if it were because the headstock didn't say Fender or if it were because it wasn't the original neck.

I thought "this isn't really a Fender anymore" which lead to "was it really a Fender" in the first place since it wasn't US made.

I like that Fender makes different costing instruments which puts more guitars/basses in the hands of more people.

But for me, I get the best feeling of pride and joy, and of owning a piece of history when I'm playing an American made Fender that I just don't get with any other made Fender.

I wouldn't consider myself a snob and only buy American because I own two Fender Japan instruments. Maybe a name recognitionist or traditionalist.

But in my opinion, to get ever thing that goes along with owning a Fender (history/legacy etc) it's not a real Fender unless its American Made.

Think of this for example....is a Chinese made Warwick Rockbass a Warwick Bass? Technically, sure. It has Warwick's name on it, made to Warwick's specs and even looks like the German made model.

But there isn't any way in Hell I would feel the same way playing a Rockbass as I would a German made model. And, I would argue that they would not sound or play the same.

In my opinion any Guitar/Bass manufacturer that makes instruments in their home country and has lower costing ones made in another country it's not the real deal unless its the one made in the home country.

i personally disagree.

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2014 Fender Classic 50's nitro Stratocaster - Candy red.
2011 Gibson Les Paul Junior 'Billie Joe Armstrong' Signature.
2011 Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special HH - Olympic White
2012 Epiphone Dove Acoustic
Marshall MG100CFX
Marshall MG15CFX

If it says Fender on the headstock, then it is a Fender, regardless of where it was made. If it says Squier, it is not a Fender, but a Squier. I am a USA guitar fan-boy, but not to the point I wouldn't consider the imports as viable Fender's too. The import guitars are very good though, and I own several imports as well as the USA versions. Very similar in build quality, it's just wood grade and electronics and some hardware that's a little different.

In my opinion if its not made in the fender factory in California its technically not a true fender. the same goes with Gibson, PRS, Taylor, martin and any other brand ("not made in their current home base facility"). Buxom I Fixed it

just like an Ibanez isn't a true Ibanez unless its made in Japan. or a Marshall amp isnt a true Marshall unless its made in the UK. If the original factory still exists and they are made anywhere else it is just a contracted replica. most of the foreign factories are contracted to build guitars for several company's at one time.

for example if you buy an Ibanez made in the Cort factory
it is technically a Cort guitar that says Ibanez on it.

this is just my opinion so don't blast me

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So wait, a Gibson, PRS, Taylor, Martin, or any other brand not made in the Fender Corona factory isn't a true Fender?

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

no smart $@! if they are not made in their current home base facility

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If it is an authorized Fender product, made in an authorized Fender facility, it is an actual Fender. It is proper to name the country of manufacture ("Mexican" Fender, "Japanese" Fender, etc.), but it is still a Fender nonetheless.

If you buy a Dr. Pepper that was not made in Dublin, Texas, it is still a Dr. Pepper, correct?

If you buy a Toyota that was built in the US, it's still a Toyota, correct?

Likewise, a Fender is still a Fender, no matter what the origin.

The Armadillo hath spoken...

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



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

By this yardstick ALL of mine are fake.

I could give a $hit less.



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

If its made by fender, its a fender. I don't live in the US, they're all imports to me.



A Guinness isn't really a Guinness if its not made in Dublin, but is is a Dublin really a Dublin if its not in Ireland?

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Rated "M" for meaty.

As do you. Notice, he said I was being a smartass.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Which is better, rosewood or maple; alder or ash? Are humbuckers better than single coils?

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You dig?

Liking your argument there, Tochai

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"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
Blackstar HT-5R
Taylor Big Baby

http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0

I voted F A L S E

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

This is JV playing a MIM JV Strat. Do you really believe he thinks he is playing something less that a real Fender guitar? I don't.

And I feel the same way about mine.

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong