A true forum for exchange of knowledge and interests?
Or, just put here by the man to generate GAS (= sales)?
I would have put a third option for "both", but am interested in how it will turn out without the option when one is forced to really consider one or the other answer.

Answer 1: which makes the success of this Forum

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http://www.guitarmotel.com

I voted 1, because otherwise no-one would use the forum, which would not allow option 2 to function. But I think option 2 is very much in effect

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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

If the answer really is option 2, then we're sticking it to the man by building a support community on the back of his attempts to trap on us on the sales roundabout..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I wouldn't say we are sticking it to the man exactly. Perhaps they are sticking it to us? LOL!

Sure FMIC wants to sell more new product, but I'm sure they enjoy their free first tier support system too as provided by some of the knowledgeable members. On the other hand I've seen some posts that could have talked someone out of buying a new FMIC this or that. So it can be a two edged sword that cuts FMIC both ways. I think the forum is also a way for FMIC to find out what is on their users' minds. While we are "the little people" FMIC surely knows "the Little People" are the ones that buys the vast majority of new units.

I think FF is what you make of it. GAS induction would be a secondary or tertiary function. I don't get GAS anymore anyway. I think out all my purchases of new gear rationally and logically and....WOW look at that 62 RI P-Bass!

Or maybe # 3, which should have been:

To discuss problems of life, the soul, lost love, personal issues, health concerns, uncommon maladies, what you eat for breakfast, who you despise, why you live where you live and not somewhere else, etc. It seems there is no shortage of any of the above on this Forum.

I don't think this Forum exists to produce GAS in any of its many forms. For me, GAS existed long before I started hanging around here; though I will admit, prior to attending classes here I did not know a Fender Toronado GT existed, much less own one.



I like!

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Well, FMIC wouldn't maintain this forum unless it benefited the company. It costs money, effort and time, to maintain this forum. But it makes people feel "part of the family", it is a way of generating interest in the company, in a way, a form of advertising. But people would not use the forum just to look at a load of adverts. Therefore, to get people on the forum and exposed to fender, they promote it as a knowledge and experience base, for people to communicate ideas and information about musical instruments.

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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

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

# 1 - what do I win?

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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!

Its a combination of both. No. 2 is a byproduct of No. 1 which Fender knows that so its both.

I have often suspected that this particular site was actually created as a reaction to some other sites out there (TDP/FDP) which FMIC had little or no control over and which were drawing a large number of Fender enthusiasts. It seems perfectly natural to me that FMIC would want to draw their enthusiasts to a site of their own. It also seems equally natural to me that those enthusiasts would prefer to go to an officially authorized site where getting official company answers is a very real possibility. I don't have as much personal history with the Gibson related boards but it's entirely possible something similar happened in that universe as well.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Respect my friend

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http://www.guitarmotel.com

I think it is a great place to learn stuff you never knew before; however, I do end up with a lot of GAS most of the time.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Too bad: I won't be forced. "Both" is the correct answer.

Cheers - C

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Don't think for a minute that any of this is out of the kindness of FENDER'S Heart. It's part of there marketing Strategy (Sell Guitars And Gear). And thats OK with me, it works.
----Danny,