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Overall satisfaction
Poll ended at Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:20 am
Thrilled 59%  59%  [ 37 ]
Satisfied 24%  24%  [ 15 ]
Mixed feelings 13%  13%  [ 8 ]
Not satisfied 5%  5%  [ 3 ]
Never buy Fender again 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 63
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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:38 pm
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MIXED. For the money the mass production stuff is OK but there are some some quality control passes that should never have gotten out of the plant. So you play a bunch to find one that is really, really good.

Quality is up lately, but the astounding thing is that pre-CBS Fender instruments were so good without CNC and other modern production techniques including the state of the art paint facility of today. There were dogs back in the olden times too, but back then players weren't as sophisticated and picky.

On Custom Shop basses, judging by recent posts, some issues are not addressed as readily as one would expect on a $3000 to 4000 and up instrument. To me a "lifetime" warranty against defects means a lifetime warranty. In obviously defective things like neck binding crumbling off for no good reason then it should be fixed right the first time. Fender should fix it without the owner having to buttonhole a VP or CSM in Scottsdale about it.

Frankly I don't know how Fender keeps prices so low on the mass production stuff. Pretty amazing. But sort of puzzled by some warranty claim issues that have been brought to light recently.

Odds are that someone who buys a $4,000 Fender axe will buy a 2nd and 3rd and 4th one too. But blow off their legitimate warranty claim or frag the repair and that 2nd, 3rd and 4th one won't be a Fender. So I can just buy a vintage one, sure there's no warranty on a vintage one but apparently there isn't much of one on a new Custom Shop instrument either.

MIXED. Very mixed.


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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:03 pm
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Seeing all the new American made models Gibson is putting out for sub $1000, I don't see how Fender is being that competitive.

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 5:58 am
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wferguson wrote:
Seeing all the new American made models Gibson is putting out for sub $1000, I don't see how Fender is being that competitive.


$400 for my American made Gibson SGJ, inclusive shipping.
In my opinion, it has superior build quality over a MIM Fender tele I paid twice as much for. The latter having numerous minor issues. None large enough to invoke the warranty, and if doing so, the replacement would likely not be any better anyhow.

My guess: Fender QC only follows checklists, without an unscripted critical final tester whose sole job it is to find as many flaws as possible.


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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:02 am
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$489 for my Gibson LPJ, which is now one of my favorite guitars. Basically the only thing the LPJ doesn't have is binding and metal pickup covers, which doesn't bother me one bit.
And I agree on the checklist mentality. After reading some of the DRRI questions on here where there are SERIOUS issues with the amps I do think that someone looks at a checklist and goes "well it says it's right so it must be right" or "this checklist says nothing about a snapped baffle board so it must be okay". A buzzing nut due to it being cut incorrectly and gaps in the neck pocket are problems that a guitarist will notice, and I guess those saying the guitars are okay don't play guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:29 am
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I will continue to point out that there are many, many times when damage is done during shipping, and I can't believe that things like a "snapped baffle board" left the factory that way, no effing way. UPS, 'nuff said. :wink:

This is where the vendor should come in and file more claims against UPS until UPS is forced to start using reasonable care with packages, or if UPS doesn't take better care of packages, use another shipper that does.

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 9:59 am
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shimmilou wrote:
I will continue to point out that there are many, many times when damage is done during shipping, and I can't believe that things like a "snapped baffle board" left the factory that way, no effing way. UPS, 'nuff said. :wink:

This is where the vendor should come in and file more claims against UPS until UPS is forced to start using reasonable care with packages, or if UPS doesn't take better care of packages, use another shipper that does.


UPS aren't too hot here in the UK either, friend of mine bought an SG standard a couple of years ago, and the box was actually doubled over - SG totalled, at least he got a replacement sent the next time via another courier.

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:06 am
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The latest package I got from UPS had one corner pushed halfway through the box. It certainly wasn't just dropped. So yeah.

But the problems I have had with my Fenders lately haven't been due to shipping.

- Bridge on Thinline 72 RI not fastened properly. Two of the three routed holes were shallower than the screws in them, so the bridge was moving around, and sustain was pretty bad. Easily fixed.
- Frets on Thinline 72 RI sticking out. Too fresh wood used for the neck - as it dries, it contracts, but the frets won't. Also easily fixed with a file.
- Burr on string tree on Thinline 72 RI, sharp enough to draw blood. Easily filed off.
- Adjustment screws on Thinline 72 RI humbuckers do not match up with the holes in the cover. You have to use force to get the screws to move because they're wedged against the cover.
- Knobs on Select Tele HH spinning past the end point. Screws not tightened. Easily fixed with a screwdriver.
- Strap delivered with Select Tele HH not fitting the Schaller strap locks it also were delivered with. Easily fixed by drilling a larger hole.
- Deluxe case delivered with Select Tele HH has badly aligned brass. It's almost impossible to lock.
- Fender guitar stand damaging the finish of Fender guitar. While the stand is covered with soft tubing, the end has a plastic plug with sharp edges. Fixed with a file.

I can't blame this on UPS, and I also cannot join the hallelujah chorus singing "Excellent, couldn't be better!".
Fender guitars are [insert favourite expletive] good. I love them.
Fender QA, while still better than a few years ago, has room for improvement. Like someone who cares about quality taking a minute to look things over, looking for problems, and not just following a script and collecting a pay check.


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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:55 pm
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arth1 wrote:
I can't blame this on UPS, and I also cannot join the hallelujah chorus singing "Excellent, couldn't be better!".
Fender guitars are [insert favourite expletive] good. I love them.
Fender QA, while still better than a few years ago, has room for improvement. Like someone who cares about quality taking a minute to look things over, looking for problems, and not just following a script and collecting a pay check.


+10,000,000,000,000,000

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1965 Fender Precision Bass, 1994 Fender '54 Reissue Precision Bass, 2007 Applause Celebrity, 2011 Fender American Special Jazz Bass, 2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster, 2013 Fender American Special Stratocaster, 2013 Gibson LPJ


Last edited by wferguson on Sat Dec 21, 2013 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 5:41 am
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I'm very happy with my 2 Fender amps and 4 guitars. Mind you I tried them all out and inspected them all before I brought them home so I wouldn't have any issues.


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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 6:23 am
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I've only ever had one flaw, and I've only got a couple of sig Tele's and a couple of amps. The tuning pegs are really out on the back of the headstock of my MIM Wilko Johnson sig Tele. The flaw isn't massive, but it's there none the less. When I've looked at pictures on the internet to compare with other copies, they are all roughly the same - in fact some are worse! You might think they would have taken a bit extra care getting this right as there was only 200 made. Makes no difference to the playing though, and as it's a rare one it's a keeper no matter what.
Image

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 8:50 am
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Sure would like to see the number of respondents to the poll go over 50 to add more statistical significance!

Anyone?

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:21 am
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It's a sad day when companies no longer feel they need us, but rather assume that we need them.

Merry Christmas.


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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 2:09 pm
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If your not happy with Fender, you better take up another instrument. Fender's name is with the top brands of all time.


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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 2:39 pm
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I have two fender guitars. A MIC modern player jaguar and an Amer. Standard 2011 Tele. Parts-wise the Tele is better. As far as workmanship the Tele is a crude impersonation of a well finished and assembled guitar. The neck and fret finish on the Jag is flawless. Going onto the Tele from the Jag is an unpleasant experience with relatively sharp edges on frets jutting out from the fretboard. I play the Tele a lot and usually ignore these issues while blissing-out on the sound produced. Picking up the Tele after the Jag is always a WTF? moment.

Is Fender's answer, "Let them eat custom shop?" Too many people tend to care more about the likes on their fecebook :D page than the quality of work they produce. I understand production pressures may not allow the "artist" to emerge in the work produced but, there should be a level of unacceptable above what it is now.

Forums like these allow FMIC to be in touch with the mood of their customers. Being "in touch" can be a relative concept. :shock:

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Post subject: Re: Are you satisfied with Fender products and service?
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:21 pm
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tvr1979 wrote:
If your not happy with Fender, you better take up another instrument. Fender's name is with the top brands of all time.

Things aren't black and white - it's not "rah rah, Fender is king and can't do wrong" or "Fender is crap and I won't buy Fender". There's plenty of space between the two.

One can be very happy about Fender guitars and service, while not being happy with Fender workmanship and quality control. I have no problem buying another Fender, but based on what they have sold me lately, I fully expect to have to fix it before I use it. I would not recommend anyone to buy a Fender, unless they either can fix it themselves, or have the money for a luthier to do the job that QC didn't do.


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