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Post subject: What Killed the VG Stratocaster ?
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:22 pm
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Discontinued after April '09. I think it was the battery BS. Anyone I know who tried it out loved it, (including me), but didn't buy it because of the need to invest heavy in EverReady stock. Maybe what's left will sell for $999 through MF/GC sales. I also think it should have had Noiseless pickups, locking tuners & an LSR roller nut. I'm sure that if it had an AC adapter line for power, it would have sold much better. Of course, the 2.6k List was a bit steep even for some (unsigned?) touring pros. When anything you want or need incurs a bank loan or many months to save up the bucks.... well.... it's not exactly an 'impulse' buy from loose change, is it?

What's your opinion on why Fender dumped it? (If you work for Fender & know EXACTLY why, (Low sales, returns & or complaints?) we'd ALL like to know, IF you are allowed to say. Otherwise; All opinions are welcome. Thanks


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 3:02 am
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Low sales caused by a consumer base not being interested. I'd like to believe thats because guitarists are typicaly a lot more traditionalist than bassists. Bassists have been a lot more open to in guitar technology than guitarists in the past. Given the advent of modeling amps, rack units, guitars (line6 still sell plenty of variax's) and digital home recording equiptment its just not a fact anymore.
I think its simply that if someone pays fender prices they want a guitar that atleast mildly resembles one of the previous 50's-80's models. No doubt caused in part by the whole vintage hype. I think the darkfire will go the same way. Too much money for a traditionalist builders guitar thats not a traditional guitar.

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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:36 am
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I picked one up for the first time at a Best Buy the other day because they were selling them for $999.I was really impressed with the sounds,then I looked at the back and thought about all of the electronics in it and set it down.I just know it will be having problems after a few years the way guitars get banged around.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:57 am
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'Bought a Line 6 Variax 500 when they were closing out.

The sounds (25 guitars and such) are really excellent and playability was good. Only 'gripe' was petty on owner's part; lack of vibe. It's a "machine," not really a guitar.

L6 product had not only more sounds than VG but also one advantage over the Fender which was you can power it through a wall wart attached to a floor switch through the cable. 'Never put a battery into it in 4 years. Reportedly the VG battery goes about 4 to 6 hours.

The L6 forum howled for years about why not put Variax guts in a Strat or LP, which would have been a snap. Apparently though, neither G nor F wanted to play along, so to speak.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:33 am
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The one thing that was a bit 'scary' about the VG was the warning NOT to open the cavity where the Roland electronics were located. Authorized access only kind of thing. It reminded me of the idea that a Rolls Royce has a sealed engine and an owner can't service one himself without violating the warranty.... a real bummer.
I guess F & R didn't want any power conversions (battery to adapter) because an amateur (& even a pro) could easily goof-up and short out the system. Sad part is, how much extra would a dual-power system have cost them &/or us? Not that much. Nearly every stomp box has it and it's a very common choice for musicians these days. It's too bad the 'brains' at F & R didn't allow for it. I think they "Over-Thunk" it! LOL


Last edited by Guitarman1117 on Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:45 am
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Not sure, but the reason why I personally wouldn't buy it is the battery life of the thing. It's like what's the point if you keep having to recharge the battery all the time just to play the thing even without the effects mode. I do have an EMG equipped strat and love it, but the big difference is that they have a much much longer battery life. I've had the EMG's for a year and haven't changed the 9V yet.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:56 am
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Actually, another gripe of mine was that there was no 'user inter-phase' for it. The open tunings (especially) weren't to my personal liking and I would have changed them if possible. Much too restrictive in my opinion.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:31 pm
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I didn't find the VG all that great sounding and a little glitchy at times. On it's own it didn't play bad. I just wasn't diggin the open tunings. The battery thing killed it for me too.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:26 pm
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morrissey wrote:
Not sure, but the reason why I personally wouldn't buy it is the battery life of the thing. It's like what's the point if you keep having to recharge the battery all the time just to play the thing even without the effects mode. I do have an EMG equipped strat and love it, but the big difference is that they have a much much longer battery life. I've had the EMG's for a year and haven't changed the 9V yet.

It plays perfectly fine without batteries, or if they go down, you just have to select N for the mode. I use rechargeable batteries, when it gets low (flashing light or it goes out), you replace them. I have two sets - one to play with, one to recharge. The VGStrat has a large pile of electronics, not just a preamp, which is what your EMG equipped Strat most likely has.

Yes, an on/off switch for the electronics would have been nice, but I just unplug it. And Fender recommends rechargeable batteries.

Gill 8)

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:27 pm
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Unfortunately, the people at the top in (most companies) aren't in touch with the people at the bottom NOR their customers like they should & need to be. Do you really think Fender's CEO reads this? Will any of the administration pass this on to the top people? Even if they do, will those execs pay any real attention? You'd think that with so many companies in history and especially the recent past that have been run into the ground by their upper echelon (is THAT why they call them "mucky-mucks"?) you'd think SOMEBODY would wake up and take notice. Besides, corporate people in places like Japan make a point of getting advice from all of the people who work for them and it has proven to be a huge advantage. Why isn't that kind of super-successful 'team-effort' recognized as the 'way it should be done'? Sadly, even though many execs actually take time to listen, they don't really hear. The majority of the advice they take action on comes from either their direct subordinates (VP's, etc.) or 'figures' that add up(?) according to "market research". It's a well-known fact that many of the biggest stars in the music industry were turned down a multitude of times by recording execs because 'research' charts trends of the PAST, not the future....... duhhhhh.

Few heads of chain-stores (Wal*Mart, for example) understand that an item may be a big seller in certain areas, but only looking at totals across the board, to them the item probably doesn't appear to be all that profitable; therefore they blindly drop it and make a LOT of customers mad, including the suppliers and manufacturers. I don't understand how these people get to the top by constantly making such stupid blunders. I only know of two excuses: "The Peter Principle" and (Royal?) Nepotism. IMHO, if these were both eliminated from the business world, (Grand Union & Grand Way anyone?) maybe the average IQ at the top would include more Mensa members..... and "talent" like Ozzy's kids wouldn't even warrant (nor pass) an audition. OK, so money (& fame) talks, but who really thinks people like Paris Hilton are worth your time or ear? Paaaaah-Leeease!

We all have a pretty good idea where Fender stands in the ranks along with big long-time rival, Gibson. Giants that once had to contend with Gretsch and Rickenbacker, etc. Now it's PRS, Parker and a host of Asian-born guitar makers. Most of the British & European guitar makers (Burns, Vox, Hofner, Hagstrum, etc.) aren't really contenders in the race anymore. (At least that's how I see it and my own opinion of the US market over the last 50 years.) Sorry if I didn't include your second favorite guitar maker in the list (Squier?) but I'm sure you know the list isn't short:

Alvarez, B.C. Rich, Breedlove, Brian Moore, Carvin, Dan Armstrong, Danelectro, Dean, Dillion, Eastman, Epiphone, ESP, EVH, Fernandes, Floyd Rose, Framus, G&L, Godin, Guild, Hamer, Ibanez, Jackson, Jay Turser, Kramer, Laguna, Line 6, LTD, Martin, Michael Kelly, Mosrite, Music Man, OLP, Ovation, Peavey, Rogue, Samick, Schecter, Steinberger, Taylor, Tom Andreson, Travis Bean, Washburn, Westone, Wilson Brothers, Yamaha, & (OMG) Daisy Rock? LOL... If I missed your "other" guitar brand(s) you must admit, they can't be any 'threat' to Fender, not anywhere near as popular nor as successful.


Last edited by Guitarman1117 on Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:02 pm
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nikininja wrote:
Low sales caused by a consumer base not being interested. I'd like to believe thats because guitarists are typicaly a lot more traditionalist than bassists. Bassists have been a lot more open to in guitar technology than guitarists in the past. Given the advent of modeling amps, rack units, guitars (line6 still sell plenty of variax's) and digital home recording equiptment its just not a fact anymore.
I think its simply that if someone pays fender prices they want a guitar that atleast mildly resembles one of the previous 50's-80's models. No doubt caused in part by the whole vintage hype. I think the darkfire will go the same way. Too much money for a traditionalist builders guitar thats not a traditional guitar.


+1

I have always felt the same way. The novelty outweighed the practicality. That's about how I've always felt with the Robot/Darkfire/VG. Just to be quite frank, I'm perfectly happy with the traditional guitar with the pickups, strings, and tuners.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:28 pm
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If Roland is smart and the 'contract' with Fender is done with, maybe they will make an outboard unit than can be accessed from any guitar equipped with a Roland Hex pickup. If these units are user-friendly, direct powered and have super-fast trigger response, I'd expect better sales across the board. 'Available only in an American Standard Strat' was very limiting. I expected (had sales been better) they'd make it built into a Tele next, but no. I'd be curious to know how many were made, how many were sold & how many are waiting in a warehouse, that will eventually go for a fraction of the original list. I think the rarest will be the (last ditch?) Silver ones, but I liked the Sunburst best. Maple or Rosewood? Difficult choice there.

RG: Methinks one step back and you'd be straight acoustic. LOL
I, for one, appreciate Dunlop StrapLoks & Auto-Locking tuners. We also have available better strings and better (V-) picks. Amps are certainly better with more power graduation, tones and F/X with less buzzing. The connection(s) via 1/4" cord(s) are far better w/ near zero signal decay. Question is, where will wireless be after TV's freq. bands go digital?


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:45 pm
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giljanus wrote:
morrissey wrote:
Not sure, but the reason why I personally wouldn't buy it is the battery life of the thing. It's like what's the point if you keep having to recharge the battery all the time just to play the thing even without the effects mode. I do have an EMG equipped strat and love it, but the big difference is that they have a much much longer battery life. I've had the EMG's for a year and haven't changed the 9V yet.

It plays perfectly fine without batteries, or if they go down, you just have to select N for the mode. I use rechargeable batteries, when it gets low (flashing light or it goes out), you replace them. I have two sets - one to play with, one to recharge. The VGStrat has a large pile of electronics, not just a preamp, which is what your EMG equipped Strat most likely has.

Yes, an on/off switch for the electronics would have been nice, but I just unplug it. And Fender recommends rechargeable batteries.

Gill 8)


Really, there's so many complaints about the battery being drained even when you select it to N. Hmmm, maybe something must've been going on more than just that.


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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:20 pm
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morrissey wrote:
giljanus wrote:
morrissey wrote:
Not sure, but the reason why I personally wouldn't buy it is the battery life of the thing. It's like what's the point if you keep having to recharge the battery all the time just to play the thing even without the effects mode. I do have an EMG equipped strat and love it, but the big difference is that they have a much much longer battery life. I've had the EMG's for a year and haven't changed the 9V yet.

It plays perfectly fine without batteries, or if they go down, you just have to select N for the mode. I use rechargeable batteries, when it gets low (flashing light or it goes out), you replace them. I have two sets - one to play with, one to recharge. The VGStrat has a large pile of electronics, not just a preamp, which is what your EMG equipped Strat most likely has.

Yes, an on/off switch for the electronics would have been nice, but I just unplug it. And Fender recommends rechargeable batteries - like almost all other strats!

Gill 8)


Really, there's so many complaints about the battery being drained even when you select it to N. Hmmm, maybe something must've been going on more than just that.

The only way to stop the batteries from being used, ie, to get the Blue Lite to go out, is to disconnect the instrument cable at the guitar end. If the Blue Lite is on, the batteries are being used. I get 7-to-8 hours, and I only use 2400-to-2500 mAh rechargeable batteries - Fender recommends 2600-to-2700 mAh batteries.

I don't find it so hard to disconnect the cable when I'm not playing the VGStrat.

My comment about turning the guitar to N is to allow you to play it with dead batteries in it, unless you move it to N, the guitar will try and use the Synth, going to N allows the 3-single coils to used as a Passive guitar.

Gil 8)

_________________
Where ever you go, there you are

1998 Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Natural
Taka - 2005 Squier '51 Black
Yume - 2006 Squier Strat Cherryburst
Houbi - 2008 Fender VG Strat Blizzard Pearl - won here
Fender Super Champ XD; Vox DA-5


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:22 am
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I can't for the life of me understand why they didn't include E flat tunning.


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