Hi, as I have said fairly new to Guitar 3 years, and first day on the forum. So not an expert just trying to participate.

Have been told my those more experienced than me the name on the headstock not always the criteria for tone / quality sound ?

Fender Highway, Gibson ES335 and SG, Washburn J6 and Freshman Acoustic.

No the name on the headstock really doesn't matter. Just make sure it says Fender Stratocaster.

Welcome to the forum!!!!

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

The name on the headstock is meaningless. The only thing you need to worry about is if you hands and ears like it.

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I think they're talking more about Squire vs Fender, Epiphone vs Gibson... not specific models. These days the quality and sound of the overseas made guitars (Squire, Epiphone...) rivals the quality and sound of their American brothers (Fender, Gibson).

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

No, the name isn't. Starcasters have the Fender name on it, but I feel those instruments suck (That's why they're sold at Wal-mart >_>). That being said, if you took the Fender name off the headstock of my strat I'd still pick it over almost every other solid-body electric. It just wouldn't look as cool >_>

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

Replace 'not always' with 'means nothing'.

For every Fender Stratocaster out in the world with "amazing tone" there are 20 that should have never left the factory
and deserve to be firewood.

ORC

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I'm not so sure I want to throw my hat in the ring and say the name means nothing at all. That's not right. There are some names that definitely mean something. If I see the names: Jay Turser, Mann, Samick, Vantage and a few other like them it definitely means I won't even touch it let alone try it. Experience has taught me to just walk past without stopping. To stop and try might be useful once or twice for curiosity sake but not for actual buying purposes. Those guitars are for people who can't decide between a trombone or a bass guitar.

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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.

You are correct, there are guitars of different levels of quality with each brand.

Having said that, I am proud to have a headstock that bears the name Fender

Certain names stand for a certain level of excellence or lack thereof. There are duds at the highest level and some surprisingly fine playing guitars at the lower (I emphasize 'lower' and not 'lowest') levels. So yes, the name does mean something. Conversely, if it didn't, there would not be any instantly recognized brands out there be they good, bad or indifferent. YMMV.

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You dig?

Several years ago my daughter was working at the local Gibson plant (that lasted less than 2 years)and they used to be routinely shipped factory 2nds from other companies. Anyway on my birthday she presented me with an unbranded guitar that looked vaguely Strat-like but sounded absolutely great and played pretty good once I did a proper set up on it.Anyway there can be exceptions to the rule in any brands(or non brands)of guitars.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Although several import companies make very decent instruments.......I don't care what anyone else says, or what they tell you, there is just something about having the REAL thing! American made instruments (usually) use higher grades of wood, hardware and electronics.....all of which add to the value and functionality of the guitar. I own many imports, and some are really nice guitars......will I live long enough to see them worth more than what I paid for them........nope, LOL. You only live once......buy the real thing, because they got so popular and became LEGENDS for a reason.

To some the name on a guitar means nothing, and to others it means everything. Example, the mention of the brand Squire and the mention of the term Custom Shop. Do they represent? I don't know. What does it mean to you?

+1 there!! Name alone does not make a guitar great.

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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

Thank's to everyone for their views. Very enlightening.

Nope probably doesnt mean everything. Looks kinda neat though eh?