Is it just me or has one of my favorite companies been lacking in a few departments? It seems that for years, they have been making crappy ideas come to fruition. Maybe there is more market than I think for abused, beat up looking guitars, fugly designs, and more and more "reissues" that at best, only resemble guitars of past (they don't seem to play as well as their original kin). I like some of the newer colors that have come and gone, but it seems that is where it ends. Take all the relics, roadworn (why dont we call next year's models "accidently dropped down the stairs" or "was in the car trunk when I got rear-ended" series), pawnshop - seriously? What, did a PM sit down with a bunch of different parts and say "Hey, this might look good to someone?" Maybe this is the direction many guitar manufacturers are going. If you have one of these guitars and love it, great (no offense intended, to each their own -they are just not for me); tell me what you love about it. Do I have better ideas? Well, if I had a real winner; I probably wouldn't be complaining on a forum...

I agree and disagree. (great....)

I think the partscaster (what this thing really is) is taking an idea that is quite old in the real world and selling it.

I agree with the road worn, relic, aged, whatever comment. If I get a chip/scratch/bang in my guitar, I will actually spend money to get it fixed. I have a 42 year old guitar that I've had and played since new. It looks waaaaaaay better than some sandpaper modified poseur. I actually take care of the finish and try not to bang it up.

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)

I guess you can´t please them all can you ? But I´m sure you´ve found a Fender that you´ve liked and bought it didn´t you ? If Fender then sticked to a standard tele and strat, I guess you would be complaining for lack of options didn´t ya? There you go!

Chill out fella.

Pawn Shop series.. it's just a name..

I regularly see Fender being bashed for re-hashing their flagship instruments endlessly. At least they're trying to give us something a little different this time around. Seems they can't win whatever.

And as for the comments about relic'd guitars, well frankly it's a subject that's just getting old. People are buying them and the company is making money. Win win all round. For the last time, ownership of a new relic'd guitar is NOT obligatory. You don't like, you don't buy..

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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!

To a certain extent I have to agree with you.
I just couldn't bring myself to spend serious coin on something that has been artificially had the crap kicked out of it.
I would want to be the one to put every scratch and ding in my Strat and be able to remember where each and every one of those battle scares came from and the story behind it.
I know it's a matter of personal preference and taste and that's ok it's just not my cup of tea.

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He who dies with the most Strats wins.

to daversatek:

Wanna talk crappy guitars ? What about paying around 2k for that gibson firebird $@!& ?

If you've really played many original Strats from the past,you would know that many of the Reissues play as well or better than the old ones.

Or Squier's! (sorry for editing too RS)

No one says you have to buy them, so grow up and try to atleast have a relevant opinion eh Daverstek?

Simple rule when considering if you're opinion on a guitar makers catalogue is relevant.
Ask yourself, "do I sell as many guitars as they do?". If the answer is no, because no one sells more than Fender. What makes you think you can tell them how to run their business?

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No no and no

+1000

That's the "dirty little secret" about vintage guitars. Many of them were outright "woof-woofs" from the day they were built despite all the market hype today about vibe and mojo. Poorly-assembled or bad-playing guitars do not improve with age......they merely grow older.

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

LMAO!!!

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You dig?

I got a kick out of looking at the Pawn Shop series. They brought back many memories of alterations so many players did or attempted to do to their Fenders way back when.

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You dig?

The truth comes out!

There are way more available (that I would love to own and play) than I will ever get unless I win the lottery. So until I own one of every strat that I want, I can't complain about Fender or what they're releasing.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"