I don,t have any problems finding ones I like.

Im gettin a pawn shop.

For sure.

I can't wait to have the craftmanship quality of Japan at my fingertips.

I think the Squier 51 was/is one of the most unique, fun guitars around. In fact, they are so fun to own/mod, I've got 3 of them. I can't wait to see what the Fender Japan version of this guitar will be like.

I have a black Fender 51 already ordered through Sweetwater, and I'm looking forward to it as much as I've looked forward to getting any Tele or Strat I own - I have no doubt it's going to take a regular spot in my daily rotation.

As for the Roadworn series - they're a finish option - not an affront to your manhood - chill...

RickyD

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

You can thank guys like Kieth Richards for the relic market. Many people like the way old beat up Fenders feel and sound. I really love the necks of the Road Warn Strats. This is if they do a propper fret dressing, which doesn't always happen.

Fender made other "parts-o-casters" like the "Custom" and "Swinger" back in the day. They were not very popular and went away quickly.

Fender will occationally come out with something different, but we're picky and want what we know and love: Strats, Teles and the other Fender guitars that have been with us for the past 50+ years.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

The name Pawn Shop series may seem strange, but Englebert Humperdink proved that a name is just a name. I think the guitars sound kind of cool and I'm looking forward to trying them both. Each is a bit unique and that's a good thing.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

[quote="paris"]You can thank guys like Kieth Richards for the relic market.quote]

It would make for a fun axe if they would put Keith's Face on the front of a Tele. It's VERY ROAD WORN. But, if you want to go for an old, worn out, beat up look...Keith's face on the front of the axe would be a fun limited edition. They could go all out, grab a pair of channel locks and rip one of the tuners off of it too and make it a 5 string. If Fender ever monitors these posts and puts these out....I want my 2%. Ten bucks is fair for such a dastardly idea.

I think the BlackTop series is brilliant. MIMs with (mostly) humbuckers--but they just upped the price and ALL the online retailers jumped their discount price from $449.99 to $499.99 overnight--the day the Pawnshop series was introduced.

Meanwhile, the BT Jazzmaster and the Pawnshop Mustang both caught my eye/ear.

I

I agree to an extent, but as another member pointed out, this trend is not limited to Fender. Have you seen some of the junk Gibson has been pumping out over the last few years? Whew - good lord!

- Robot
- Dusk Tiger (wtf? maybe a custom job for Charlie Sheen)
- Zoot Suit SG
- Raw Power
- New studo model commorating recent floods using a swirl (70s bowling ball) paint job
- That "Firebird X" thingy that looks like it was made by Fisher Price

Most of these instruments look like they belong in the cantina scene in Star Wars!

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'10 Gibson LP Studio Faded
'09 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
'08 Fender Classic Player 60s Stratocaster
'07 Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster
'05 Breedlove AC 25 SR Plus

I dont care about other brands. I think the problem here is that all these crappy new fender models ( except blacktops ) are just a waste of energy and time.
We all want fender to create a NEW AMAZING guitar but is going to be hard. So please fender keep producing and improving strat's and tele's. Dont try be cool with this wierd and odd models.

(My south american brother joakorb knows how much i hate pawnshop series)

Regards

"You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot please all of the people all of the time."

In defense of the line (although this should not automatically be construed as I necessarily desiring one):

I bet that there isn't anyone here who wouldn't hesitate to confidently use one of these models on stage if somehow their usual guitar(s) crapped out.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

Oh yeah, +1000!

Man,how much improvement can be made to a Strat design??? people have been trying it since the '50s.

Theres nothing crappy about this one:

You got that right!!!

Don't like it don't buy it. They're not "wasting" your money or effort. Find a strat you like and be happy.

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Check out my band!

Tunes for any mood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO6xhc71KyE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5Hm3tScm0