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Post subject: EJ Strats - no more flame maple necks
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:57 pm
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A warning to those that want an EJ Strat with that beautiful flame maple neck picture on their website; you wont get it. The new price lists specify plain maple now. I just forked out a large sum for the old EJs and was saddened to discover the plain neck on my newly arrived order. Dont get me wrong, its a great guitar but not worth the money without that gorgeous neck. Fender should take down those pictures on its website - its kind of frudulent. The store (Samuel Music) that I placed the order with tells me that I may be stuck with it since it is a special order.

Damn!!!


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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:20 pm
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Ah, that really sucks. Those were some gorgeous necks that were on the older models. I wonder why they switched to just plain maple? Well, hope you enjoy the guitar anyways, still seems like it would be great even then.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:24 pm
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Hello Georgeatt,

Man that is a bummer no more business for samuel music.
They know it's not what you want, and they don't want it.
If you paid with a credit card you may have some luck
resolving the issue.

Hope things work out.

Cheers.


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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:28 pm
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I told the store I would not accept the guitar and that this was not honest on the part of their FENDER dealer and contacted customer service at Fender to see what they could do. I believe they see the problem of how reasonable people could assume that the EJ Strat came with the flame neck since the website pictures show this. This is unfortunate for those that bought the EJ Strat under that assumption because I suspect that there will be a huge drop in the price of the EJ Strat in the future because of this. The flame neck was the outstanding item on this strat that brought it close to Custom Shop quality. While there is more to this guitar, the flame neck was the top item. I will wait to hear from Fender on this and will keep everyone posted.


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Post subject: Re: EJ Strats - no more flame maple necks
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 5:52 pm
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Georgeatt wrote:
A warning to those that want an EJ Strat with that beautiful flame maple neck picture on their website; you wont get it. The new price lists specify plain maple now. I just forked out a large sum for the old EJs and was saddened to discover the plain neck on my newly arrived order. Dont get me wrong, its a great guitar but not worth the money without that gorgeous neck. Fender should take down those pictures on its website - its kind of frudulent. The store (Samuel Music) that I placed the order with tells me that I may be stuck with it since it is a special order.

Damn!!!


That's lame! :?


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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:20 pm
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It's a shame you feel you've been misled but, in Fender's defense, it does clearly state in the specifications for each guitar "Notice: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice." Additionally, the specs for the EJ Strat include: "Neck 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple, Soft “V” Shape, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)" and "Unique Features: 1-Piece Quartersawn Soft “V” Shape Vintage Tinted Maple Neck, Extra Smooth Neck to Headstock Volute" but nowhere does it expressly state anything about figured or flamed maple (as it says "Lightly Figured Maple" in the specifications for the Custom Classic Stratocaster").

I've got an EJ Strat with a plain neck and a Custom Shop EC Strat with a highly figured neck.

ImageImage

You know what, I prefer the EJ.
You've got a great guitar. Enjoy!


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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:47 pm
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Yes, what you say is true except for the fact that the Fender rep said that he could help me find the flamed version. This was after the fact that Fender stopped producing them. He could have stopped the process and called the dealer or myself and point out that he could not , in truth, get such a Strat. It was obvious that he knew before hand that he could not get one. I am in correspondence with customer service at Fender and I am confident they will repremand the rep. and make things right with me. I have loved Fender guitars since I was a kid. I am now a 50 year old and still a proud owner of Strats and Teles. Fender has been a part of my life for 4 decades. This is my first sour experience. I hope and trust that Fender will make it right.

Despite the legalistic fine print that specifications may change w/o notice, a picture speaks a thousand words: and there you have it. Despite the fact that Fender does not make the flame necks for th EJ Strat anymore, the flamed neck is still what sits on the EJ Strat on the Fender website.


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Post subject: Re: EJ Strats - no more flame maple necks
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:03 pm
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Georgeatt wrote:
A warning to those that want an EJ Strat with that beautiful flame maple neck picture on their website; you wont get it. The new price lists specify plain maple now. I just forked out a large sum for the old EJs and was saddened to discover the plain neck on my newly arrived order. Dont get me wrong, its a great guitar but not worth the money without that gorgeous neck. Fender should take down those pictures on its website - its kind of frudulent. The store (Samuel Music) that I placed the order with tells me that I may be stuck with it since it is a special order.

Damn!!!


It pays to look at the disclaimer on all specification sheets for each guitar:

All specifications are subject to change.

_________________
2007 Classic Player Baja Telecaster
1991 Strat Ultra
1990 Gibson ES-347
1986 Yamaha SBG2100
1980 Gibson L6-S
1971 Stratocaster
Fender Stage Lead Combo
Marshall MOSFET 100 watt Amp


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:36 pm
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The specifications may change - but the entire look of the guitar, I dont think so. Sure I expect that the string type may change or the type of plastic used on the pick-guard and knobs - but the neck change was substantial. Pair this with the misrepresentation of using old flamed neck EJs still pictured on fender.com to sell newer EJs, and you see my point.
I suspect that, since this posting, those pictures will mysteriously be replaced soon.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:43 pm
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Georgeatt wrote:
The specifications may change - but the entire look of the guitar, I dont think so. Sure I expect that the string type may change or the type of plastic used on the pick-guard and knobs - but the neck change was substantial. Pair this with the misrepresentation of using old flamed neck EJs still pictured on fender.com to sell newer EJs, and you see my point.
I suspect that, since this posting, those pictures will mysteriously be replaced soon.



The disclaimer (which isn't "legalistic fine print," BTW, but a simple statement of fact) means exactly what it means, and they can change anything about the guitar at any time. Also, not changing the web picture fast enough to suit you doesn't constitute "misrepresentation:" in fact, the impossibility of changing print and web materials fast enough is the very reason why every manufacturing company uses the same disclaimer.

So either sell the guitar or keep it, but stop talking like a flame-y neck is a major feature: it doesn't affect sound or playability in any way.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:00 pm
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Are you a Fender employee or something. Your working hard to defend that small print that everyone typically ignores or hates to read. Those pictures have been there long after the necks were stopped being used I am told my Fender Dealers. Thats like saying, "sure we have some BMWs left", and then say in fine print, "by the way they now look like VWs".


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:06 pm
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No, I'm not a Fender employee, just a grown up. And one post isn't "working hard."

"Typically ignores?" Everybody else on the forum seems to be perfectly aware of it.

"Hates to read?" Oh, yeah, man... slogging through that whole sentence... ouch, what a nuisance.

Work it out with your dealer, sell the guitar, or keep it.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:42 pm
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I too would be highly disappointed if my EJ strat came with a plain maple neck. Current specs state "Neck 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple, Soft “V” Shape,
(Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)"

I hate to say this but perhaps the seller is playing games with the neck?


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:22 pm
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jackinvox wrote:
It's a shame you feel you've been misled but, in Fender's defense, it does clearly state in the specifications for each guitar "Notice: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice." Additionally, the specs for the EJ Strat include: "Neck 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple, Soft “V” Shape, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)" and "Unique Features: 1-Piece Quartersawn Soft “V” Shape Vintage Tinted Maple Neck, Extra Smooth Neck to Headstock Volute" but nowhere does it expressly state anything about figured or flamed maple (as it says "Lightly Figured Maple" in the specifications for the Custom Classic Stratocaster").

I've got an EJ Strat with a plain neck and a Custom Shop EC Strat with a highly figured neck.

ImageImage

You know what, I prefer the EJ.
You've got a great guitar. Enjoy!


Man, that is the mother of all flame necks. Must have set you back a pretty penny. If I can get Fender to accept the EJ Strat back to the factory, I know a dealer that actually has a very flamed neck EJ that also sounds great. But that seems to be tricky part: once they leave the factory they dont usually come back refunded - which doesnt seem right. I think I learned my lesson about factory orders - you never know what you may get.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:58 pm
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That is one of the nicest flame maple necks I've ever seen!!


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