It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:39 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:21 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:19 am
Posts: 1
Hi All,

This is my first post, so be patient with me.

My guitar teacher (a professional guitarist, 30+ years experience) has this beautiful Olympic White 60's Road Worn guitar hanging on the wall of his studio, which he is willing to sell for a very reasonable price.

The guitar is gorgeous, sounds gorgeous, plays beautifully and seems perfectly set (I think he might have set it himself as he told me he used it to record on his latest album).

The only thing that bugs me is that it is a 60's road worn body with a maple 50's road worn neck. I love the neck and I've been to stores and played both the 'normal' 60's and 50's road Worn versions and I still prefer this one. Both neck, body and gear look real (compared to the ones I've seen in store) even the 'standardized' ageing seems accurate, it just looks like the guitar has been built with a 50's neck. The neck screws have no markings of any kind and the whole thing looks perfect (aside from the ageing, obviously). The guitar is almost new, still has the quality checks and brand stickers, the serial number matches a 2010-2013 Mexican made guitar and I can't seem to pick anything wrong with it.

My teacher told me it was some kind of factory blunder, that these things sometimes happen with Fender Guitars. He said that he bought it for that reason, because it sounded great and had a maple neck (the man has had +20 Strats of all kinds, he just does not like rosewood...). He tells me the reason he is selling it is because his wife gifted him with a Yngwie Malmsteen Artist Series and he ran out of space so this one has to go...I have no reason not to trust him and I do love the guitar, I just wanted to check if this kind of serendipity is indeed possible, that a guitar might have come out of the factory with a different neck.

It will be my first Strat (and my first Fender), I was planning on getting a new American Standard, but I seem to have fallen madly in love with this one, just by playing it on a couple of classes. I'm 90% sure I'll buy it, but I'm just a bit suspicious...can I get some wisdom from you guys?

Many thanks in advance!!

Keep on rockin'


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:46 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:28 pm
Posts: 107
Location: Scotland
Listen to your heart.


...and ears :mrgreen:

_________________
Fender '62 Reissue Stratocaster 2005
Gibson Les Paul Custom '68 2004


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:35 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:54 pm
Posts: 1175
pastilha wrote:
My guitar teacher (a professional guitarist, 30+ years experience) has this beautiful Olympic White 60's Road Worn guitar hanging on the wall of his studio, which he is willing to sell for a very reasonable price.

The guitar is gorgeous, sounds gorgeous, plays beautifully and seems perfectly set (I think he might have set it himself as he told me he used it to record on his latest album).


Welcome to the forums pastilha. :)

You want wisdom, you came to the right place. Unfortunately, I'm the wrong person. :lol:

Here's my 2 centavos, first: marianeq is right, second: the word is setup. :?

I'm sure it's POSSIBLE that the wrong neck was put on that guitar AND QC didn't notice and shipped it out that way.

In my experience with changes on used instruments, it's almost always a mod(ification) and switching out a neck can easily be done without leaving a trace. Then again, it's a Fender! :roll:

You could email Fender with the Serial No. and find out what their records say: consumerrelations@fender.com

But you quote your teacher as saying he bought it that way, new? Don't you believe him?

More importantly, you say, "The guitar is gorgeous, sounds gorgeous, plays beautifully and seems perfectly set(up)" and "I seem to have fallen madly in love with this one" :!:

It should be a LOT less expensive than a Fender Am Std, so why not save buckets of money and get it? :mrgreen:

_________________
Took me a long time to learn that a Good Set-Up is the best Parts money can buy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:02 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
danagos wrote:
pastilha wrote:
My guitar teacher (a professional guitarist, 30+ years experience) has this beautiful Olympic White 60's Road Worn guitar hanging on the wall of his studio, which he is willing to sell for a very reasonable price.

The guitar is gorgeous, sounds gorgeous, plays beautifully and seems perfectly set (I think he might have set it himself as he told me he used it to record on his latest album).


Welcome to the forums pastilha. :)

You want wisdom, you came to the right place. Unfortunately, I'm the wrong person. :lol:

Here's my 2 centavos, first: marianeq is right, second: the word is setup. :?

I'm sure it's POSSIBLE that the wrong neck was put on that guitar AND QC didn't notice and shipped it out that way.

In my experience with changes on used instruments, it's almost always a mod(ification) and switching out a neck can easily be done without leaving a trace. Then again, it's a Fender! :roll:

You could email Fender with the Serial No. and find out what their records say: consumerrelations@fender.com

But you quote your teacher as saying he bought it that way, new? Don't you believe him?

More importantly, you say, "The guitar is gorgeous, sounds gorgeous, plays beautifully and seems perfectly set(up)" and "I seem to have fallen madly in love with this one" :!:

It should be a LOT less expensive than a Fender Am Std, so why not save buckets of money and get it? :mrgreen:


+1

Whether or not the guitar is authentic and original is less important than how it plays and how it sounds. Even *if* someone performed a surreptitious neck swap on it, who cares? The parts themselves are genuine Fender and the symbiotic melding of '50s and '60s instrument details is a common mod that often results in an exceptional guitar.

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:37 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am
Posts: 2187
While I hate to question your instructors integrity, necks and bodies are bar coded and scanned. Chances are, that "mistake" didn't happen. I've take a brand new Lonestar Neck and swapped it with a Roadhouse neck. All about rosewood vs. maple. Not a big deal to swap, but to say the factory did it? I seriously doubt it.

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:48 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:23 am
Posts: 5
Location: Spain
Well, I bought it! Original or not, it did sound good enough to me to justify the price tag! And I am now the proud owner of a very nice sounding Strat! :D

I did write to the customer support quoting the number on the neck, just to be safe it's not a stolen neck or anything.

Thanks for the advice guys! Off to a good start in these forums! :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 1:19 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
WTF? Did you change your user name, re-register?

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 3:18 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:54 pm
Posts: 1175
Will the REAL OP please stand up....don't be shy now. :oops:

I'd sure like to see some pics of your hybrid Fender Road Worn guitar! :D

_________________
Took me a long time to learn that a Good Set-Up is the best Parts money can buy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 3:57 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
The guitar in the avatar of the OP, or second iteration of OP, looks like the one described. I can see the 60s RW body clear enough.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 3:59 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:23 am
Posts: 5
Location: Spain
shimmilou wrote:
WTF? Did you change your user name, re-register?


I changed it, yes... :oops:

In my doubt filled frenzy I registered in a hurry, posted my thoughts and only then went back to check what I had done and update it properly...Impulsive you say? Me? Naaah... :roll:

But now I feel complete, with proper username, avatar and signature! Oh, and a new Strat, of course! 8)

danagos, I'll upload some decent photos later on. The only one I have is in the avatar. I'd also do a review but I'm not nearly skilled or experienced enough to know how to go about doing that...

_________________
I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things - Tom Waits


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 4:22 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:54 pm
Posts: 1175
EclecticSpree wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
WTF? Did you change your user name, re-register?

I changed it, yes... :oops:

In my doubt filled frenzy I registered in a hurry, posted my thoughts and only then went back to check what I had done and update it properly...Impulsive you say? Me? Naaah... :roll:

But now I feel complete, with proper username, avatar and signature! Oh, and a new Strat, of course! 8)

danagos, I'll upload some decent photos later on. The only one I have is in the avatar. I'd also do a review but I'm not nearly skilled or experienced enough to know how to go about doing that...

As long as you feel Complete, that's all that really matters! :lol:

The avatar is a nice tease, don't forget to post some pics and they don't have to be "fine art" photography.

You don't have to worry about sounding professional in a review either, a few simple words of description and comparison from your heart.

I'm glad you found a guitar to love, now play the ding-dang-doodle out of it.

Make it Sweat....Huh! :twisted:

Image

_________________
Took me a long time to learn that a Good Set-Up is the best Parts money can buy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:17 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:23 am
Posts: 5
Location: Spain
OK, so I contacted the customer support quoting the neck's serial number. The serial number returns the specs for a Road Worn Player Strat. Yet mine has the body of a Road Worn 60's Strat. And that's cool by me. Very cool. Here's a feeble attempt to do my first review.

What I have in my hands is a worn out super smooth and comfortable modern "C" shape neck with a 9.5" radius and medium jumbo frets added to the gritty sound of the tex-mex pickups on the 60's hardware. Here are the specs for each of the two guitars:

http://www.fender.com/series/road-worn/road-worn-player-stratocaster-maple-fingerboard-olympic-white/

http://www.fender.com/series/road-worn/road-worn-60s-stratocaster-rosewood-fingerboard-olympic-white/

For the past year or so I've left my share of fingertip skin on the rosewood neck of my 335 Dot (another love affair), but I was kind of looking for a faster neck now that my fingers seem to be slowly but surely getting up to speed to my playing ambitions. I did try the original 60's road worn, and while it sounded great and the neck was very good, it just didn't really seem any easier to play than my fat 335 neck. But this one delivers. It's fast, the bendings, hammer-ons and pull-offs come out easy and clear, and the naked wood on the back of the neck makes your hand slide through it so nicely you feel like you want to hug the tree where it came from as a thank you...

Aside from the neck, the hardware is very similar aside from the pups. Before writing this I was trying to read up on the difference between the Tex-Mex (this one) and the Texas Special (the Player Road Worn). Didn't find much except that the Tex-Mex seem to be underwound. And that might make them a bit noisier. If anyone can clarify this, please do. What I can say is that, in the neck-bridge position, any solo I try, as pitiful as it might be, has that typical stratocastery squeal that defined rock music. My skills and experience with these things are too limited to be able to provide one of those awesome intricate descriptions of how it sounds, but what I can say is playing anything from Peter Green's blues, Hendrix's magic or Frusciante's funk rock sounds accurate, warm and fuzzy (again, sorry for the lack of technical jargon, but hey, it's music we're talking about...).

Bottom line, I am convinced this guitar will make me a better player. Period. I don´t know who had the idea of mixing and matching these two models, but whoever you are, if you are reading this: THANK YOU. :D

And that's about all I all I have to say. Thanks again for your help. In the words of Tom Waits (again), I can't wait to get off work and see my baby...

PS. If anyone is kind enough to explain the easiest way to post photos in here, I'll add a few whenever I get the chance.

_________________
I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things - Tom Waits


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:07 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:54 pm
Posts: 1175
If I read you correctly, the neck is not original to the body? But you like it? Super! :D

Thanks for the review, well done. I can't speak to the Texas Specials, but there are certified experts on here that will.

You seem to hear the sounds you want and are working to increase your proficiency, what more can you ask from a guitar, your hands and imagination. :)

The Picture Posting thing: Join a (free) service like Photobucket, Flickr, etc. Upload your pictures there, then using their "Direct" link, copy the url for the picture.

Then in your Reply here, copy the url inside the brackets created when you click the "Img" button that's 2nd from the end, on the 2nd line from the top of the "Post a reply" header.

There's also a "Preview" button at the bottom, to the left of "Submit" so you can check to see if you've done it right.

Hope that helps.

_________________
Took me a long time to learn that a Good Set-Up is the best Parts money can buy


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:59 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:44 am
Posts: 7282
Location: Washington
Call me a traditionalist, but a maple neck with a mint green pickguard just doesn't look right to me.

Heck, the neck swap could have happened at the store. A good customer of their's might have wanted that '60s Road Worn's rosewood neck on a Road Worn Player's body and they did the swap for him.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 60's Road Worn with 50's (maple) neck - factory blunder?
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:02 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
orvilleowner wrote:
Call me a traditionalist, but a maple neck with a mint green pickguard just doesn't look right to me.


+1

Hell......call me a Luddite!

:lol:

Arjay

_________________
"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


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: