It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:23 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject: Re: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 4:38 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
I have no problem with an American Standard using foreign sourced components. However, the Thinline Tele I bought was made in Indonesia. The workmanship of the guitar was exceptional. But the Korean pots, switch and input jack were all very cheap and noisey. It was well worth the $80 it took to change them out. But I only paid $600 for the guitar, out the door, delivered. So, a cheap guitar is going to have a few cheap components. No one gets a Caddy for the price of a Chevy.

_________________
'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


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 1:25 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Drew365 wrote:
The workmanship of the guitar was exceptional. But the Korean pots, switch and input jack were all very cheap and noisey.


+1

The Fuji-Gen Fenders from Japan are similarly afflicted......exceptional fit, finish, and assembly throughout but piss-poor electronics.

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: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 9:54 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 12:45 pm
Posts: 1169
Quote:

+1

The Fuji-Gen Fenders from Japan are similarly afflicted......exceptional fit, finish, and assembly throughout but piss-poor electronics.

Arjay


Is that a common trait amongst all Fuji-Gen guitars?

_________________
In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 8:44 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:57 pm
Posts: 1868
Location: Kansas City Mo
Fender sells an American 5 way switch. Its the real and original switch that goes in a Stratocaster. CRL makes the original Fender Stratocaster 5 and 3 way. They would rather make it themselves now cheaply in Mexico.

This is the real switch that you should put in your Strats.

Image


Here it is in Fender Pure Vintage packaging. It was the original used in the first Strats up until Fender was sold and moved to Corona.

Image

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fenderguitarandamp/


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:59 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:11 pm
Posts: 820
Location: Iowa, USA
53magnatone wrote:
In this day and age of a global community, I find it puzzling that there is still such insistence on Made in USA only.
Blindfolded I don't believe any of us could distinguish an MIA from an MIM when comparing say a Deluxe. Both set up identically. The irony is that MIM parts are just a short drive over the border. It is about manufacturing costs. Keeping them low is what enables a manufacturer to offer a quality product at a lower price point. Which translates into more customers being able to be part of the fun.
I will not get into an endless debate on this concept. Especially where the reality is that from the 1st legit company that established itself on the East Coast. Lowering overhead has always been part of the agenda. So west at first, then south then overseas and across international lines... So this isn't about fuel on the fire but rather looking at it from the consumers perspective.

Did that Custom Shop 56 NOS Stratocaster make sense when I bought it 4 years ago ? At it's price point ? Or does the FSE standard I just bought also not be a wiser choice ? Or for that matter the other 3 Stratocasters ?
For me it is first and foremost how the instrument plays and sounds right then and there. There is also a visual aspect to it but it is not the breaking point. I will easily walk away from a cherry burst / rosewood Stratocaster if it just doesn't speak ( sing to me ) regardless of origin.
That being said rarely have I looked inside my instruments and become concerned with manufacturing origins of the electronics. If it doesn't sound good then I will change the pots, then perhaps the pups, but No... it is about a tool that happens to be an instrument..
Well said....have been saying that for some time (in my personal circles). In other words: +1 (as so many here like to say).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:54 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:34 am
Posts: 208
donnycraven wrote:
Fender sells an American 5 way switch. Its the real and original switch that goes in a Stratocaster. CRL makes the original Fender Stratocaster 5 and 3 way. They would rather make it themselves now cheaply in Mexico.

This is the real switch that you should put in your Strats.




Not sure I understood.

Does Fender or does Fender not make the switch in the US?

And as far as I know, the switch they use nowadays is indeed made in the USA, but assembled with the rest of the electronics in Mexico, packed and sent to Corona for further mounting of the guitar.





Here's an actual pic of the sticker on mine, it says ASSEMBLED in Mexico, but the guitar is legit and made in USA:

Image

By the way, I found another thread on the subject on another forum, the sticker looks exactly like mine and the other guy's...

I think it would be cool if a Fender staff mod would explain this right...


P.S. I repeat: I see NO problem in switches assembled in Mexico. The thread is only meant to discuss how it's done.

http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/stratoc ... witch.html

_________________
Sérgio

thefenderforum.com


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:29 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
mhowell wrote:
Quote:

+1

The Fuji-Gen Fenders from Japan are similarly afflicted......exceptional fit, finish, and assembly throughout but piss-poor electronics.

Arjay


Is that a common trait amongst all Fuji-Gen guitars?


That's been my observation (I own two of them).

And I'm not pejoratively bad-mouthing the Fuji-Gens......if I found another MIJ/CIJ Strat that I liked I'd buy it without reservation.

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: Assembled in Mexico switch in Am. Std. Strat?
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:55 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:57 am
Posts: 2238
Location: UK
donnycraven wrote:
Fender sells an American 5 way switch. Its the real and original switch that goes in a Stratocaster. CRL makes the original Fender Stratocaster 5 and 3 way. They would rather make it themselves now cheaply in Mexico.

This is the real switch that you should put in your Strats.

Image


Here it is in Fender Pure Vintage packaging. It was the original used in the first Strats up until Fender was sold and moved to Corona.

Image


It appears Fender now use Oak Grigsby switches. These are listed as manufactured in America as well.

Switches, like pots and caps are obviously components which would be bought in, not manufactured in house (at either plant)

The terminology is interesting "Assembled" compared to "made" or "manufactured". This might indeed suggest that the scratch plates (at least for some MiAs) might be loaded in Mexico.

This might explain the divergence of prices between some of the MIA and MIM models. Indeed there are now MiAs cheaper than some MIMs.

I am sure, in an ideal World, Fender would rather not have the distinction at all. If they could manufacture everything cheaper but still sell at MIA prices (and still maintain an intermediate prosumer pricing level) they would be laughing.

_________________
John

After all this time I should be better.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

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: