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Post subject: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:06 pm
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Hi, I just bought my first new Fender guitar, an American Standard Telecaster. I'm mostly pleased, but I do have a couple of issues.

The first time I changed the strings, all six string ferrules fell out. Surely they are not supposed to do that! That was very disappointing to me, after spending the extra money to get an American Standard.

Secondly, the 'no-load tone control'. I wasn't really aware of what this meant until after I got it home. I personally don't see the need for it, in terms of tone. But what I especially dislike is that 'notch' at the full-on position. Once it's in that notch, it takes some effort to get it out of the notch. I really don't like that - I want my volume and tone knob to be smooth and easy all the way. So, I've asked the store to fix it so that it doesn't have that 'notch' behaviour.

Couldn't you have designed the no-load tone pot so that it does whatever it does without having to fall into a notch? I find that distracting.


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:30 pm
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FloydTatum wrote:
The first time I changed the strings, all six string ferrules fell out. Surely they are not supposed to do that!


No, they're not, but some do. A little dab of Elmer's glue will fix the problem.


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:40 pm
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A lot of people say that. The way I see it, if it's so easy to fix, then why didn't Fender fix it before it left the factory? For over $1,000, I shouldn't have to fix anything.

Substitute a car for a guitar and think about how you'd feel if things started to fall off a brand new car you just bought. And if people said to you "It's no big deal, just screw it back on".


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:44 am
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FloydTatum wrote:
A lot of people say that. The way I see it, if it's so easy to fix, then why didn't Fender fix it before it left the factory? For over $1,000, I shouldn't have to fix anything.

Substitute a car for a guitar and think about how you'd feel if things started to fall off a brand new car you just bought. And if people said to you "It's no big deal, just screw it back on".


Unfortunately, nothing in this world is perfect. Not for any price. If you expect perfection, then you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of disappointment.

Bottom line: The string ferrules are a minor, minor thing and quality control most likely wouldn't catch that kind of flaw unless they restrung the guitar. But, of course, they don't do that, because once the new strings are put on, the guitar is packed and shipped out. I think what the others are saying is that it's such a minor issue, and is so easily fixed that it's not even worth the hassle of getting involved in a warranty dispute over it.

As for the tone control issue -- didn't you play it before you bought it?? If you had done so I would have to think that you would have noticed the notch issue before you shelled out your shekels for it. Next time you buy a guitar, check out everything on it thorougly before you open your wallet. If there's something you don't like about it, then skip that one and move on to the next candidate.

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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:37 am
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Stratfreak51 wrote:
Unfortunately, nothing in this world is perfect. Not for any price. If you expect perfection, then you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of disappointment.

Bottom line: The string ferrules are a minor, minor thing and quality control most likely wouldn't catch that kind of flaw unless they restrung the guitar. But, of course, they don't do that, because once the new strings are put on, the guitar is packed and shipped out. I think what the others are saying is that it's such a minor issue, and is so easily fixed that it's not even worth the hassle of getting involved in a warranty dispute over it.

It's amazing to me how so many people are willing to overlook flaws in American-made instruments. I admit it's on the lower end of flaws, but it's still a flaw. You're saying that the fault in this situation lies with me for complaining about it. I don't accept that. It would be better to acknowledge it as a manufacturing flaw, and make an attempt to improve the manufacturing process so that it doesn't happen in the future.

The person on the assembly line putting the ferrules in would have, or should have, noticed that they were falling out, and put that guitar to the side, or corrected the problem in some way. Instead, they went ahead and finished assembling the guitar, flaws or not, and left it for me, the consumer, to deal with it. That may be expedient in the short term, but it is not good for the reputation of Fender in the long term.

If they let that flaw slip by, maybe they let some other flaws slip by?

Stratfreak51 wrote:
As for the tone control issue -- didn't you play it before you bought it?? If you had done so I would have to think that you would have noticed the notch issue before you shelled out your shekels for it. Next time you buy a guitar, check out everything on it thorougly before you open your wallet. If there's something you don't like about it, then skip that one and move on to the next candidate.

Well, the store I bought from has a 30-day return policy, so I have the option of returning the guitar if I want. The thing is, I like everything else about the American Standard model. I wasn't aware that Fender even made tone pots with a notch in them, it just seems like such a crazy thing to do, expecially on the flagship Standard model. Now I have to decide if it's worth getting it replaced with a regular non-no-load tone pot, or returning the guitar and look elsewhere. I might just do that.


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:19 am
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I suggest you try a Mexican Standard. They are nice guitars and they don't have the greasebucket circuitry. I have a few MIM's and I like them. Maybe a Classic 50's? Don't forget to play it first before buying.


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:49 am
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ES11 wrote:
I suggest you try a Mexican Standard. They are nice guitars and they don't have the greasebucket circuitry. I have a few MIM's and I like them. Maybe a Classic 50's? Don't forget to play it first before buying.

The thing is, the American Standard has the features I want, except for the no-load tone pot, and the ferrules falling out.

BTW, the American Standard doesn't have Greasebucket Tone knob, it has the 'No-Load' tone knob. As I understand it, they are different things.


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:00 pm
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FloydTatum wrote:
BTW, the American Standard doesn't have Greasebucket Tone knob, it has the 'No-Load' tone knob. As I understand it, they are different things.


Yes, the Greasebucket is wired differently.

Here's the pot you want: http://angela.com/250ksolidshaftpot.aspx

Just unsolder your old one and solder that one in the same way and you're done. It's a five minute job (once your soldering iron is hot).


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:43 pm
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The Squier Classic Vibe series has few flaws (if any) and cost 1/3 the price. I have 3 different models and a MIM tele, all are quality products. Return your Am Standard maybe you got a bad one.

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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:46 pm
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George wrote:
Here's the pot you want: http://angela.com/250ksolidshaftpot.aspx

Just unsolder your old one and solder that one in the same way and you're done. It's a five minute job (once your soldering iron is hot).


Thanks


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:34 pm
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In response to FloydTatum:

I have to agree with him. There should be no flaws on a $1,000.00 Guitar.

I recently bought a used Squier standard Telecaster from a private sale, and did a serial number check with Fender two different times, and they could not tell me what the size of the nut was, or what type of wood the body was made of. All they could tell me was that it was some sort of hardwood, and the neck was maple with a rosewood fret board, and the color it was painted. They told me it was manufactured in 2001, but when I pulled the neck the stamp on it was from 2000.

I believe Fender needs to keep better records, and have tighter quality control. I would be upset if my $1,000.00 guitar had the string ferrules falling out.

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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:36 am
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I agree with FloydTatum and kevinhd1200, Fender really needs to take more care when it comes to quality control, I bought a 2010 American standard in November, the 2 tone sunburst with maple board, I played it in the shop (I knew about the no load pot) so don't have a problem with that, if you use the palm of your hand it comes in and out easily and smoothly, It was only when I got home and put my glasses on I noticed a couple of small, but dings all the same, one in the lower horn, and one on the tip of the headstock, this guitar was taken out of undamaged packing in front of me, so it must have happened at the factory, then I noticed a screw missing from the bridge plate, and one of the neck screws hadn't even been tightened in, the volume control shaft is loose as hell in the pot and crackles, I'm proper pissed off about these faults because they should never be, I've since bought a new Classic Vibe Custom at a fraction of the price and it really is absolutely perfect,


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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:40 am
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@Floyd

I was never saying it was your fault for complaining. Any flaw is certainly Fender's fault, to be sure. If it were a major flaw, I would take it right back to the dealer where I bought it, without question, but something as minor as that seems insignificant to me, if the guitar is great, otherwise. Just the difference between me and you, my friend, that's all. Hope your issues all get solved!

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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:36 am
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firesmokestrats wrote:
The Squier Classic Vibe series has few flaws (if any) and cost 1/3 the price. I have 3 different models and a MIM tele, all are quality products. Return your Am Standard maybe you got a bad one.


Few flaws yes, but any squier, despite being a good guitar for the money, is obviously not a rival for an american standard.

Do try the mexican guitars though-I have two,(of my collection of two guitars... ;) ) they are fantastic, sound great, really good value for money, great build quality.

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Post subject: Re: New American Standard Tele - a couple of issues
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:41 am
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Quote:
It's amazing to me how so many people are willing to overlook flaws in American-made instruments.


being american made does not mean it is perfection. They are made to a price, with quality control to that price.

_________________
"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
Blackstar HT-5R
Taylor Big Baby


http://www.youtube.com/user/Almungo/videos?flow=grid&view=0


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