IvanP

Jon
FMIC owns so much shit it's not even funny. They sure as hell don't need to charge what they do for their products. "Trying to turn a profit" is a gross understatement.

I must really take issue with your statement, Jon. Here is my evidence:

image

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-CLASSIC-VIBE-Stratocaster-60s-Electric-Guitar-?sku=519339

If FMIC was so into just increasing their profit, would they introduce what is by all accounts a remarkably good guitar that you can buy new for $350? It seems that Fender is basically giving us all a choice of many different price points, especially when you consider all the Mexican-made Fenders. You may think that US-made Fenders are highly overpriced, whatever that means, but we can all still buy many good Fender models for much less - they're just not made in the US (but some people would say they are just as good).

It's true, nobody's above criticism, but it seems to me that a company should be mostly criticized for producing sub-standard products, not for making profit. After all, they're not holding a gun to your head to force you to buy anything...

It's really not general profits I'm so put off by, though. Obviously they have to make money to stay in business. It has more to do with seeing stuff like this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Artist-Series-Joe-Strummer-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=514642

and this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-John-Mayer-Signature-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=515036

and basically seeing that they know they can slap some musician's name on the tag of a Strat or a Tele and jack up the price. It's a joke to me. Now, I know that Fender's not the only company that does it, but they're the ones we're discussing here. My original comment was merely an opinion, and it was also meant to address the seemingly prevalent mentality that it's unacceptable to say anything against FMIC.

I think I would go for the Jimmie Vaughan if I were to go with a signature Strat, though I'm not too sure about the Tex-Mex pickups. Those could always be changed out.

How about we steer this puppy back to the topic. I would fool around with a simple song like church key and noodle my heart out with that.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

IvanP

Jon
It's really not general profits I'm so put off by, though. Obviously they have to make money to stay in business. It has more to do with seeing stuff like this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Artist-Series-Joe-Strummer-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=514642

and this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-John-Mayer-Signature-Stratocaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=515036

and basically seeing that they know they can slap some musician's name on the tag of a Strat or a Tele and jack up the price. It's a joke to me. Now, I know that Fender's not the only company that does it, but they're the ones we're discussing here. My original comment was merely an opinion, and it was also meant to address the seemingly prevalent mentality that it's unacceptable to say anything against FMIC.

No need to get defensive, Jon, we're just talking here. And I really have no dog in the FMIC race. I'm just talking as a friend and an economist here. But I must say I still don't see a problem. Presumably whoever buys the above instruments will prefer those instruments to anything else offered by Fender or anybody else. So, to them whatever money they spend on it is apparently worth it - they seem to be willing to pay a premium to have their hero's name on the headstock and an instrument that's kinda like what that hero plays.

Now, I am with you in questioning those people's sanity or at the very least taste. But the fault doesn't seem to lie with Fender (or any other company - basically all of them - that does this) - they're doing what at least some people want them to do - supply artists' signature instruments. If enough people don't want them to do this, then Fender will have lost money, and will be punished for their stupidity. One way or another, the consumers decide whether Fender should be rewarded or punished. It seems like your problem is much more with the people that buy the above instruments - and maybe with Fender just for enabling them to act stupid!

I didn't mean to come off as defensive at all; I was just trying to engage in a little lively argument. I suppose I can be a smart-ass at times (most of the time), and that might not translate into text too well. At any rate, I totally see where you're coming from and I respect your knowledge--after all, you're the resident expert. Maybe part of the problem is that "enabling" quality--either way, I don't want things to get heated over it.

'Til the next debate---

I believe that the original poster brought up mixing surf and blues. I have a friend that is a great blues player. He can play surf with the best of surf players, but he still has a blues sound to his rig. Two different dogs IMO.

Oh yeah, the original poster also brought up the original diss of Fender's prices. So to add to that thought also.

Any company in existence has to make a profit to stay in existence, Even charities. If Fenders prices are to high above the sell level they will come down, or the sells of those items will disappear.
Simple economics.

DP I remember seeing other signature models before DD's came out.

Pretty sure that the Yngwie Malmsteen was out way before DD's model.
and probably many others.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

dp

bigtikidude
DP I remember seeing other signature models before DD's came out.

Pretty sure that the Yngwie Malmsteen was out way before DD's model.
and probably many others.

Yeah, you're probably right about signature-guitars,Tiki...but, was there Blues before DD?

um I dunno,
ask Zak.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

I'm certainly no expert on surf, not pretending to be so, but I for one don't see any disconnect between blues and surf. Shared sources in many ways ... blues underlies so much country, rockabilly, surf.

I'm primarily a blues player, but rarely play actual blues songs. It's the blues feel, feeling and phrasing, that translates effortlessly into other genres. Surf too. Blues progressions per se might not a good fit with surf, but the blues feel always is.

Wes Montgomery plays "Tequila" on YouTube ...is it "blues"? is it "jazz"? who knows...who cares! it's Wes!

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