TommytheCat
Joined: Oct 24, 2015
Posts: 22
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Posted on Jan 24 2016 09:09 AM
Not quite sure what the shock and awe is about. Fender has been doing stuff like this since the 1970's. How many versions of the Telecaster have come lurching out of the Fender labs? The Deluxe (a floating bridge equipped monstrosity), Custom, Elite, HM, 60's, 50's, 52VR, signature models, etc. The Stratocaster has suffered similar dissections and re-assemblies. Not to mention all of the in-between weirdness (Jag-stangs, Coronados and any acoustic they've conjured up). It's the nature of the business. Who can say if the company would still be around if all they made was 4 guitar models and 2 bass models.
Want to change it? Get an MBA in manufacturing engineering and send them a resume.. If you don't want to go that route, don't buy it.
Last edited: Jan 24, 2016 09:18:30
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Jan 24 2016 10:29 AM
I'd like to hear / play one; I think it should produce a pretty neat sound. I'm not a slave to gear tradition and have always liked unusual guitars.
The price tag would likely weed me out if anything.
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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Bob_Kennedy
Joined: Feb 27, 2012
Posts: 316
Mesa, AZ.
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Posted on Jan 24 2016 11:30 AM
I don't understand why people choose to get all up in arms when Fender does this stuff. Seems to me like they're having fun & thinking outside the box. They're not discontinuing any of the old standbys & favorites in favor of the new models, so what's the harm? If you don't like a particular guitar, don't buy one. It does no good to bash Fender on the interwebs. They don't listen to you, they listen to your wallet. They also notice & watch trends, such as all the telemasters people are building. However, if nobody's buying, they'll cease production. Also, instrumental surf is such a small, niche market, why should we expect them to cater to us? They go where the money is, & we all know there's no money in surf! If you want guitars from more surf focused people, there's always people out there like Hallmark, Jeff Senn, Ludobag, myself & others whom I know I'm forgetting, who know & play surf & will build your idea of the perfect surf guitar.
— Otto & The Ottomans
Kennedy Custom Guitars
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Jan 24 2016 12:03 PM
I also like the new Fender offset Tele though I would prefer one with a rosewood fret-board. I probably would use it for other than Surf though.
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2775
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jan 24 2016 12:19 PM
Actually, that long scale Jag idea works pretty well. My number two AVRI Jazzmaster has Jag pickups hidden under the stock pickup covers. I did that mod after trying to play several gigs in places with a lot of neon light generated RFI. The Stock Jazzmaster with the RWRP pickups did pretty well in the two pickup position but was unusable in the lead or rhythm pickup settings. Buzz-O-Rama. Number two works well. It is generally a bit cleaner sounding than any of the stock pickup equipped guitars but it definitely has a bit less growl. I do prefer it over my AVRI Jag as it has more oomph.
When I first got back into this, I had a CIJ Jazzmaster that I rotated a number of different pickup combos in and out of. Stock Strat, DiMarzio Noiseless Strat, 68 Gibson LP P-90s. None of those blew my dress up, so I put SD Jazzmaster PU's in it, which was at that time, the best of the bunch (RWRP, of course).
Mako has been playing Number Two for some time but recently bought his own AVRI, so if I haul out my Jag and ole Number Two, we'll have the ugly guitar environment covered.
Hey and don't forget Jeff's amazing "Jagmaster!" I have played that guitar. I wish I could afford one.
Maybe I need to get a job..............nah.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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so1om
Joined: May 10, 2012
Posts: 492
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Posted on Jan 31 2016 12:59 AM
Ok. So the long scale jag doesn't really do anything for me. It's like all that pawnshop stuff they did. That's just my preferences. Just a mosh mash of whatever. It's fine, throw enough at the wall, something will stick, put a frame around it.
What kills me is how the guy in the video tried to make it sound like it was a big deal to design. I've been engineering for 25 years and to "create" what he did? A couple days. The chrome plate for the rhythm circuit? Pull the punches in the press. He didn't change the position or shape of the vol andtone, that's expensive.
It's like when I designed Weber's 22-1/2" and 14-1/2" smokers. I knocked that out in a couple days because it's all based off existing tooling. There's now magic in putting together parts you have laying around.
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Frelonvert
Joined: Sep 21, 2009
Posts: 275
Toulouse
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 06:18 AM
Nothing new, I have a long scale jag and it is from 1966.
Better shape, better bridge, 50 years old vintage finish, plays and sound perfectly, for 1/3 of the fender's price and approved by Link Wray.
— http://noskons.bandcamp.com/
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 11:55 AM
Yamaha would do well to have more of these made by the proud workers in Taiwan. Not only more __authentic than FMIC's new collation of extant parts but probably better made, and a 100x cooler. If FMIC wants to maintain its canonical status they might want to work a little harder for our custom.
— Squink Out!
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 12:20 PM
People...
While we may not realize it, we are in a golden era from Fender. Not since the early 60s have they produced instruments that are as good as they are making right now. And the lower priced stuff versus the quality, they are killing it.
And if I remember correctly, their AV series costs less than a guitar cost new in the 60s. The AV series, these must be what guitars felt like new in the 60s. They are absolutely fantastic instruments and will break in with age to be as good as the vintage stuff.
Why are we getting upset at a Jazzmaster with Jag pickups and chrome plates? Don't buy it. Tele/Jazz hybrid, people have been making these design for a while with no comment from us, why complain now?
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slopoke
Joined: Dec 24, 2013
Posts: 145
Maribor
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 01:56 PM
As an old guy with a Hawaiian shirt, I'll stick with my Strat and short-scale Jag.
— https://striciizozadja.bandcamp.com/
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 05:27 PM
JakeDobner wrote:
People...
While we may not realize it, we are in a golden era from Fender. Not since the early 60s have they produced instruments that are as good as they are making right now. And the lower priced stuff versus the quality, they are killing it.
And if I remember correctly, their AV series costs less than a guitar cost new in the 60s. The AV series, these must be what guitars felt like new in the 60s. They are absolutely fantastic instruments and will break in with age to be as good as the vintage stuff.
Why are we getting upset at a Jazzmaster with Jag pickups and chrome plates? Don't buy it. Tele/Jazz hybrid, people have been making these design for a while with no comment from us, why complain now?
Right on, Jake.
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
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BillAqua
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1054
Chicago IL.
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 05:40 PM
Jake is right this is a FANTASTIC era for Fender.
I think the long scale Jag is ridiculous but I've got a dozen post 2012 revamped Fender American Reissue guitars and each one is a killer on par with whatever vibe or mojo someone would want from a vintage guitar with modern build quality consistences.
I picked up a pre 2012 Reissue Jaguar last week out of nostalgic feelings. I tried a new Johnny Marr Jaguar and feel in love with that as well. I couldn't stop thinking about that guitar and have one en-route to me now as I type this.
— "as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"
https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 07:18 PM
To give FMIC their due, I played a slightly used Classic Player JM in a store last summer when I was hunting for replacements for stolen guitars and almost bought it. It felt perfect. If it was $100 cheaper I would have bought it right there. I eventually settled on a Taiwanese Yamaha SGV and don't regret it, as it's got the quality and is very distinctive.
— Squink Out!
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rottenman
Joined: Jan 31, 2015
Posts: 115
Austin, TX
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 09:09 PM
I'm excited at the prospect of this being a great new era for Fender - I think Jake is right on that point. I still want to add a Jaguar to my collection and I'd be stoked to grab a new, well built, competitively priced model. But I still don't get the long scale Jag or the offset Tele.
To me, the LS Jag just looks awkward - the proportions are (obviously) off. It could sound great and play like a dream but it looks weird to me in a "being a bit disrespectful of a classic style" sort of way. I can't help not liking it. (I agree with cambeezy, add that third pickup!)
And when I first heard the words "offset telecaster", I was on the Reverend guitars website - that was my reaction to seeing their buckshot/flatroc/charger/etc models for the first time. HERE was a fun new shape that excited me. The Fender "offset telecaster" mostly just annoys me. Put humbuckers in JMs all day and market them to those new-fangled IcelandicDropD-DoomEmoPsych kids you need to expand your marketshare. But don't just swap pickups out of a tele and pass it off as a new model, thats lazy.*
*Says the guy who no longer belongs to a marketable demographic.
— From past me to future you
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palo
Joined: Apr 23, 2012
Posts: 421
fresno california u.s.a.
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Posted on Feb 01 2016 11:58 PM
While we may not realize it, we are in a golden era from Fender. Not since the early 60s have they produced instruments that are as good as they are making right now. And the lower priced stuff versus the quality, they are killing it.
And if I remember correctly, their AV series costs less than a guitar cost new in the 60s. The AV series, these must be what guitars felt like new in the 60s. They are absolutely fantastic instruments and will break in with age to be as good as the vintage stuff.
Why are we getting upset at a Jazzmaster with Jag pickups and chrome plates? Don't buy it. Tele/Jazz hybrid, people have been making these design for a while with no comment from us, why complain now?
YES JAKE !
Last edited: Feb 02, 2016 00:00:47
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ChadShivers
Joined: Sep 07, 2010
Posts: 560
Atlanta
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Posted on Feb 02 2016 07:41 AM
So they'll put a bigsby on a Jazzmaster but yet won't put a JM trem on a strat? You're killing me Fender.
— The Squares - 1995-2002
The Mystery Men? - 2012-
MOONBASE - 2012-2017
The KBK - 2017-2022
The Frigidaires 2021-
Southern Surf Stomp!
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Frelonvert
Joined: Sep 21, 2009
Posts: 275
Toulouse
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Posted on Feb 02 2016 08:31 AM
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 02 2016 02:13 PM
This above must be for those who like the way a JM sounds but hate the offset body.
Somebody do the math and tell me the possible recombination of parts from which FMIC can cobble together guitars. We must be talking four digits here.
— Squink Out!
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LeeVanCleef
Joined: Oct 05, 2011
Posts: 744
France
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Posted on Feb 02 2016 03:48 PM
JObeast wrote:
Somebody do the math and tell me the possible recombination of parts from which FMIC can cobble together guitars. We must be talking four digits here.
The same thought crossed my mind. Maybe they're trying to put Warmoth out of business by offering every possible combination?
— Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.
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