General Music Chat

Article here about their current woes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/busin ... d=all&_r=0

the article puts all the facts in the first two paragraphs and then utterly fails to sum up the real problem. It's not the economy, macro-economics, or competition, it's that investors expect (as does wall st, business 101 in general) consistent growth. It's a flaw of capitalism, especially in this case, where a company like fender, even while at the #1 manufacturer slot, cannot satisfy investors well enough because they failed to establish a simple business plan that would be satisfied with consistency and not growth.

Most companies in the past were able to weather recessions simply by accepting lower profits and keeping their workforces in place for better days. Now they just lay everyone off and make sure their profits continue to grow. Meanwhile the domino effect of every other company doing the same thing = nobody being able to afford nice guitars.

We've been watching our capitalist greed implode our economy since the early 80's, with only artificial bubbles to support the "good times". I have to wonder if there are any good times left for us, as our business leaders clearly haven't learned a damn thing except how to grab all the cash they can and float away on a golden parachute before a company implodes.

Fender will eventually get what they deserve. And america will get more people on public assistance for it.

seriously. I'd love a rick! They are way out of my price range though..

I have to agree with the assessment though- Good quality guitars and keeping it in america.. maybe not #1 like fender, but not suffering like so many other brands that compromised jobs and quality for profits.

I own a Fender hat.
Truth is, peavey USA, Yamaha, etc, can make the same guitar design easily - and the quality is as good or better and often for a lower price.

There's nothing in place to prevent Stratocaster clones.

though i'm not a fan of of their amps, mixers, or spkrs i have to give Carvin credit...they make very good and reaonably priced gtrs and basses.

sax man in Planet Jazz has one of their neck thru teles and it is one SERIOUS gtr that didn't cost serious dinero.

I've owned quite a few guitars and Fenders are without a doubt the most versatile. You can't beat a Gibson for metal and hard rock but a Strat can do everything else.

The Stratocaster was designed around the player of the days wants and wishes.

Superior design.

The Stratocaster was designed around the player of the days wants and wishes.

Superior design.

Well, other than that pickup selector, which has to be in the worst possible spot on the guitar. I used to unscrew mine and sink it under the pickguard -- I really only ever use the middle pickup anyway.

wow....i could NEVER live w/o the p/u selector on my strat!

The Stratocaster was designed around the player of the days wants and wishes.

Superior design.

Well, other than that pickup selector, which has to be in the worst possible spot on the guitar. I used to unscrew mine and sink it under the pickguard -- I really only ever use the middle pickup anyway.

I think Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, SRV, Guthrie Govan and countless others would respectfully disagree. I can't imagine playing a 4 hr gig without using all three pickups, out-of-phase positions, countless volume swells, and ample use of the tone control. I paid for all those controls and I intend to use em on stage. YMMV

I've owned quite a few guitars and Fenders are without a doubt the most versatile. You can't beat a Gibson for metal and hard rock but a Strat can do everything else.

Ditto!

After playing Gibson and Epiphone guitars until the day I hung it up I started playing again because I fell in love with a Strat. It was Fenders lowliest model but the "fit" was so nice. I loved the tummy and arm cuts and the view from the top was so cool and the sound so pure.

I bought 7 of them from Warmoth because I preferred the option of neck cuts and the choices in wood that Warmoth offers. Regardless Fender still received royalties for their design and that is something other clones try to avoid.

It is too bad that royalties aren't paid by all the clone makers. Some clones are far better than the guitars they copy, but Fender should still get paid for what is one of the coolest guitar designs out there.

After playing Gibson and Epiphone guitars until the day I hung it up I started playing again because I fell in love with a Strat. It was Fenders lowliest model but the "fit" was so nice. I loved the tummy and arm cuts and the view from the top was so cool and the sound so pure.

I bought 7 of them from Warmoth because I preferred the option of neck cuts and the choices in wood that Warmoth offers. Regardless Fender still received royalties for their design and that is something other clones try to avoid.

It is too bad that royalties aren't paid by all the clone makers. Some clones are far better than the guitars they copy, but Fender should still get paid for what is one of the coolest guitar designs out there.

one of my fave gtrs is a thinline tele i put together w a Warmoth body and one of their strat necks. i put Rio Grande single coils in it and it is a serious honey.

After playing Gibson and Epiphone guitars until the day I hung it up I started playing again because I fell in love with a Strat. It was Fenders lowliest model but the "fit" was so nice. I loved the tummy and arm cuts and the view from the top was so cool and the sound so pure.

I bought 7 of them from Warmoth because I preferred the option of neck cuts and the choices in wood that Warmoth offers. Regardless Fender still received royalties for their design and that is something other clones try to avoid.

It is too bad that royalties aren't paid by all the clone makers. Some clones are far better than the guitars they copy, but Fender should still get paid for what is one of the coolest guitar designs out there.

one of my fave gtrs is a thinline tele i put together w a Warmoth body and one of their strat necks. i put Rio Grande single coils in it and it is a serious honey.

Curious.. What was your choice of body wood that you used to construct your Tele? You did the opposite of what I usually do. I have made most of my Strats with Tele necks.

I had looked for a Birdseye Maple neck with a Birdseye Maple fret board, but could only find a Tele neck (Compound Radius) After a while I got used to the look and liked it. After that I looked for Tele necks first. I do have the older Strat headstock on one, and the newer Strat headstock on another (Smaller head)
I did make a Warmoth Tele, but after playing Strats I got used to the arm and tummy cuts and the Tele dug into my side. Not so bad standing, but when sitting it became bothersome to me.
I have several of my Strats posted in my Bandmix profile.

Any picks of your Tele? Can you post it?

Hey Slacker, what's the wood on the brown Strat with the black guard?

It is Swamp ash. I always buy Swamp Ash in the 3lb 5-10 oz weight when I can. The bottom of the tree that grows under water is the best for the tone that I prefer since it is more porous. I also like the sound of Alder, but I haven't seen any Alder with nice grain patterns. Alder has a bit more upper midrange tone. All of those guitars are Swamp Ash.

Curious.. What was your choice of body wood that you used to construct your Tele? You did the opposite of what I usually do. I have made most of my Strats with Tele necks.

I had looked for a Birdseye Maple neck with a Birdseye Maple fret board, but could only find a Tele neck (Compound Radius) After a while I got used to the look and liked it. After that I looked for Tele necks first. I do have the older Strat headstock on one, and the newer Strat headstock on another (Smaller head)
I did make a Warmoth Tele, but after playing Strats I got used to the arm and tummy cuts and the Tele dug into my side. Not so bad standing, but when sitting it became bothersome to me.
I have several of my Strats posted in my Bandmix profile.

Any picks of your Tele? Can you post it?

it's swamp ash w 1/4" flame maple top. the neck has a nice fat tele profile (forget which one they call it..but it's not the boatneck) 1 11/16" corian nut w rosewood board.

i've got flat wounds on it and i use it for a "solid body jazz axe" for gigs when a big box archtop top ain't gonna get it.

so, did you trim the heel of your tele neck or enlarge the pocket of the strat body to accept the tele neck?