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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2013 15:35:23 GMT -5
before Gibson totally owned them... : www.fenderjapan.co.jp/st_ho_2h.htmlJust browsing the catalog, they seem more modern, better built, and with greater imagination than those put into the american/mex counterparts. Many of what is offered from American Deluxe (e.g. eaten away-cut neck heel for better access/playability) are offered for the majority of the models in the japanese line-up.... I would buy one from them easily! |
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Post by Double Yoi on Nov 22, 2013 8:14:43 GMT -5
Those are so cool, the Tele section is awesome as well!!!
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Post by newey on Nov 22, 2013 20:54:43 GMT -5
I guess I'm missing something. What's so different? I mean, I see some different colors, and they seem to like the painted headstocks a lot. But in what way are they "more modern"?
And how can you tell whether they are "better built" from the website? Fender of Japan has a rep for good quality, I'm not doubting they're well-made. They may well be better than their USA-made or American-made cousins. But I'd think you'd need to have the two side-by-side before you could make any meaningful assessment of quality.
I noted that the one FR-equipped Strat ran ¥120,000, which is about $1100 USD. Here in the US, I can get an American Standard (i.e., MIM) Strat with a FR for $899. So, no bargains there, even ignoring customs duties.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 22, 2013 22:51:29 GMT -5
That thinline Strat is cool, but not far off from the pawn shop thinline offset model they just discontinued... Which was much cheaper and made in the same plant!
Sometimes, things seem cooler just because it's different than what's directly available to you. This is not too far off standard fare from Fender.
Too MUCH choice can be just as bad as not enough, and sometimes creates baffled and unhappy shoppers who are always second guessing their purchases instead of enjoying them. YMMV
(Said the guy who just went through 3 "travel" guitars in the last couple months).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2013 0:59:28 GMT -5
I guess I'm missing something. What's so different? I mean, I see some different colors, and they seem to like the painted headstocks a lot. But in what way are they "more modern"? It is mostly the variety (which is not found among the fender USA/Mex line, which sadly still seems to only target ppl over 50 years old), and of course the colors. I remember last year (2012), Fender USA standard Strat was somewhere around 1100 euros, while Gibson Traditional (the equivalent T , if i am not mistaken) could be bought for 1600 euros. Of course in 2013 all prices, fender, gibson went up, but still the argument remains : Who in their right mind would buy one piece of wood (body) bolt on another piece for unfinished wood (neck) , the case with fender, and not give 500 euros more to buy a piece of detailed craftmanship that looks, feels and plays so much better? Here are two factors that can prove this : - the resell price in the used market (Gibson simply wins hands down) - the known contemporary new players of each brand. Very few new players would buy an over-priced design dating back to WWII. Most kids (and kids these days can REALLY play guitar) would go for the Gibson. Gibson is also an outdated design, but it looks much better. Clearly, Fender needs new options, new models, new colors, new features. Fender USA is nowhere there. Fender Japan seems like they could give this brand name a new beginning. And how can you tell whether they are "better built" from the website? Fender of Japan has a rep for good quality, I'm not doubting they're well-made. They may well be better than their USA-made or American-made cousins. But I'd think you'd need to have the two side-by-side before you could make any meaningful assessment of quality. Good point. You are right, i was just speaking from the visual impression, that the only thing i can do from browsing. I noted that the one FR-equipped Strat ran ¥120,000, which is about $1100 USD. Here in the US, I can get an American Standard (i.e., MIM) Strat with a FR for $899. So, no bargains there, even ignoring customs duties. Newey : "American Standard" != "MIM" !! i guess this was a typo. Anyway, I disagree here. For anyone with an experience with floyd rose guitars (i've been with them for 20+ years), it is apparent that the mexican FR models (blacktop, and the standard) were later additions. The standard has 21 frets which is ridiculous, also no bridge recess for tremolo up-bends, (which is how an amateur would do it), while the black top seems better, but when i personally tried this, it seemed like a generic cheap FR guitar from back of the 80s. + I think that the mexican FR models use licensed hardware while the Japanese use Gotoh (a huge difference). It's just shows that Fender Japan, knows how to make a floyd rose guitar, how to make it show good near to an Ibanez or ESP or Jackson. Ooops i said Jackson. Hmmm maybe Fender does not care for Floyds because or Charvel/Jackson who make exceptional instruments. But i still think that putting everything under the Fender name would be a wise move, business-wise. But it just could be me  |
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Post by newey on Nov 23, 2013 1:35:03 GMT -5
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