MII with Fender on the headstock

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Offshore production with Fender on the headstock

This has not happened since late eighties? If I’m correct back then it was cause their own production lines didn’t deliver following CBS management era.

Why today? an answer to quality stuff at low prices hitting the market lately…and onshore manufacturers need to find a connection to that market space?
Will Gibson follow?
Impact on price of US/EU made stuff?…focus on “custom shop space”?
Impact on vintage market and the value of the brands that dominate this market?

Personally I’m looking at some high priced gibbies pre 80s…and wonder: If you can get good instruments with a cool brand on the headstock for 500,-…will people be just a motivated to buy a vintage one as today?…or will US made become more rare, and cause of that an even more exclusive position.

 

[spawnofthesith]

There's been a handful of Fender branded stuff made in China in recent years (and Fender stuff also made in Japan but that has a better public perception)


Discontinued but the entire modern player series was MIC
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...aster-plus-honey-burst-with-maple-fingerboard

 

[metropolis_4]

I’m really confused with this direction. Seems like they’re introducing a lower end line so they can position the MIM standard line as more of a midrange option?

These look like they took the existing Squier line and just changed the headstock logo to Fender

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

There's been a handful of Fender branded stuff made in China in recent years (and Fender stuff also made in Japan but that has a better public perception)


Discontinued but the entire modern player series was MIC
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...aster-plus-honey-burst-with-maple-fingerboard

Ahh..didn’t know that. Also targeted at these price points?

 

[Eagle]

And Korea.
This is just filling in a price point from a manufacturer that is reliable.

 

[Eagle]

I’m really confused with this direction. Seems like they’re introducing a lower end line so they can position the MIM standard line as more of a midrange option?

These look like they took the existing Squier line and just changed the headstock logo to Fender

MIM Fender now is as good as the USA produced stuff of 20 years ago.

 

[spawnofthesith]

Ahh..didn’t know that. Also targeted at these price points?

Yeah think they were priced about the same


I don't totally love it but not too bothered as its not exactly a "change in direction" for them. Its a different line and its not like they're moving the MIM lines, so its just whatever I guess lol

 

[metropolis_4]

MIM Fender now is as good as the USA produced stuff of 20 years ago.

I’ve always been a fan of MIM Fender. The only complaints I use to have against them were little things like the narrower string spacing at the bridge, but I think they’ve changed that with the newer ones haven’t they?

 

[Eagle]

I’ve always been a fan of MIM Fender. The only complaints I use to have against them were little things like the narrower string spacing at the bridge, but I think they’ve changed that with the newer ones haven’t they?

If you mean the swap 11.3mm to 10.8mm that happened first in 83. Vintage stayed wide.

 

[Jarick]

This move makes sense. MIM Fenders went from about $500 up to $800 over the last several years and will probably only go up further. Specs on these look like the old MIM Standards, so more or less getting back to that price point.

I personally am not impressed with any of the Fender stuff I've played recently. At two different Guitar Center shops, I tried multiple Fender Ultra and Fender American Vintage models and they all played like crap with sharp fret edges and bad setups. Maybe it's a GC thing and a good $100 setup would probably work wonders bout for a $2500 guitar no thanks.

Same goes for MIM Player models, I've played dozens of them over the last few years and you're lucky to just find one that isn't a complete dog. I haven't been tempted by a new Fender since the first Shawbucker Teles came out about 7-8 years ago.

 

[Eagle]

This move makes sense. MIM Fenders went from about $500 up to $800 over the last several years and will probably only go up further. Specs on these look like the old MIM Standards, so more or less getting back to that price point.

I personally am not impressed with any of the Fender stuff I've played recently. At two different Guitar Center shops, I tried multiple Fender Ultra and Fender American Vintage models and they all played like crap with sharp fret edges and bad setups. Maybe it's a GC thing and a good $100 setup would probably work wonders bout for a $2500 guitar no thanks.

Same goes for MIM Player models, I've played dozens of them over the last few years and you're lucky to just find one that isn't a complete dog. I haven't been tempted by a new Fender since the first Shawbucker Teles came out about 7-8 years ago.

Fender are universally solid , quality materials and value for money . I think everything needs a set up from new so I don’t worry about it.

 

[the-trooper]

Squier with a Fender logo! Excellent base! The best base! Everybody says so! Get it now!

 

[metropolis_4]

If you mean the swap 11.3mm to 10.8mm that happened first in 83. Vintage stayed wide.

Didn’t the American Standard, Am Deluxe and AVRI all stick with the wider spacing though?

I just remember when I was buying new bridge saddles for my ‘96 MIM I had to get the narrower ones designed for the MIM models. And those saddles have gaps between them if I put them on a MIA Strat

 

[Eagle]

Didn’t the American Standard, Am Deluxe and AVRI all stick with the wider spacing though?

I just remember when I was buying new bridge saddles for my ‘96 MIM I had to get the narrower ones designed for the MIM models. And those saddles have gaps between them if I put them on a MIA Strat

American standard has always been 10.8 mm

 

[JasonE]

Fender are universally solid , quality materials and value for money . I think everything needs a set up from new so I don’t worry about it.

They have been solid for a good while. They are a guitar brand that I feel very comfortable buying any US model they have without putting my hands on it first. I absolutely know that I will be able to make it play like I want it to and I know the work on it will be of good quality.

I will also say that I had a Strat that I bought new back in the very early 80's that was made in Japan. Back at that time the guitars coming out of Japan were of better quality than the stuff coming out of the US factory, and they were cheaper.

 

[Jarick]

Didn’t the American Standard, Am Deluxe and AVRI all stick with the wider spacing though?

I just remember when I was buying new bridge saddles for my ‘96 MIM I had to get the narrower ones designed for the MIM models. And those saddles have gaps between them if I put them on a MIA Strat

Older MIM stuff had narrower spacing and different screw patterns than USA so you couldn't swap hardware. I think the Player stuff has USA spacing and hardware. Wouldn't be surprised if the Standard went back to the cheap import hardware and spacing.

 

[Eagle]

Older MIM stuff had narrower spacing and different screw patterns than USA so you couldn't swap hardware. I think the Player stuff has USA spacing and hardware. Wouldn't be surprised if the Standard went back to the cheap import hardware and spacing.

The screw patterns don’t affect the string spacing but you are right about the reason. In general vintage fender is 11.3mm and modern is 10.8mm and by modern I mean since Corona.

 

[metropolis_4]

Older MIM stuff had narrower spacing and different screw patterns than USA so you couldn't swap hardware. I think the Player stuff has USA spacing and hardware. Wouldn't be surprised if the Standard went back to the cheap import hardware and spacing.

Thank you! That’s what I was thinking

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

This move makes sense. MIM Fenders went from about $500 up to $800 over the last several years and will probably only go up further. Specs on these look like the old MIM Standards, so more or less getting back to that price point.

I personally am not impressed with any of the Fender stuff I've played recently. At two different Guitar Center shops, I tried multiple Fender Ultra and Fender American Vintage models and they all played like crap with sharp fret edges and bad setups. Maybe it's a GC thing and a good $100 setup would probably work wonders bout for a $2500 guitar no thanks.

Same goes for MIM Player models, I've played dozens of them over the last few years and you're lucky to just find one that isn't a complete dog. I haven't been tempted by a new Fender since the first Shawbucker Teles came out about 7-8 years ago.

I played a few custom shops couple of months back….a couple of those were great! But…stiff price tags obviously…and in a shop where I expect they set up everything to the millimeter.