F
frankieballsss
New member
cubanorocker316 said:
You sound like Tom Hanks in "Big"........."I DONT GET IT I DONT GET IT"
You sound like Tom Hanks in "Big"........."I DONT GET IT I DONT GET IT"
IronFlippy
Dedicated To My Member
Yamaha makes wind instruments really well. I've always been impressed by them. I'm a sax player myself, and I know quite a few people with pro Yamaha saxes that sound damn good. Not as good as my Keilwerth, but still. For an instrument mass-produced in Asia, Yamaha is worth it.six said:but hey - there are flutes that cost 1500£, even ones made by yamaha!
IronFlippy
Dedicated To My Member
This is true, to some degree. An absolute piece of crap will always sound like a piece of crap. The playing could be spot-on, but the tone itself still sucks. It'll be better than if you are just beginning, but it still won't sound good.mrface2112 said:
DogFood
New member
Cubano you seem to be asking about the sound. Dollar to dollar you prefer the Ibanez. Cool, but the deeper you get into amps, guitars, pickups, effects and the chain of sound the more you will see the need for variety of guitar tones. And, with time you may want to pay tribute to a guitar inspiration like Stevie Ray Vaughn or Jimi Hendrix and discover that the Strat sound was a huge part of the tone. These days "The Sound" is EMG pick up loaded Les Paul set up guitars detuned to C played through Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier amps. This sound has just about run it's course. Although there is no accounting for taste 
I didn't always appreciate Fenders but I have learned that their role in the guitar world is ok. Besides if Fender didn't make tinny sounding guitars someone else would.
I didn't always appreciate Fenders but I have learned that their role in the guitar world is ok. Besides if Fender didn't make tinny sounding guitars someone else would.
C
classicrockman7
New member
Mexi Strat?
I bought a Mexi strat about 4 months ago. It has american noisless pickups and feels and looks great. Its cost? 550$!!!!!!!!!! I felt like i stole it. There are 2 flaws, First off the nut is only ever so slightly off a little bit, only noticed it after a luthier pointed it out and said that he has seen worse on Gibsons. Then one of the tuners did not hold up long, it got stripped, seemed to be a fluke. But for 550$ i have a guitar that i compares with fenders for twice the price. I love it. Fender's while having the ability to screw you over, also have the ability to get you great gear for a great price.
I bought a Mexi strat about 4 months ago. It has american noisless pickups and feels and looks great. Its cost? 550$!!!!!!!!!! I felt like i stole it. There are 2 flaws, First off the nut is only ever so slightly off a little bit, only noticed it after a luthier pointed it out and said that he has seen worse on Gibsons. Then one of the tuners did not hold up long, it got stripped, seemed to be a fluke. But for 550$ i have a guitar that i compares with fenders for twice the price. I love it. Fender's while having the ability to screw you over, also have the ability to get you great gear for a great price.
six
New member
I'm glad IronFlippy mentioned that tone/finger thing... I mean, good fingers & good guitar will always be better than good fingers & bad guitar. 
It seems to me that I'm kind of a victim to the European pricing: whereas Mexican and low-end American Fenders cost more or less the same here (but you have to know the stores) and in the US, the standard Americans and everything that's above those appear to be extra-priced.
I could get an American HSS for about 1160 USD or a Highway 1 for about 680 from Germany, but then that's from an Online-Store - so no play-before-u-buy. Anything above that will probably cost 2 dollars more for every dollar you (US) pay more.
It seems to me that I'm kind of a victim to the European pricing: whereas Mexican and low-end American Fenders cost more or less the same here (but you have to know the stores) and in the US, the standard Americans and everything that's above those appear to be extra-priced.
I could get an American HSS for about 1160 USD or a Highway 1 for about 680 from Germany, but then that's from an Online-Store - so no play-before-u-buy. Anything above that will probably cost 2 dollars more for every dollar you (US) pay more.
Sirnothingness
Banned
It's like some little kid makes an extremely general blanket statement and all these good posts come out of the woodwork. Who'd have thunk it? 
Anyway, little man, you need to give more info than what you did. Paying $600 for what Fender guitar? What is your friend plugging this into? a Pignose amp? By the way, I'd expect most 15 year olds to be happier with an Ibanez than a Fender. Wait till you grow up then see which one sounds better.
But on a good note, you did start a good conversation (how, I'll never know). Oh, my aching whammy bar.
Anyway, little man, you need to give more info than what you did. Paying $600 for what Fender guitar? What is your friend plugging this into? a Pignose amp? By the way, I'd expect most 15 year olds to be happier with an Ibanez than a Fender. Wait till you grow up then see which one sounds better.
But on a good note, you did start a good conversation (how, I'll never know). Oh, my aching whammy bar.
six
New member
"Wait till you grow up then see which one sounds better."
oooooooooooooooh... that's one of the big no-no-sentences. nevertheless freakin' true. 
did I already mention that I hate beginners buying fenders, gibsons or anything like that?
"I love their sound" - no, you love someone who uses one.
"I buy an expensive one 'cause it'll last" - yes. but your taste is most probably going to change with time.
... man, I still can't believe that I sold a nice hughes & kettner tube amp because it didn't sound good... with eq at full-none-full and a boss ME8. me dumbass!
oooooooooooooooh... that's one of the big no-no-sentences. nevertheless freakin' true.
did I already mention that I hate beginners buying fenders, gibsons or anything like that?
"I love their sound" - no, you love someone who uses one.
"I buy an expensive one 'cause it'll last" - yes. but your taste is most probably going to change with time.
... man, I still can't believe that I sold a nice hughes & kettner tube amp because it didn't sound good... with eq at full-none-full and a boss ME8. me dumbass!
Reggie
PutsTheLotionOnItsSkin
Ha ha, that is really funny.
I haven't heard an Ibanez that can sound like one of them Fender SRV strats. There is just something really cool about those if you are wanting THAT sound. I was it expecting it to be cheesy as a replica-type thing, but I ended up playing one for like 30 minutes in the store (a long time for me). The Fender American Strat HSS is cool too. Another guitar in this whole vein that I found was a good deal was the ESP H1000 (I think?). Seymour Duncan JB pickup, a solid bridge, and a really good feel. Better than any of the Ibanezes I tried IMO (they go plonky donk donk), and better than my Schecter. I've been meaning to snag one, but there's just too many things I need to buy!
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
OK- you want to understand Fenders (and of course, Fender players). Now, I'm mostly an acoustic singer/songwriter, but I have a background in psychedelic and British invasion rock. I play electric almost half the time, now. For a guitar with a deep, rich tone, either distorted or not, I choose a Les Paul or an SG. For distortion, I would plug it into a Marshall, a Soldano, or a Mesa. For a brighter "jangly sound" I choose a telecaster or an Epiphone Casino plugged into a Fender, Vox, or Roland amp. Two *completely* different animals. It's all good. It's the yin and yang of electric guitar, a small sports car, and a luxury SUV.-Richie
six
New member
yin and yang - wow... you nailed it!!!
guess why I have a strat, a tele and a les paul?
ok, the strat is a modified jackson and has not much to do with a real stratocaster, the tele is cheri and the les paul is epiphone
. but they're all good for what I use them.
guess why I have a strat, a tele and a les paul?
ok, the strat is a modified jackson and has not much to do with a real stratocaster, the tele is cheri and the les paul is epiphone
. but they're all good for what I use them.
cephus
Slow Children Playing
I never bought my real honest-to-God Fender strat because it was empirically better than a yamaha or ibanez or whatever. I bought it because at that time it gave me a hardon to play a real one. I had alot of copies and other junk. But I wanted a Fender.
I moved away from my hometown and had to get a real job to pay the bills. I immediately hated working and wanted to quit, so I thought that if I went and got a new guitar on payments, then it would force myself to keep working. I wanted a strat for years and then I finally had one.
I have played the shit out of it for over 15 years and now it needs a fret job and the finish is looking really bad. If you took it into a lab, and compared all the components, you'd probably find them identical to what import guitars were made of. Shit, my strat may have been made in japan for all I know. It's an 88 or 89 62 RI.
The thing that the lab won't show is the way it made me feel when I poked my head through the strap and turned on the amp. It definitely inspired me to become a better player and I seriously doubt I'd have gotten a chub playing a fricking Steve Via Ibanez. Yech!
All that said, over the years, I have lost respect for Fenders and name brand guitars in general. I wouldn't spend 1500 for a fender now. I'm glad I made my investment in my existential guitar-health back when the price of admission was six hundred and some change. I know that the strat copies hanging on the wall of sam ash are all shit, but you can replace every part on them with something better than stock fender and eventually end up with something better. Eventually may mean 15 years of learning to set up a guitar and solder and train your ear to help you pick out what to spend your money on, but you can get there. Or take a short cut and get something that gives you a boner right now.
I moved away from my hometown and had to get a real job to pay the bills. I immediately hated working and wanted to quit, so I thought that if I went and got a new guitar on payments, then it would force myself to keep working. I wanted a strat for years and then I finally had one.
I have played the shit out of it for over 15 years and now it needs a fret job and the finish is looking really bad. If you took it into a lab, and compared all the components, you'd probably find them identical to what import guitars were made of. Shit, my strat may have been made in japan for all I know. It's an 88 or 89 62 RI.
The thing that the lab won't show is the way it made me feel when I poked my head through the strap and turned on the amp. It definitely inspired me to become a better player and I seriously doubt I'd have gotten a chub playing a fricking Steve Via Ibanez. Yech!
All that said, over the years, I have lost respect for Fenders and name brand guitars in general. I wouldn't spend 1500 for a fender now. I'm glad I made my investment in my existential guitar-health back when the price of admission was six hundred and some change. I know that the strat copies hanging on the wall of sam ash are all shit, but you can replace every part on them with something better than stock fender and eventually end up with something better. Eventually may mean 15 years of learning to set up a guitar and solder and train your ear to help you pick out what to spend your money on, but you can get there. Or take a short cut and get something that gives you a boner right now.
capnkid
Optimus Prime
If guitars were cars a Les Paul would be a Sports Car and a Fender would be a Pickup truck. Both have their perpose in life, and both are respected.
A sportscar can have a big engine and be dropped low to the ground for speed and handling. A pickup can also be dropped low for speed and handling, but it does real good when it's raised up high and the suspension is toughened up for some serious hard work.
A sportscar can have a big engine and be dropped low to the ground for speed and handling. A pickup can also be dropped low for speed and handling, but it does real good when it's raised up high and the suspension is toughened up for some serious hard work.
M
Mr.Lizard
New member
Interesting Thread!
First off, I've never been a real Fender fan- I've had a few over the years for one reason or another, but it was never because of their quality or sound- it was because they were cheap or interesting in one way or another, or I had a plan of rebuilding it to make it better....I'm more of a Les Paul/Jackson USA guy. Not trying to start an argument here, just my perspective.
There are pros and cons to the Fenders- but for my personal taste there were always more cons. This is why I've primarily gone with Jackson USAs in recent times- pretty light weight like Fenders are, and a lot of them are basically Strat copies, but they are like what most people do to their Strats just already done....and cheaper than Gibsons. This is why Fender started making strats with humbuckers, I imagine- because a lot of people were doing it. I buy ONLY the Jackson USA series because of better quality- fit and finish. Look at one of each and you'll see what I mean. The same goes for the Fenders- nicer ones are going to cost more just like the plain car vs. fancy car idea mentioned earlier.
When I started playing guitar over 30 years ago, I first had a Crestwood ES335 copy- good enough, and man could you do some cool Nugent-like whining feedback with that hollow body!! LOL BUT- seeing as how I had some of the common problems newbies have (I used to give lessons in the late '70s and early '80s and I saw the same problems I used to wonder about) I came up with the idea that I should buy a good/great guitar. My reasoning was that I couldn't blame the guitar if I sounded like shit- it had to be ME because the guitar was definitely NOT the problem! LMAO ! My second guitar ever was a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Standard in Tobacco Sunburst loaded up with DiMarzio Dual sounds (did all the work myself- scary, but I learned a lot!) I worked all summer long and saved up to afford it- put it on layaway and made payments. Man- I should have kept that baby....probably why I now have a 1979 Les Paul Custom in Tobacco Sunburst- a much nicer looking finish on the fancier model, I'd say....maybe part of the extra cost? But, mentioning cost, I don't believe it's necessary to go totally broke- you can find good used ones for way less (depends, of course on what we're talking about) if you keep your eyes open. I paid $950 US for my LP Custom maybe a year or year and a half ago....I paid $350 US for my MINT 1985 Fender Jap Strat not long ago....Keep your hopes up, everyone! I vote for going for what you WANT, not necessarily only what you think you can AFFORD....It's an ongoing search for excellence just like your playing is- don't give up or sell your self short!
Just some thoughts....
First off, I've never been a real Fender fan- I've had a few over the years for one reason or another, but it was never because of their quality or sound- it was because they were cheap or interesting in one way or another, or I had a plan of rebuilding it to make it better....I'm more of a Les Paul/Jackson USA guy. Not trying to start an argument here, just my perspective.
There are pros and cons to the Fenders- but for my personal taste there were always more cons. This is why I've primarily gone with Jackson USAs in recent times- pretty light weight like Fenders are, and a lot of them are basically Strat copies, but they are like what most people do to their Strats just already done....and cheaper than Gibsons. This is why Fender started making strats with humbuckers, I imagine- because a lot of people were doing it. I buy ONLY the Jackson USA series because of better quality- fit and finish. Look at one of each and you'll see what I mean. The same goes for the Fenders- nicer ones are going to cost more just like the plain car vs. fancy car idea mentioned earlier.
When I started playing guitar over 30 years ago, I first had a Crestwood ES335 copy- good enough, and man could you do some cool Nugent-like whining feedback with that hollow body!! LOL BUT- seeing as how I had some of the common problems newbies have (I used to give lessons in the late '70s and early '80s and I saw the same problems I used to wonder about) I came up with the idea that I should buy a good/great guitar. My reasoning was that I couldn't blame the guitar if I sounded like shit- it had to be ME because the guitar was definitely NOT the problem! LMAO ! My second guitar ever was a 1976 Gibson Les Paul Standard in Tobacco Sunburst loaded up with DiMarzio Dual sounds (did all the work myself- scary, but I learned a lot!) I worked all summer long and saved up to afford it- put it on layaway and made payments. Man- I should have kept that baby....probably why I now have a 1979 Les Paul Custom in Tobacco Sunburst- a much nicer looking finish on the fancier model, I'd say....maybe part of the extra cost? But, mentioning cost, I don't believe it's necessary to go totally broke- you can find good used ones for way less (depends, of course on what we're talking about) if you keep your eyes open. I paid $950 US for my LP Custom maybe a year or year and a half ago....I paid $350 US for my MINT 1985 Fender Jap Strat not long ago....Keep your hopes up, everyone! I vote for going for what you WANT, not necessarily only what you think you can AFFORD....It's an ongoing search for excellence just like your playing is- don't give up or sell your self short!
Just some thoughts....
gbdweller
Structural Member
$$$$ doesn't necessarily equate to good. My $400.00 MIM Strat played great out of the box. I added lace sensors and better components to 'tweak' it but I was impressed with the factory feel and setup. My singer's American Strat is a pile of dog crap. Fret ends sticking out, a weak tuner and a poorly slotted nut. Jimmy Page recorded Kashmir on a Danelectro...plastic, fiberboard and vinyl! Don't buy or not buy a guitar just because of a name or price tag. Play it, listen to it and compare...Buy what feels and sounds good to you, regardless of it's brand or MSRP...as long as you can afford it
O
olfunk
New member
COOLCAT said:
did it cost 900Xs as much?
guttapercha
New member
glad
Glad I held onto my 1984 American Standard that I paid $500 for with case....never gonna let it go.
I will say that I acquired an Ibanez SZ320 (won it in a "guitar showdown") and I'm really impressed with the feel. For $400ish, those guys put out an amazing product. The bridge pickup position sounds a bit nasal, but I love the neck p/u on that thing. Still...if I want to get a strat sound.....I'm headed for my strat.
classicrockman7 said:
Glad I held onto my 1984 American Standard that I paid $500 for with case....never gonna let it go.
I will say that I acquired an Ibanez SZ320 (won it in a "guitar showdown") and I'm really impressed with the feel. For $400ish, those guys put out an amazing product. The bridge pickup position sounds a bit nasal, but I love the neck p/u on that thing. Still...if I want to get a strat sound.....I'm headed for my strat.
CoolCat
Well-known member
yeah, wish i'd kept my '79....i finally replaced it in 2000/2001.
olfunk,
i was just bs'ing.....all i was saying was the Squire played ok. I had it around for 15yrs, loaned it out to friends, kids, whatever...a beater guitar. recorded with it, played live with it... it was what it was.
it was probably only 7x's the cost.
When people played the Squire...
they didn't go "fhk!! this sucks bad!! it doesn't even feel like a guitar!! the neck keeps falling off!!!"
like a car, a toyota will get you to work, and so will a lexus...
but nowadays if someone says "hey I bought a Fender!"
i don't know what they really mean...a hat clip? a tuner? a T-shirt???US strat, Fat Strat, Mexi Strat, Korean Strat, Strat 2, .....soon to be a WalMart Strat! what i heard.
olfunk,
i was just bs'ing.....all i was saying was the Squire played ok. I had it around for 15yrs, loaned it out to friends, kids, whatever...a beater guitar. recorded with it, played live with it... it was what it was.
it was probably only 7x's the cost.
When people played the Squire...
they didn't go "fhk!! this sucks bad!! it doesn't even feel like a guitar!! the neck keeps falling off!!!"
like a car, a toyota will get you to work, and so will a lexus...
but nowadays if someone says "hey I bought a Fender!"
i don't know what they really mean...a hat clip? a tuner? a T-shirt???US strat, Fat Strat, Mexi Strat, Korean Strat, Strat 2, .....soon to be a WalMart Strat! what i heard.
Y
Yareek
New member
Well, I'll toss my hat into the ring.
I have a Fender California strat. These are decent guitars with vintage style hardware and texmex pickups. I think they were a great value and they have held their value very well. Made in the U.S.A., sprayed in Mexico to avoid EPA regulations.
I will probably never buy another Fender again. Why? Well, their quality control is rising, but so is their price. $1000 for an American Strat is not a bargain. They use mediocre quality wood and decent hardware and electronics. Sure, it's a nice guitar, but not $1000 nice. Ten years ago, you could get an American Strat for $700. Granted, the QC and electronics were even worse, and they had swimming pool routs and other "invisible" cost savers, but they were more affordable.
If I were looking at a Strat or Tele style, I'd definitely look at G&L first. Their fit and finish are much better than your average Fender, their pickups sound better, and they are around the same price. My buddy had an S500 that knocked the socks off a Strat any day of the week (until it got stolen). He paid $1000 with a hardshell case, brand new.
Personally, I'd rather build the guitar. You can get Warmoth guitars that have much better wood and your choice of parts and pickups for hundreds less than a new Fender. And the quality of new companies like Schecter is providing some steep competition.
But if you must have a Fender, you must have a Fender.
I have a Fender California strat. These are decent guitars with vintage style hardware and texmex pickups. I think they were a great value and they have held their value very well. Made in the U.S.A., sprayed in Mexico to avoid EPA regulations.
I will probably never buy another Fender again. Why? Well, their quality control is rising, but so is their price. $1000 for an American Strat is not a bargain. They use mediocre quality wood and decent hardware and electronics. Sure, it's a nice guitar, but not $1000 nice. Ten years ago, you could get an American Strat for $700. Granted, the QC and electronics were even worse, and they had swimming pool routs and other "invisible" cost savers, but they were more affordable.
If I were looking at a Strat or Tele style, I'd definitely look at G&L first. Their fit and finish are much better than your average Fender, their pickups sound better, and they are around the same price. My buddy had an S500 that knocked the socks off a Strat any day of the week (until it got stolen). He paid $1000 with a hardshell case, brand new.
Personally, I'd rather build the guitar. You can get Warmoth guitars that have much better wood and your choice of parts and pickups for hundreds less than a new Fender. And the quality of new companies like Schecter is providing some steep competition.
But if you must have a Fender, you must have a Fender.
M
Mr.Lizard
New member
but nowadays if someone says "hey I bought a Fender!"
i don't know what they really mean...a hat clip? a tuner? a T-shirt???
Or maybe a replacement part for their car?? Sorry- couldn't stop myself....
i don't know what they really mean...a hat clip? a tuner? a T-shirt???
Or maybe a replacement part for their car?? Sorry- couldn't stop myself....