skankdelvar

Let us examine the bare bones of Mr Daltrey's contention: * That the world is in a sh*t state * That mainstream popular music at one time raged against global sh*ttiness * That mainstream popular music [i]no longer[/i] rages against global sh*ttiness * An example of a 'popular, not raging against global sh*ttiness' musical ensemble is One Direction All pretty much true facts, them. By contrast the author of the opinion piece re-writes Mr Daltrey's contention, tangentially addressing the entirely unvoiced issue of whether there has been any 'good' music since 1974, instancing as a rebuttal: [i]New Wave, Grunge, Michael Jackson’s entire solo career, Radiohead, Pulp, Bjork, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, St Vincent, Prince[/i] I imagine that - in seeking inspiration - the op-ed author Ms Lindy West merely turned her head to scan the rows of compilation CD's stacked on her living room shelf before enumerating the quintessential list of 'music for girls of a homely appearance who don't really like music and who frequently spend their evenings sobbing into a Paddington Bear pillowcase'. The acid test is very simple: with whom would one prefer to spend an evening sinking a few beers and talking about music: i) Roger Daltrey - or (ii) Lindy West, op-ed writer for the Guardian? I think the answer is pretty clear.

Signed. The 17th century heritage angle is interesting - I didn't know about the rookeries. But having been up and down the wobbly, crooked (in more ways than one) staircase at the old 'Andy's Guitars' I can affirm the un-restored condition of at least one of the buildings. Mind you, there's some pretty average architecture further down towards Charing Cross Rd I doubt anyone might miss. Anyhow, it's a good cause.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1414697486' post='2592451'] Ah yes indeed, I see what you mean now. Whilst we're quite well-versed with their basses, we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. [/quote] Exactamundo! BassChat is probably the world's leading repository of [i]useful[/i] information about Fender basses. A certain other bass forum may go deeper into the subject but many observers believe that forum's usefulness to be compromised by other factors. And - in my view - FMIC's choke-hold on information surpasses regulatory requirements, bordering instead on the clandestine. For one thing, it's always been difficult to find out the names and backgrounds of Fender's management and FMIC's corporate officers. Juskiewicz (Gibson), Hall (RIC), Paul Reed Smith and Chris Martin (CF Martin) are household names in our world. But can any of us immediately name the top person at Fender Guitars? Or FMIC's CEO? The last one to put his face about was Bill Schulz and he's been dead for [i]years[/i].

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1414671713' post='2592028'] Surely we're the largest group of Fender users (for their bass products of course) in the UK? And from my experience of this forum, we have a wide-range of opinions. Also, judging by the quite-often-changing list of basses in people's signatures we've had a bit more than a little bit of window shopping and experience of just a few instruments. I can't honestly think of another group who would have had more experience of Fender bass products. [/quote] All of which is entirely true. As I said above, we might know our Fenders (basses) but we know next to nothing about the workings of the musical instrument industry and Fender, the company which puts those basses in our hands. For one thing, we seem unable to distinguish between three separate trading entities: Fender (the guitar and bass brand), the brand's parent corporation FMIC and the owners of FMIC who are yet another set of companies. Like I say, the current problems have little to do with the Fender brand and much to do with corporate shenanigans at FMIC and its former majority shareholder Western Presidio. Hence there's little point in us attributing blame to breadth of range, product features, sales of particular models and QC when the problems demonstrably exist at stratospheric corporate levels. In a way, it's a bit like blaming the global banking crisis on the confusing number of savings accounts available from the average high street bank.

Certain inconvenient facts emerge from the swirl of opinion: * Fender is the world's leading musical instrument brand with #1 market share in the USA for guitars, basses and amplifiers. FMIC turns over around $700m a year and - in terms of its core brand sales - is perfectly healthy. This at a time when other brands are disappearing or licensing their names to - er - Fender. * Fender's share of the guitar, bass and amplifier market has continued to grow since the introduction of the multi-model, multi-price point business model, even during the downturn in the musical instrument market dating from around 2011. This would suggest that the 'confusing number of models' has - in fact - been a highly successful business strategy. Buyers seem to like the idea of greater choice and have voted with their wallets. Events show that those who would have preferred the company to slash itself back to producing only expensive replicas of old designs in a few colours would have backed the wrong horse. * On annual sales, FMIC [i]as a whole[/i] is only marginally profitable due to faulty corporate strategy enacted by its owners. FMIC would probably have cleared its historic debt overhang with its IPO had the company not put too many of its eggs in the Guitar Centre basket (due to conflicting ownership interests) and not bought the massively over-valued Kaman corporation. There is no problem with the core Fender guitar and bass operation but rather with the implementation of FMIC Group sales and corporate acquisition strategies. * Fender (like the other great amp brand Marshall) has more or less vacated the bass amplifier market whereas sales of Fender guitar amplifiers have increased dramatically since the early 2000's. The multi-level, multi-price point model has worked well for the guitar amps though there remains a market gap between the Chinese imports and the 'low-end' Mexican and American products. * Published instances of recurrent or systemic Fender QC problems are vanishingly rare by comparison to Gibson and - only a few years ago - Rickenbacker. A cursory inspection of the numerous forums devoted to Fender and to specific Fender guitars (e.g. TDPRI) supplies proof - were it needed - that Fender guitars and basses are - on the whole - reliable products. The rumours swirling around FMIC have almost nothing to do with Fender brand guitars / basses / amps or the 'end-user experience'. We think we know what we're talking about. But the fact is that BC comprises a small, closed group of (mostly) hobbyists with narrow opinions based on little more than window-shopping and some experience of a few instruments over the years. We might 'know our Fenders' but we know next to nothing about the industry or the company which puts them in our hands. And - as recent IPSOS surveys have shown - what we [i]think[/i] we know about [i]anything[/i] is almost always wrong.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1414256352' post='2587629'] Anyone know what a Resinator fret board is? [/quote] A composite made from paper (or cellulose) and phenolic resin. Variations of this are 'ebanol' and 'Richlite', the latter being CF Martin's name for the stuff. Played a Richlite boarded Martin DRS1 on one occasion; it felt and sounded fine. Also read a review where a luthier refretted a Richlite board and said it was easier to work than 'real' wood.

[quote name='Oldman' timestamp='1414256803' post='2587640'] When did Eric die? [/quote] The referenced BBM of whom only Mr Baker survives was a short-lived combo comprising Messrs Bruce[sup][size=3][b]+[/b][/size][/sup], Baker and (Gary) Moore[sup][b]+[/b][/sup].

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1414165547' post='2586659'] In English, it's pronounced to rhyme with Hans or bans (c.f. 'sans serif font'). [/quote] Nice to see someone using cf. here on the forum. We don't get enough of that sort of stuff.

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1413884206' post='2583022'] For the record the band is a rock covers band playing material from the 70's onwards and are aged between 20 something (everyone else!) and a late 40 something (me!) [/quote] [quote name='blue' timestamp='1413926775' post='2583816'] No offense to the other band members , but for me, your the only one on stage that looks the part and is in the game. [/quote] And again - NOI to the others, Rik - but you're the only one [i]not[/i] staring at his fingerboard. Age brings the benefit of experience.

[quote name='monsterthompson' timestamp='1413831367' post='2582549'] Hartke aluminum? [/quote] Yep. Only bass cab I've ever had that drew 'admiring looks'. Only from drummers, mind. Well, just two drummers. So that doesn't really count, I suppose.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1413841829' post='2582761'] I'm still workin my 70s look. [/quote] Judging by the pics, I'm sure you cut quite a dash. Frankly, I would kill to be able to fit my pudgy form into gear like that and carry it off.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1413808499' post='2582096'] The filings (from 2012 at least) are here: [url="http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/fender-musical-instruments-corp-97528-69355?tab=financials"]http://www.nasdaq.co...?tab=financials[/url] The amount of debt is eye watering. The IPO was originally pulled because a number of investors thought the shares were over valued. [url="http://fortune.com/2012/07/20/why-fender-pulled-its-ipo/"]http://fortune.com/2...pulled-its-ipo/[/url] One source suggests the CEO of Fender previously sold Guitar Centre to a VC for 2.1 billion. That's just nuts. [url="http://voxcaliber.com/fender-in-financial-trouble/"]http://voxcaliber.co...ancial-trouble/[/url] It looks like a total mess. More background: [u][u][url="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/business/fender-aims-to-stay-plugged-in-amid-changing-music-trends.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0"]http://www.nytimes.c...wanted=all&_r=0[/url][/u][/u] [/quote] Outstanding desk research there, Kiwi. Each one of those is an illuminating read. Seems to me that Fender's new regime is trying to throw their oil-tanker into a U-turn. Years spent trying to build a chain end up with Fender $11m out of pocket to their biggest customer. Now what? Hey, it's time to rearrange the deck-chairs and change the strategy to brand-extension. Here's Bono! Buy Fender-branded cream cheese! 300 mins free per month on your Leo-phone [size=2](e&oe)[/size] If anyone wants to know why Fender are in trouble they need only click on the second [url="http://fortune.com/2012/07/20/why-fender-pulled-its-ipo/"]link[/url] from the top. [color=#ffffff].[/color]

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1413747345' post='2581545'] [/size] Goes back to my point about leadership, They've taken their eye off the ball and misjudged the market. [/quote] It's not just leadership within the company, though pressurising dealers, setting up a direct sales arm, making endorsement deals 'Fender Exclusive' when the artist is performing and letting some top people go from the custom shop are symptomatic of such. Many of Fender's travails lie outside the company and with its ownership. For example, did we know that VC Western Presidio at one time owned a majority of Fender and a large chunk of Guitar Center, the idea being to own both ends of the manufacturer / retailer chain? That Guitar Center has been in trouble for a while and owing money to Fender. That following the postponement of the Fender IPO a chastened WP sold out last year to TPG Growth and Servco, the two companies who now own the majority of Fender? Did we know that TPG and Servco believe that the future lies in internet sales and Fender-branded headphones; and that it was a friend of the CEO of one of the afore-mentioned VC's who brokered the deal to get Bono and Edge onto the board? Fact is, we've got a (sort of) repeat of the CBS situation. New spods on the block. Meetings behind closed doors. 'Stunt' board appointments. Newcomers who 'know best'. It will get worse before it gets better and it will have f**k-all to do with whether one can get a particular instrument in Candy Apple Red.

Some thoughts: Fender's lack of innovation: every time Gibson, Fender or RIC bring out something new everybody goes 'Squee! That's awful'. The buyers don't want innovation or we'd all be playing Gus's. Overseas build quality: I think we've pretty much nailed the 'US is best' thing. Between £500-1000 it isn't best. It's usually 'as good as'. American xenophobia about overseas products: Much less noticeable than it used to be and - anyway - it's usually about keeping jobs in their country which is the same as when we moan about call centres in Bombay. Lower quality components: 99% of us couldn't tell a Chinese pot from a US pot until we have to replace it. Woods - 90% of us can't hear the difference. Hardware - no better or worse than US made but might wear out a bit quicker. Fender - if they go tits up it won't be because of anything we complain about - breadth of range, etc. It will be because the market's contracting (surprise) and their corporate acquisition strategy has left them overstretched.

Voted for Vampire but Taranis was my close second choice so it's all good. FWIW, Vampire made me think of an early British jet fighter . [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1413717321' post='2581083'] You can tell a bunch of blokes thought of all those names.. All a bit corny. [/quote] Seeing as it'll be a bunch of blokes using the amp that's probably a good thing. I suppose [i]you'd[/i] have named it the MJW Lilac Bouquet, ya big poncey metrosexual.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1413642068' post='2580461'] Is he the 'chase me' fellow? [/quote] [size=3][b]Norvelle[/b]: Fender Top Honcho[/size] [size=3][/size] [size=3][b]Norvell[/b]: Heterosexual comedian posing as stereotypical camp guy[/size]

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1413635359' post='2580371'] Like the Pawnshop range? What the hell was that all about? [/quote] I suspect the Pawnshop range was Mr Justin Norvell bringing some of his trademark 'wackiness' across from his tenure at Squier. There wasn't / isn't much in the Pawnshop line that appealed to me but I suppose it was an attempt to get away from 'another Strat, another Tele' without losing the headstock / offset DC design cues. Same with the PS guitar amps; ditch the black tolex boxes and try something a bit garish. That said, re-booting the Squier '51 and Super-Sonics as PS guitars at about three times the Squier price was an unwise move. I like the amps, though. Under normal circs I might have snagged an Excelsior by now. In any event, it looks like I'll be denied the chance of a Squier Electric Xii RI. [size=3][b]'No Smurf-Hats for 2015'[/b]: Ongoing dismay [/size]

What people have said about keeping it and getting a decent set-up by a reputable luthier. That.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1413554008' post='2579490'] [/quote] Is that Steve Cropper stood next to you, Stu? Looks a bit like him.

Storm clouds have been hovering over Fender (FMIC) for some years now. It was not long ago that their IPO was pulled in the face of some uncertainty. It is also rumoured that FMIC is carrying debt running into the hundreds of millions. Add to this back-story recent developments in governance (Bono, Edge, bloke from 'Beats' to board), the relative invisibility of Fender's corporate officers, a declining world guitar market and a plethora of marginally different products. We might also note that FMIC is not a self-owned company but operates at the behest of various investors, some being of the venture capital variety notorious for their short attention span. I suspect we may hear depressing news in the future. Time, perhaps, to lay in a hoard of 2015 Fenders.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1413539287' post='2579230'] I'm just surprised at the dearth of sympathy on display [/quote] I'm not. Level 42 > Mark King > BC's Most Hated > Lack of sympathy. If she'd come here to see Rush these pages would be simultaneously awash with lachrymose bleating and ablaze with righteous rage; this combination resulting in a sort of damp, smokiness, rather as an autumn bonfire pervades the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. With this in mind, here are some filling and satisfying recipes for when the nights draw in - [url="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/top-20-autumn"]Top 20 autumn recipes - BBC Good Food[/url]

As mentioned above, Mr Bono has issued a statement: "A drop of megalomania, a touch of generosity, a dash of self-promotion and a deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn't be heard' said the bulkening frontman, peeling an onion and holding it to his nose "There's a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it," he said with uncharacteristic humility. Tears rolled down Mr Bono's crinkly face as he embarked on an extended mea culpa: 'I'm sorry if I ever made anyone jump all those times I clapped my hands. I also deeply regret taking a directorial position on the board at Fender. Apart from my suggestion for scented microphones, I can't think what else I can bring to the mix. I humbly apologise for signing off on the Adam Clayton bass which is basically just any old Jazz off the line with a printed signature on the back. Or the front. I can't remember. ' Drawing a deep, shuddering sigh Mr Vox continued: 'Truthfully, my entire life has been a complete waste of time; hubris and self-deception have been woven into every thread of my pathetic existence. I shall be addressing these issues in my forthcoming solo album, this to be produced by Mr Daniel Lanois, featuring a stellar cast of 'World Musicians' and including a duet with Mr Robert Plant. 'Let no one say I am irrelevant!' Mr Bono thundered, his eyeballs pressing dangerously against the inner surface of his trademark wraparound shades.

This is quite one of the [i]jolliest[/i] gear-share / charridee rant threads I've read. Full marks to the OP for maintaining his wry equanimity in the face of grievous provocation.

Pete Only just spotted this. I can't add anything new to the kind posts above except to wish you all the [i]very[/i] best. Cheers Paul