New Fender Standard Series Basses!

[cocco]

7 minutes ago, Sean said:

After they going to making Fender-branded instruments in China in 3-5 years?

 

 

There already are some, the modern player series was Chinese, basically the squier CV build with different pickups. 

Edited January 25 by cocco

[Sean]

14 minutes ago, cocco said:

There already are some, the modern player series was Chinese, basically the squier CV build with different pickups. 

As long as customers are aware, the rest is up to the brand/product managers.

[lemmywinks]

28 minutes ago, Sean said:

After they going to making Fender-branded instruments in China in 3-5 years?

 

 

 

 

Fender made guitars in China a while ago, also the old Lite Ash series (and a different line I can't remember the name of) were made in the Korean Cort factory about 20 years ago.

 

[AndyTravis]

1 minute ago, lemmywinks said:

 

 

Fender made guitars in China a while ago, also the old Lite Ash series (and a different line I can't remember the name of) were made in the Korean Cort factory about 20 years ago.

 

The Koa series too.

There was an Esquire GT

And some set neck showmasters and a HH tele.

 

In the same press release there was a set neck precision listed but it never materialised; I have seen one. Probably a prototype or something.

[Stub Mandrel]

There is some logic to overlapping series with budget Fenders being lowet spec than similarly priced Squiers.

 

This is pretty much what Gibson/Epiphone do, with some Epiphones definitely being premium instruments.

[Cato]

2 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

There is some logic to overlapping series with budget Fenders being lowet spec than similarly priced Squiers.

 

This is pretty much what Gibson/Epiphone do, with some Epiphones definitely being premium instruments.

 

I'm not sure how well that's going for them judging by the number of Epiphones that were originally listed at £1k+ that regularly turn up in the seasonal sales at places like Andertons with significant discounts.

 

People don't seem ready yet to pay that kind money for a brand that's been associated with affordable instruments for decades.

 

Maybe Fender have taken note and decided it's better to sell cheap Fenders than expensive Squiers.

[AndyTravis]

When I worked in a shop (A LONG LONG TIME AGO)

 

We’d easily upsell from Squier at £179 (Standard Strat) to a £329 Mexican Standard Strat - particularly white/maple…

 

The country of Manufacture hierarchy wasn’t a consideration for those customers - it was the “Fender” bit.

 

That’s the target audience…not us.

 

It was the same reason we had a wall of American G&L s500’s, Legacy’s and Comanche’s which we could not sell - Selling 30 American standard strats to 1 US G&L

 

”I know this one is better, I prefer it, but I told my band I was buying a Fender Strat…”

 

Brand power.

 

I also presume there are considerations now Mr Anti-Mexico is back at the helm…

 

I bet their manufacturing to wholesale margins are much more profitable using Indonesia too…

 

[Lozz196]

I think that’s a lot of it, many bassists/guitarists dream of finally owning their first actual Fender or Gibson. Makes sense to have an affordable starting point.
 

 

[Terry M.]

Yes brand power is very real. When I got my first ever Fender bass (Mexican 70s classic series) I thought I was floating on air for some reason...and Fender knows this happens so...

[PainInTheBass]

11 hours ago, mikebass456 said:

and only be available in a lurid orange colour that's not seen in nature

You mean the Mononeon Jazz bass pickguard with matching headstock type orange? I'd dig that. 😁

[Cato]

Just watched the first review I've seen of these that isn't a promo for a guitar shop.

 

He's reviewing a Strat but I suspect many of the review elements will hold true for the basses

 

 

Short version: No major build issues, but the initial set up isn't great. The reviewer points out that there are better specc'd Squiers in terms of pickups and that it doesn't feel any better than a Squier CV.

 

His conclusion seems to be that it's an OK guitar but there are better options in that narrow £500-600 band.

Edited Thursday at 13:57 by Cato

[lemmywinks]

I saw one comment the other day (think it ws Phillip McKnight's video) asking if instead of saying "Squier by Fender" on the back of the headstock these would have "Fender by Squier", made me chuckle.

[Terry M.]

36 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

I saw one comment the other day (think it ws Phillip McKnight's video) asking if instead of saying "Squier by Fender" on the back of the headstock these would have "Fender by Squier", made me chuckle.

Technically Fender by Cort 🤣

[Aidan63]

On 30/01/2025 at 14:37, Terry M. said:

Technically Fender by Cort 🤣

Looks like Precision made by Cort, Jazz made by Samick

 

I have 2 Squier Classic Vibe mustangs, one Cort, one Samick, the Cort is better imo, the Samick maybe looks better because of the colour and the racing stripes and is lighter

 

Phil McKnight has done reviews on both a Tele and a Strat, that particular Strat was very poor, Squier standard with a Fender badge, not CV quality

[Terry M.]

The latest Squier Affinty range of basses will shock some people. I nabbed an Affinty Active Jazz Bass V and can't see where the fit and finish is any worse than the Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass V that I used to own.In fact the gloss finish on the back of the CV neck really wasn't for me. I think these are being given away as no doubt many individuals see "Affinty" and assume the worst. Again I'm referring to the latest batch which includes a passive 6 string Jazz as well as an active 4 string Jazz in blue I think. They need to be tried before judgment is passed.

[neepheid]

9 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

They need to be tried before judgment is passed.

 

100% agree, and have thought this way for a long time - but it has never been truer these days. It's getting really difficult to eff up making solid body instruments.

[Terry M.]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

100% agree, and have thought this way for a long time - but it has never been truer these days. It's getting really difficult to eff up making solid body instruments.

You nailed it. It's frightening to see how marketing affects our decisions and subsequently our spending habits. 

[neepheid]

4 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

You nailed it. It's frightening to see how marketing affects our decisions and subsequently our spending habits. 

 

Indeed, the way some people bang on, you'd think I have the only good example of bass X in my hands right now.  So effing what?  I've got it, so sucks to be you

 

[Aidan63]

My Squier Telecaster Affinity, FSR Danish Pete version from Andertons from 2019 was/is fantastic, straight out of the box, £139, metallic purple finish, pickups do the job absolutely fine, neck stable, plays and sounds great still, another excellent instrument from Cort. Couldn't justify spending the extra £200 + on a CV in the same colour when they came along, though I think quite a few peeps sold their FSR at inflated prices when they ran out and a few fomo peeps were prepared to pay an extra £100+ for a used one, and did the trade up

[Stub Mandrel]

I'm greatly tempted by the CV bass vi.

[Cato]

9 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I'm greatly tempted by the CV bass vi.

 

I got one of the FSR purple ones from Andertons a couple of years ago, absolutely delighted with it.

 

I noticed the other day that Squier are doing a Tahitan Coral one for 2025

 

 

 

Although personally I think I'd go for either the Olive Green or Silver Sparkle if I was to get another one now.

[MacDaddy]

On 25/01/2025 at 10:44, mikebass456 said:

All Fender and Squier guitars will probably end up only being made in the USA, and only be available in a lurid orange colour that's not seen in nature........😆😆😆

 

 

You jest, but there is a signature model guitar 😖

 

https://gettrumpguitars.com/collections/president-donald-j-trump-signature-editions

 

 

[kwmlondon]

I watched the Philippine McKnight reviews on YouTube and he felt that the the Fender Standard Tele was okay for the money, basically a bit of a premium for the brand but probably not unreasonable at $499 though he’d personally go for a new Squier or used MIM at the price. The Strat, however, at $650 was poor value and not worth the money for the quality of the guitar. 

[mikebass456]

47 minutes ago, MacDaddy said:

 

 

You jest, but there is a signature model guitar 😖

 

https://gettrumpguitars.com/collections/president-donald-j-trump-signature-editions

 

 

Looks a quite convincing site - is it AI or BS? 🤔😆

[goonerjoe]

5 hours ago, mikebass456 said:

Looks a quite convincing site - is it AI or BS? 🤔😆

The guitar pickups are called "Maga 45' Trumpbuckers" I really hope it's real