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 Saturday at 19:46 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. 😁