CAB RANKLES
First things first, well done on providing an excellent magazine that I look forward to reading every month, as I have done for years now.
I want to ask your opinion on the current manufacturing standards at Fender USA. I have been a huge Fender fan for years and every Fender I have purchased through the years, all US-made, has been excellent. However, I recently purchased a new Ltd Edition USA Cabronita in Lake Placid Blue and it’s fantastic: the sound of the TV Jones pickups, the neck and the feel of the guitar are superb. So why do I have the feeling of being cheated?
If you were to look at the back of the guitar you would see that it’s made out of four pieces of alder. Now, I know this isn’t necessarily going to affect the tone of the guitar but I am astonished that they have done this under a clear poly finish for all to see. I could understand it if this was used under a solid colour, as you would not be any the wiser, but with a clear finish I am not sure.
I was always under the impression that US-made guitars were made with either three-piece or two-piece alder. I called Fender GBI and they explained that this is normal and it will use anything between three to five pieces of alder. This comment amazed me. So it’s a lottery. I have spent £1,550 on this guitar with a body built from four pieces of wood when someone else will spend exactly the same on this guitar and they will get three pieces of wood. I know that you may think I am nit-picking but it’s the principle of it. The standard should be exactly the same for all customers, not a gamble.
My point is that Fender should be upfront with its consumers, as this can be a real deal-breaker for some people. They also explained that the multi-piece construction is down to wood conservation – but I think it’s more down to saving money and they are using conservation to camouflage the truth.
I am starting to wonder what the difference is between USA- and Mexican-made guitars – and I am starting to doubt if it’s worth spending the extra on a supposedly better-quality USA-made guitar. When I purchased this guitar I just thought that, for some reason, all Ltd runs were made like this and that’s just how it is. But how wrong was I? I still love the guitar but this kind of thing is frustrating as Fender should be providing consistency on the construction of all its guitars and if they are not up for that then this should be explained loud and proud on the company’s website.
Gary Mclaren, via email
Gear editor Dave Burrluck replies: Hi Gary, we can understand your frustration but as far as we’re aware Fender doesn’t advertise the number of pieces used on its USA production guitars – that sort of detail is a part of the much more costly Custom Shop experience. Clearly, then, it’s up to the buyer and – if it bothers you – something you should check before you go ahead with a purchase.
If Fender’s manufacturing specification is to use between three and five pieces for the body then there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with your guitar. That said, we’d agree that possibly a dark translucent or opaque back/sides finish would have alleviated any concerns here.
To be honest, the fewer pieces of wood the better isn’t a proven thing in terms of sound, and Fender – like any large scale manufacturer – has to balance availability and cost of raw materials to hit the required price point. It’s a similar thing with weight: it doesn’t bother everyone, while others won’t touch a guitar if it’s outside of the weight range they prefer.
So, as ever, researching your purchase online or preferably in-store is key to finding the ‘right’ guitar. To be fair, yours looks like a cracker. Enjoy it!