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Originally Posted by BassilPesto  I ordered some of the cables from Meritline, so I'll report back when I see what they're like. If anyone ordered some of the strings, please do the same. |
I received my Fender Custom Shop Vintage Voltage 10ft tweed guitar cables today, eight days after I ordered them. They were shipped via USPS, from Meritline in California, not from China. (The web site said "shipped from China".)
The cables certainly appear to be genuine. They look more or less like my "Fender Custom Shop Instrument Cable" (not Vintage Voltage), but they're thinner. They're not nearly as flexible, but that may improve as they're used. The jacks are more plain-looking.
The packaging matches the old-style with black background. Each cable includes two velcro-like cable ties, as part of the packaging. The cardboard cards do seem a little old and maybe slightly yellowed. The back includes "Made in China" and a guarantee with "Effective Date: January 1, 2000".
One of the cables is "black and silver" color. I thought that really meant "black and light gray". But no, they mean "silver". Half the cable jacket is bright silver, like tinsel. Very flashy.
Really flashy.
The cables are still on sale for the same price, "Today $9.99". The web pages don't say "Vintage Voltage" any more, but that's what's pictured. I think they're OK for the money if you want tweed, but they're not a
great deal. The biggest drawback is their stiffness. Personally, next time I'd rather spend $5 -$10 more and get a standard (non-Vintage Voltage) Fender Custom Shop Tweed cable. They're much nicer.
For both styles of cable, the "stress relief" rubber tubing over the plug and cable is so stiff that it acts as a 4-inch lever. The stress is passed on to the jack. What's up with that? I may trim most of it off.
