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Is there something wrong with me, or is there something wrong with Fender?

#81
seungkoo said:
I went to guitar center the other day and within 10 minutes of me being there couple older guys came in and bought guitars that were $2000-4000 range without even trying it out for no more than 5 minutes. It is a more affluent neighborhood in northern va but still there are people who dont go on online forums to do research and find the best deals out there. For them its just easier to spend that money at a big store.
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That's kinda judgey, no? You don't know if those older guys had been in there before trying out the gear that you saw them buy that day, and you don't know whether or not they did their research, online or otherwise.
 
#82
angrypanda said:
No one at Guitar Center can change string let alone set up an instrument . Here in Connecticut they just take everything out of the boxes and throw it on the floor, and half the instruments are missing knobs because people steel them. Oh yeah, they blast hip hop so loud you can't even hear yourself think!
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You seem to have an issue with Guitar Center (understatement alert). I'm in Connecticut and the folks I've dealt with in the Orange and Manchester stores are knowledgeable and helpful, if a bit overextended when its busy (like weekends and after 5pm). Most of their floor staff are musicians and know the gear they sell, and their in-store techs DO know how to set up an instrument. I've bought several instruments there and they were very happy to make any adjustments I requested for stuff I purchased before I left the store. And what exactly do you expect GC to do about thieves stealing knobs? Their security is already tight and its near impossible to stop all small item thievery. I don't know what set up work they do or don't do for new items - do you know or are you just speculating/flaming because you don't like the place?

As other people have stated, those stores are busy places and every wannabe player likes to use and abuse the wall candy.



Please
 
#83
cchorney said:
You seem to have an issue with Guitar Center (understatement alert). I'm in Connecticut and the folks I've dealt with in the Orange and Manchester stores are knowledgeable and helpful, if a bit overextended when its busy (like weekends and after 5pm). Most of their floor staff are musicians and know the gear they sell, and their in-store techs DO know how to set up an instrument. I've bought several instruments there and they were very happy to make any adjustments I requested for stuff I purchased before I left the store. And what exactly do you expect GC to do about thieves stealing knobs? Their security is already tight and its near impossible to stop all small item thievery. I don't know what set up work they do or don't do for new items - do you know or are you just speculating/flaming because you don't like the place?

As other people have stated, those stores are busy places and every wannabe player likes to use and abuse the wall candy.



Please
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"That"
 
#84
nocontrols said:
I disagree that the quality of Fenders lately is down. I'm just not seeing it.

But if you're also seeing that the quality of CV and VM series is outstanding (which it is) then what's the complaint? You're getting a great bass that will make you happy for less money... were you hoping to pay more?
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One of the most reasonable posts of the thread.

I own/have owned many MIAs, MIMs, and a Squier CV 50s P.

I will admit that the recent runs of stepped-up Squiers are remarkably good for the money.

But to use that as a podium for bashing the rest of the Fender line...that's a tough sell. If MIM and MIA Fenders had QC issues, they predate and are completely independant of the quality of contemporary Squiers IMHO.

And I still maintain that a bass that has been neglected, as they are in most music stores I frequent, can not possibly give a good representation of the model or brand.

I believe a lot of contemporary Squiers come out of the box more playable than a lot of MIMs and MIAs. Fender-Squier is not stupid. They know at this price point they can make a killing if they just spend a few extra minutes of setup time on each bass in the factory.
 
#87
I used to think that a person could prefer one brand of basses over another but after reading TB for over a decade now I have realized that I was wrong. There is FENDER! and then there is vast nothingness. Sure there are things that look, sound, and function similarly to FENDER!s but they are mere shadows in what is FENDER! Squiers look very much like FENDER!s, they even have FENDER! written on them, but they are not real FENDER!s. I have personally played over 165 thousand FENDER!s and they have all played awesome and had that FENDER! sound. I used to live on the street until I played my first FENDER! The potus was visiting town at the time and he heard that FENDER! sound and immediately offered me a job as a secret service agent just so I could be near him and he could hear more of that FENDER! sound! Shortly there after there was an assassination attempt right smack dab in the middle of my FENDER! slap solo. The FENDER! jumped in the line of fire dragging me with it (since it was strapped to me). The potus was saved but I thought for sure I had been shot but much to my surprise I had nary a scratch. "OH NO!" I thought "My FENDER! bass is dead! It gave it's life for mine and the potus! OH no! Boo Hoo!" Well I underestimated the power of FENDER! There wasn't even a scratch on it and it was still in tune!:eek: It just stood up, dusted it's self off, and slapped a funky one on itself! :eek: After you go through something like that you don't ever question the awe that is FENDER! :bassist:
 

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#89
Happy to own and play BOTH..... Fender 4 string aerodyne J and squier 5 string P (the old one with the j p'ups) both work very well, sound great and when you throw on some DR's (thats right DR's people, take note the cheap plug for DR) and set'm up right then your away larfin. My only pref to it all is id rather buy MIJ over US stuff its cheaper and to me feels better BUT one comes up at a good price ill take it................
Just needs DR's
 
#90
I had an interesting GC experience recently. I'd been lusting after the Squier CV P and J basses and wanted to give 'em a little test drive. I was not there at all to test MIA or MIM Fenders.

There was a tech set up just outside the door of the little bass room. He could reach out and grab 70% of the basses there without stretching! Not that he did!

The CV P was lovely (GAS!), great neck, great set up, great sound.
The J was a totally different story! The feel was good, and it's obviously a very well put together instrument - except that the tuner for the A string was rattling like a snake's tail. The tech didn't even notice... The 'other' tech station was busy setting up all the PRS guitars, so I think basses are not high on their agenda. However, the tech by the basses was oblivious. Surely even the floor salesman who put it on the wall would have noticed. It's not like it was a hidden glitch. One note made the thing buzz and rattle. The bass was (kinda) in tune, so I'm sure it didn't just go box to wall. Maybe it did!

I did pull a couple of MIA Ps down to compare, and they were very well made too, but the neck shape is a little different, and I prefer the feel of the CV Squier (YMMV). The MIA basses had not been set up at all (or even tuned). They were just box-to-wall. I do feel that Fender could spend just a minute or two longer on getting the basses closer to set up before they box them. I believe that is the main difference between Squier and Fender. Not so much quality, but the service and care taken at the factory.

GC seemed to not care about the set up. Fender didn't seem to care much either. Squier seemed to care!

Just 2 cents worth.
 
#91
nocontrols said:
Don't argue a good thing! You're about to save some money, fella! :D

Also, I would have hated to be your sales rep cause OVER 20 is a hell of a lot of basses. I hope you do buy something for all that trouble.
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Actually, not a single employee came up to me the entire time I was there, and it wasn't that busy! Honestly, that's fine with me, because they usually don't know anything anyway at this particular GC. Every time I go there, I ask about Laklands just just to see the look on their faces when they have no clue what a Lakland is. I did the same thing yesterday on my way out, and the guy just looked at me with a blank stare until I repeated the question, and then he just shook his head and told me what I saw was what they had. :eyebrow:
 
#93
lucas vigor said:
I think they have almost always done a good job, especially since the move to Corona.

My 96 MIA P bass will blow any Squire right out of the water. Man, these "Squire/SX are better then MIA" threads are getting real old.

Squires are cheaply made, and cheaply assembled. They are bargain basses great for beginners, modders or people on a budget.

The first thing that struck me about this millionth anti-fender thread is what the OP says:

"I had some extra time today so I decided to go to the local GC "and:


"and was completely lacking in what I really wanted to play, Laklands and MTDs."


So he went to a music store notorius for having dead, old strings and no set-ups, and then admitted he is into Laklands and MTDs, thus revealing a bias.
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I missed this post before...

A bias towards Lakland or MTD is irrelevant in this case, because I was comparing the different types of Fenders with each other, not to any other brand.

And honestly, I've never had a chance to play an American Lakland so I couldn't compare them to anything anyway. :)
 
#95
all the Fenders i received new*in*box were set-up & tuned! so i understand why GC doesn't really bother.

on the other hand, i've played Fenders there that looked and played like some novice tried and failed at a set-up. the CS Jaco i played had a 1/4" gap between the strings and FB. the set-screws were torqued half way through the saddles,.... FTW (reversed).
 
#96
lonote said:
I can't figure out why every time some folks walk into a GC, they feel obligated to complain about the perceived quality control problems with Fender basses. If you don't like them, don't buy them...it is as simple as that. If you go to the grocery store and notice some over-ripe tomatoes, do you buy them? Of course not. Do you talk to the produce manager and try to wangle a discount? Of course not. Do you run home and post on TalkTomato.com? I hope not. I hope you carry on with your life. Life is too short to get your undies in a twist about Fender fret sprout or GC set-ups.
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It's funny how several people have assumed I am in the market to buy, when I've never said that. I just like playing as many basses as I can. For me, it's like a fan of paintings going to an art museum. If I was fanatical about art and I waited years to see a certain Picasso in person only to find that when I finally saw it up close, the colors weren't as vivid as I had expected, I would be a little disappointed.

Fenders have been used in so many recordings with such beautiful results over the decades--recordings that have been with us through good times and bad, rich times and poor--and I just hoped that I'd feel a little of that magic when I played the high-end MIAs hanging high on the wall in all their glory.

As I've mentioned before in here, that EBMM with the roasted neck did provide that hoped-for WOW feeling when I picked it up. It felt like it was in another league. I will still continue my search for a Fender that does the same thing, because that WOW feeling is better than many drugs. :p
 

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