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What makes a Fender, A Fender?

#21
well...

I thought about this many many times. and, maybe you're right: When the name Fender is on the Headstock, IT is a Fender.
BUT: I wouldn't say, that only Fender produces good Jazz or Precision Basses, there are many other Factories building J and P Basses, and if you call them copies, then a Fender USA, Japan, Mexico or China should be called a copy too! The last real Fenders have been buildt 1964! (guess, why they are so expensive??)

IMHO !!!!
 
#23
Drucocu said:
well...

I thought about this many many times. and, maybe you're right: When the name Fender is on the Headstock, IT is a Fender.
BUT: I wouldn't say, that only Fender produces good Jazz or Precision Basses, there are many other Factories building J and P Basses, and if you call them copies, then a Fender USA, Japan, Mexico or China should be called a copy too! The last real Fenders have been buildt 1964! (guess, why they are so expensive??)

IMHO !!!!
Click to expand...
I agree that some great copies have been produced over the years.


The copy's can't trace the ownership of their companies back to Leo Fenders original musical instrument company though. FMIC can, as can CBS era Fenders. The copies aren't part of the Fender brand family tree IMO.


... and yes... I DO own a "real" Fender. ;)
 
#30
savit260 said:
If it's got Fenders name on it, as applied to the instrument in the factory it was built , on an instrument produced by FMIC, or any previous incarnation of Fender Corporation, then it's a Fender IMO.
Click to expand...

Right. Otherwise any copy of the same basic designs would likewise be a "Fender" as opposed to a Squier, Lakland, SX, etc. version of the Strat, Tele, P or J, etc. But they're just the same basic design under another label.
 
#31
Drucocu said:
well...

I thought about this many many times. and, maybe you're right: When the name Fender is on the Headstock, IT is a Fender.
BUT: I wouldn't say, that only Fender produces good Jazz or Precision Basses, there are many other Factories building J and P Basses, and if you call them copies, then a Fender USA, Japan, Mexico or China should be called a copy too! The last real Fenders have been buildt 1964! (guess, why they are so expensive??)

IMHO !!!!
Click to expand...

Well sure, anyone can build a nice P or J bass, the name on the headstock is really all that can be argued here. Lakland builds great "Fender copies" but they aren't "Fenders."
 
#32
"A Fender" can be one of the following: 1) a guy, 2) a company, 3) a brand owned by that company, or 4) an instrument that is made by that company and that wears that brand.

So what is the OP asking?

Leo Fender owned a company called Fender. He sold it, and the company is still called Fender. Get over it. A MM and a G&L are not a Fender because Fender has nothing to do with those companies, they are competitors.

A parts bass with all Fender parts or Fender-licensed parts is not a Fender. A Fender bass with DiMarzio pickups or a non-stock Bad Ass bridge is a modified Fender. A repaired bass with a Fender neck or a Fender body and essentially all otherwise original stock Fender parts could be considered a hevily modified Fender. A MIM is a Fender, and so is a MIJ, and so is a MIK, because they were all made to the specifications of and according to the instructions of Fender corp, and Fender corp decided to brand them with the Fender brand.

A Squier is not a Fender, it is a Squier that is made by Fender corp. It doesn't matter whether the factory that made it is owned by Cort or whomever else, Fender corp told Cort or whomever else to do it, how to do it, and paid them to do it and to then put the Squier name on it. It also doesn't matter if Fender puts their name in fine print on the headstock under the Squier brand. Squier is a separate brand from the Fender brand, and yes, it too is owned by Fender corp.

Why do we continually ask questions like this? :confused:
 
#34
A Fender:

phat_daddy_fender_front.jpg
 
#36
Darkstrike said:
I'll just throw the 'ol +1 here.

And add that a Squier is a budget Fender, no more, no less.
That's what Squier are saying, its what Fender are saying, its what FMIC are saying, it is what is. Squier is a branch of Fender, not a seperate company, or brand.
Click to expand...

If that were true then what purpose is there in Fender's keeping the Squier name? They already have MIM Fenders as budget "Fenders" but they keep the Squier name to draw some sort of line; why?
 
#39
as someone mentioned in the other thread, it is a similar situation to automobile manufacturers. for example, ford motors currently owns volvo, a 1/3 interest in mazda, and recently sold land rover and jaguar. but no one would ever say that all future volvos made are 'ford volvos.' they are seperate brands owned by the same company. squier is OWNED by fender but is developed by seperate teams, manufactured in different facilities, etc. a squier could be considered a 'fender' in terms of the body shape, headstock, PUP configs being essentially identical. but many popular contemporary basses and guitars are essentially copies and refinements of the classic fender designs. thats why they are timeless.
 

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