it's a squier affinity with a fender badge on it basically. I hate to see fender fail, but I'm glad there are lots of other great guitar brands out there... that are selling quality guitars at fair prices..
Some expert said on his YT channel that it doesn't have a narrow nut so that proves it's not a Squire, but the Affinity is the only Squire that had the narrow nut since around late 90s or 2000. Don't know if it still has.
The new Fender Standards are coming from two different factories in Indonesia. “ISF” is not Cort. ISF is “Indonesia Samick Fender”. Both the Teles & HSS Strats are being made by Samick. Cor-Tek is making the SSS Strat with ICF prefix. ICF is “Indonesia Cor-Tek Fender”. It’s the same two factories that currently make the Classic Vibes using their Squier prefixes (ISS/Indo Samick Squier & ICS/Indo Cort Squier).
I saw a review of one that didn't have the walnut thing for the truss rod. Wonder if that differs between the 2 factories then? Cause if I remember correctly that was one of the things that differed between these new "Fenders" and a Squire.
@@sirtogii5216 I saw that too but I don’t think so. The Fender site shows the Standards with wood inserts from both factories. Either way that’s not anything different than the Classic Vibes. Classic Vibes from both Samick & Cort Indonesia have had the wood plugs around the truss rod area since 2019.
@@sirtogii5216The one in that review with the black plastic plug seems to be very unusual. I have no explanation for that one. Every other review of the Standards I’ve seen from both factories Cort & Samick Indonesia have had the wood plugs & they’re all shown as having the wood plugs on Fender’s site.
@@ericb7799 Makes sense and I thought so. Wonder what the hell happened to the dude who got a plastic insert instead. As far as I could tell the guitar was 100% legit, ordered from a reputable seller. Odd how that slipped through the net.
I have one of the new Schecter standards. Mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, and roasted maple neck for $400. I pulled it off the wall yesterday after not touching it for a week and it was 100% still in tune. Love this guitar.
Sorry for being late to the party. But this episode must be one of the best. So many great questions and you explaining it so well. Learned so much about pickups, amps and brand value etc etc Thanks Phil you are the best ❤️
Here's the thing- I'm going along looking at 500-700 dollar guitars- you see Sire and you're shocked at the features and the materials you get for the price, you look at Yamaha and again, shocked at the features you get, the materials used, and the reviews ppl are giving them versus the price- but the Fenders- there is nothing special about them, there are no surprising features, the materials are nothing special, the pickups are nothing special, it's obvious that they thought their name was enough- and at least for me, it's not. Now for others- apparently it is, or Fender wouldn't have launched this line. Hey- I guess you could change the pups and change the tuners and stuff and make it into something nice- and it's already got the Fender name on it so- maybe that's what ppl will do with them.
Between Sire and AIO, I would not buy a new Fender right now. Between Firefly and Harley Benton, I would not buy a new Squier right now. New Fender is not for people doing research and making logical decisions right now. It's for the "I want to be John Mayer/Clapton/SRV" people.
@@mysteryshrimp Facts. I have a great MIM strat nearly 30 years old and its had a secure spot on my rack since day1 though my USA is a better for classic tones. My tele is a Harley Benton because I didn't want to be into an MIM tele for $500 and actually prefer the flatter radius of the fretboard and its alnico p/up fool a lot of people thinking I upgraded.
Yes, because Eric has a 50s strat that his signature guitar is based on that was made by Leo out of sassafras Fender used some strange woods in the early 50s. Probably bargain bin purchases that people think is magic wood now
Phil, Eric Johnson's Virginia Strat had a sassafras body as did all of the Fender Virginia signature Strats. If you buy a sassafras body blank expect to pay nearly double what you would for an alder body. BTW, I had a G&L ASAT Tribute with ash body and the USA pickups - it was an amazing guitar, and one of the best Teles I've had
I think you forget workmanship and QC (i.e. labor). Many reviews approve of the material and specs but recommend or even find requirement for some hour(s) of luthier skills, setting you back about 70 quid for most buyers (not to mention the cost of decent tools).
Fender as a brand needs to stay in mexico, if they are made elsewhere, then it will just devalue it, especially if its cheaper to make. Country of origins is more important. A lot of the older fenders and squiers made in Japan or Korea go for alot on the used market, but they are also better quality built. So materials are so important if they are lower priced, once they get over 500 bucks, then its needs higher specs.
Craziest part is I don’t want to buy Fender guitars anymore. So many other manufacturers have a version of a strat or tele. Also better versions. Don’t care where it’s made as long as it plays well.
I’m curious if people are moving away from brand loyalty, especially since a brand doesn’t mean much anymore, with regards to where a thing is made or what it’s made of, and who actually manufactured the thing
@@honkytonkinson9787 I was in the market for a high end tele, played some CS fender , k line(was awesome) lsl, and some others , I picked up a modern vintage mvt-64, never heard of them, made in Korea in a 4 man shop for elrick bass in Chicago side brand I was told, it was the one that blew me away, was 2700cad, I had to fight with myself to get it because I was conditioned to think I was better off with the other brands at almost double the price because " CS or USA boutique" nonsense and I ha to spend 5 grand to get the one I wanted most, the modern vintage had unbelievable sustain in a tele, such a tight build, the super thin finish double bound and bound roasted subtle flame neck with beautiful slab dark rosewood..it's my everyday favorite guitar out of all the others I have, I went with my gut and never owned a better guitar then that one, i recently found the Luther in Korea who is a guy named Gilmour Choi, I will never shop by brand again, I love how others are perplexed by what I'm playing on, and when other players pick it up and are amazed how loud and resonate it is unplugged
I signed up for the Tim Pierce deal as a beginner. I’ve found it to be the most enjoyable and well structured course I’ve tried so far. Only a few weeks in, but definitely recommend. Tim has a very gentle and likeable temperament.
1:06:30 My wife is a lip reader, she said at this point in the video Phillip is saying "also it's important to mention that these guitars are available left handed at no extra cost" Which surprised me as usually he totally ignores lefties..... :o)
Nice! I love turquoise / teal on guitars. I have a turquoise Gretsch Electromatic Double Jet. That finish lookss great on the S-type body. Makes me want one. 😍😂
I love my Eastmans and just added the new SB54/TV to my collection and it’s fantastic! Can’t wait to try one of the new Fullertone models. They look great and I love Tonerider pickups. I think they will sell a ton of them.
Sassafras on a G&L Tribute is most probably Tasmanian sassafras, which weighs roughly like mahogany (on average 20% heavier than alder), doesn't look the part but is considerably more resonant. Btw G&L (US made or import) pickups use "MFD technology" which traditionally is based on ceramic magnets. Decades of Bill Schultz's marketing had the people believe that ceramic pickups are crappy; well they are not, they are just different. G&L's are good guitars.
Have to agree with you completely Phil. They had to compete at this price point. But this was a dissapointing lack of trying considering the heavy hitters at this level. The other players are swinging for the fence. Fender bunted.
I’ve been trying to figure out the problem with this new standard Fender range since they came out and you hit the nail on the head Phil! They just did not try at all with those guitars! Especially comparing it to a brand that REALLY tries like PRS with their range starting at $499 for an intentionally designed, beautifully worked guitar that is gig ready and arguably a lifetime guitar for some, it’s almost a bad joke from Fender that they just slapped their logo on the most basically spec’d guitar ever. Not to mention that here in Australia the difference between the standard range and player II range is so little it’s barely a difference in price it really boggles the mind!
I'm equally underwhelmed by this new "Fender Standard" line but disagree that there is minimal difference between them and the Player series. All of the Player series guitars are very nice guitars. Maybe Australia gets all the factory seconds...
You can pick up used MIM Fenders here in Germany between €500 and €800 depending on the spec. But "basic" Player Teles and Strats can be had for even as low as €350 MIM.
@ Back in early 2020 I bought a new Player Plus Top aged cherry HSS strat from Guitar Center for $651 Euros. It's MSRP was $780 Euros. It was during the covid lockdown so I guess they were trying to move stock. It was made in late 2019 so it was made pre-covid. On Reverb they are going from $410 Euros to $700 Euros. The one at $700 Euros was identical to mine so I guess my guitar is at least holding it's value. I'm an intermediate player so it's perfect for me. I love it.
Phil nailed it; with respect to passive standard HBs, it’s PAF, JB, Super Distortion. Virtually everything else is a variation on those themes in some way. There are plenty other I love, but those are the typical reference tones when explaining pickups to my less nerdy friends lol
It was only a matter of time till Fender slapped their logo on a Squier headstock. On a positive note, they validated every Squier player whose ever said, "It's as good as any Fender," Your wife sounds like an amazing partner, congrats. You now need to do a mini-series called, "My Crazy Guitars". I mean, you did them up. The best concise and most explanation of active pups I've ever encountered. The "brand" analogy is brilliant.
G&Ls are fantastic. I have a Tele Tribute and it's really great- the pickups are fabulous, excellent tuners, just solid quality materials and build all around. Incredibly heavy though- heavier than my 1969 Les Paul which is a boat anchor. That Pearson is extremely interesting, I love the look also.
You're exactly right about fender missing the mark with the Standard. Like you said and I own a prs se, it's a great guitar. I own a L3 sire, it's like a jr. It plays as good as a Gibson. Fender should have really gave us something cool.
I’ve always liked Fender, but they make some goofy decisions. I recently decided to give G&L a try and picked up a Fullerton ASAT. Fell in love instantly! My next guitar (that I certainly don’t need) will be another G&L, no question. Gassing hard for a Fallout and Comanche…
You might consider checking out the Acoustasonic Standard guitars. The acoustic tone (full clockwise) is unique because it leverages both the magnetic pickup and the undersaddle piezo, playing to the strengths of each and overlapping them through most of the spectrum to create a more dimensional tone. You can strum hard without the highs becoming splashy or harsh.
I feel the best value all things considered; wood hardware playability sound made in Mexico Fenders are top of the food chain. I don't want a made in Indonesia guitar. Under the skin matters to me. I firmly believe in buying the best guitar you can because it will inspire you to play better.
Like ash really. What I wonder is if guitars made of sassafras are that tree wood or from other woods also called sassafras (like the various Australian trees).
I love the comfort zone segment. It is an interesting topic. It’s wrapped up in one’s hopes and dreams isn’t it? For me I have been skeptical of every new price tier as I have approached it, but then I’ve had those amazing moments where you say, Oh wow this is what you get for the money., I get it, it’s worth it.
My favorite pickups are the JB and the Dirty Fingers. But close second is EMG H4, together with Bareknuckle Holydiver and DiMarzio Super Distortion. The Alternative 8 is another pickup I really like.
in my 40 years of playing i have owned dozens of fender amps, guitars i came to the realization a couple years back that their products have failed me, amps all failed, guitars really arent that good compared to my suhr, duesenberg, gretsch
My two main guitars for a DECADE were two 1987 Made in Japan Fender Hardtail Strats. I found them in the early 90's for about $300 US each. Now, I put humbuckers in the bridge, but those guitars were indestructible. I also had a 1990 Japanese Standard Strat that I bought new. I feel like they were built incredibly well. The hardtails were on every gig and recording for 10 years, until I started to gravitate towards Les Pauls. I ended up selling them when times got hard, which sucks because you can't find them now. That being said, I have owned several Mexican Strats, and I have not kept a single one. They just are not the same to my hands. The best non-US Fender I owned was a Squier Vintage Modified Tele Custom II (P90's). I believe it was made in China. That guitar was also built incredibly well - not a single issue.
Personally the Fender logo doesn't mean that much to me. Especially when their higher end Squier lines (Classic Vibe, Contemporary, Paranormal) are a better deal than the new Standard line. Especially the Contemporary and Paranormal lines, something different than the same ol' Fender Tele or Strat or Jazzmaster. My black Squier Contemporary Strat Special plays great and the pickups sound good to my ears. Plus I think it looks cool, which always makes the guitar special.
I have a Squier Contemporary HT Strat and Telecaster RH and the necks are amazing, the pickups excellent, split tuners easy to use, alnico pickups sound great, and in general the electronics are solid.
The very first G&L ASAT you showed is the same I bought last year out of a whim after testing it in a shop. Let me tell you, it is a frigging banger. The fretboard needed a good rehydration, but the frets were all in place, no buzz or sprout. The neck profile is comfy, it stays in tune perfectly and the paintjob is spotless. The pickups are hot, but not noisy, they are kinda of more refined P90s. It punches well above its weight, i'd put it on par with a Player Plus. It has nothing to do with the disappointment from Fender you showed in the last videos.
I have a P90 ASAT Tribute B-stock that I picked up for about £300, and yeah it's great. The only thing wrong with it was that the nut wasn't cut deep enough. But it's the sort of guitar that you pick up and hold and it just "feels" quality, if that makes sense.
Just a quick hot take - the Standard series fenders remind me of the first MIM - the Fender "Squier Series" and "standard series" with the black logos (people used to scrape the squier part off the logo. Fundementaly good instruments with crappy hardware and pickups.
It may have the wrong hardware and electronics. However an expensive $2000 Strat can also have the wrong hardware and electronics too if you don’t agree with their choice of tremolo bridge, pickups and tuners and plan to mod everything like how Jeff Beck did with his USA made Strats.
@@ramencurry6672 And so basically its a Squier Affinity with a £300 up charge for putting a fender logo on it. A Squier Classic Vibe is over £100 less and better specced out of the box.
@@ramencurry6672 but you can pick up the Squier "The Strat" that came in its thousands as part of a package with an amp for peanuts - full size body, I used to have one.
Just for your information, I have bought a thinline Fender tele with p90s , we had to change the pots, new bridge & machine heads by GOTO its now my favourite guitar! I also have an AZ indonesian made Ibinez with the Semour duncan pickups which is geogeous. I own custom shop tele and a Dan Smith 80 strat but the Chinese thinline is fantastic.
For the 80's style guitar, you could try kiesel Aries bolt they have one with pick guard, a little pricey, but nice neck, they always have sale's going on..I own the Ibanez Genesis , I really like the guitar, it is thin ,but comfortable..
I’m a hard core Suhr fan now, I know the price is high but the quality is beyond anything I ever played, I have 4 now one T style one modern Floyd, classic S and a S pro all serve a purpose on my band, they’re amazing all second hand and I do put some work but well worth it. I got rid of a bunch of gear and only keeping my PRS and Gibson along with my Suhr
Hi Phil. Enjoyed the episode. Sassafras I believe was used in Fender 58 Strats. Carolinian species. We have many around the house. If I’m not mistaken, the Eric Johnson Strat has a Sassafras body. The root of the tree was used to make the original root beer. Interesting take on the new Fender Standard. That May explained why they stopped making the Squier Contemporary Telecaster last summer but apparently are planning to reintroduce it in 2026. Thoughts?
Crazy Guitars: I play in ensembles and jam sessions with my G&Ls and my Inport Hamer from the 90s. Have a Guild Semi Hollow that I like but don't play as often as I should. Nothing that looks fancy on the stand but I trust them to deliver.
G&L pickups are generally ceramic magnet with a low wire count so on paper specs are cheap but work well. Not sure why Z coils are not more popular as they buck the hum and can get close to several other types of sound by tweaking the tone controls.
They’ll be under $500 next Black Friday and they have Fender on the headstock. They’ll sell a boatload of these. Maybe they’ll get a little better over time but there isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with them. They just aren’t “special” in any way.
Issue is that it needs a loaded pickguard, so thats 100 bucks on top of the guitar purchase price. The materials of the guitar arent really as attractive as a more sought after fender. There's plenty of used squier standards with better specs, if the headstock logo doesn't matter. They might sell well if they were on sale, but there resale value will be barely above a squier cv, if not lower. Depends on what the player series goes for, due to the tariffs and if they become harder to find at lower prices.
What its made out of is Easily more important that Where its made imho, that being said, pickups must be the literal easiest thing to clone or copy at a cheaper price. In fact I believe the price of name brand pickups are Extremely inflated.
@@michaelstanley5215 Yes and no. I wouldn't recommend using a a guitar loaded with single coils for technical death metal though. Scale length and pickups matter (scale length less so, unless you are drop tuning below C standard).
Lots of options, I would recommend something with 2 high output humbuckers, a fixed bridge and 22 or 24 frets. Ibanez, Schecter, jackson, charvel probably make dozens of options between them that fits the brief.
Working in the cabinet making business per say I did use sassafras at one point and if I remember correctly it was fairly hard lumber like maple even mulberry. Woodworkers?
I always enjoy your videos. I picked up the PRS SE CE 24 on sale for $559 a year ago (same as the satin with a maple top) and it is a fantastic gig worthy guitar, plus it has a really nice gig bag, for less that the new Fender Standard. Why not make a guitar at least as good as the Squier Classic Vibe and just slap a Fender logo and charge $150 more rather than make an Affinity quality Fender?
The real question is why buy a Fender when every single manufacturer out there has a better strat for the same or less money? They’re stuck in the past
You need to compare the Fender Special against the Squier Classic Vibe. They already have alnico pickups to the Fender design. And also made in Indonesia. (At least my Squier Jazzmaster Ckassic Vibe 60s os)
I bought a Pacifica in 2018 for $225. It was built in Indochina. Since then I have purchased three PRS guitars, each for three times that money. I have returned two. Neither could match the Pacifica in terms of quality. I kept one because it is a hollowbody, gives me a different tone than my Pacifica, and the price was one half the advertised price on Sweetwater. But I have to keep the PRS in a case and the case wrapped in a cotton mattress topper to keep it in tune and the neck correct. I agree with Phil. The new Fenders are simply Cor-Tek Indonesia guitars, in nearly all respect like my two hundred dollar Pacifica. A word of warning, the current Pacifica models being produced fall far short of the one I bought in 2018. I was shocked when I discovered the difference.
When I buy a guitar, I just want it to be good. I want to love the way it plays and sounds, I want it to inspire me. I would like to love the way it looks, though that's secondary. I really, really do not care to know where it came from or what country produced it, as long as it gives me what I want when I play it. That's all...
I don't like the new Standard line but I also realize MIM is not an option anymore in the ways it was when Fender invested heavily in their operation south of our border. The more I process it woods are fine I am sure they are using quality and nothing wrong with poplar or laurel. But that combined with a plain set of specs and cheap looking logo mean its more $499 or maybe $529 retail. The pickups have some vibe and they can always offer a Standard Plus with alnico and 22 frets. Its not a fail to me as much as a poorly priced downgrade that makes buyers feel they are giving up too much in the deal
Fully agree. As a long time Fender fan, these standard series guitars are a disappointment at this price point. Especially when the Squier Classic Vibe & MIM Fender’s are not far off from this price point.
My last two purchases have been Squiers... this CV 70s Jazzmaster in Lake Placid Blue I pre-ordered has all the switches of my lefty AmPro II JM at 1/4 the price. (540$ vs 1900$) What a joke IMO. Not to say that my AmPro is bad sounding or badly made, but to get esentially the exact same model for way less money is, a slap in the face from Fender. And those Indonesian Strats they just dropped? Don't even get me started on that BS. I bought an off brand Tele from CNZ audio and for 200$ I got a REALLY good deal. Already love this guitar, just got it. It's nice that we have options besides the big names in 2025. Peace ✌🏽🤘🏽
The $450 -$650 price point is a really hot realm right now considering everything being offered by companies. Roasted necks, SS Frets, Rosewood (and fam) fretboards, great pickups. But every other company has the "extra" that feels like they threw in. Look at Jet and the specs offered. They all have those 1 or 2 things that make you say "and it even has...!!" Not so for Fender. I'd rather have a top of the line Squier because i know that thought and creativity went into designing those. They feel like someone sat down and designed the best guitar they could for the price. Literally adding the things that make you still go with the Squire at that price point because "it even has...!!"
In the past 5 years I've purchased 5 G&L Tributes, two with MFD pickups, 3 ASATs, one Comanche (w/MFDS), one Legacy. All were on sale for between $400 and $500 and I love them. They are all excellent guitars, I would not pay more for a bottom line Fender. Everyone should take a long look at G&L before they buy. I also own three Fender Player Strats, all on sale between $600-$650 and they are fantastic and I love them. So I love the Player series and the G&L Tribute series but don't care about the new standards.
In my opinion the Standard series had a couple of features that made them "stepped" up from Squier, which was the paint shielded cavities, the two point trem over a six screw, and somewhat nicer tuners than a Squier would have, if not quite nice enough for the price. But it still felt like they didn't step it enough enough, I felt like Phil did, like these guitars are just too plain. They are good quality for the Cortek factory, but too plain and cheap looking for a Fender. If these are '"step up" guitars for the Squier owner or people on a budget they will be disappointed that they are so plain for what they could get elsewhere. All the other brands they are trying to compete with offer more bang for the buck! G&L, Ibanez, PRS SE, Sire, Yamaha with the Pacificas, Schecter, ESP.. I feel like Fender just threw out a cheap Fender line just to have a lower priced guitar to compete with the other brands but didn't put any real effort into it, and that is why I was disappointed as well. Fender could do so much better, even the finishes could be better colors than just basic ones! It's as if they got too cocky and expect the name alone to sell them and not the overall quality and value.
Here’s the thing you have to have a blend of quality specs and quality maker cause of the bridge is put in the wrong place it don’t matter how great the specs are.
some folks.. multi pieced body glued together is an issue ..same folks... mahogany body with a maple cap glued on where the entire surface has glue to adhere it is fine
5:00 I honestly think they "created" the line to take more market share. If there's a "Fender" at every budget, the company is in a better position. For that money I would quite happily get a Jackson, Schecter, or Ibanez, Yamaha, with change for groceries, or a hard flight case.
Phil, you’re right to look at the competition to work out what Fender are doing with the Indonesian Standard model. But surely it’s the PRS SE Silver Sky that they’re targeting? Also has a ‘poplar’ body, and the biggest selling S-style guitar in the last couple of years.
I have seen a lot of $100 Squiers with better wood grain on a burst than the one Phil did the demo on. No excuse for a $600 being hard to look at because of the fugly grain
My 93 Martin needs some patch work with nitro cellulose lacquer, back of neck..... thin layer.... yea sassafras and mahogany body tonewoods.....sassafras known for its aroma, and mahogany for midrange.... poplar? Try Tasmanian Blackwood.....
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
it's a squier affinity with a fender badge on it basically.
I hate to see fender fail, but I'm glad there are lots of other great guitar brands out there... that are selling quality guitars at fair prices..
Some expert said on his YT channel that it doesn't have a narrow nut so that proves it's not a Squire, but the Affinity is the only Squire that had the narrow nut since around late 90s or 2000. Don't know if it still has.
Thanks!
The new Fender Standards are coming from two different factories in Indonesia. “ISF” is not Cort. ISF is “Indonesia Samick Fender”. Both the Teles & HSS Strats are being made by Samick. Cor-Tek is making the SSS Strat with ICF prefix. ICF is “Indonesia Cor-Tek Fender”.
It’s the same two factories that currently make the Classic Vibes using their Squier prefixes
(ISS/Indo Samick Squier & ICS/Indo Cort Squier).
Thanks for this!
I saw a review of one that didn't have the walnut thing for the truss rod. Wonder if that differs between the 2 factories then? Cause if I remember correctly that was one of the things that differed between these new "Fenders" and a Squire.
@@sirtogii5216 I saw that too but I don’t think so. The Fender site shows the Standards with wood inserts from both factories. Either way that’s not anything different than the Classic Vibes. Classic Vibes from both Samick & Cort Indonesia have had the wood plugs around the truss rod area since 2019.
@@sirtogii5216The one in that review with the black plastic plug seems to be very unusual. I have no explanation for that one. Every other review of the Standards I’ve seen from both factories Cort & Samick Indonesia have had the wood plugs & they’re all shown as having the wood plugs on Fender’s site.
@@ericb7799 Makes sense and I thought so. Wonder what the hell happened to the dude who got a plastic insert instead. As far as I could tell the guitar was 100% legit, ordered from a reputable seller. Odd how that slipped through the net.
I have one of the new Schecter standards. Mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, and roasted maple neck for $400. I pulled it off the wall yesterday after not touching it for a week and it was 100% still in tune. Love this guitar.
Love my masonite and poplar Danelectro!
Sorry for being late to the party. But this episode must be one of the best. So many great questions and you explaining it so well. Learned so much about pickups, amps and brand value etc etc
Thanks Phil you are the best ❤️
Shout out to the moderators, thanks for helping to keep the show a great watch/reed 🙏
Here's the thing- I'm going along looking at 500-700 dollar guitars- you see Sire and you're shocked at the features and the materials you get for the price, you look at Yamaha and again, shocked at the features you get, the materials used, and the reviews ppl are giving them versus the price- but the Fenders- there is nothing special about them, there are no surprising features, the materials are nothing special, the pickups are nothing special, it's obvious that they thought their name was enough- and at least for me, it's not. Now for others- apparently it is, or Fender wouldn't have launched this line. Hey- I guess you could change the pups and change the tuners and stuff and make it into something nice- and it's already got the Fender name on it so- maybe that's what ppl will do with them.
Sire and Yamaha rocks.I only buy MIJ instruments but Sires are great too.
The surprising feature is they out a Fender decal on a Squire and raised the price.
Between Sire and AIO, I would not buy a new Fender right now. Between Firefly and Harley Benton, I would not buy a new Squier right now. New Fender is not for people doing research and making logical decisions right now. It's for the "I want to be John Mayer/Clapton/SRV" people.
@@mysteryshrimpI’m that actually, but I’m digging these Yamahas, and schecters that I have, I’d buy one of these sires if I was in the market.
@@mysteryshrimp Facts. I have a great MIM strat nearly 30 years old and its had a secure spot on my rack since day1 though my USA is a better for classic tones. My tele is a Harley Benton because I didn't want to be into an MIM tele for $500 and actually prefer the flatter radius of the fretboard and its alnico p/up fool a lot of people thinking I upgraded.
Sassafras is the wood used for Eric Johnson's guitar
Yes, because Eric has a 50s strat that his signature guitar is based on that was made by Leo out of sassafras
Fender used some strange woods in the early 50s. Probably bargain bin purchases that people think is magic wood now
Phil, Eric Johnson's Virginia Strat had a sassafras body as did all of the Fender Virginia signature Strats. If you buy a sassafras body blank expect to pay nearly double what you would for an alder body. BTW, I had a G&L ASAT Tribute with ash body and the USA pickups - it was an amazing guitar, and one of the best Teles I've had
Materials and specifications are more important to me than country of origin.
I think you forget workmanship and QC (i.e. labor). Many reviews approve of the material and specs but recommend or even find requirement for some hour(s) of luthier skills, setting you back about 70 quid for most buyers (not to mention the cost of decent tools).
Fender as a brand needs to stay in mexico, if they are made elsewhere, then it will just devalue it, especially if its cheaper to make. Country of origins is more important. A lot of the older fenders and squiers made in Japan or Korea go for alot on the used market, but they are also better quality built.
So materials are so important if they are lower priced, once they get over 500 bucks, then its needs higher specs.
@@oneanother1 no more "Mehico" ,you can say thank you to mr.Trump😂
@@jkarra2334 I’m in Canada. I looked at my Mexican P-Bass last night and thought to myself, “you’re about to get 25% more expensive to Americans.” 😞
Craziest part is I don’t want to buy Fender guitars anymore. So many other manufacturers have a version of a strat or tele. Also better versions. Don’t care where it’s made as long as it plays well.
I’m curious if people are moving away from brand loyalty, especially since a brand doesn’t mean much anymore, with regards to where a thing is made or what it’s made of, and who actually manufactured the thing
@@honkytonkinson9787 I was in the market for a high end tele, played some CS fender , k line(was awesome) lsl, and some others , I picked up a modern vintage mvt-64, never heard of them, made in Korea in a 4 man shop for elrick bass in Chicago side brand I was told, it was the one that blew me away, was 2700cad, I had to fight with myself to get it because I was conditioned to think I was better off with the other brands at almost double the price because " CS or USA boutique" nonsense and I ha to spend 5 grand to get the one I wanted most, the modern vintage had unbelievable sustain in a tele, such a tight build, the super thin finish double bound and bound roasted subtle flame neck with beautiful slab dark rosewood..it's my everyday favorite guitar out of all the others I have, I went with my gut and never owned a better guitar then that one, i recently found the Luther in Korea who is a guy named Gilmour Choi, I will never shop by brand again, I love how others are perplexed by what I'm playing on, and when other players pick it up and are amazed how loud and resonate it is unplugged
This
@@honkytonkinson9787 definitely moved away from China made products
@@honkytonkinson9787 I don’t really have brand loyalty. I also view Fender as Apple now. Just makes the same exact thing over and over.
I signed up for the Tim Pierce deal as a beginner. I’ve found it to be the most enjoyable and well structured course I’ve tried so far. Only a few weeks in, but definitely recommend. Tim has a very gentle and likeable temperament.
Well done👏🏻👏🏻
1:06:30
My wife is a lip reader, she said at this point in the video Phillip is saying "also it's important to mention that these guitars are available left handed at no extra cost"
Which surprised me as usually he totally ignores lefties..... :o)
In that price area, I’d be looking at a Sire.
Almost 35K episode views already, so great to see this podcast’s success!
Had my Ibanez Standard on preorder, got the HSS Turquoise Burst!! Can’t wait! 🤩🎸
Nice! I love turquoise / teal on guitars. I have a turquoise Gretsch Electromatic Double Jet. That finish lookss great on the S-type body. Makes me want one. 😍😂
@@Vykk_DraygoGretsch makes some beautiful guitars!!!! Love to have one someday. 😎🤘🏻
You’ll love it! Just got my Ibanez mm7 which is the prestige 7 string AZ Martin miller model! It is amazing
LOVE the Pearson guitar!!!
I love my Eastmans and just added the new SB54/TV to my collection and it’s fantastic! Can’t wait to try one of the new Fullertone models. They look great and I love Tonerider pickups. I think they will sell a ton of them.
Love Phil's discussion of pickups; has he ever discussed Lace Sensors and how they fit into the scheme of things?
100’s of times
You can find a lot of references from previous episodes going back years
Sassafras root is where root beer flavor comes from
Sassafras on a G&L Tribute is most probably Tasmanian sassafras, which weighs roughly like mahogany (on average 20% heavier than alder), doesn't look the part but is considerably more resonant. Btw G&L (US made or import) pickups use "MFD technology" which traditionally is based on ceramic magnets. Decades of Bill Schultz's marketing had the people believe that ceramic pickups are crappy; well they are not, they are just different. G&L's are good guitars.
I believe you're thinking of Sarsaparilla (commonly called "Sasparilla"). Different plant.
@@BrianDalton-w1p G&L advertises sassafras. Indeed a different plant.
@@BrianDalton-w1pnah, it comes from sassafras root, root beer was safrole until the dea got their fingers in it to outlaw fun powder
@@sunnohhhaha, fun powder. I like that!
Have to agree with you completely Phil. They had to compete at this price point. But this was a dissapointing lack of trying considering the heavy hitters at this level. The other players are swinging for the fence. Fender bunted.
I’ve been trying to figure out the problem with this new standard Fender range since they came out and you hit the nail on the head Phil! They just did not try at all with those guitars! Especially comparing it to a brand that REALLY tries like PRS with their range starting at $499 for an intentionally designed, beautifully worked guitar that is gig ready and arguably a lifetime guitar for some, it’s almost a bad joke from Fender that they just slapped their logo on the most basically spec’d guitar ever. Not to mention that here in Australia the difference between the standard range and player II range is so little it’s barely a difference in price it really boggles the mind!
Yeah they not trying at all
I'm equally underwhelmed by this new "Fender Standard" line but disagree that there is minimal difference between them and the Player series. All of the Player series guitars are very nice guitars. Maybe Australia gets all the factory seconds...
You can pick up used MIM Fenders here in Germany between €500 and €800 depending on the spec. But "basic" Player Teles and Strats can be had for even as low as €350 MIM.
@ Back in early 2020 I bought a new Player Plus Top aged cherry HSS strat from Guitar Center for $651 Euros. It's MSRP was $780 Euros. It was during the covid lockdown so I guess they were trying to move stock. It was made in late 2019 so it was made pre-covid. On Reverb they are going from $410 Euros to $700 Euros. The one at $700 Euros was identical to mine so I guess my guitar is at least holding it's value. I'm an intermediate player so it's perfect for me. I love it.
And with CERAMIC PICKUPS ?? ! I'll stick with used MIMs
Thanks again always great Phil
Phil nailed it; with respect to passive standard HBs, it’s PAF, JB, Super Distortion. Virtually everything else is a variation on those themes in some way. There are plenty other I love, but those are the typical reference tones when explaining pickups to my less nerdy friends lol
It was only a matter of time till Fender slapped their logo on a Squier headstock. On a positive note, they validated every Squier player whose ever said, "It's as good as any Fender,"
Your wife sounds like an amazing partner, congrats.
You now need to do a mini-series called, "My Crazy Guitars". I mean, you did them up.
The best concise and most explanation of active pups I've ever encountered.
The "brand" analogy is brilliant.
I bought a PRS SE CE standard satin. I really like it as is. I enjoyed your deep dive on it and others as well. Thanks for all the content!
Just look at the Ibanez AZ standard series! Roasted maple necks and stainless steel frets. That is what I would pick
Sure, they are fine and i know, its a instrument for playing but Ibanez headstock is just so BUTT-UGLY..
@@jkarra2334 eye of the beholder. I think it looks great
And Ibanez gives you a contoured heel unlike the square block on a Fender,
That was my reaction too. They didn't even try. They should be ashamed for putting the Fender name on those guitars. I'd rather have a Squire.
G&Ls are fantastic. I have a Tele Tribute and it's really great- the pickups are fabulous, excellent tuners, just solid quality materials and build all around. Incredibly heavy though- heavier than my 1969 Les Paul which is a boat anchor. That Pearson is extremely interesting, I love the look also.
You're exactly right about fender missing the mark with the Standard. Like you said and I own a prs se, it's a great guitar. I own a L3 sire, it's like a jr. It plays as good as a Gibson. Fender should have really gave us something cool.
The Charvel DK24 w/ 24Fr Roasted Maple necks (w./ traditional profile. not to thin) & smooth neck joint are amazing.
Your videos are very informative. Thank you for your work, Mr. McKnight!
I’ve always liked Fender, but they make some goofy decisions. I recently decided to give G&L a try and picked up a Fullerton ASAT. Fell in love instantly! My next guitar (that I certainly don’t need) will be another G&L, no question. Gassing hard for a Fallout and Comanche…
Oh no, Phil brought aluminum to a tonewood fight. 😊 seriously that guitar looked and sounded great!
You might consider checking out the Acoustasonic Standard guitars. The acoustic tone (full clockwise) is unique because it leverages both the magnetic pickup and the undersaddle piezo, playing to the strengths of each and overlapping them through most of the spectrum to create a more dimensional tone. You can strum hard without the highs becoming splashy or harsh.
I feel the best value all things considered; wood hardware playability sound made in Mexico Fenders are top of the food chain. I don't want a made in Indonesia guitar. Under the skin matters to me. I firmly believe in buying the best guitar you can because it will inspire you to play better.
I would love to see reviews of G&L Tribute and Sterling EBMM guitars that compare to the Fender/Squire value Strats.
Sassafras tree grow on the eastcoast, they used to make rootbeer out of the roots. Its a hard heavy wood.
Like ash really. What I wonder is if guitars made of sassafras are that tree wood or from other woods also called sassafras (like the various Australian trees).
@RandallHayter fender used American sassafras wood in the 50s, some of them. No -casters where made of sassafras.
Pearson! Looks cool and sounds lovely. Great idea for a travel guitar, too
I love the comfort zone segment. It is an interesting topic. It’s wrapped up in one’s hopes and dreams isn’t it? For me I have been skeptical of every new price tier as I have approached it, but then I’ve had those amazing moments where you say, Oh wow this is what you get for the money., I get it, it’s worth it.
Those Ibanez AZ standards are what I just bought for gigging. SS was so nice at that price point. Worst case, it’s such a solid shell to build from
@@alexglenn2122 Mine just shipped, get it Thursday HSS Turquoise burst 😍🤩🎸 Had it on preorder 😎🤘🏻
My favorite pickups are the JB and the Dirty Fingers. But close second is EMG H4, together with Bareknuckle Holydiver and DiMarzio Super Distortion. The Alternative 8 is another pickup I really like.
Sassafras tea, it's what granny from the Beverly hillbilly's use to make along with her possum stew. LOVE your Podcasts Phil!
Always a great presentation- thank you so much - always well balanced and humble.
in my 40 years of playing i have owned dozens of fender amps, guitars i came to the realization a couple years back that their products have failed me, amps all failed, guitars really arent that good compared to my suhr, duesenberg, gretsch
My two main guitars for a DECADE were two 1987 Made in Japan Fender Hardtail Strats. I found them in the early 90's for about $300 US each. Now, I put humbuckers in the bridge, but those guitars were indestructible. I also had a 1990 Japanese Standard Strat that I bought new.
I feel like they were built incredibly well. The hardtails were on every gig and recording for 10 years, until I started to gravitate towards Les Pauls. I ended up selling them when times got hard, which sucks because you can't find them now.
That being said, I have owned several Mexican Strats, and I have not kept a single one. They just are not the same to my hands.
The best non-US Fender I owned was a Squier Vintage Modified Tele Custom II (P90's). I believe it was made in China. That guitar was also built incredibly well - not a single issue.
Personally the Fender logo doesn't mean that much to me. Especially when their higher end Squier lines (Classic Vibe, Contemporary, Paranormal) are a better deal than the new Standard line. Especially the Contemporary and Paranormal lines, something different than the same ol' Fender Tele or Strat or Jazzmaster. My black Squier Contemporary Strat Special plays great and the pickups sound good to my ears. Plus I think it looks cool, which always makes the guitar special.
I have a Squier Contemporary HT Strat and Telecaster RH and the necks are amazing, the pickups excellent, split tuners easy to use, alnico pickups sound great, and in general the electronics are solid.
The very first G&L ASAT you showed is the same I bought last year out of a whim after testing it in a shop.
Let me tell you, it is a frigging banger. The fretboard needed a good rehydration, but the frets were all in place, no buzz or sprout. The neck profile is comfy, it stays in tune perfectly and the paintjob is spotless.
The pickups are hot, but not noisy, they are kinda of more refined P90s.
It punches well above its weight, i'd put it on par with a Player Plus. It has nothing to do with the disappointment from Fender you showed in the last videos.
I have a P90 ASAT Tribute B-stock that I picked up for about £300, and yeah it's great. The only thing wrong with it was that the nut wasn't cut deep enough. But it's the sort of guitar that you pick up and hold and it just "feels" quality, if that makes sense.
Thanks for your service, based upon your opinion, I would look at the G and L or the Ibanez, is there a Yamaha in this price point?
My Gretsch Indo built streamliner double cut is a fantastic quality guitar
Love the channel integrity dude ... It does mean something!!🙂
Just a quick hot take - the Standard series fenders remind me of the first MIM - the Fender "Squier Series" and "standard series" with the black logos (people used to scrape the squier part off the logo. Fundementaly good instruments with crappy hardware and pickups.
It may have the wrong hardware and electronics. However an expensive $2000 Strat can also have the wrong hardware and electronics too if you don’t agree with their choice of tremolo bridge, pickups and tuners and plan to mod everything like how Jeff Beck did with his USA made Strats.
@@ramencurry6672 And so basically its a Squier Affinity with a £300 up charge for putting a fender logo on it. A Squier Classic Vibe is over £100 less and better specced out of the box.
@@egnbigdave I think a Squire Affinity has a thin body so if you were to mod it with a different tremolo block it would not fit.
@@ramencurry6672 but you can pick up the Squier "The Strat" that came in its thousands as part of a package with an amp for peanuts - full size body, I used to have one.
To this day, my 2009 MIJ Fender Pawn Shop 51 is by far my favorite playing Fender guitar….$got it for $400 at guitar center way back when….
What a great dude! Very entertaining and informative. Personality plus!
Just for your information, I have bought a thinline Fender tele with p90s , we had to change the pots, new bridge & machine heads by GOTO its now my favourite guitar! I also have an AZ indonesian made Ibinez with the Semour duncan pickups which is geogeous. I own custom shop tele and a Dan Smith 80 strat but the Chinese thinline is fantastic.
Tariffs; Are going to be a kick in the stones for all things considering music. Get what you can and hope we don't shutdown. 💚✌
With that Pearson guitar I’d have the pickups rewound hotter and new ALNICO 4 magnets(to my specs) by the Seymour Duncan custom shop!
For the 80's style guitar, you could try kiesel Aries bolt they have one with pick guard, a little pricey, but nice neck, they always have sale's going on..I own the Ibanez Genesis , I really like the guitar, it is thin ,but comfortable..
The bathrooms at Guitar Center in Davenport, IA are nasty. Good thing I like to check the used guitars.
I’m a hard core Suhr fan now, I know the price is high but the quality is beyond anything I ever played, I have 4 now one T style one modern Floyd, classic S and a S pro all serve a purpose on my band, they’re amazing all second hand and I do put some work but well worth it.
I got rid of a bunch of gear and only keeping my PRS and Gibson along with my Suhr
Hi Phil. Enjoyed the episode. Sassafras I believe was used in Fender 58 Strats. Carolinian species. We have many around the house. If I’m not mistaken, the Eric Johnson Strat has a Sassafras body. The root of the tree was used to make the original root beer.
Interesting take on the new Fender Standard. That May explained why they stopped making the Squier Contemporary Telecaster last summer but apparently are planning to reintroduce it in 2026. Thoughts?
What I hate about the Fender standard is that it's an Affinity with a Fender logo, when it could have been the Classic Vibe with a Fender logo easily.
Crazy Guitars: I play in ensembles and jam sessions with my G&Ls and my Inport Hamer from the 90s. Have a Guild Semi Hollow that I like but don't play as often as I should. Nothing that looks fancy on the stand but I trust them to deliver.
I've been wanting a G&L tribute legacy for awhile now.
@@jerichostevens2711 You can pick them up used off Reverb cheap (buy from a big dealer). I picked up one from Dave's Guitar and another from 88 Music.
Good show!
Thanks For Sharing 🧠🎸🎶🎶✌️
Gloss maple fretboard and headstock with satin finish on the back of the neck is elite
Tim is the peak of excellent teachers !
G&L pickups are generally ceramic magnet with a low wire count so on paper specs are cheap but work well. Not sure why Z coils are not more popular as they buck the hum and can get close to several other types of sound by tweaking the tone controls.
They’ll be under $500 next Black Friday and they have Fender on the headstock. They’ll sell a boatload of these. Maybe they’ll get a little better over time but there isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with them. They just aren’t “special” in any way.
Issue is that it needs a loaded pickguard, so thats 100 bucks on top of the guitar purchase price. The materials of the guitar arent really as attractive as a more sought after fender. There's plenty of used squier standards with better specs, if the headstock logo doesn't matter.
They might sell well if they were on sale, but there resale value will be barely above a squier cv, if not lower. Depends on what the player series goes for, due to the tariffs and if they become harder to find at lower prices.
BOTH
What its made out of is Easily more important that Where its made imho, that being said, pickups must be the literal easiest thing to clone or copy at a cheaper price. In fact I believe the price of name brand pickups are Extremely inflated.
What would be a good budget metal guitar?
Any guitar can be a metal guitar, it's how you play them.
Gibson Les Paul
Schecter anything
@@michaelstanley5215 Yes and no. I wouldn't recommend using a a guitar loaded with single coils for technical death metal though. Scale length and pickups matter (scale length less so, unless you are drop tuning below C standard).
Lots of options, I would recommend something with 2 high output humbuckers, a fixed bridge and 22 or 24 frets. Ibanez, Schecter, jackson, charvel probably make dozens of options between them that fits the brief.
Working in the cabinet making business per say I did use sassafras at one point and if I remember correctly it was fairly hard lumber like maple even mulberry.
Woodworkers?
I always enjoy your videos. I picked up the PRS SE CE 24 on sale for $559 a year ago (same as the satin with a maple top) and it is a fantastic gig worthy guitar, plus it has a really nice gig bag, for less that the new Fender Standard. Why not make a guitar at least as good as the Squier Classic Vibe and just slap a Fender logo and charge $150 more rather than make an Affinity quality Fender?
The real question is why buy a Fender when every single manufacturer out there has a better strat for the same or less money? They’re stuck in the past
Hot smoke and Sassafras (Bubble Puppy)
You need to compare the Fender Special against the Squier Classic Vibe. They already have alnico pickups to the Fender design. And also made in Indonesia. (At least my Squier Jazzmaster Ckassic Vibe 60s os)
Cortek actually has factories both in Indonesia and China, Samick now mainly does acoustics.
I bought a Pacifica in 2018 for $225. It was built in Indochina. Since then I have purchased three PRS guitars, each for three times that money. I have returned two. Neither could match the Pacifica in terms of quality. I kept one because it is a hollowbody, gives me a different tone than my Pacifica, and the price was one half the advertised price on Sweetwater. But I have to keep the PRS in a case and the case wrapped in a cotton mattress topper to keep it in tune and the neck correct.
I agree with Phil. The new Fenders are simply Cor-Tek Indonesia guitars, in nearly all respect like my two hundred dollar Pacifica. A word of warning, the current Pacifica models being produced fall far short of the one I bought in 2018. I was shocked when I discovered the difference.
Thank you Phillip
When I buy a guitar, I just want it to be good. I want to love the way it plays and sounds, I want it to inspire me. I would like to love the way it looks, though that's secondary. I really, really do not care to know where it came from or what country produced it, as long as it gives me what I want when I play it. That's all...
Phil, thanks for answering my question re static, great channel 👍
Sassafras is the new ash substitute. Ash has been hit hard, I forget whether blight or insect.
You should throw Gretsch Electromatic into the mix.
I don't like the new Standard line but I also realize MIM is not an option anymore in the ways it was when Fender invested heavily in their operation south of our border. The more I process it woods are fine I am sure they are using quality and nothing wrong with poplar or laurel. But that combined with a plain set of specs and cheap looking logo mean its more $499 or maybe $529 retail. The pickups have some vibe and they can always offer a Standard Plus with alnico and 22 frets. Its not a fail to me as much as a poorly priced downgrade that makes buyers feel they are giving up too much in the deal
Fully agree. As a long time Fender fan, these standard series guitars are a disappointment at this price point. Especially when the Squier Classic Vibe & MIM Fender’s are not far off from this price point.
My last two purchases have been Squiers... this CV 70s Jazzmaster in Lake Placid Blue I pre-ordered has all the switches of my lefty AmPro II JM at 1/4 the price. (540$ vs 1900$) What a joke IMO. Not to say that my AmPro is bad sounding or badly made, but to get esentially the exact same model for way less money is, a slap in the face from Fender. And those Indonesian Strats they just dropped? Don't even get me started on that BS. I bought an off brand Tele from CNZ audio and for 200$ I got a REALLY good deal. Already love this guitar, just got it. It's nice that we have options besides the big names in 2025. Peace ✌🏽🤘🏽
The $450 -$650 price point is a really hot realm right now considering everything being offered by companies. Roasted necks, SS Frets, Rosewood (and fam) fretboards, great pickups. But every other company has the "extra" that feels like they threw in. Look at Jet and the specs offered. They all have those 1 or 2 things that make you say "and it even has...!!" Not so for Fender. I'd rather have a top of the line Squier because i know that thought and creativity went into designing those. They feel like someone sat down and designed the best guitar they could for the price. Literally adding the things that make you still go with the Squire at that price point because "it even has...!!"
In the past 5 years I've purchased 5 G&L Tributes, two with MFD pickups, 3 ASATs, one Comanche (w/MFDS), one Legacy. All were on sale for between $400 and $500 and I love them. They are all excellent guitars, I would not pay more for a bottom line Fender. Everyone should take a long look at G&L before they buy. I also own three Fender Player Strats, all on sale between $600-$650 and they are fantastic and I love them. So I love the Player series and the G&L Tribute series but don't care about the new standards.
In my opinion the Standard series had a couple of features that made them "stepped" up from Squier, which was the paint shielded cavities, the two point trem over a six screw, and somewhat nicer tuners than a Squier would have, if not quite nice enough for the price. But it still felt like they didn't step it enough enough, I felt like Phil did, like these guitars are just too plain. They are good quality for the Cortek factory, but too plain and cheap looking for a Fender. If these are '"step up" guitars for the Squier owner or people on a budget they will be disappointed that they are so plain for what they could get elsewhere. All the other brands they are trying to compete with offer more bang for the buck! G&L, Ibanez, PRS SE, Sire, Yamaha with the Pacificas, Schecter, ESP.. I feel like Fender just threw out a cheap Fender line just to have a lower priced guitar to compete with the other brands but didn't put any real effort into it, and that is why I was disappointed as well. Fender could do so much better, even the finishes could be better colors than just basic ones! It's as if they got too cocky and expect the name alone to sell them and not the overall quality and value.
Sassafras looks similar to ash. It is the body wood of Eric Johnson's favorite Strat.
Here’s the thing you have to have a blend of quality specs and quality maker cause of the bridge is put in the wrong place it don’t matter how great the specs are.
some folks.. multi pieced body glued together is an issue ..same folks... mahogany body with a maple cap glued on where the entire surface has glue to adhere it is fine
5:00 I honestly think they "created" the line to take more market share. If there's a "Fender" at every budget, the company is in a better position.
For that money I would quite happily get a Jackson, Schecter, or Ibanez, Yamaha, with change for groceries, or a hard flight case.
Phil, you’re right to look at the competition to work out what Fender are doing with the Indonesian Standard model.
But surely it’s the PRS SE Silver Sky that they’re targeting? Also has a ‘poplar’ body, and the biggest selling S-style guitar in the last couple of years.
Material and spec
It's 2025, no reason for cnc'd wood to cost that much.
I have rarely seen a two piece alder body in any fender production guitar. It's more like 3-4 pieces
I have seen a lot of $100 Squiers with better wood grain on a burst than the one Phil did the demo on. No excuse for a $600 being hard to look at because of the fugly grain
My squire 40th has a walnut plug around the trussrod hole 🤔
My 93 Martin needs some patch work with nitro cellulose lacquer, back of neck..... thin layer....
yea sassafras and mahogany body tonewoods.....sassafras known for its aroma, and mahogany for midrange....
poplar? Try Tasmanian Blackwood.....