I would say it could reliably have a good setup with very quick assembly.
There is a tightening screw on the back that pulls the neck into its final position after the initial latching. Sometimes you barely have to tune if you wind to the same mark.
The carbon numbers which are not going to be impacted by the temperature/humidity changes you could probably get tighter tolerances on and push it a little more.
What chord is that?
Yeah ive seen them. Wasn’t too bad . They use the old jazz saying, youre only one semitone away from the right note, so dont worry about it
I am a big fan.
Making quarter tones work in a rock, jazz, prog setting is pretty cool.
For those who are curious:
Thanks so much. That’s fkg great, the most truly innovative cool thing I’ve seen in a while
A mate showed it to me earlier in the year. My response was “that’s amazing. Also, WTF?” I like them. First new thing I’ve really liked in a while.
Appreciate rather than ‘like.’ It’s not something I’d choose to listen to other than as a curiosity.
It is cool, though.
Fair call. I’ve had them on semi-regularly in the car to work. Mrs hates it so it’s only flying solo.
Fender, the iconic guitar manufacturer founded in 1946, was the first company to mass-market electric guitars back in the 1950s. It is an institution adored by many, having cemented its place in history across thousands upon thousands of memorable bands and tunes.
Their famous Fender Telecaster is still regarded as the most robust guitar on the planet, capable of enduring decades of touring abuse and still playing and sounding like a million bucks.
The Telecaster’s younger brother, the Stratocaster, went on to even better things. So big, in fact, that the company is now in a scramble to “protect” its DNA.
A recent legal victory in Germany has given Fender ammunition in a deeply controversial fight over ownership of the famous Stratocaster body shape. The ruling recognised the Stratocaster’s silhouette as a protected work of applied art, allowing Fender to pursue manufacturers whose instruments it believes too closely resemble its iconic design.
To say it’s kicked up a stink would be an understatement.
The problem for players is that the Strat has spent seven decades being modified, upgraded and reimagined by hundreds of manufacturers.
From boutique workshops employing a handful of people to major brands selling thousands of guitars every year, the broader guitar industry has long treated the Strat shape as a foundation.
There have been entire markets springing up across the globe to cater for musicians looking for bespoke Stratocaster upgrades or original custom builds that vaguely resemble the instrument at face value.
Popular guitar personalities Rhett Shull and Rick Beato have heavily criticised Fender’s approach, while thousands of players have flooded forums, YouTube comment sections and social media with accusations of corporate overreach.
Shull went as far as ending his commercial relationship with Fender after years of receiving gear to review to his millions of viewers.
Must be an air strat
Fender, man.
That legal victory was a Chinese firm failing to meet a deadline and being a no show in a German court.
This is a huge mistake by Fender, which I think will end up costing them. They will lose, because this argument was already lost years ago. The Strat, like the dreadnaught, is a guitar everyone is allowed to build.
I’m probably the wrong person to comment though. I deeply appreciate the enduring legacy of the classics, but there was already no way I’m buying from the modern Fender. Other makers just do better, more innovative, and interesting work.
Dunno if people remember but I think it was like 6 or something years ago when Gibson came out with their somewhat aggresive ‘Play Authentic’ marketing scheme. At the time the brand damage seemed almost irreparable. Added to their already litigious nature and at the time extremely sketchy QC, they were really struggling and getting a lot of guitar lovers off side.
Looks like its now well and truly Fenders turn.
Incredible what good leadership can do. Gibson are back to a great era, QC is supposedly much better and they’ve tried to move on from the ill advised Play Authentic game plan.
I’m a degenerate guitar nerd and love the three major classic brands: Fender, Gibson and Marshall. Out of the three only Gibson seem to be really doing well. And even they are far from perfect, with their silly prices, determination to be a ‘aspirational brand’ and Murphy Lab flaking fiasco. Current Marshall amps are pretty average and one would probably have to go second hand to get anything with an amp full of Made In England parts.
Hopefully Fender move on from this new weirdo CEO quickly and just get back to making good guitars.
No Vox?
My band has been recently Vox’ed. So good for spiky, focused, clanging, mids-forward tones.
The guitarist has moved from digital to an AC15 with Alnico Blues. I have a 1971 Jennings AC40 (Tom Jenning’s post-Vox company - the AC40 is basically a ‘60s Vox AC30) and recently bought one of the new handwired Vox AC4s. Sold my Fender Vibro Champ ‘68 Reverb next day (also a good amp, but not a Vox).
I’ve only direct experience of a few contemporary models, across the range.
A standard AC4. Cheap, very portable no frills. Bedroom practice amp only.
An AC10, which is a great affordable and portable option. Running into a Peavey box with a 12” greenback. Love it.
AC15HW with the Alnico blue. The lack of reverb always annoyed me and was the main reason I parted with it (I prefer no pedals), but the tone was phenomenal.
I’m not across all the model permutations but both my new HW AC4 & the guitarists AC15 come with spring reverb. The AC4 has a 12” greenback, so has some nice spread that could maybe take it beyond the bedroom.
Ive never even played through one to be honest. I just love fender amps old Marshall’s. But for the first time in a long time I do not currently own a Marshall. Ive got a Friedman Dirty Shirley and its the best ‘marshall’ I’ve ever owned.
I like orange amps too, but I find them a bit one dimensional. Never liked the sound of single coils going through them. Orange do make the best cabinets though I reckon.
Each to their own. I really like the orange sound.
