Stratocasters from Fender and non fender

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

hehe, tone is indeed preference, fall into wrong hand, it will become majik sound and bewitched those behind, going round and round without a proper direction...

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

people may fail a blind test, but in this world, most of us rely heavily on our eyes. so it's almost true that the other 5% to 10% of a fender's tone and feel comes from its logo that's printed on the headsock.

 

[Whitestrat]

I see a lot of comments on how only a Fender can nail that tone, or how a non-fender guitar might not be able to nail that tone. I fail to see how a partsocaster made up of the SAME fender parts (being bridge, tuners, nut, saddles, block, springs, pickguard, electronics and pickups) cannot "nail" that tone. Metalurgy and Chemistry are exact sciences. Certain things can be replicated, and certain things (like wood) need to be approximated. The Fender tone is also a pretty wide ranging term. What is a Fender tone? clean, glassy, firm, quacky... All these things. There are a lot of guitars out there that can fulfill this criteria.

I also think that many don't quite understand the concept of the brand. A brand isn't just about being genuine. It's more about a promise. You buy a brand because it promises you certain things.

So, what does Suhr, Anderson, EBMM, D'Pergo, DeTemple etc etc promise you? vs what does SX, TGM, Craftsmen, etc etc promise you?

Then, what does Fender promise you?

Once you can understand those questions, you can begin to compare. Not by basing on tone.

 

[guitarsan]

people may fail a blind test, but in this world, most of us rely heavily on our eyes. so it's almost true that the other 5% to 10% of a fender's tone and feel comes from its logo that's printed on the headsock.

In their defense, Fender purists like to call these 5-10%....MOJO.

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

Mojo, the teenage romantism, psychological aspect of having similar item to the idol we love back then, the association of proximity to the one who play on such instrument which we are having as well, years later.

Mojo, the one that i cant explain, i cant quantize, i cant measure, but but, i know is there. But but, what is that, what is it that i cant measure, quantize, explain, but but i know is there.

Mojo, the spiritual majikal self that is there, but yet its not there.

Mojo, deteriorated components, dried wood, old strings

Mojo, brand

Mojo, this __________

Mojo, you, me, he she it

Myojo, noodle

 

[guitarsan]

Then, what does Fender promise you?

I believe for many people (myself included), Fender promises them....

(i) a "feel good" impression of playing a brand used by many famous artistes, past and present
(ii) a perceived (but imaginary) tone which sounds exactly like the many famous artistes, past and present
(iii) an association with a brand rich in history and nostalgic past

Buying a Fender (or any brand) is largely an emotional choice influenced by the above "promises" (unless you're non-human or a Vulcan!) Therefore the talk about the so-called unique Fender tone and feel is just....well....a justification to buy a Fender!

 

[bf0502tr]

Myojo, noodle

i LOL-ed pretty hard at that

 

[Ized]

people may fail a blind test, but in this world, most of us rely heavily on our eyes. so it's almost true that the other 5% to 10% of a fender's tone and feel comes from its logo that's printed on the headsock.

I lol-ed.

Which brings us back to square one- not only tone is subjective, opinions are too.

And opinions are also like arseholes- everyone has one.

 

[guitarsan]

And opinions are also like arseholes- everyone has one.

LOL. And it's usually....except for ours, everyone else's stinks.

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

everyone has one a-hole for sure, but when its not fully developed and using it, for sure its gonna be inviting with a sign,

"Entrance"

 

[Whitestrat]

(iii) an association with a brand rich in history and nostalgic past

Buying a Fender (or any brand) is largely an emotional choice influenced by the above "promises" (unless you're non-human or a Vulcan!) Therefore the talk about the so-called unique Fender tone and feel is just....well....a justification to buy a Fender!

Well said. For me, it's mainly point 3. The patrimony of the brand. Nothing else. if I wanted a REALLY good strat-like guitar, I'd buy something else like a D'Pergo. but the patrimony is just romantic. That's why I only have one strat. Hahahaha!!!

 

[Ized]

D'Pergo? De'Temple looks more tempting...hee.

And yeah....why bother about the logo printed on the headstock when I can just plug anything into a stock DS1 into a soundcard and get fantastic fantabulous tone...its all in the fingers...noobcakes! :lol: