Another year of being disappointed by Fender. I would like to humbly suggest a new year’s resolution for Fender – keep doing the brilliant things, and stop doing the stupid things.
Last year it was Fender deciding to undercut their own dealers by selling via their website. Not just selling, but allowing consumers to “customize” their own guitar. It got the dealers pissed off at the company, and honestly, most guitarists don’t want to buy a thousand dollar guitar without playing it first.
Here’s this year’s screwup – Fender has a great new line of amps out called the Bassbreaker series. I got a chance to play the 7 watt combo with 10 inch speaker. I’m not a fan of 10 inch speakers – I think they sound small. But what an amp. It was the best gritty sound I’d heard from a modern Fender amp. And they make a 7 watt head version. Visions of trading in my HRD III danced in my head, but with a little uncertainty – I do like the HRD clean sound. But I’d have plenty of chances to play the new Fender amps and make up my mind.
Except I don’t. You can’t buy them. Maybe there are a small handful out there, but as of December 20, 2015, you can’t get them. None of the stores have them. Talking to both Sam Ash and Guitar Center they say they won’t have any in by Christmas. Yes I said CHRISTMAS, not xmas. People are too easily offended and that goes both ways. If you’re offended by the fact that we celebrate a religious holiday to the point where you need to be dismissive of the name, you need to stop being so easily offended. Else God might smite you and turn your Twin Reverb into a Frontman. Is there a God or not? I’m not taking sides. But the goddamn holiday is called Christmas.
Anyway. Brand new line of amps by Fender, and they fuck up the release and you can’t buy one for Christmas. How much money will that cost the company? People who want a great crunchy sound will buy a Marshall or a Peavey or a whatever instead. I’m sure Fender has an excuse, and I don’t care what it is. This amp series is brilliant. The one I tried out was fantastic, and reasonably priced. How did Fender do that? They copied Marshall. But if there’s one thing that never changes, it’s Fender screwing something up.
What do players want from a Fender? You can ask them and they’ll tell you. But in case someone in the company wants a handy list, I’ve created one below:
- For the Blues Junior… actually, leave that alone. It’s fine for what it is.
- For the Hot Rod Deluxe – you said you fixed the volume issue where 0 is soft and 2 is maximum. You SAID you fixed it. You didn’t! It’s still awful. The dirty channel sounds like ass and everyone in the industry mocks it. It’s craptacular. Brian Wampler has volunteered to give you some advice and make it not suck. Please take him up on his offer!
- For the Bassbreaker – This is the amp a lot of people have been waiting for. Well done. How about actually shipping the thing?
- For the Super Champ – This is a great amp for the money. But what a lot of people want is a 12 inch speaker. The web is full of people trying to cram a 12 inch speaker into the Super Champ X2. Why not make an “X3” with a 12 inch speaker?
- For the Mustang series – How about a Mini-Mustang head? A 15-20 watt solid state head that sells for $99? I’d buy one on sight. So would others. OR… a 15-20 watt head with a tube preamp and solid state power amp for $150. And make it small. It could steal customers from Orange.
- How about going all “Line 6” and making a pedalboard that’s essentially a Mustang with no amp or speaker? I have a guess about why you can’t. I think you’ve licensed the amp/effects simulations from Amplitube. But that’s just a wild ass guess.
- Sell the Shawbucker as a standalone pickup. Please.
If someone said “You can only have a guitar and gear from one company” I’d say “Fender.” I’ve owned several Fender amps. I current own a HRD III (with bad volume issues and an awful overdrive.) I own two Strats and a Tele. I own a Squier bass. Honestly, I didn’t think the Fender sounded much better. It sounds pretty good. I also own a Squier Jagmaster. If I could only have one electric, it’d be a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge. I love Fender and I love the Strat. I’m mocking Fender for what they screw up, but I must also mention how much I love them. I’m into Les Pauls lately, but the Strat will always be the best electric in my eyes. So it’s hard to understand how the company can get so much right and so much wrong.
I will strongly consider the Bassbreaker when it finally arrives in any number in stores. And if they ever sell the Shawbucker I’ll buy one. As for the HRD, will they ever fix it? If they haven’t fixed it by now, then no, probably not.
