Something new from Fender?

[Ace Flibble]

When Fender and Gibson have done something wholly new, people complain that they should stick to making the classics and not waste time trying to get into ESP/Schecter/Mayones territory.

When Fender and Gibson make plain ol' Standards, people complain they're not innovating and there's no reason to buy the new models.

When Fender and Gibson try something halfway, people complain it's not enough in one direction or another.

People won't let them do anything, really. Someone always finds a way to complain about anything.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

My wallet is positively QUIVERING! It has been a while since I GAS’d for a guitar that I didn’t put together myself, but I’m seeing this baby in my dreams.
[youtube]f65CHLs9mhM[/youtube]

 

[Cagey]

I reminded of watching Pete Thorn demo just about any new amp/special effect - I want it, I want it now, and I can't understand why I don't already have it. This guy could sell cigar box guitars  :laughing7:

There's a LOT to be said for knowing how to use a tool.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

You aren’t kidding, Pete Thorn demos are dangerous! I have a few pieces of gear that he deserves commission on... I was not familiar with the guy in this demo, Isaiah Sharkey (Saruman?), but he sure can play a guitar.

I’m leaning in the direction of a build inspired by this aesthetic and feature set. I think I could beat the price and I could get the neck just how I want it. I really like the switching options, a great alternative to the standard upper circuit (which, for the record, I am a fan of!). My brain is a bit stumped on some of the details, I’m hoping to see some diagrams and/or a service manual pop up before too long.

 

[rgand]

I generally like simple controls but this one has a lot going for it. I love that push on/off in the center of the vol knob for the series switching.

 

[bagman67]

Sharkey (Saruman?)

NEEERRRRRRDDD!


Nice catch, that.  The geekiness is strong in this one.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Sharkey (Saruman?)

NEEERRRRRRDDD!


Nice catch, that.  The geekiness is strong in this one.

:toothy12: Takes one to know one!  :icon_thumright:

 

[Verne Bunsen]

I generally like simple controls but this one has a lot going for it. I love that push on/off in the center of the vol knob for the series switching.

I agree! I’m not sure that I like how it bypasses the toggle switch and gives you both pickups whenever activated, I think I’d prefer to still have access to the toggle, but I think that could be made to happen pretty easily. What is stumping me is the individual volumes on the upper circuit. If they are active only when the upper switch is in the out-of-phase position, which is kind of implied but never really confirmed, then it makes me think they must be using a different switch. Reversing phase with the standard switch would be easy enough but I don’t see how you also bring the volume controls in and out of the circuit. Or, if the upper volumes are always active in addition to a “master volume” on the lower circuit, then that is slightly less nifty.... I’d love to get a look under the pickguard...

 

[rgand]

... I’d love to get a look under the pickguard...

Agreed. It can't be too complex.

 

[Strat Avenger]

When Fender and Gibson have done something wholly new, people complain that they should stick to making the classics and not waste time trying to get into ESP/Schecter/Mayones territory.

When Fender and Gibson make plain ol' Standards, people complain they're not innovating and there's no reason to buy the new models.

When Fender and Gibson try something halfway, people complain it's not enough in one direction or another.

People won't let them do anything, really. Someone always finds a way to complain about anything.

That is an unfair statement.  The reason people complain is because whenever Fender and Gibson do something "new", it's something ridiculous and useless for most players. If they would make practical modern upgrades to their production line instruments, there would be very few complaints. EVERY Fender electric guitar should have a contoured heel (except vintage reissues). They should have locking tuners. Noiseless pickups. Threaded machine screw inserts for neck mounting. Graphite (or roller) nuts. Things that make the guitar play and sound better. It's the 21st century, for crying out loud. No one needs (or even wants) automatic tuners. And I find Fender's multi-switching systems a bit absurd as well.

 

[Cagey]

I think you're both posing generalities that I'm quite sure Fender, Gibson, et al study fairly thoroughly before they release some "new" model to the general public. Lotta money there in aggregate and I suspect in many cases there's little difference in cost to the OEM. There will always be people who simply must have the (what I'd call) junkers because that's what so-and-so played, and others who must have the latest and greatest, and all points in between. If that weren't the case, those models some of us think are a waste of time and/or money wouldn't sell and they'd disappear from the face of the Earth.

 

[spe111]

I personally think if they don't produce exactly what I want and nothing else, then they should go out of business and/or die.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

...What is stumping me is the individual volumes on the upper circuit. If they are active only when the upper switch is in the out-of-phase position, which is kind of implied but never really confirmed, then it makes me think they must be using a different switch. Reversing phase with the standard switch would be easy enough but I don’t see how you also bring the volume controls in and out of the circuit.

Confirmation, it is indeed a different switch, a 4-pole behemoth:

That picture is courtesy of a rather informative post over on OSG:

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=114008&start=105

 

[rgand]

That's quite some performance package. Thanks for the post on the wiring.

 

[Rick]

The pick up options on the ultra are similar to the ones I did on my current build.  Good to see Fender catching up.  Also will note, that with Warmoth you can go beyond the standard options and make what you want.

 

[PhilHill]

Sorry to break in OT, but I have to ask. Would you be "the" Cagey, formerly of ManicGeeks fame and onetime owner of a Nash Speed Parts store?  You see, I have a 1947 Les Paul fence post guitar that needs some fretwork.

 

[Cagey]

Yes, 'tis I, as manic as ever!  :icon_biggrin:

How you been?

 

[PhilHill]

I'm pretty much the same, boarderline certifiable, just older. Glad to see your doin' good.
Had a heck of a time getting registered here, apparently NoScript has a grudge against the forum. So I just shut it down while I'm here and it's fine now.

 

[Cagey]

Glad to hear that, and it's good to hear from you!

I run NoScript as well, but I don't have to here except to block a couple/few of the usual suspects. It's a safe site. It's paid for by Warmoth, but is primarily a support site for guitar builders who generally are already using Warmoth products, so they haven't tried to monetize it to death or watch your every move.

Also, Firefox seems to have some problems here. Not sure why, but they modify their code almost daily so it's tough to know what's going on these days with that browser. I just switched to Opera, climbed the shallow learning curve, and called it good.

 

[rgand]

+1 for Opera with NoScript working fine here.