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Topic: Fender FS-52 lap Steel - The New One! |
Tighe Falato
From:
South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
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Gerald Pierce
From:
Maydelle, Republic of Texas
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 11:44 am |
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Alas.....Hecho en China.
But it is cute. |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 12:26 pm
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.....Hecho en China.
But it is cute.
sure it is cute. I have one and it plays fine sounds great an priced fair.
Made in China? sure,you can order takeout chinese,but you can take this Fender out and blow the walls down.So you can just call this baby "A take out "FENDER" you can take this cute baby anywhere. Its like a "combo dinner" Sweet'n Hot 
[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 14 June 2005 at 01:59 PM.] |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 1:16 pm
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I'm sure the Fender Custom Shop could make one in the U.S., if you don't mind paying about 5 times more for it....hmmmm?
Funny how people complain about the price of everything and then complain when something's made outside the U.S. They just don't get it.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 14 June 2005 at 02:17 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 1:53 pm
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Jim
You said it all my friend and I could not have said it better.Longer?yes but not better
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Gerald Pierce
From:
Maydelle, Republic of Texas
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 4:44 pm
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Jim - Fender's custom shop might make one for $2000 (approx 5 times as much as Chinese-made). That's out of my price range, but not everyone's. I pay "too much" for many products by choice in order to help keep some of my neighbors working, but I wouldn't pay that much for one, unless I had a considerably higher income than I do now. Then, it wouldn't be "too much" (after all, it would be a custom-made guitar).
I agree about folks that complain about the price, then complain about imported proucts. I'm aware of many of the reasons USA-made products cost more, so I don't whine, I just pay more to get American-made (if there's a choice) and end up with a smaller pile of "stuff" in the long run, but that's probably a good thing. I ain't got room for the "stuff" I have.
Jody -
Iffin' you say it's sweet'n hot, then no one can doubt it. You are "Mr" Fender Authority. I gotta' remind myself occasionally that Fender ain't Leo anymore, and gas ain't two bits a gallon. But I still ain't ready for a Chinese Fender in my pile.
"I like Moo Goo Gai Pan and Egg Foo Yung
Break out the Soy Sauce and bring me some"
(Copyright 2005 - Uncle Stick Music - BMI)
This is America, folks. If you like 'em, buy one, or buy a couple or more of 'em. That way, you can play one or two, and rathole one. If the production run is short for any reason, they may increase in value someday, and you'll have a brand new one in mint condition. |
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George Manno
From:
chicago
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 5:25 pm
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I played one. I liked it. Not bad for under $400.
GM |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 5:26 pm
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The best part about it being made in China is, that an hour after you've played, you're ready to play again!
TA DA! |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 5:48 pm
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If it's good enough for Jody, it's good enough for me.
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 6:15 pm
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Really bad, Ron.
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MSA Classic 12, Peavey Delta Blues, Proco Rat, Robert Randolph - Shubb bars
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 6:19 pm
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| I know, but at least I beat Howard to the punch this time. Only because he has much better taste, but I'm still laffin! |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 8:06 pm
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Hey Guys
Lets go easy here, I realize Leo is no longer
here,my comment was that for the price and only for those who want a Fender Its a good little guitar.No hard feelings lets keep this cival OK? |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 8:37 pm
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Now now, Jules Ah See, Barney Isaacs, Eddie Pang, Myself and the rest of the Squad Pake say play nicely. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 8:46 pm
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No disrespect to this little gem...it is probably great...Jody approves of it. But honestly guys and gals, what is going to happen to the American economy when EVERYTHING is being made in China ? Even this computer I am using is made in China ! I saw a WAL*MART documentary this evening which showed many US industries chained and locked because of the imbalance of trade between the US and China.  |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 8:56 pm
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| Quote: |
| what is going to happen to the American economy when EVERYTHING is being made in China? |
Look around your house, read where everything's made, including checking the labels in all your clothes and you'll have your answer.
Not that all this China-bashing is anywhere near the topic.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 14 June 2005 at 09:56 PM.] |
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Larry W. Jones
From:
Longmont, Colorado
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 14 Jun 2005 11:46 pm
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| Could it be that global economics is even harder to grasp than playing steel guitar? |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 12:40 am
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| George, when you say "a Wal*mart documentary", do you mean WalMart produced the documentary, or the documentary was about WalMart? [This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 15 June 2005 at 01:45 AM.] |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 1:44 am
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How do they compare to the Champion sound wise? I own a 54'champion in near mint condition and I love the sound.
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55" Fender Stringmaster T8, 54" Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 1:57 am
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How do they compare to the Champion sound wise? I own a 54'champion in near mint condition and I love the sound.
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55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 7:31 am
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This is probably a good steel guitar; but all of the great steel guitars will be made in the U.S.
The folks who brought you the firecracker and sticky rice, just don't have the "soul".
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 7:58 am
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The quality of the Chinese instruments has improved. What you have to look out for is the quality of the wood in the guitar.
In regards to the Fender FS 52 I personally think the price Fender is charging for this instrument is too much given that the cost of manufacture is MUCH less than in the US. Fender has produced so many of their models in the Pacific Rim for bargain prices, so why the high ticket on a simple little lap steel??? |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Mike D
From:
Phx, Az
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 8:19 am
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I saw a WAL*MART documentary this evening which showed many US industries chained and locked because of the imbalance of trade between the US and China.
Take that for what it was, a Frontline hit piece on Wal-Mart. I'm no apologist for 'em (I almost never shop there, I prefer Mom and Pop when I can) and agree that they have some unappealing practices, but they're not the 'Big Evil' that some make 'em out to be.
I thought it was interesting that one of the 'US' factorys that closed becasue of the Chinese competition was French owned. Obviously it was cheaper for the French to pay Americans to do the work than to keep it in France. Wasn't to many years ago that cheap US labor 'ruined' the European markets the same way the Pacific Rim is 'ruining' ours.
The bottom line is that it's us that Wal-Mart is serving. If we didn't shop there, if we insisted on US-made goods (and were willing to pay for them) then that's what Wal-Mart would sell.
Back to lap steels. That's a market I'd love to serve, I have all sorts of sketches and ideas for steels, but with the still-decent prices on great sounding vintage units and the high cost of top quality parts it's tough to put together a really well done steel and sell it for a competetive price. Chinese made Fenders ain't gonna make it easy, but that's OK, it's all about what the customer wants.
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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.
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