A Talk about Fender and Guitar Retail in the Years Ahead.

[@Okgreat-p5z]

You’re so cool and genuine. I’m definitely subscribing to your station. I only wish your store was close enough that I could do all of my business there… thank you for being such a good soul

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

thanks

[@61stratman]

I like going to my local guitar store and check out stuff, I’ve never bought a guitar online, it’s a scary thought for me. Guitars are a very personal thing and I feel that you need to hold and feel it before buying it. So, I’m all about supporting brick and mortar stores like yours. Keep up the good work and everything will be fine, we got your back.

[@chasinguitars]

Stuck with the used gear...That's all most of us can afford anyway....best of luck..love ur channel 🙏

[@foylebutler8952]

I'm an old timer. Music stores used to be a place for musicians to hang out and BS . Its all changed now. Guitar center is great but they have a different crew every few months its seems. I miss the old days.

[@danielcrescenzo354]

Our local shop sells more modelers and audio interfaces than amps. Owner says kids don't want to gig, they want to be influencers.

[@foylebutler8952]

@@danielcrescenzo354 Playing with other musicians is the best part about it!

[@darrenmichaels]

I worked in a small boutique bass shop that shuttered back in 2018. The Fender buy-in cost was huge. That may have been because we only carried bass guitars, though. We also had to purchase X amount of their accessories every year. Ugh, no one wanted to buy that accessory stuff. It piled up stupid fast. Fender gear quickly took over most of our bass inventory. Fender was selling direct and GC had their credit line, so we'd just get "showroomed". Because I kept the Fender basses setup properly and fixed any factory flaws, people came to try ours out and then went over to GC to buy on credit. They'd also buy on GC credit and try to trade for one of ours or get me to make modes (which was still profitable for me). We went from a shop with a great variety of high-end bass gear to being a Fender new old stock graveyard. Access to the custom shop was pretty darn cool, though. Also, I adore my American Fender P. Anyway, thanks for the video. Fender almost bit it a few times before. There are a lot of bright people there. I'm sure they'll find a way through the storm.

[@erickmartin5667]

I would so prefer that the mom & pop stores would come back.

[@tmo7734]

Companies like Fender have “diluted” their brand. Every year they come out with new models that aren’t all that different than the year before - except the price... Furthermore, Fender (Squire) guitars built in Asia are much better than they used to be. As a result, it will become more and more difficult for people to justify paying the high prices for an American-made guitar.

[@didamnesia3575]

Their guitars also vastly range in weight for the same model. Might find a 7lb Mexican strat or a 9.5lb one. They don't pick their woods and they keep making guitars from bad cuts. Their qc is awful. Their American ones are better, but still feel cheaper than an s2 prs, or gibson sg. (Prices of those models are close to each other).

[@ramencurry6672]

For me I like to own both USA and import Strats. Neither are actually technically better. Just different especially if you do mods and pickup changes

[@apastasauce5905]

The fender squire relationship in build quality is reminiscent of the Gibson Epiphone relationship in the 90’s. As Squire becomes more China heavy expect a quality drop off. Initial Chinese runs are generally great for the first two years then the quality control just drops off

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

Fender squire are NOT much better than they used to be, the early Korean ones were great, the Japanese ones were good, the Indonesian CV ones were actually really nice...they've always put our decent guitars like someone else said at the start of a run. The Chinese will start putting out absolute CRAP as soon as the initial run is over.

[@AuntAlnico4]

Prices have to come down all around and they will when people stop buying.

[@mitchsullivan2878]

Thanks for the advice on my blue telecaster neck a couple of weekends ago, got a new neck and it fixed the issue! Great store to visit if you have the chance, will be going back for sure.

[@Okgreat-p5z]

Yippee!!! Merry Christmas!!! So happy to see my best friend!! Heres to a happy healthy new year to you ! Cheers 🎉

[@lonesomelenny7606]

Unless it's a custom guitar that I order, I would rather walk into a music store with my strap and play the guitar. I live in MA so I'll drop in on you sometime. Great videos you produce.

[@jcsolomon6470]

Yes there are a Ton of Guitars on the Market,Fender as well!But,Its all Modern!Got to go back to the Past😮!The Components Of the Vintage World!Hey!😮Classic,not Plastic!So When It Comes the Future of this!You Forge Your Own with your Wits,with Fender Parts of Your Choice and Vision,for Custom,Personal Guitars,and Sales😮!You Have To Be OPEN!This is No Secret!😮😊😃😎❣

[@clicks59]

Mark, thanks for sharing your insight regarding Fender. Best of luck into the new year.

[@RobertFairweatherLuvMachine]

I just bought a IYV PRS copy off of Amazon. 150 delivered. It is amazing. Good luck, Fender.

[@russflynn]

Interesting video as always! Gibson have been retailing exclusive models direct-to-consumer in the past few years as well. And, Fender already has at least one retail store, in Tokyo.

[@funky_monk_9796]

Great insight, Mark, as always 🤝🏼 The big manufacturers' relentless drive for profit, bringing out new lines every couple years, it's got to hit a wall at some point. The capitalist model is killing the magic of the guitar, the excitement of going into a guitar store and trying out your dream instrument after you've saved enough money to buy it, talking to the people there, the sound of wannabe shredders slaughtering their favourite licks. Mark, the world needs people and retailers like you. Like books and vinyl records, I hope guitar stores have a Renaissance asap. Instead of continuously launching new lines, Fender etc could partner more extensively with retailers and artists to promote guitar tuition for example, to drive sales. The new market is completely saturated with thousands of guitar models, and the pre-owned market is 1000 times more saturated! It's like we're being forced to focus on what model of guitar we play, instead of what music we're playing. We're at a turning point for sure, no doubt brought on at least in part by the pandemic. Support your local independent guitar store! 💗☄🤘🏼🎸

[@markinmemphis]

Love your channel, Mark. I ordered a Deluxe Reverb from their site a couple of years ago. Couldn’t find one in stock locally at the time, and they were running a promotion. I think the Sweetwater’s of the world will lose the most from Fender’s direct sales.

[@mikem668]

I disagree about Sweetwater. I always buy my stuff through Sweetwater if I can because I trust them and I want someone between me and the manufacturers. Sweetwater has my back. I don't trust Fender for sure. I've also become friends with my sales rep. I'd rather some of my money end up in his pocket than Fender's. Of course, Sweetwater is so large, they might lose the most money. And I understand why my logic would apply to those who have a local dealer they trust, which AFAIK I don't. Customer service matters. And overall, in my experience, it's getting worse. Amazon's used to be great. Not now. I've bought stuff Sweetwater doesn't carry from Amazon and also cheap pedals just to try them out. For the good stuff, the prices are the same and lots are being sold direct. I would guess the biggest gear threat is to boutique pedal companies. Both due to digital and cheap Made in China stuff. My sense is that it they will eventually, if it hasn't happened already, be just as good as the expensive ones. It reminds me of cheap Japanese transistor radios when I was a kid. Lots of junk, but not for long.

[@ronj9448]

@@mikem668 I've had some weak Sweetwater experiences lately. And didn't the guy who founded the store retire? More bean counting and less quality of service going on.

[@Ebadd9]

I don't understand how people can buy a guitar without trying it first. The quality from guitar to guitar still varies a lot. If people buy stuff online and local stores have to close I think the quality will drop after that and consumers won't be able to do anything about it. It's important to support your local store.

[@khimbittle7705]

Great channel and discussion

[@CameraLaw]

My closest local store is GC. I’ll walk in there and mostly nobody notices or helps me and all the cool guitars I like are under lock and key. So I’ve purchased from Sweetwater, stores online, and through Reverb, all with great success. It’s a risk, yes, but I’ve gotten a feel for it. If I was near you, Mark, you can bet I’d be a loyal customer. Happy New Year!

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

Thanks.

[@alsantangelo]

Same. The local store I grew up with has closed so now the nearby place is GC but so many guitars are locked up, and I don't want to have to have someone unlock it and then stand there and have to wait for me to be done looking at it. Or, have someone unlock something just because I've never touched one and just want to see how heavy it is and then put it right back. Locking up everything is just not a fun experience.

[@Chiller11]

The thing that is missing from an online sale is the inspection and set up piece. Guitars are funny things and the playing experience, especially for novice buyers can be altered significantly by a knowledgeable retailer making certain the action is properly set, the fret ends aren’t snagging you, the intonation is correct etc. The good guitar shops used to do those types of tweaks plus give advice on humidity levels and maintenance etc that was part of the guitar buying experience. That is all being lost.

[@benallmark9671]

Merry Christmas Mike !

[@TeleCaster66]

I liked it better when Fender had no options other than color. You found the one that felt good in your hands and sounded good to your ears and you bought it and that was the end of it. If you want to a Stratocaster now you've got about a dozen choices, to me it'd be if they just made one good one. I'm old Haha.

[@tylerstooksbury3050]

Selling direct will definitely be helpful for them with the tariffs. I be shocked if there any sort of exemption for guitars. I’d be interested to see how the music industry as a whole will react.

[@DNKOTOR]

A new American Standard used to be $1200 CAD in 2010. The American Pros are going for $2500 CAD today. Wages haven't doubled in that time. Will people be buying a CNC streamlined piece of wood for $5000 in 2040?

[@therealtech833]

@@DNKOTOR this is why boutique brands such as Reverend, G&L and others are much better values for money. For the $1200 you can get the equivalent of fender custom Shop quality from these brands. Let Fender isolate themselves, and simply ignore them. Let them become the joke of the industry. It's kind of dumb all the hand ringing about fender doing this or that, they are a name and a legacy, they're not God, or the god of the music industry. There will always be a market for the old stuff, nostalgia, but if they keep in their ways, their future will diminish.

[@emilychanfan]

​@therealtech833 Do you feel the Nostalgia Market will fade with Boomers and Gen X? There may be shrinking Collector's Markets and smaller pockets of players that seek out Grandpa's gear.

[@therealtech833]

I can tell you from personal experience, as someone who likes to play guitar, companies like fender are not my go-to. I have been much happier with brands like Reverend. It's about value for money, attention to detail, and an instrument that has a unique quality sound and look. Your typical fender is a dime a dozen type instrument. For what I paid for my Reverend Jetstream RB, to get the same quality electronics, wiring and grounding, locking tuners, etc. would be considerably more from a brand like fender. They built it to a price point, it's not that Ken from Reverend is immune, but his love of guitars exceeds his love of money. Several other niche brands do this as well. I couldn't agree more with you that the market for smaller guitar shops will be more used, and I am drawn to purchase a used instrument, and it doesn't have to have a fender name or Gibson name. If it's a good quality instrument, I will be one of the people lining up to look at it and purchase it. Over the years I've seen some fine instruments made by brands like G& L and have been very impressed.

[@ronj9448]

I noticed you can buy Fender on their website. They are now selling returns on their Reverb channel as well. "Certified Returns" or something like that. I don't buy Fender custom shop for $4,000+. Illogical. I did buy over the summer a Vintage Squire Tele for $300.00. I swear there is nothing wrong with it so I had to buy it. It was crazy. I think it is made in China. Played it at a few jam sessions and felt relaxed about it getting damaged vs my G&L which I baby. Ten years ago I bought a used Hamer import for $200.00 and that has been wonderful to play. Past inventory is the biggest threat. There is too much.

[@therealtech833]

@@ronj9448 G&L 👍🏼

[@OldGuy2-m4c]

Thanks, there is nothing in the store on 12/272024 but had Christmas Day sales comments... You were one of 150 lucky buyers.

[@throughkenslens7972]

Do you deal in PRS? Bet you could sell a ton of SE and they still appreciate you by not selling direct.

[@waynehicks1969]

It seems there is room for smaller regional guitar manufacters to replace Fender and Gibson that can sell through local outlets. Let a thousand small guitar companies bloom.

[@matsumoku1]

Exactly. It's time for new players. Fender banks on the fact that they were one of the "first in" makers of guitars. Most people, especially online are obsessed with collecting vintage ones because of this phenomenon. But once you start building your own guitars, putting them together yourself, you realize that that a great playing guitar takes precedence over a name. It's not magic to put together a great guitar, you just great parts and some skill. Let collectors have their own space and have more local makers.

[@thereaper987]

Great content and great commentary. However, your volume seems a little low for me? I say that as a question because I'm not sure that anyone else has the same thought. I have to really crank it to hear you it seems.

[@davidsteinberg8024]

What I'm wondering is has Fender solved the support issue with direct sales. Who will fix that mis-cut nut under warranty?

[@mars6433]

Any authorized Fender dealer has to fix any Fender product that is under warranty regardless where it was purchased, as long as it was a Fender dealer.

[@lazvt8469]

@@mars6433 Yep, had an amp fixed a few years ago under warranty by an 'authorized' dealer....

[@misterknightowlandco]

If you’re taking a guitar into a shop for a mis-cut nut… you have problems besides a bad nut

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@mars6433 I think what is actually asking is who is going to be doing the authorized repair work once smaller shops go out of business.

[@1997Ghost]

@@misterknightowlandco why is that? you think everyone has the time to try to develop luthier skills and buy the tools you need to replace a nut?

[@vintageswiss9096]

Buying a guitar you've never played is like buying a car you've never test driven... And the price isn't much different depending on the models, lol...

[@russshaber8071]

Or marrying a woman you just met on the internet.

[@ronj9448]

But you do that all the time with a car rental. If someone is driving a 4dr corolla and gets on vacation a 2dr mustang rag top they'll manage gladly. And the same could be with guitars. Someone playing a Walmart special for $99.99 might be too excited getting that MIM. And their skill level might not be at the level to tell the variations over $600.00. They're not going to understand it in the store. When I was starting out I thought online was ok. But now I'd like to be sure I'm getting what I need new otherwise what I have at home is great enough. So I don't disagree with you but only at a certain price point and play level.

[@MustangBasssman]

Thank you for exposing these crooks. My local dealer is literally being driven out of selling fender now. I was a Fender Fan boy but due to the fact the guitar I want is only online and I can't have delivery to home or work I now have no choice but to look at other brands such a Gibson and now Epiphone. Eipiphone are making some awesome guitars in the higher price range but not yet the Gibson price, but defiantly as good as Gibson IMO. Keep posting

[@Dabluze]

Bottom line is money.They want their shareholders to have more money in their pockets. This will come back to bite them. when no one can go to a shop ant try guitars, then i see a lot of smaller shops will go to the wall. i think what they will see by going direct selling is their actual sales per year will drop hugely. why. because most of their sold stock is already in the hands of the shop owners who bought them to sell in their shops. what you have to all do is when fender rep comes to your shop is tell him to f***off and go sell his goods online, and dont come back here again. if you shops all do that, they will realise big time what they have done. There are many great guitar builders out there we dont need fender that badly. Fender have to realise that they sell so much because of these shops. Greedy corporations.

[@johtfloridaman6227]

this strategy cost nike billions. let them loose it.

[@ssdelko]

Merry Christmas Mark!

[@GreenpointRemembers]

I got 5 fender Mexican guitars this year online and they are all great guitars. However, I don’t see myself buying another Fender guitar after all that, I have enough.

[@ericbortega]

I've been playing for 34 years. I still haven't played a Fender that impressed me enough to buy it. I do have an amp, though.

[@reverendg5937]

Geetar Gorilla loves tales of the greatest guitar company ever in the univers!!!!! 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@Supergrunged]

The Gibson Garage is a perfect example of this. Direct sales, and their own store.

[@lostlandmarks8305]

Merry Christmas Mark 👋🏼

[@peterfredrickmeyer]

Nicely done Marc

[@stuartkennedy4570]

How many people are buying direct? How much sales have been lost by dealers?

[@sweethands4328]

I dont know how guitar shops can do it anymore

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Buying a guitar by remote is the WORST thing you can do.

[@danielsalisbury245]

If they have experienced repair staff, then they'll always have a place in the economy despite the ongoing deathblows to brick and mortar. Guitar Center repair work is 50% getting shipped to a major city for repairs and 50% inexperienced wrencher on staff who'll bow your neck because he knows you don't know what a proper truss rod adjustment should look like/feel like/cost.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@danielsalisbury245 Fender guitars have a factory setup with is rarely perfect or ideal. A shop usually includes a setup with any purchase of a guitar.

[@CHRiverside]

My local mom and pop is making most of their money on repairs and lessons. They also sell a lot of used gear, now.

[@rolandwheeler4842]

Interesting. Maybe you can make a video about Gibson, who has always made their products in America (not counting Epiphone). I read somewhere that they may be looking to go overseas with production. Anyway, like your take on the industry.

[@matsumoku1]

It would be hard to blame Gibson for doing that, since the American government raided them. American should be in scare quotes too because these people are not American. Our current "leaders" became obsessed over "global" politics and made wood become too expensive, as if it doesn't grow on trees. So it's way easier and obviously cheaper to make them overseas. What need to happen is a combination of tariffs and removal of regulations so makers in the us can pump out good guitars at a reasonable cost. It can happen, but our current crop of politicians won't let it happen, or they most likely don't care. They make you scared that overseas made guitars might cost more. But that has to happen to stimulate our economic growth. Then we'll all be better off.

[@auraman1000]

I think the established well known brands will survive but there are so many good manufacturers out there with lower overheads that produce good quality guitars as for the high street shops they are up against it, I worry for these retailers they have high overheads, and in the UK they are being taxed out of business by succesive governments.

[@bradc32]

i'll just wait for a good used git to show up in a store like Garys and play it get their opinion if it been modded. don't mind that but ya got to do a good job and keep the original stuff and it going into the price

[@patticake5311]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop with this stuff. It's pretty depressing, but I guess that's life. Seems like getting more money for shareholders is harming pretty much everything in every industry. Amazon gets to sell the new Squier Debut series, and I'm guessing they'll be selling a lot of them at $129 for a bass and a little less for a guitar, so FMIC's changes may not affect Amazon in the same way as music stores and other retailers. I was surprised GC lasted this long after Bain saddled them with debt. Other businesses, like Toys R Us and Payless, went under from this kind of vulture capitalism, but GC is still standing, more or less - at least, enough to sell part of to Aries. * sigh *

[@rbatman9704]

Wish had a good shop like you close to me.

[@carlosegtrs5308]

As a Fender dealer. Not sure if I wanna continue.

[@lesliel1182]

Those some pretty bitter guys at GC, I'll never go back there. They give you no assistance whatsoever. Make an amp feedback and be prepared to defend yourself.

[@misterknightowlandco]

No one wants to hear you cranking up a tube amp. If I was a customer at said store and you were cranking an amp loud enough to get feedback… I’d probably leave. We all know what a Marshall does and it’s annoying as shyt for you to try and do it in a damn store.

[@lesliel1182]

@@misterknightowlandco Thanx__ever_hear_of_headroom?....You_can_tell_a_lot_about_the_tonal_quality_from_pushing_an_amp.__But_as_you're_clearly_a_know_nothing_GS_employee_you_wouldn't_know_about_that

[@motokev2727]

If I was to buy a strat these days, I'd build a Warmoth.

[@georgecaplan11]

Fender and Gibsons biggest competition is all of their own guitars on the second hand market. My Fender player plus Strat is awesome.

[@pmkrak]

The problem is that, when I was a teenager in the 80's when you played guitar in high-school (and if you were any good) you were the shit! You were on the same level as the starting Quarterback on the varsity team. You got all the girls and everyone wanted to be your friend. You were a "Micro-Superstar". Nintendo and Rap came along and everything changed. Rock became Jazz and the guitar became the saxophone. Yeah, kids still play it and it's still cool but given a choice, it's video games with their online friends. When you go into a music store now all you see is a bunch of Boomers and Gen X'ers. We're retired or approaching it. We're not the demographic for sustainability of a company. Plus there are way more companies that are vying a piece of the dwindling market. Companies like Fender and Gibson have to fight as hard as they can and keep up with the modernization of how young people shop if they expect to stick around. Let's face it. The Boomers are in the process of dieing off, us Gen X'ers are in the process of retiring and for the most part our buying days are behind us. So you're going to have to deal with it because time and life marches on.

[@JefferyHagen]

I’m Gen X too and you’re correct and it’s also true of a lot of our hobbies and interests from our youth and adulthood.

[@archieguitarz4700]

@@JefferyHagen Definitely, look at classic cars. Go to any car show and the average age is sixty something.

[@motokev2727]

I lost interest in fender years ago. Back in the mid 90s they made sweet guitars. But, their top tier strats these days are not even close.

[@stuartkennedy4570]

How many People are buying direct from Fender? How much have store sales declined as a result?

[@OldGuy2-m4c]

I bought thru them during Christmas Sales four times in December. When they offer their second best gig bag for $48 instead of $119 it's a no brainer. They were marking down stuff from 10-60%. That guitar bag was like 70% off.

[@philipwalker8045]

The Fender store here in Tallahassee closed down about around 2008. It sold Fender only! They won’t come back!

[@louderthangod]

I watched a video about the direct to consumer trend with Nike and how it hasn’t gone well for them and while that’s still an option for customers, Nike is putting more of a focus on their retail partners again. Might be something we see with Fender in a few years.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

very good point

[@FJness]

I personally have noticed a huge drop in quality in fender guitars.

[@gshep42]

Thanks Mark!

[@danielcrescenzo354]

I don't envy you man. If I was going to do it I'd post up as a lutherie and amp repair shop, and buy, sell, and fix used gear. Greed is king, service is not as appreciated as it once was.

[@johnparsons6750]

How many guitars are their in the world? Has to be increasing. They keep pumping them out but the old ones don’t deplete like cars. And not everyone is a collector

[@backyard_expert]

Never buy a guitar online, feel of the guitar is more important than a picture of a guitar.

[@mrpaiute9013]

I wasnt that impressed with the Player 2 limited Strat I got from GC. Hopefully they can live up to the name, probably my last Fender buy

[@MPNNag]

Fender just raised their pricing almost double today.

[@1997Ghost]

not true

[@johnnyx9892]

I have not seen that. I was looking at a Strat on their Mod Shop a couple of months ago. I just checked and the price has not changed

[@davidyeager8524]

Almost double??? Not a lick of truth!

[@MPNNag]

@@johnnyx9892 Wow sorry, looks like I was looking at Australia pricing or something. Reset my computer to USA.

[@nixoni.bogaine155]

Fender store… No thanks. I prefer the real deal: old carpet, drop ceilings, and used guitars. The way it should be 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙

[@danhopper8266]

Their online exclusives are boring af though. Yippee, ANOTHER Strat or Tele in a boring color. Make stuff that’s actually cool like Toronados and more Jazzmasters

[@cajunqueen5125]

👍👍👍

[@30smsuperstrat]

I find more deals on Apple at Bestbuy than Apple store. Feel that would be the same with Fender. And I don't mean the short-lived Bestbuy musical instruments area😂.

[@M_EvoBass]

With all the fakes, buying direct is the only way to assure you have a legit instrument. I'm surprised they haven't opened their own stores already. I do feel for you though Mark. I'm in a similar situation myself, just different industry. All the best brother

[@funky_monk_9796]

Good points, well made 🤝🏼 Fender stores would surely cost a whack to set up and run, but they'd be mobbed with punters for sure. BTW, that's a fkn wild and rad-looking bass in your thumbnail, dude!! 🤤🤓

[@M_EvoBass]

@funky_monk_9796 hey brother. Specialist manufacturers can cope with the rent rates etc of a store. Games Workshop did it during the 80s and they're a huuuge plc now. Bass in profile - 50s Fender PBass with anodised scratchplate. The Byrds, Skip Batin playing 8 miles high live 1971. 😉

[@M_EvoBass]

@funky_monk_9796 and yes you're 100% correct, people would flock to the stores. 🤘

[@M_EvoBass]

@funky_monk_9796 for some bass drum locking in 😎 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKrQnHV7ncl7eKcsi=nZlQ2-MH6zya8ox1

[@philipwalker8045]

Like most of the other companies in the US, Fender will “F” the small business man! My advice, sell everything now and move to the Bahamas! 🤗

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

There's a good chance the Bahamas do not want us.

[@Drawfornoone]

A fender store would be cool the first week but fail after 😂

[@3PLMAG]

Has anyone ever told you your voice sounds like Tom Hanks?

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

So, you're saying I sound like a movie star? I'll take it! When I did a voiceover in a movie once, I sounded like James Spader.

[@tschieding]

I predict that over the next decade Esquire will thrive and Fender will go under. Most musicians are not financially well off. Spending $1,000 for a guitar is simply beyond the means of someone who lives from paycheck to paycheck. Since they likely can afford an Esquire tele or strat selling for a couple hundred dollars, and that guitar is not much different than the Fender model, they will buy It that guitar. It may be time to start looking at retirement, Gary. Sorry to say.

[@Tonetwisters]

One must consider the possibilities of the world's situation ... MANY serious and DIFFICULT changes are coming to the world that will make things like guitars, completely negligible. Choose LIFE. Choose Jesus. NOW. While you still can.

[@robphillips8351]

I will buy from a store as long as it's not GC

[@whiskybravo4648]

Mark at Gary’s……

[@GrandOld-Parr]

I hope i die before brick and mortar dies😢

[@tymanngruter1808]

The Japanese Fender guitars are the new standard for the coming years IMHO, the American is just to expensive. Better reasamble a Harley Benton! 🤔

[@Laxcoach1574]

Let’s do another signature strat! All the same. No innovation.

[@alangreenway6695]

Currently I’ve noticed here in the UK there is barely any Left Handed Fender stock available in the shops here. Admittedly this doesn’t bother me because the last US Fender I bought had endless QC issues including the Electronics, Nut and Neck Pocket. Not the first issue I’ve had. No desire to deal directly with Fender if they will continue with such shoddy workmanship.

[@microwrx]

I'm in Aus and around me it's similar. When my daughter bought her first guitar a couple of years ago we went to a brick and mortar store and she had a large choice being RH but (I was thinking about taking it up myself) I had a look around and could count the number of LH guitars amongst the plethora of RH guitars on one hand. So I got my first guitar online. Same deal when she wanted to get herself a bass a year later (she's still learning both as well as drums and piano), an even bigger store with heaps of guitars and basses for her to pick from, but a similar handful of LH guitars for me to look at. So a year in and I have a bunch of cheap 2nd hand guitars as it's the only way to 'see what I like' having nobody I know who is LH and plays to be able to borrow/test from and no local stores that carry any stock. Is what it is I guess.

[@alangreenway6695]

@ For about a 5 year run there was quite a nice selection of Lefties here, and Gibson, Epiphone and Schecter still offer a fair amount, but Fender is definitely cutting back, and there is just less stock in stores. I’m not sure if it’s the same for righty stock, but it’s obvious on the lefty side.

[@Jj-bh1tv]

Too many better options for the money

[@gunsofsteele]

Right now Fender has 20% off a bunch of stuff. Can you sell an American Ultra Luxe Stratocaster Floyd Rose HSS for $2199.99?

[@charlesbolton8471]

I’m sure any authorized dealer CAN sell any Fender product for the same price as Fender’s website. The real question is would they? It very well might depend on the financial arrangement the particular dealer has with Fender. Some dealers pay for their inventory upfront others don’t pay until the item sells.

[@PontiacS]

I bought a Few Guitars online, unplayed. Will NEVER do it again.

[@fearnpol4938]

Just wait until Donaidh bheag starts his tariffs and all those parts from Mexico and Asian go up by 25%.

[@claudiajay8291]

I think everyone should have an American made Fender in their collection . I have a couple Mexican Player guitars… I’d like to trade up to one American Fender. Happy Holidays 🎉🎉 May your 2025 be very prosperous !

[@misterknightowlandco]

It’s funny I had an old American standard I just sold to buy an old USA peavey predator someone put fender standard USA pickups and locking tuners on, plus brakes and tires for my truck 😂TBH the standard was a better axe, but not by enough to justify the price difference. I liked having a USA standard, like my truck being able to get through the snow and a peavey predator better though. Life happens I guess.

[@davidyeager8524]

I disagree! I’ve noticed that Fender Mexico production has gone down on a steep slope the last 5 years. They produce so many a month that fit and finish has suffered.

[@Sams911]

Fender is really about Fender USA and a bit about Fender Mexico.... the rest of it is all subcontracting to other companies - BtW, Gibson has been doing this for years... even on super high end guitars.

[@jaredlucow]

After years of different strats I find myself now with a 2022 Japan Strat Hybrid 2 that I got for $800 new in asia and slays every other one I've ever had

[@alfsmith4936]

I know a lot of people are boycotting American brands because of your new president and his tariffs, so anyone who isn't making guitars abroad is going to suffer. Guitar stores are a hobby now. They're a good warehouse for your Reverb and Ebay shop.

[@ratmadness4858]

Fender has a cheap Chinese Stratocaster on Amazoon

[@stonkpuppets6393]

Trump ❤️

[@daveweed2765]

Just say it outright. Fender is a corporation and the more thier CEOs make even with transportation costs. Its not about guitars or quality. Its about the idiots with an MBA running the company for thier bonuses. I am not above cheaper guitars. Hell half or better of the time the cheaper ones are better. But online buying? You never know what you are gonna' get. Play any instrument before you buy it.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Nothing new by fender. They just charge more for 60 year old designs.

[@oneanother1]

Fender please lower the price of your tone master. Lol Just start making fence guitars from Indonesia to pass on the savings to the consumer, so you can stop with increasing your prices for every new release. 2025, no More guitars to me. I want a nice fender amp though.

[@timtompkins6752]

Face Book Market Place. Find it. Play it. Buy it. Make a friend. It’s the world we live in folks. The “woke” Fender ad campaign during the pandemic…I’ll NEVER buy a new Fender product again.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

Facebook Marketplace is two words, not four.

[@SPliskin]

GC sucks, wouldn't buy anything from them

[@dpajc056]

So the retailers pocket the biggest piece?

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

Those were rough numbers. With fender I keep 30-something percent of the sale, then I have to pay everyone and keep the lights on, so it's not "pocketing," I don't get to keep all of that money.

[@chrisfournier6144]

When a business man who understands business addresses mark up questions! You're supposed to do it for love and donate all funds to street musicians...;)

[@samright4661]

People talk shit about Gibson but all the Guitars are made in America! You don’t see a Mexican Les Paul

[@dddd717]

Easy solution(many not like this) fender is going to bring the Mexican employees to America. They can pay them less and still be USA made. You want it made by Americans? These are (cough:central) Americans ! 😂😂😂

[@DrVinnieBoombots]

Try and keep your hands AWAY from your face and mouth.

[@RootsBassCanada]

Fenders are not allowed in my house anymore. I was able to get rid of my American Pro II Pbass and use my son’s Squire Bronco instead. 🤷🏻

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

My Pro II Strat is great. Did you get a setup done on yours?

[@1997Ghost]

fender own squier though so a fender is in your house. not sure why you wouldn't want a fender in your house anyways. they make great instruments.