How Fender Stratocasters Are Made in the USA

[@jazzdrumguy5044]

Man, what an incredible design - from the body to the headstock - I just LOVE my many Strats - US, Mexi, and Asian (and Teles!).......thank you, Leo Fender!!!

[@Transterra55]

Outstanding video… So much easier to watch with just music playing instead of someone speaking.

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

yes, and happy too about no factory noice :)

[@kevinjenner9502]

Designed in 1954, and perfectly embodies the “form follows function” aesthetic.

[@buckellard]

And each one is loved as though it's the best one ever made.

[@DeadGlassEyes]

Nah, mine played like shit so I sold it.

[@jerrymckenzie1858]

I'm very happy with all of my Fender instruments!

[@warrenosborne6044]

Gotta a 77 USA P It bought my first house. Sweat the finish down to bare wood, lotta gigs. It fell 6 feet off a a stage onto concrete,, never went out of tune. Thanks Leo.

[@mjb1308]

Bugger the haters of late. Massive shout out to every one of those workers who made my Left handed Fiesta red Vintage 2 Strat. It's an heirloom, worth every cent and I absolutely adore it. Being a lefty, maybe I just appreciate it more? I dunno? I do know that mine has Zero issues, in fact, it's perfect and a joy to play. Thanks Fender for thinking of us lefties with the V2 and the Fiesta red.

[@jamesjeager129]

Nice, I’m a lefty guitar player and I always wanted a fiesta red Stratocaster and the American Professional 2 Jazzmaster in dark night blue from Fender USA. Hopefully one day I can get both of them later on. Also have you ever tried to buy a custom order from Fender mod shop because I would love to get one.

[@mjb1308]

@@jamesjeager129 Yeah James, I too have my eye on the Dark Night Jazzmaster! I can't get a modshop, as I'm in Australia. We can't order them down here apparently, not online at least. If I was to order a mod shop, it would have been the Vintage 2 specs anyway, or close enough, so yeah, thanks Fender.

[@jamesjeager129]

@@mjb1308 oh ok and that sucks. I’m from the USA, besides just getting the electric guitars I want from Fender and the Mod Shop is I want to buy a American Acoustic-sonic Fender Jazzmaster because that is one of the guitars I want to get first. Sadly they don’t have a left handed model so one day I would want to make a custom order from the fender custom shop to buy the same specs on it. I think I would like to have it stainless steel frets because Fender has Stainless Steel frets for a few years. It was nice to meet you and take care buddy. :)

[@mjb1308]

@@jamesjeager129 You too my friend.

[@kevinjenner9502]

I prefer my made in China Shijie, over my 2 FCS strats, at 1/4 the price.

[@noorvanprasetyo9437]

Nobody perfect, but for me this is perfect..i appreciate.

[@venturaVlogger]

Strats made in corona California they really sounds different and smooth

[@Ophidicus]

I went on the Fender Corona factory tour and the visitor pass picture printer was on the Fritz so everyone on the tour had a picture of an 80 year old woman was fantastic.

[@williamhanna4823]

I took that tour several years ago. It was fascinating to watch manufacturing in progress.

[@TREVORJB101]

Fender American Vintage is my favorite

[@soeren_guitar]

That was very satisfying to watch this! 😊

[@anthonystark5412]

The music in this video is captivating.

[@lkscardoso2750]

Incredible.

[@DavidComdico]

Just like Leo did it😄

[@HunterLee-m8f]

It's crazy that fender started in the 40s and it's still the most played guitar in the world

[@vernonsaayman9741]

Ive often wondered just after the 1966 cbs takeover why some strats were fitted woth the larger unsightly jazzmaster type headstock?

[@tombuck]

This is actually one of my favorite bits of trivia! CBS wanted musicians to only play their brand (Fender) on tv and they wanted the instruments to be easy to identify, so the super enlarged headstock/fonts made them pop out on low res broadcasts.

[@philfrank5601]

The American Pro 2 guitars don't come in that older style, classic case. It's a black, plastic hardshell case. This staged unboxing using a traditonal Fender tweed case is for this video.

[@dustinharris8057]

Amazing video and guitar!

[@johnnyangel1977]

Awesome

[@parzival1958]

I notice very little PPE in use in some areas. If that was in the UK, the place would get closed down.

[@garyjennings5490]

The shapers at 3:40 - 3:57 - oh yeah😃

[@noorvanprasetyo9437]

Just lovely.. fantastique..

[@biguenzo]

Fender Mex: made by mexicans in mex. Fender USA: made by mexicans in USA

[@catopwnzify]

Straight up it’s true. And it’s probably much better build in Mexico.

[@MAX96MENDES]

@@catopwnzify Mexican made Fenders are WAY Much Better than USA built Fenders. I own them, so I can say its true. However the Fender prices are as ridiculous as Gibson´s. Too much ! Pretty soon no one will be buying them unless you are a millionaire

[@kenichi407]

@@MAX96MENDES what you talkin' about willis? inflation adjusted, american made strats are pretty much the same price they've been for decades. i remember buying a brand spanking new "american standard stratocaster" in 1991 for $750. inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars, that's what american pro's or whatever equivalent is going for.

[@SajidWaikhom]

​@@MAX96MENDES You are spreading misinformation. Fenders are quite affordable, unlike Gibsons.

[@MAX96MENDES]

@@SajidWaikhom Well, if you have the money, go ahead and purchase them. No problem with me. Personally, I don´t have the cash. I have to work hard for a living and what little money I have left from paying my bills is what I have to buy a brand new guitar. If fenders were to lower their 2,000+ dollar guitar prices, I might buy more "Made in America" Fenders. If you really research around , the final product you are buying is not entirely perfectly made, for the prices you are paying. I have bought "Made in Mexico" and "Made in Indonesia" guitars (from other brands) with better quality and craftsmanship. As for Gibson´s, I am not one of their fan-boys. I could not care less for the sticker-name that is written on the guitar headstock.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

The MIM made fenders are just as good professional quality craftsmanship and the players series standards are the closest to the old school Strats

[@bkhoavo]

Both made by Mexicans

[@deepdance111]

Piekna otoczka ....Masówka ......

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Ironically the soundtrack music is played on an Ibanez!

[@brenoravany]

😲 my GZUIX Cristin qq isso mermão muito massa! Sensacional!!!

[@peterm3964]

Brilliant design Tele and Strat. I am a les paul guy . The value just isn’t there in a Strat /Tele,. but The minimalist designs are astonishingly well executed . And Leo Fender couldn’t even play guitar .

[@iamanovercomer3253]

True, Leo couldn't play guitar BUT some of the greatest guitar players, gave up their Gibson for a Fender STRATOCASTER; JEFF BECK , ROBIN TROWER , JIMI HENDRIX

[@vincentlussier8264]

A Fender guitar has become as popular as any consumer item can possibly get!

[@shobudski6776]

@@iamanovercomer3253Don’t get butthurt. He said that they were brilliant designs. Fyi, Hendrix played a white Gibson SG custom at times. He wasn’t Fender exclusively. Oxblood Les Paul for Jeff Beck and a Sunburst LP at the Les Paul tribute concert. John Mayer left Fender for PRS. Fender guitars aren’t the end all be all of electric guitars.

[@timhallas4275]

The real shame is, that each one of these people is trained to do one job over and over, like little human robots, while each guitar will be treated as an individual by it's owner. Not one employee can actually build a guitar from scratch. There are no luthiers in this plant.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

Custom Shop for luthiers!

[@rocinblues]

I hope Fender looks at the video at 2:00 (timestamp), no wonder they have QC issues. Bottom line, that is not how you make a first or even a final pass on fret leveling. I've played for over 50 yrs and do all my tech work, I now see why I had so much fret work on my last few new USA Fender Strats.... The video was hard to watch 2 minutes in..... ugh...

[@jamesjeager129]

I think the Fender USA factory should learn to put a piece of cardboard on the frets on all guitars and bass to prevent the frets from getting pressure damaged. The cause of it is the guitar case that is pressing the guitar strings and the frets by shipping to their customer or all guitar stores beside factory errors. A guitar brand from the USA Suhr guitars does put a piece of cardboard on the frets on all of their guitars. I’ve heard this from Troglys Guitar show (KZbin channel) talking about preventing the guitar frets from getting pressured damage from the guitar case.

[@rocinblues]

Interesting, years ago..... Peavy made an Eddie Van Halen model that had a heavy plastic (real nice) protective fret covering. I bought one, it was a decent guitar (but not great)@@jamesjeager129

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

Good point! It does look sloppy (because it is). I also do all my own tech work. I refretted my Telecaster a few months ago, and while it was a bit of a learning experience, the end result is OK.

[@rocinblues]

Nice !! Plus you saved yourself $400 - $600 !! Cheers@@1man1guitarletsgo

[@philfrank5601]

​@@jamesjeager129 My Am Pro 2 Strat came new from the factory with ths cardboard cover you speak of. This video's."unboxing" is staged, using a different case here as well.

[@musicaltelly2020]

Next how to build a mini box tanpura

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

I prefer Japanese Luthiers.

[@noorvanprasetyo9437]

Yups, agree.

[@HavendaleBlvd80]

@bytesurfer8651 Fortunately, there is an easy solution to solve that problem. Higher end models have great pickups. My 81 tokai Silver star 38 pickups do the trick, but I'm sure if I upgraded the pickups it level up the guitar a bit more.

[@zambot3325]

Get a CBS Strat like Jimi and the Beatles played

[@gioier]

How to Customize a Left Handed U.S.A. Stratocaster from Italy?

[@FrancescoCasta1]

I love to play guitars but if I had to build guitars every day I would quit playing.

[@guitarquynhon]

1:40 make a guitar neck looking professional

[@martgryfny]

So it is mostly CNC plus hammering.

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

I was surprised that the clips showing hammering made it to the final cut. No way would I have allowed them if I'd been involved in the production.

[@lensmusic98105]

well they kinda breezed over the part that takes the longest- the paint/finish coats

[@philippesabathier9737]

Après avoir vu la vidéo d’un artiste fabricant seul une guitare tu apprécies d’autant le travail d’un orfèvre.

[@victorbarker9497]

parts of that production looked a bit primitive with the basing

[@razzle1964]

I found this quite mesmerising, whilst stoned … and, strangely erotic, almost. Explains why my 50s blonde & 80s silver models went & hid in the cupboard under the stairs.

[@mikemayorov2195]

Thanks, now it's clear how it got so bad.

[@militant_daisies]

my strat has a dent on it and not a day goes by it doesnt bother me.

[@hendraderma2021]

Fender Indonesia, made by Indonesians on PT. Cort Indonesia

[@nasticanasta]

You're being punked on prices folks...ye'll suckers! 🤣

[@ashikabbasali1836]

Get a good player to test the guitar 🎸

[@Docante1]

Excellent product Its not reasonable to expect a perfect guitar when they have to crank out a million guitars a year This isn’t 1954

[@you2vertigo]

Check out the Tokai factory in Japan (one example) and compare the production methods....no wonder Fender and Gibson quality is not consistent

[@iamanovercomer3253]

I love my 🇺🇸 strat. I was looking at a Mex telecaster and I decided to check out the 🇺🇸 professional 2 telecaster Miami Blue and when I held it in my hands, it was mine.... When I get cash, I might buy it. I say that because Fender has raised the price.... so I will look at something else maybe. Fender has to get out of communist California and go to a state that is more business friendly or Fender might go bye bye ‼️

[@rexmasters1541]

I have been a Fender dealer for years and years. Fender quality is terrible and it keeps getting worse everyday. Their Bassbreaker amp line up was cheap junk that never worked right in any model. The lack of quality also effects every brand that Fender owns. Charvel and Jacksons guitars all have quality problems. Fender has fallen from grace and they have no idea how many people are walking away from the brand.

[@jonathoncoward9358]

Would you agree that that could have played a part in the success of the prs silver sky?

[@alecr666x]

Our store has recently ditched Fender for the exact reasons you've just mentioned. Been a Fender dealership since the 80's.

[@willem9688]

Since when did the quality decline? Ive been playing the shit out of my 2003 American Series Strat, since 2004 when i bought it new, and i'm still quite happy with the quality! 👍

[@alecr666x]

@@willem9688. Our shop started noticing the drop in quality just before they released the Mexican Player series. When our rep turned up so show them to us, we all agreed that between the cheaper woods, scratchy frets with sharp ends that hadn't been finished right and overall finishing flaws, there was clearly something wrong. We all know about their financial woes so put it down to money saving. Regarding some of the amps, the internal build quality has been poor for a lot longer. Especially thier Bassbreaker and Hot Rot ranges. Mainly thin pcb's with a poor design that causes a lot of overheating and subsequent component failure. It's a shame but undeniable. Their guitars around 2004 when yours is from were great and they still make some really good instruments but on the whole, you can get way better gear for a lot less money these days. Glad you got a good one bud. Don't let it go 👍

[@roscoecoltrane9523]

I’ve got a few MIJ Gretschs. No complaints here.

[@slimsantilli4476]

The worst setup guitar i ever received in the mail was a MiM RI telecaster.

[@SkronkJappleson]

one of the best i receieved was an Indonesian Squier

[@GroovemanJ5]

For those of us who have been Fender fans for a while now, the newer Fender stuff is getting worse and worse. The quality is lacking in fretwork, setup and color options. And using pine as a tone wood is laughable. The cheap wood that garbage guitars were made of years ago. If you are gonna raise pricing at least keep the quality standards what they used to be.

[@danielhoskins4690]

The very first guitars Leo fender built were with Pine bodies

[@apuliamusicproduction]

Guitar to many expensive! The quality is not the best

[@jamesnelson-y6d]

worked at fender idk how they can say made in usa when they are made by mexicans i think i was the only white guy there there not made like they use to your better off buying parts and building your own and as a matter of fact they dont say made in usa anymore they say made in corona ca the reason for that is if it isnt 100 percent american parts they cant say made in usa so that shouldgive you a clue of the quality of fender guitars

[@bkhoavo]

You said that yourself there it's made IN, not made By. And when you said Mexicans did you mean they actually hire workers from Mexico to work at the factory, or are they hispanic/Mexican American?

[@simoncaddick9085]

@@bkhoavo In Europe, Spanish are Caucasian, who geographically come from Spain and speak Spanish and I gotta say, I find the whole "Hispanic" thing a tad curious.. Jus' sayin'..

[@hecanseeme8210]

@@simoncaddick9085it’s just another bs political term used to divide us in the US.

[@ozzmannsanchez6180]

A folk music guitar, no rock no metal...70 years wrong head, detuning strings....😢

[@curtrod]

my strats all stay in tune, you're doing something wrong

[@ozzmannsanchez6180]

@@curtrod that neck is wrong it self !

[@rayagung1998]

Awesome