Fender Moves Standard Series Guitar Production From Mexico To Indonesia

[crunchee]

Fender launches $599 Standard Series Indonesia-built range | Guitar World

Not necessarily a big deal, as I've heard good things about Indonesian-made guitars.  However, if you want an alder body, you're gonna have to settle for poplar instead.  Fender is also substituting Indian laurel for Indian rosewood fretboards, like a lot of other guitar manufacturers have already.

Of course, if you want a 'Standard series' Fender guitar with the old Mexican specs, you might be able to find a unsold one out there, or just simply buy a used one for less than the original list price.

Edited to add:  I believe what used to be called the MIM 'Standard' series got a name change a few years ago, to the 'Player' and 'Player Plus series.  I haven't heard if the MIM 'Player' series is going away with this change, does anybody else know?

[Tortious]

Some Indonesian junk that's going 'round! 🎸 🎶🎵 🤩

They probably are decent.

I don't think the Mexican player series will go away. They're still the next level up on price point, and FMIC has a lot invested in that operation.

[scottcald]

Seems like a way to get something lower priced that says Fender instead of Squier. 

[stonge]

It appears that just about the only differences between the Squier and Fenders models is basically the headstock and the price. The Squier teles that I have are decent solid guitars, but I wouldn't pay an extra $200 just for a Fender logo. They'd have for improve the specs somewhat to justify the premium, but it looks like a lazy FMIC marketing play to me.

[shankyboy]

4 hours ago, stonge said:

It appears that just about the only differences between the Squier and Fenders models is basically the headstock and the price. The Squier teles that I have are decent solid guitars, but I wouldn't pay an extra $200 just for a Fender logo. They'd have for improve the specs somewhat to justify the premium, but it looks like a lazy FMIC marketing play to me.

I inherited a Classic Vibe Tele last year and I am stunned by the quality of craftsmanship. It plays like buttah and sounds more like a classic Tele than any of my other, considerably more expensive Teles. Only downside is that it is super heavy. 

[diablo175]

I fall in the group who's only reason to acknowledge Fender is because FMIC owns Charvel and Jackson. Sadly, we've see this same kind of shuffling of product and origin of manufacturing with both of them as well.

The best thing J/C has done in recent years is offer the MJ Series. Mexico and Indonesia can't quite reach the quality of the Japanese made guits and the price difference is very reasonable.