Nothing yet from Fender?

[GilmourD]

Has Harmony Central's news team been avoiding the Fender booth? There's NOTHING in the NAMM news from them (as well as other major manufacturers that I'm sure have had a good showing). What's the deal?

[jaytee123]

I guess the big news from Fender is that they are jerking their prices up considerably Feb 1...:facepalm:

[GilmourD]

I guess the big news from Fender is that they are jerking their prices up considerably Feb 1...:facepalm:

Old news... And if Fender ever followed inflation the inflation rate (or surpassed inflation like a lot of companies), then an American Standard would list at around $2000. However, it's listing for $400 less AFTER the increases. I mean, jeez... God forbid a company try to make money and survive in this asstastic economy...

I mean, seriously...
http://www.geargeek.net/images/trekwtf.jpg

Anyhow, I wasn't talking about Fender. I was talking about HC's lack of coverage. I'm sure Fender's booth is booming and there's NOTHING from HC.

[cropmusik]

Harmony Central has hundreds of places to go - they will get to Fender.
South Park avatars--- seriously????

Keep it civil will you?

[GilmourD]

Harmony Central has hundreds of places to go - they will get to Fender.
South Park avatars--- seriously????

Keep it civil will you?

Well, having been coming to Harmony Central for NAMM news for... Well, it predates my forum account by a couple years... HC's NAMM coverage used to be infinitely better. All the major vendors had news items on the first day and things grew from there. Now there's barely a smattering of anything really juicy while it's a known fact that Fender, Gibson, and others have some pretty juicy things to show.

And you have one post but you're making fun of my avatar? LOL Seriously?

[cropmusik]

OK I agree the coverage is a bit skimpy --- I may be used to that as I have seen that HC takes a few days to get it all posted.
anyway, did you see that the EVH Wlofgang is already for sale (pre-order) on Musicians Frind, etc? I also saw the roadworn series at GC last week.

Peace....

[GilmourD]

OK I agree the coverage is a bit skimpy --- I may be used to that as I have seen that HC takes a few days to get it all posted.
anyway, did you see that the EVH Wlofgang is already for sale (pre-order) on Musicians Frind, etc? I also saw the roadworn series at GC last week.

Peace....

Ya, that I saw. However, there's supposed to be a lot more new models as well that I'm not seeing on Fender's site, yet.

[Keyrick]

They have a new "Bandmaster" piggy-back amp and a new "Deluxe" combo amp that appear to share the same circuitry. They are Tube or Tube/hybrid amps with DSP effects that include reverb but I am not sure what else. I didn't get too close, but I heard a product demonstrator say they were 40 watt amps. The piggy back speaker cabinet looked a little bit bigger than the 1966 Bandmaster speaker cabinet and a little bit smaller than a 1966 Showman cabinet. I don't know the speaker complement. The Deluxe looked like it had a 12 inch speaker.

There were a lot of the reliced (sp) Guitars, the "Road Warrior" series I think they are called. That never made sense to me, but I guess some people like to buy a brand new guitar that looks like it has been beat to death!

That is about all that I saw, but I am predominatly a Keys player. I'm sure there will be more info out soon.

Rick

[NetStar]

They have a new "Bandmaster" piggy-back amp and a new "Deluxe" combo amp that appear to share the same circuitry. They are Tube or Tube/hybrid amps with DSP effects that include reverb but I am not sure what else. I didn't get too close, but I heard a product demonstrator say they were 40 watt amps. The piggy back speaker cabinet looked a little bit bigger than the 1966 Bandmaster speaker cabinet and a little bit smaller than a 1966 Showman cabinet. I don't know the speaker complement. The Deluxe looked like it had a 12 inch speaker.

There were a lot of the reliced (sp) Guitars, the "Road Warrior" series I think they are called. That never made sense to me, but I guess some people like to buy a brand new guitar that looks like it has been beat to death!

That is about all that I saw, but I am predominatly a Keys player. I'm sure there will be more info out soon.

Rick



http://namm09.musicradar.com/news/fender-vintage-modified-amps-band-master-and-deluxe-vms/

[elscorcho140]

Fender's booth this year is massive. They've brought back the Band Master amp, and the Road Worn series (which looks kind of lame) seems to be the new developments for the 2009 show.

[dethblow]

I don't like the road worn series at all. DOn't like the relics either. If I buy a new guitar I want it new and with time I want to age it by playing. Ever see Neil Young's "Old Black" guitar. Beautiful, but it took 50 years of playing to look like that. Not fake. It might just be me, i like new stuff to look new.

[pbognar]

http://namm09.musicradar.com/news/fender-vintage-modified-amps-band-master-and-deluxe-vms/

The new amps are up on Fender's website. They look pretty decent, but why can't they go the extra mile and eat up the market...

3 channels with dedicated tone controls for each would satisfy a lot more people. Not even a "more drive" mode for the overdrive channel? And having no mid control or bright switch for the clean side is a bit of a turn-off.

Come on Fender, get it right.

[peppy]

My friend is a Fender dealer and said "no" to the new Fender amps. Agreed.

[EdMan57]

My friend is a Fender dealer and said "no" to the new Fender amps. Agreed.

...though I'm thinking of saying "yes" to a Band-Master VM head.It looks to be a bit of a poorer man's Bogner Alchemist.


;)




Ed

[d. gauss]

last i heard, leo was dead. can't think of one fender product in the last 30 years that surpasses anything he originally did.
sad but true.

[GilmourD]

Fender's booth this year is massive. They've brought back the Band Master amp, and the Road Worn series (which looks kind of lame) seems to be the new developments for the 2009 show.

Actually, I tried out a Road Worn '50s Strat in black last night at Guitar Center and I have to say that I'm actually quite impressed with it. It's not perfect (like you could see the chisel marks on a couple of the worn spots on the back if you look closely), but damn that neck was sweet and it sounded pretty damn good. I'm hard to impress and I was impressed.

[aclarke]

Well, having been coming to Harmony Central for NAMM news for... Well, it predates my forum account by a couple years... HC's NAMM coverage used to be infinitely better. All the major vendors had news items on the first day and things grew from there. Now there's barely a smattering of anything really juicy while it's a known fact that Fender, Gibson, and others have some pretty juicy things to show.



+1

Since the takeover and forum merger a few years ago, HC's NAMM coverage has gone steadily downhill. I guess it's just not a priority anymore.

[Agreed]

My favorite Fender-related news was IK Multimedia's announcements of Amplitube: Fender. Though I've heard good things about the Roadworn from everyone who actually played one (then again, they're not going to bring the ones with questionable fit&finish and mediocre playability to NAMM :lol:).

[jaytee123]

I don't like the road worn series at all. DOn't like the relics either. If I buy a new guitar I want it new and with time I want to age it by playing. Ever see Neil Young's "Old Black" guitar. Beautiful, but it took 50 years of playing to look like that. Not fake. It might just be me, i like new stuff to look new. Same here.

[SnowStorm]

I want to hear some reviews of the Deluxe VM. How does it compare to the Super Sonic?

[bassred]

A Strat is a Strat, a Tele is a Tele, I haven't seen anything inspiring from Fender (guitars, they had some interesting basses in the mid 90's... ) since I finished puberty

I didn't feel the need to even look for a Fender booth, and this was my first NAMM experience. I'd rather put my time into companies that want to try NEW things.

I don't even like Strat-style guitars, that's how I feel about Fenders.... Must admit that there are some pretty sweet versions of Tele's out there, by companies like Schecter..

[Thamel]

OK who cares if HC is covering the show well or not, the net is exploding with other good sources.....

Anyway, I think the best piece of Fender news is their new Ukulele!
http://ukulele.fender.en.audiofanzine.com/news/index,idproduit,140579,mao,namm_new_fender_ukulele s.html

[Phil O'Keefe]

Folks, in addition to the discussions on the individual forums and this dedicated NAMM discussion forum, there's also a huge list of press releases, as well as user picks and even video coverage of the show that you can browse through right here. (http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM09/)

Forgive the video folks for taking a few days to get everything up for you to see - it does take time to edit / render and post them you know... :idea: ;)

[GilmourD]

Folks, in addition to the discussions on the individual forums and this dedicated NAMM discussion forum, there's also a huge list of press releases, as well as user picks and even video coverage of the show that you can browse through right here. (http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM09/)

Forgive the video folks for taking a few days to get everything up for you to see - it does take time to edit / render and post them you know... :idea: ;)

Yes, and nothing from Fender or Gibson there as if they weren't at NAMM. I know they were. Fender's website has some of the stuff... But where's HC's coverage? That was the point of this thread.

[Kid Klash]

The Fender display was PACKED with people on the day I walked through it. Their Gretsch section was elbow to elbow people, checking out the guitars, amps and live music! Take special note of the gorgeous blond bass player ;)

[aclarke]

Folks, in addition to the discussions on the individual forums and this dedicated NAMM discussion forum, there's also a huge list of press releases, as well as user picks and even video coverage of the show that you can browse through right here. (http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM09/)

Forgive the video folks for taking a few days to get everything up for you to see - it does take time to edit / render and post them you know... :idea: ;)

Phil -

Like a lot of people here, I hold off on major gear purchases until I see the NAMM releases.

There are 30 companies listed on the guitar/bass page of the NAMM coverage- 20 of which were listed before NAMM began.

Put another way, since NAMM began, there have been only 10 companies - across the entire range of acoustic, electric and bass guitar manufacturers, as well as effects, amp, pickup, hardware and accessory manufacturers that you've covered since the show began.

Perhaps when summer NAMM rolls around, you could spend more time handing out cards and asking for press releases and product spec sheets and so forth, and less time with the video camera.