👏👏👏 this exactly. I've loved the weirdness of the paranormal/parallel universe series but they definitely need to revisit the weird at non-custom shop prices
Unfortunately the market makes it difficult. When Leo started G&L he named a model the ASAT (“Another Strat, Another Tele”) because whenever he tried to do something new, customers asked for Strats & Teles instead.
Seriously idk how people get excited for another burst strat or butterscotch tele. Give me the electric XII, the Bass V, the Swinger, Marauder, Katana!
I have a Fender Marauder. It's got a P90 pickup at the neck, and a TRIPLEbucker in the bridge. The triplebucker has 3 sets of magnets and coils inside it which makes for a very hot pickup and some very interesting coil tapping possibilities. Basically it can do Jazzmaster type sounds, Strat type sounds, and it's own unique weird humbucker type sounds.
As times goes on, I find myself seeking out weirder guitars more and more. Especially if they've got offset bodies, as I genuinely do find them more comfortable than the more traditional shapes. Teisco, Guyatone, Kay, older Arias. Anything out of the ordinary. Especially if there's any eccentric tone switching systems on them. My old Soviet Stela (Starlight) is a dream to play because it doesn't dig into me from any angle, and the thinner neck profile means my small hands don't have to press down as hard, so I can play for longer. Everyone has a Strat or a Les Paul, but I got a Starlight, and I like to think gives me an edge.
Hey man, I have an old Tiesco/Audition for sale if you’re looking to add to your collection. I don’t want it, and it might be worth a look if you like to collect 😁
There are still many more weird Fenders. The Musicmaster guitar and bass, the TC-90, etc. but my favorite weird looking Fender has to be the Squier Vista Series Venus.
The Meteora (guitar and bass both) bass looks/sounds really cool very retrofuturistic. Also they need to reissue another run of Coronado II with humbuckers. The reissues they did a few years ago are hard to find.
I really love the concept of split single coil pickups on guitars. I've never played one, but the prospect of the glassy single coil stuff with some humbucking capabilities really raises my interest.
I love it whenever Fender steps outside their comfort zone. They’re a great brand, but a bit on the conservative side. I welcome a new Meteora model and I do hope to see a Katana and Performer reissue someday.
I’d say the TC-90 was odd… it was pretty much the Thinline Telecaster DC but with a set neck, two soapbars, an adjust-o-matic and stop tail setup, and honestly it’s basically a Les Paul Special DC with an F-hole.
Man that is an excess of nirvana stuff in that intro. Same style gibson bass that Krist used, a Univox Hi flier which Kurt favored, along with a gospel mark v mosrite which Kurt also had.
Thats it... Meteora still is the most beautiful guitar fender ever made. I wish they use some squier series of them, cuz here in Brasil everything is so expensive...
I love my Meteora, as my photo implies I also desperately want a Swinger and I'm really excited for the day when Fender releases a Wreckless Eric signature Starcaster
When you see the Starcaster and know immediately that it's Evan Weiss' before seeing the sticker that got covered up at the bottom. Love that guitar. Love IIOI.
Who are these two fab players? Both SUPER creative. Not the typical shite demo bits. Please reveal the identities and if they have any music out there for sale...
There are a few more...! The whole 'Plus' line in the late 80s/early 90s is a story in itself: there were Coronados made in the early days of the model, with wood from trees which had been fed on dye to colour the timber (although if that's a very tall tale, I wouldn't be surprised!); and the HM Strat I always think of first is the MIJ one with the full on pointy headstock look. Fender have tried different stuff almost the entire time it's been making guitars, it's almost a shame the four core models are all people usually think about.
Oh man, i NEED the Meterora in Cosmic Jade with a maple board 💚💚 I have a Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster, which is ok... mine has a couple QC issues tho that i have been too lazy to get seen to yet 🙄 ... My Player Lead III is my favourite tho! Seriously awesome guitar, just a great all round package and it is breathtaking to look at! (Sienna Sun Burst lights up so well in natural light!) I would love to get my hands on the Performer too... Hey, Fender! If you're reading this, how bout a reissue???
I am collecting as many different Fender basses as possible. Rather than multiple P or J basses, I’d rather have rare or weird models. I currently have a Dimension, Pawn Shop Jag, Performer, Katana, Starcaster. The others are your more common models.
The double humbucker Meteora is such a killer design. I hope Fender continues to elaborate on the Meteora. A nitro finish, solid black, matching headstock version with PAF style pickups would be a dream.
Fender Performer, much more interesting than the current Fender Strat Performer. They should release these models made in Mexico like the entire Playera Plus series to lower costs and it would be great because people I would buy it in bulk. The Pawg Shop ten years ago from the last edition, a pity that it was not They have taken it out this 2022.
While the sunburst Meteora looks killer and will most likely join my arsenal, it doesn't look like the Fender marketing team has learned anything from the backlash of their ridiculous onslaught of an Acoustasonic Jazzmaster web campaign. They're doing the same thing with this, flooding RU-vid with reviews. At least Reverb is taking an interesting and informative angle on it.
Besides the great Marauder they came out with not too long ago (not really a reissue since the original never made it to production), Fender Japan also had an interesting run with the Contemporary Strats. They are mostly Strat shaped… but not quite. I have one with dual soap bar humbuckers which you can coil tap (very cool and sounds great!). The only downside is the clunky “System” bridge, a shockingly over engineered Floyd Rose wannabe.
There was a bullet that looked like little strat with tele headstock, as for weird I have a gretsch astrojet and yamaha sg2a flying samurai, so yes I like weird
It's still a Fender, with a Fender sort of tone. That's not bad, except it's really not different, unique, or new. Same ole' same ole'. Next year Fender will change finish colors and call it new and exciting! Ho-hum!
