How is your Japanese these days? Nice Fender Marauder detail...

[Ret Samzzaj]

Got this book...




Yes, it is in Japanese, I understand about 0% of it. But the pictures alone make this book worthwhile.

I always wondered about one detail on the the Fender Marauder type II, the experimental ‘60s offset. On some(!) prototypes, how did they mount the switches with no screws visible? Maybe soldered directly on a PCB...




In the book there is this picture...




Use double plates, that is how it is done.

In the Fender Custom Shop YouTube video (screenshot blue Marauder above) about the Marauder, it is already there to be seen, but I did not notice it at the time.

Furthermore, all the Fender offsets are in this book. I like the details of a guitar, and it seems every part is documented, for the real nerds so to speak.

[Maniac]

That's really cool, thanks for sharing! Need to try n find a copy of that myself.

[vistavision]

That's great! What's the ISBN?

[FEXII]

That's great! What's the ISBN?

+1 I'd buy that book!

[N0_Camping4U]

Interesting question. I'm gathering up intel for my build so I'll eager await more replies!

[Pacafeliz]

Yes the Japanese are so into the micro details, it's amazing! I have the Mustang book of these. Understand nothing but man the pics!!!

[tammyw]

978-4845630257

[Ceylon]

Huh, I always figured the vibrato was just a Mustang one, but that has some kind of sustain block as well. Cool to see Leo wanting to further develop something that was already in use.

[Mechanical Birds]

I really, really wish Fender would do a proper Marauder. The DSG ones Jazzprod made are like spot on and some of my favorite guitars ever. I know it’s hard to reissue something that was never issued in the first place but I’d flip my lid if I was able to buy one like the prototype in the OP.

Those pearloid Grovers really do it for me, in addition to the German carve and B&B neck and all the switches, damn it’s a hot guitar. The only thing that turns me off is the Dynamic Vibrato. I’d much prefer the Bilt/DSG thing that retains the aesthetic but instead uses the Offset Vibrato.

[Ret Samzzaj]

I guess the Marauder type II in the Fender Custom Shop YouTube video might be (one of) the last Type II prototype the Fender R&D guys worked on.

Besides the double plates to cover the screws from the many switches, you can also see the switches and pots are labelled on the plates (BLEND, PICKUP, TONE...). Maybe the guys at Fender R&D thought, with that many switches, it would be a good idea to label them.

[JPCordingley]

Huh, I always figured the vibrato was just a Mustang one, but that has some kind of sustain block as well. Cool to see Leo wanting to further develop something that was already in use.

I always thought it was the JM/Jag vibrato with a different plate. But I can't say I've ever looked up close. I'm now GASsing for a Marauder - preferably a Squier so I can actually afford it. I'll never be able to afford a BilT.

[triviani]

For anyone interested, the book is called:

"フェンダー解体新書(リットーミュージック・ムック／ギター・マガジン) "
"Fender kaitai shisho (Rittory Music book / Guitar Magazine)

The title is something like "Fender disassembly, new book"

208 pages
ISBN: 9784845630257

[Ret Samzzaj]

Marauder templates, necks, bodies, control plates, white rocker switches... already available. Now the pickups:

[N0_Camping4U]

I wonder how different those sound. I got curtis novak pickups for my marauder. He made the custom shop ones, so I asked him to wind it to the spec that Fender provided him.

I never noticed that the control plate has words on them, that's a neat touch.

[Dr Tony Balls]

Have you tried using the Google translate app on your phone to translate the text? You can do it with the camera where you just hold it over the text and it will translate.