OffsetGuitars.com

Nearly every manufacturer/builder offers some kind of offset in their lineup these days, and this section of the forum is dedicated to new/newer models. So why does it seem like most of the guitars in this section are Fenders or Squiers? Even the Offset Porn Feed is 95% Jazzmasters, Jaguars and "student models" (Mustangs, Duo-Sonics and Musicmasters).

Is it because they were the original offsets and therefore anything that came after is a mere pretender to the throne? Or does the higher cost of some modern offsets (like Bilt) make them cost-prohibitive to own for most members and the "wannabe specs" (P90s, tun-o-matic bridge, Strat-style trems) of some of the lower end offsets make them off-putting (sorry)?

Maybe OSG should rebrand itself as Jags'n'Jazzys.com...

Headstocks

I feel like just about all the boutique builders making offsets either are or were active OSG members.

Yeah, there's just not a ton of offsets not made by fender. Amongst those, most are either lawsuit type imitations or boutique brands.

A lot brands like to take classic designs and kind of melt them into pseudo offsets, but I don't think that this is in the spirit of what an offset is.

Besides that, I'm gonna need you to name a few of these non-boutique, non-fender offset models.

Finally, I dunno...we like what we like.

We're all getting old now.. we're all busy playing our acoustics now...

My offsets are 2:1 non-Fender to Fender.

The forum originally started to cater to primarily fans of Fender Offsets and, being as such that Fender were the inventors, it's no surprise that it's predominantly Fender-centric.

But there's plenty of love for the others. I currently only have 2 offsets (down from over 20) and 1 of those is a Guild.

If I poopsie abunch of $ I’ll prob end up with one of those mural’s Crestons. So there’s that.

There's heaps of love for the non-Fenders, they're just nowhere near as common.

Going back a few years there was plenty of Bilt/Fano/Rhoney/Kauer/Danocaster discussion and it seemed like every fortnight or so someone would be posting about their new Revelator or Danocaster. Not so much now, but the board is much quieter overall.

Lots of love for G&L's Doheny and Fallout too which are probably the more affordable options and known to actually be great instruments.

I auditioned for a local band where the band leader had a stock Fender Jazzmaster. I learned all their original songs front to back. I’ve never had someone audition for one of my projects show up knowing any of them LOL.

I showed up with a pointy headstock offset, a black Fernandes. I remember the look on that guy’s face when I pulled it out of the case. Not a great reaction. But I thought my audition was a slam dunk. Yet I didn’t get the gig…

I’m convinced it was my guitar. Oh well, the pandemic happened and that band disbanded, life goes on.

seenoevil II wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 14, 2024 11:47 am

Besides that, I'm gonna need you to name a few of these non-boutique, non-fender offset models.

Not all new, but:

Ibanez had the Talman, Roadcore and Jet King II
Schecter has/had the Hellcat/Hellcat VI and Spitfire
Guild has the Surfliner
ESP/LTD had the XJ and H3 (maybe a bit metal-focused but an OS nonetheless)
Puresalem have more than a few offsets
Every incarnation of the Charvel/Jackson Surfcaster

Plus, let's not forget Reverend...

andy_tchp wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 14, 2024 3:05 pm

There's heaps of love for the non-Fenders, they're just nowhere near as common.

Going back a few years there was plenty of Bilt/Fano/Rhoney/Kauer/Danocaster discussion and it seemed like every fortnight or so someone would be posting about their new Revelator or Danocaster. Not so much now, but the board is much quieter overall.

Lots of love for G&L's Doheny and Fallout too which are probably the more affordable options and known to actually be great instruments.

Yes, I've noticed that this is one of the slowest message boards I (kind of) frequent...

CivoLee wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 14, 2024 5:11 pm

seenoevil II wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 14, 2024 11:47 am

Besides that, I'm gonna need you to name a few of these non-boutique, non-fender offset models.

Not all new, but:

Ibanez had the Talman, Roadcore and Jet King II
Schecter has/had the Hellcat/Hellcat VI and Spitfire
Guild has the Surfliner
ESP/LTD had the XJ and H3 (maybe a bit metal-focused but an OS nonetheless)
Puresalem have more than a few offsets
Every incarnation of the Charvel/Jackson Surfcaster

Plus, let's not forget Reverend...

Each and every one listed has been discussed multiple times previously. Literally dozens of pages of results.

I like a lot of the Boutique Offsets. Bilt in particular.. Some others too..

Fender got it right from the beginning with so many Guitar's. American Jags, JM’s, Duo Sonics, Mustangs, Strats, Tele’s, P Bass & Jazz Bass.. Why buy Copies when the real thing is better in most cases..

Plus Squier offers less expensive versions that are pretty decent with a great Set up. And are great Platforms for modding to your own Specs..

Both Fender & Squier are hard to beat…

The big difference IMO is when it comes to something built to order.. The Fender Mod Shop is very limited.. Especially given there are so many off the shelf parts available & Paint colors they stock.. A Boutique builder may also be a better route compared to a Custom Shop when it comes to cost..

I’m a big fan of the G&L Doheny, even though I haven’t owned one (yet).

As mentioned, all of the ‘other’ offset brands/models out there, new and old do get talked about and purchased. If you consider the amount of offsets out there, clearly Fender types are what… like 90 to 95% of all the offsets in existence?

I imagine that Fender and Squier guitars are 90-95% of offset guitar sales. Something astronomical like that. So they're going to dominate the discussion.

Then you've got high end builders making Fender clones as some small percentage of whatever is left and the rest are either cheap Fender copies or companies with unique offset designs.

Not surprising Fender/Squier get the focus of the discussion.

Also, headstocks.