What’s Coming Down the Pike at NAMM?

[burpgun]

As a former and long-time owner of one of the early Mexican Toronados, I do wonder why Fender thinks that model will fare well this time around. Toronados never really got a lot of traction in their first run. Hell, I only got one because I wanted an offset but all the Jazzmasters were too expensive then. The Toros started out pretty nice but seemed to get "cheaper" the longer Fender offered them. I sold mine a couple of years ago: It was well-made, but the stock pickups weren't great and I ultimately preferred a Fender, and not Gibson, scaled guitar. Who knows, maybe a Squier price point is what it will take to move what's effectively an SG in offset clothes.

The Squier price point is very relevant in this case. I don't dislike SG's, but something about the body looks off (too small, I think). Toronado wins the competition in terms of looks.

I acknowledge the earlier ones with the Duo-esque string-through bridge are ‘best’ but the GT is the one I always wanted (and for a while they were cheap and plentiful) :

Offsets weren’t as popular back then, there is now nostalgia/precedent with this model (if even only a bit - I remember seeing and sort of wanting one in high school, seeing John Frusciante play one in the Can’t Stop music video etc.)

One of the dudes in Explosions in the Sky has consistently played a black Toronado, even to this day, and sounds great doing it. When I had mine the Atomic II humbuckers, or whatever the hell they were called, were super microphonic. I ended up putting humbucker-sized P90s in. The guitar definitely felt solid and had a nice neck, scale quibbles aside. For what it's worth, I have a P90-equipped Gibson SG Classic now, and the scale still feels too small once I'm past the 12 fret.

[caliban]

As a former and long-time owner of one of the early Mexican Toronados, I do wonder why Fender thinks that model will fare well this time around. Toronados never really got a lot of traction in their first run. Hell, I only got one because I wanted an offset but all the Jazzmasters were too expensive then. The Toros started out pretty nice but seemed to get "cheaper" the longer Fender offered them. I sold mine a couple of years ago: It was well-made, but the stock pickups weren't great and I ultimately preferred a Fender, and not Gibson, scaled guitar. Who knows, maybe a Squier price point is what it will take to move what's effectively an SG in offset clothes.

The Squier price point is very relevant in this case. I don't dislike SG's, but something about the body looks off (too small, I think). Toronado wins the competition in terms of looks.

I acknowledge the earlier ones with the Duo-esque string-through bridge are ‘best’ but the GT is the one I always wanted (and for a while they were cheap and plentiful) :

Offsets weren’t as popular back then, there is now nostalgia/precedent with this model (if even only a bit - I remember seeing and sort of wanting one in high school, seeing John Frusciante play one in the Can’t Stop music video etc.)

These later versions don't really attract me. On this particular model, I even think open coil pickups just don't look that good.

Sound or playability wise, I never played any. So my analysis is all looks based shallowness!

[javierfarias]

some stuff on muziker

woow I love competition mustangs!! do you think these would be available only for european market?
can anyone help me bring one to south america? i could invite for dinner

[Danley]

But no Orange, huh Really they’re much more attractive with the stripe though.

[thatfenderguy]

It seems Fender also released a Subsonic Baritone conversion neck with a 27.5in scale.

[PaulDesmondTutu]

This looks so good! I just wish there actual dealers to try one out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCULI-J ... e=emb_logo

[JPCordingley]

Is this a proper Marauder reissue? I just saw Fender post this on Facebook.

[zenarcade]

Seems like a custom shop one off to me. Unfortunately..

[zenarcade]

https://www.themusiczoo.com/blogs/news/ ... ilt-guitar

[JPCordingley]

https://www.themusiczoo.com/blogs/news/ ... ilt-guitar

Argh. Custom Shop? I'll never afford that! Also, disappointed to see a regular Strat headstock rather than the 'Starcaster' headstock some of the 60s prototypes had (although strictly speaking the Starcaster took the Marauder headstock).

[Embenny]

Yup, CBS strat headstock on a Custom Shop Marauder is just heresy. If they're gonna charge like $8,000 for it, why not do it properly?

Also, square goldfoils make no sense. The Marauder bridge plate forces a pickup way out, too far from the bridge, if you want to keep it square. It was designed for an angled pickup and that's the only way to get it close enough. That bridge pickup probably sounds halfway to a middle pickup - look where the centre of the pickup lands along the string length! It's like 2" north of the centre of a proper angled single coil.

[BoringPostcards]

If that Marauder was proper, it would have a Mustang style cigar tube vibrato and not the guts of a JM/Jag vibrato. Also, the switching is different, not to mention the gold foils.

edit: I see the Maverick revision will be 2500 dollars! That's a ridiculous price for a remake of a fringe guitar model that most people aren't aware of in the first place.

[loveinathens]

Fender CS Relevator basically jk

[vistavision]

I've noticed nobody's torn apart these three one-off Custom Shop offsets and I'm kinda disappointed by that. We need to be on the ball here this weekend so everybody up your game.
Thanks!

[thatfenderguy]

The bottom two seem to be using the Brawler body style. I like the one on the right the best.