Squier Vista Series Venus XII returns as Fender CS!

[algeriet]

Not the first time a Fender custom shop master builder is interested in Squier...

Cool, thanks for sharing!

[Embenny]

I'm thrilled that we will all have the opportunity to pay more money for a replica of Squier's intellectual property theft than a vintage Fender XII currently costs. Truly a guitar purchase decision we can all feel good about.

[BoringPostcards]

Maybe Carlos should thank Mercury for the 'inspiration'?

[BoringPostcards]

I'm thrilled that we will all have the opportunity to pay more money for a replica of Squier's intellectual property theft than a vintage Fender XII currently costs. Truly a guitar purchase decision we can all feel good about.

I personally welcome any master build off any .
Tragically Hip played G&L....

[simonhpieman]

It's just a shame it's being done as a XII (he says like he'd ever have a chance of being able to afford a CS Venus).

Love my seafoam green Venus 6.

[SignoftheDragon]

It's just a shame it's being done as a XII

YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

[algeriet]

YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Agreed! XII or bust.

[raindog13]

Just watched the video about the XII/Marauder double neck, and it too has the vintage style bridge. So then this begs the question, why not use it on the AR XII? I remember a while back there had been speculation that maybe they had lost the tooling, or it had been worn out, but this is obviously not the case. So what gives?

[HarlowTheFish]

Just watched the video about the XII/Marauder double neck, and it too has the vintage style bridge. So then this begs the question, why not use it on the AR XII? I remember a while back there had been speculation that maybe they had lost the tooling, or it had been worn out, but this is obviously not the case. So what gives?

I think the deal with the vintage-style bridges (IIRC anyway) is that they just have a few NOS ones that they can use, but don't have the original tooling or enough demand to retool for them and make new ones. There's enough to go around for CS builds, which is where we see them, but not enough for any real production run.

[SignoftheDragon]

Just watched the video about the XII/Marauder double neck, and it too has the vintage style bridge. So then this begs the question, why not use it on the AR XII? I remember a while back there had been speculation that maybe they had lost the tooling, or it had been worn out, but this is obviously not the case. So what gives?

Honestly, the new-style bridge is superior to the vintage-style one, as it offers individual height adjustment for each string. Plus, they are easy to come by in the parts-only market, so I imagine it was a profit-conscious decision to use the cheaper, better-functioning, more available unit for a modern take on the EXII.

Plus, they could steal an OSG-grown idea (the bridge surround plate- pioneered by our own Paul Rhoney, I believe) to make the nod to the look of the old-style bridge.

From what I've gathered, the custom shop is making new bridges. Several folks on OSG and across the 12-string-playing universe (myself included) have made inquiries in years past about that bridge/tooling/measurements, etc, and for a decade have been told that there were no NOS parts left over- that everything would have to be re-created from scratch.

[raindog13]

Just watched the video about the XII/Marauder double neck, and it too has the vintage style bridge. So then this begs the question, why not use it on the AR XII? I remember a while back there had been speculation that maybe they had lost the tooling, or it had been worn out, but this is obviously not the case. So what gives?

Honestly, the new-style bridge is superior to the vintage-style one, as it offers individual height adjustment for each string.
...

Plus, they could steal an OSG-grown idea (the bridge surround plate- pioneered by our own Paul Rhoney, I believe) to make the nod to the look of the old-style bridge.

Yeah the string adjustment is a good point. And as far as the "accent plate," yeah that definitely originated here, quite a few years ago I think.

[algeriet]

Just watched the video about the XII/Marauder double neck, and it too has the vintage style bridge. So then this begs the question, why not use it on the AR XII? I remember a while back there had been speculation that maybe they had lost the tooling, or it had been worn out, but this is obviously not the case. So what gives?

Great question. The Venus XIIs were produced in Japan so we're talking two entirely different companies (same brand, but two different companies nonetheless), so these never existed in the US/Mexico from the first place, other than the originals. The ones made today are built from scratch for the CS builds by the CS crew. Fender may be a huge corporation, but the Custom Shop is an entirely different animal that works according to its own rules.

Honestly, the new-style bridge is superior to the vintage-style one

If I wanted a better instrument I'd have gotten a neck through 24+ fret HSH fanned fret extended range True Temperament Evertune equipped guitar.

The new style is an abomination and a cheap shot at enticing a part of the market who don't care/know about vintage specs.
The biggest farce was how they stole OSG members' solutions to keeping the appearance vintage looking with the surround plates.

[bessieboporbach]

The new style is an abomination and a cheap shot at enticing a part of the market who don't care/know about vintage specs.

I know this is kind of a pointless argument, but the 2019 Electric XII was part of a series literally called "Alternate Reality" and that included things like a shrunken-down Jazz Bass with lipstick pickups and two hardtail 6-string offsets of completely new design. At no point did they ever say anything they were doing was "vintage spec." Quite the contrary.

I bet a fair number of people who bought that guitar didn't even know it was based on a model from 1965. They changed the shape so much it kind of looked like a 12-string Mustang.

Now if they do a "Vintera XII" with the Gotoh bridge, then I can see legitimate grounds for complaint.

[algeriet]

I know this is kind of a pointless argument, but the 2019 Electric XII was part of a series literally called "Alternate Reality" and that included things like a shrunken-down Jazz Bass with lipstick pickups and two hardtail 6-string offsets of completely new design. At no point did they ever say anything they were doing was "vintage spec." Quite the contrary.

I bet a fair number of people who bought that guitar didn't even know it was based on a model from 1965. They changed the shape so much it kind of looked like a 12-string Mustang.

Now if they do a "Vintera XII" with the Gotoh bridge, then I can see legitimate grounds for complaint.

I say this in partial jest: No one likes an apologist.
Also, isn't it quite convenient to call something an alternate reality line and then just rip off "engineering" feats from OSG members who created the Gotoh+plate workaround because your own company hasn't produced any original bridges whatsoever?