Road Worn...umm...not for me!

[hippietim]

My local GC got a couple of these in and I checked them out yesterday. I tried two Teles and a Strat. The Teles were a mess. They looked cheesy and felt terrible. They did not play well and the tone was dull as could be.

The Strat would have been marginally better if it weren't for the razor sharp fret ends sticking out. One of these days GC will learn the value of humidity.

There are a lot of better guitars out there in this price range.

On a brighter note, they also just got in a Gibson ES-339 that was a joy to play and sounded great.

[Jake D]

That is the opposite of the experience I had with those guitars at my local Guitar Center. The strat's fret ends were well dressed and smooth.
The teles I played had great tone. Also, the treatment they do to the back of the necks felt nice.
What amp did you play them through?

[NewGuy410]

Originally Posted by Jake D

That is the opposite of the experience I had with those guitars at my local Guitar Center. The strat's fret ends were well dressed and smooth.
The teles I played had great tone. Also, the treatment they do to the back of the necks felt nice.
What amp did you play them through?

I agree. I just played 2 RW Teles yesterday. I thought they were great.

[adaptable]

I also had the opposite experience. I'm actually going to pickup the 60's RW Strat with the Rosewood fingerboard tomorrow.

[TeleFunking]

If Fender adopted the same good quality control, they have in American series, to Mexican made ones, these last would sale much more!!! When r they gonna learn...!??

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by Jake D

That is the opposite of the experience I had with those guitars at my local Guitar Center. The strat's fret ends were well dressed and smooth.
The teles I played had great tone. Also, the treatment they do to the back of the necks felt nice.
What amp did you play them through?

I played them through whatever Fender Hot Rod combo that is the one up from the Blues Jr. - Hot Rod Deluxe probably?

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by adaptable

I also had the opposite experience. I'm actually going to pickup the 60's RW Strat with the Rosewood fingerboard tomorrow.

I guess I don't get it. An American Standard w/rosewood is only $50 more and I think it's a much better guitar - modern neck radius, better bridge, better fret work, better tone, better tuners, hardshell case, etc.

[Kewk]

I tried one at lunch. Not for me either. I played a road worn tele and a 72 Thinline (I'm looking for 7.25" neck guitar). The Thinline felt much better for less money.

I could take or leave the relic job.

[NEPATelecaster]

I liked, just NOT at that price...

[wylde4canes]

Originally Posted by hippietim

I guess I don't get it. An American Standard w/rosewood is only $50 more and I think it's a much better guitar - modern neck radius, better bridge, better fret work, better tone, better tuners, hardshell case, etc.

Wow, I got mine and love it much. To each their own. BTW the 7.25 radius is one of the reasons I got it!

The only minus is that some of the frets need to be crowned.

[Nighthawk]

The games begin.... Its great... It sucks.... Never to be resolved.

[Kewk]

Is the road worn 50's the same guitar as the 50's classic plus the relic job?

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

The games begin.... Its great... It sucks.... Never to be resolved.

Heh....Heh.....Love this stuff......

[Freewheeler]

I played 2 Roadworn 60's Teles and a 50's and 60's Strat today and they were all really great! Light weight, resonant and comfortable. The only thing that bothered me was that the relicing was almost similar in each guitar. How do they do that? Some kind of a stencil maybe? All in all the Strats looked more naturally aged than the Teles.

Both RW Teles were great, I played a fine real '67 Tele too and they felt and played as good as it did.

[Broly]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

The games begin.... Its great... It sucks.... Never to be resolved.

This has to be one of the most polarizing guitars to come down the pike in a long time....

[trousertele]

Originally Posted by hippietim

I guess I don't get it. An American Standard w/rosewood is only $50 more and I think it's a much better guitar - modern neck radius, better bridge, better fret work, better tone, better tuners, hardshell case, etc.

After Sunday, the price difference will be hundreds, not $50.

Finally got my hands on a blonde tele, and totally loved the feel and sound. Some tuning issues, but nothing a good set-up can't fix it.

[twangcaster1]

FINE! DON'T BUY ONE THEN!!!!!!!

[boris bubbanov]

I was just gazing at a couple of my Desert Sand Bajas, with a nice set up, Allparts parchment pickguards, a home made aluminum E-A compensated saddle on one, brass plus a pair of those Gotoh klusons with the soft white buttons on the other. (both have Gotohs)

The two guitars together cost what one Road Worm costs. And, unlike the RW, these Baja pickups kill!

If the pickups are replaced with fresh shiny ones on the RW, don't you have a problem? Are you supposed to apply filth to a new set of Lollars, Duffs, Stuarts, Fralins, Budz or Mares?
Suppose the intonation is just not quite close enough? Ok, how about sparkling polished frets after a really nice fret level, crown and polish.

Houston, we have a problem.

[twangcaster1]

The Baja tele really is a MUCH better value.

[popthree]

Originally Posted by twangcaster1

FINE! DON'T BUY ONE THEN!!!!!!!

i won't be dropping any cash on one..they are overpriced and overrated, IMO. i played several RW teles @ my local GC and they were all heavy, fret sprouty, and well, just a disappointment. way too much moolah for way too little guitar.

[hippietim]

i think the baja teles are very nice guitars. i've come close to buying one of those several times.

[Kewk]

Originally Posted by twangcaster1

FINE! DON'T BUY ONE THEN!!!!!!!

Ouch. My ears.

[TelZilla]

I played one. I'm not in the market, but it seemed pretty nice, I guess.

I'd like it better if the wear marks were different from guitar to guitar.

The fact that they are all the same makes me think they might be using some kind of automated process. I'd be interested to know how they do the relicing on the bodies and necks. It almost seems like getting the wear the same on all of them would be more difficult and more expensive than not.

[alexpigment]

Originally Posted by hippietim

I guess I don't get it. An American Standard w/rosewood is only $50 more and I think it's a much better guitar - modern neck radius, better bridge, better fret work, better tone, better tuners, hardshell case, etc.

I think you're of the opinion that the American standard is the end-all be-all guitar that Fender makes. While they are great guitars, they are not for everyone. I think Fender Mexico makes a lot more unique guitars, many of which sound and play better than American Standard guitars (in other words, they are better guitars). My experience with the road worn 60s strat was that it was better than any American strat i'd ever played, so I guess to each his own...

[wylde4canes]

you know the same folks who were on the initial thread poopooing these guitars are back on this one doing the same. And the same people who loved it are on here singing its praises. Seems a bit redundant. And yes I know I am guilty.

[passingtime]

To each his/her own but I can't justify the extra money for the "worn" treatment. No offense meant to those who like it but it's just a silly marketing gimmick to me.

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by alexpigment

I think you're of the opinion that the American standard is the end-all be-all guitar that Fender makes.

Where did I say that? I don't believe that at all which is why I said no such thing. I think the American Standard are very good but they are far from the pinnacle of Fenders achievements. I do believe they are dramatically better than the Road Worn guitars I tried.

My favorite production Tele from Fender at the moment is the Baja. As for Strats from Fender, it'd probably be the Eric Johnson model.

Originally Posted by alexpigment

While they are great guitars, they are not for everyone. I think Fender Mexico makes a lot more unique guitars, many of which sound and play better than American Standard guitars (in other words, they are better guitars). My experience with the road worn 60s strat was that it was better than any American strat i'd ever played, so I guess to each his own...

Absolutely! I was just relaying my experience like you.

[Vibrowhatzit]

I finally played one of the RW Blonde Teles at GC here in Austin... I liked the neck feel, and overall weight. I didn't play it through an amp, since I don't really care, I ain't buying one :-), but the 'acoustic' qualities seemed pretty good to me, always a good sign. (I was lucky enough to be in there when there wasn't somebody playing Iron Man at 120dB and could actually hear it without an amp)

If they were a LOT cheaper, maybe 400 bucks, I might be interested just out of curiosity, but not when they're pushing a grand. How DO they get those relic'd bodies to all look the same anyway?????

[alexpigment]

Originally Posted by hippietim

Where did I say that? I don't believe that at all which is why I said no such thing. I think the American Standard are very good but they are far from the pinnacle of Fenders achievements. I do believe they are dramatically better than the Road Worn guitars I tried.

you said "better bridge, better fret work, better tone, better tuners". i disagree with most of those claims.

anyway, to each his own and i'm sorry if i made it seem like i was attacking you there.

[Jellecaster]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Houston, we have a problem.

Not really. A pickguard from Guitar Mill, Duncan Antiquity pups and "aged" hardware from Glendale or Callaham are all readily available.

I'm pretty sure that Albert Lee's '52 Tele has nice, shiny frets.

I thought of all of these changes, but it turns out that, despite what all the relic haters have to say, these guitars are fine right out of the box. I slapped a "distressed" blackguard on and it looks that much better.

I have no clue what GC is doing to these things, but I would never judge a guitar based upon my experience there!

[hippietim]

Originally Posted by alexpigment

you said "better bridge, better fret work, better tone, better tuners".

I was comparing two specific guitar models. That's not exactly me asserting it's the be all end all is it?

[KevinB]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

If the pickups are replaced with fresh shiny ones on the RW, don't you have a problem? Are you supposed to apply filth to a new set of Lollars, Duffs, Stuarts, Fralins, Budz or Mares?

I guess as long as you use Duncan Antiquities you'd be fine

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by KevinB

I guess as long as you use Duncan Antiquities you'd be fine

I can't believe 15 guys haven't already done this, actually!

IF the RW catches on, there'll be intense pressure on the pup winders to each do their own "reliced" look pickups, no doubt.

[jmaul]

Originally Posted by hippietim

They looked cheesy and felt terrible.... would have been marginally better if it weren't for the razor sharp fret ends sticking out. One of these days GC will learn the value of humidity.

There are a lot of better guitars out there in this price range.

+ 1000 on everything quoted.
Thought they looked anything but road worn, all had frets that you could use to slice up some sashimi, all were mim and cost $949!
preposterous.

Fender really seems ready to shoot itself in the foot in 2009.

[Lerb21]

Originally Posted by jmaul

+ 1000 on everything quoted.
Thought they looked anything but road worn, all had frets that you could use to slice up some sashimi, all were mim and cost $949!
preposterous.

Fender really seems ready to shoot itself in the foot in 2009.

Fender's been shooting itself in the foot almost constantly since Leo left...

IMHO, of course.

[Jake D]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I can't believe 15 guys haven't already done this, actually!

IF the RW catches on, there'll be intense pressure on the pup winders to each do their own "reliced" look pickups, no doubt.

The Don Mare's I've owned had a light relic on them. He will relic the heck out of them if you ask him too!

Is there a road worn tele with a rosewood board? That would be the most desireable Road Worn series guitar that I can imagine. The strat was a looker!

[g6120]

i saw a few as well and the maple neck on the telecaster looked very unconvincing as far as natural playing ware was concerned and did not get a chance to play it .

the strat looked better because the neck was i believe rosewood and the body looked good but when i played it i found the pickups sound a bit thin .

[SoulPedro]

I would love to see a "closet classic" version of these

[HOBBSTER01]

How much??
They must be kidding.
Hype?
MIM?
Why do I have the overwhelming urge to play Fools Rush In?
I can't wait to see the resale value on these.
The RW's I played felt cheap compared to the Squier Cv and didn't sound as good either.
And I gave them a fair shake.
I went to 2 different stores in order to make a comparison.
All I played were in dire need of a set up.
I even used the case candy to make a couple of adjustments in order to make one of them even playable.
My advice.
Get an SX,relic it yourself,mod the heck out of it and save your hard earned cash for a guitar worth it's weight which is a bit heavy anyway.

[Jellecaster]

Originally Posted by Lerb21

Fender's been shooting itself in the foot almost constantly since Leo left...

IMHO, of course

Funny how they seem to have lasted sixty years and expanded the crap out of their market share since they can't get anything right!

As far as the frets go - ALL of my guitars are suffering from massive fret sprout this year, regardless of make, model or cost. Its just a fact of life.

As for the price - it is the 2009 price. All of the other Fenders are going up. I don't think its a smart move, but they are going up and the RW will not look as bad in comparison.