Just curious...Fender made TWO types of Starcasters?

[RoscoeElegante]

The one we know--a 335-w/-1970s'-lapels kinda thingie--

--and this??
https://reverb.com/item/19567453-fender-starcaster-strat-black-electric-guitar-with-soft-case

For a big $69.99, it's gotta be a knockoff of a knockoff of a cheaper Squier. But having never known of these before, I figgered I'd ask here. What IS this thing? (And for $69.99, it looks worth the gamble.)

Not affiliated with the seller, and don't need another guitar, anyway....

 

[PlainAllman]

Dont know what that picture is you posted cause the link goes to a strat copy.

 

[drf64]

Dont know what that picture is you posted cause the link goes to a strat copy.

The pic is of a real Starcaster. The link is to the most recent use of the name. I don't think Fender was really involved with the later. They tried to make it clear it is not a strat.

 

[Dismalhead]

Cheap junk that you can get from Costco for $89. They're made by Fender, but they're pretty much toys for the uninformed. Always wondered why they'd put out something that had the same name as a decent real guitar.

 

[RoscoeElegante]

Dont know what that picture is you posted cause the link goes to a strat copy.

Yes, that's what I wondered about. When did Fender make a Strat copy by that name? A few of these are on Reverb and elsewhere.

Dismalhead solved the puzzle. Thanks. And yes, weirdly dumb that they'd garble things by using an existing name of a decent guitar for a kiddo thing.

Then again, there's that old episode of GM promoting the Chevy Nova in Latin America, not thinking what "No va" means in Spanish.....

 

[John C]

Seems like the cheap Strat-style Starcasters were say mid-2000s to maybe 2012? It seems like Fender stopped them a year or two before they brought out the made in China semi-hollow Starcaster "reissues" in 2013.

 

[Deeve]

I appreciate the confusion - as it happens, there are at least two versions of the cheapie - the one shown in the reverb ad, which makes me wince, and another one that used the headstock from a Japanese 80's Fender product (katana?)
I found mine on the list of craig, and LOVE IT!
Better yet: $25!
Sounds good, feels good and lets me own both a P copy and a J copy...

Peace - Deeve

 

[jvin248]

.

You folks need to actually try them before you put them down...

Those MIC Starcasters with the classic headstock scroll are closer to MIM/MIA specs, like chunky necks and thick bodies, than most of the Squiers. These were sold in the 'player packs' for several years. I've stopped buying Squiers because the necks are so skinny but these I grab when the price is right (more frequent due to the similar opinions expressed in this thread). Sometimes they need a fret level but most often a good setup and they play well and sound good. You can always do the usual upgrades to them like the Squiers.

More recent Starcasters in the player packs are made by Cort Indonesia in the same factory as the Squiers and other than the arrow point headstock are identical to the Squiers including the skinny necks. The Indonesian factory has very good build quality, but suffer from Fender specifying the low end pots/hardware/etc, fretwork and setup is usually quite good though.

So don't be afraid of trying one for a modding platform if you come across one at a garage sale.

.

 

[Deeve]

.

You folks need to actually try them before you put them down...

Those MIC Starcasters with the classic headstock scroll are closer to MIM/MIA specs, like chunky necks and thick bodies, than most of the Squiers. These were sold in the 'player packs' for several years. I've stopped buying Squiers because the necks are so skinny but these I grab when the price is right (more frequent due to the similar opinions expressed in this thread). Sometimes they need a fret level but most often a good setup and they play well and sound good. You can always do the usual upgrades to them like the Squiers.

More recent Starcasters in the player packs are made by Cort Indonesia in the same factory as the Squiers and other than the arrow point headstock are identical to the Squiers including the skinny necks. The Indonesian factory has very good build quality, but suffer from Fender specifying the low end pots/hardware/etc, fretwork and setup is usually quite good though.

So don't be afraid of trying one for a modding platform if you come across one at a garage sale.

.

Yes - JVIN is right - the only change I made to this $25 bass was to swap out the wiring harness w/ a $10 ebay special (a step up...)

Yay Garage Sale guitars!
Peace - Deeve

 

[5595bassman]

The original "Starcaster" was a Model Name in Fender's catalogue ( the OP's pic ). Produced from 1976 to 1980.

Later ( mid 2000 - 2012 ) they used the name as a Brand Name ( "Starcaster by Fender" the same way they do with "Squier by Fender" ).
This Brand Name was on Strat style guitars and on Precision & Jazz styles basses.

In 2013-2014 they used that name again as a Model Name for a Fender branded model of a "revisited re-issue" of the original Starcaster semi-hollow guitar. It was part of the Fender Modern Player Series and was made in China.
This MP serie was the first time they dared affixing FENDER as the brand on a chinese line of production.

In this MP serie there was also a bass with the same look even if the original "Starcaster Bass" never went further than a prototype product.
Notice that the 2013 bass does not wear the "Starcaster" Model Name on its headstock though, probably because it never went in production and really never existed.

I have a 2013 bass and a 2014 guitar.

 

[radiocaster]

I appreciate the confusion - as it happens, there are at least two versions of the cheapie - the one shown in the reverb ad, which makes me wince, and another one that used the headstock from a Japanese 80's Fender product (katana?)
I found mine on the list of craig, and LOVE IT!
Better yet: $25!
Sounds good, feels good and lets me own both a P copy and a J copy...

Peace - Deeve
View attachment 589277 View attachment 589278

That's kind of a copy of a U.S. Fender headstock.

But anyway, the cheaper ones is a range of products, kind of like Squier, the other is a Fender model name. There was also a Starcaster tele and a one pickup superstrat in the cheapie range.
image removed

 

[Frank'n'censed]

The original "Starcaster" was a Model Name in Fender's catalogue ( the OP's pic ). Produced from 1976 to 1980. Later ( mid 2000 - 2012 ) they used the name as a Brand Name ( "Starcaster by Fender" the same way they do with "Squier by Fender" ). This Brand Name was on Strat style guitars and on Precision & Jazz styles basses. In 2013-2014 they used that name again as a Model Name for a Fender branded model of a "revisited re-issue" of the original Starcaster semi-hollow guitar. It was part of the Fender Modern Player Series and was made in China. This MP serie was the first time they dared affixing FENDER as the brand on a chinese line of production. In this MP serie there was also a bass with the same look even if the original "Starcaster Bass" never went further than a prototype product. Notice that the 2013 bass does not wear the "Starcaster" Model Name on its headstock though, probably because it never went in production and really never existed. I have a 2013 bass and a 2014 guitar.

Interesting Starcaster shaped bass...can you talk about the pickups & details of the bass. thanks

 

[AAT65]

a 335-w/-1970s'-lapels kinda thingie--

Perfect description!!

 

[Lonn]

"Those MIC Starcasters with the classic headstock scroll are closer to MIM/MIA specs,"

Hold up now. I'll admit the bodies are full thickness but that's as close as they get to MIM/MIA quality. I've seen and played a ton of these Sam's Club Starcasters (with the CBS looking headstock) and they're decent modding platforms IF the frets aren't razor sharp, which they almost always are. The hardware and electronics are bottom of the line junk to be thrown away.

 

[Deeve]

Interesting Starcaster shaped bass...can you talk about the pickups & details of the bass. thanks

Welp - as w/ "real" P-bass - it's a bigger neck than the J
I have not removed or examined the P pup, but it sounds good to me

Wiring harness - dodgy - replaced w/ another dodgy one from the Bay of Fleas - less than $10US

Other hardware/features - Jack: okay; Bridge: okay; Tuners: okay; Frets: a little bit of Sprout, but nothing to lose your mind over (remember this was $25); Truss-rod: okay (moved in both directions); Finish - a couple of dings, but the rest is a very fine sparkle in the shiny, smooth black.

The P-Bass is the Tele Esq of basses - simple, unbreakable and fun.
The Starcaster P-bass checks those boxes for me. $25 well spent.
YMMV

Peace - Deeve

 

[Frank'n'censed]

Welp - as w/ "real" P-bass - it's a bigger neck than the J
I have not removed or examined the P pup, but it sounds good to me

Wiring harness - dodgy - replaced w/ another dodgy one from the Bay of Fleas - less than $10US

Other hardware/features - Jack: okay; Bridge: okay; Tuners: okay; Frets: a little bit of Sprout, but nothing to lose your mind over (remember this was $25); Truss-rod: okay (moved in both directions); Finish - a couple of dings, but the rest is a very fine sparkle in the shiny, smooth black.

The P-Bass is the Tele Esq of basses - simple, unbreakable and fun.
The Starcaster P-bass checks those boxes for me. $25 well spent.
YMMV

Peace - Deeve

How’s the neck dive scenario?

 

[Deeve]

How’s the neck dive scenario?

Balanced - as far as my player

I don't really notice any significant weight diff between this one and the J copy (w/ smaller headstock)
The upper horn is long enough to have a strap center the weight.
My strap is not smooth-slippery - maybe that helps.

The only neck-dive instrument I have is a Tacoma Papoose.
Peace - Deeve

 

[Frank'n'censed]

A very cool bass & great buy in my estimation...I like semis & P sounding basses

 

[P-Nutz]

Then again, there's that old episode of GM promoting the Chevy Nova in Latin America, not thinking what "No va" means in Spanish.....

... yeah, that's an urban myth ... easily researched ...

 

[RoscoeElegante]

... yeah, that's an urban myth ... easily researched ...

Gotcha. Never looked into it until now. Thanks for the correction. Then again, the company that made the Vega (I had one!) had it coming. Sad to say. If only they'd planned better, re: their cars and their organization.

Wait--I also had a Gremlin. And since we can't say that gremlins are not real things, no wonder the Pinto blew up, right?

Who needs science when you have an age of militant wishfulness?!