NEWS: Fender University - James Burton, G.E. Smith, John 5

Just saw this one over at Premier Guitar: the spring 2009 session of Fender University. Looks to be a very Telecaster-heavy lineup. Cool.

Corona, CA (Feb. 9, 2008) — For its spring 2009 session, Fender University has announced that the March 4-8 education program in Corona, Calif., will be topped with special appearances and performances by guitar heroes James Burton, G.E. Smith and John 5, and legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer.

Fender University’s “guest faculty” also features guitar aces Gary Hoey, Greg Koch and Wolf Marshall, plus Fender signature artist bass masters Reggie Hamilton and Tony Franklin. Fender University will also feature a special private concert with guitarist/vocalist Philip Sayce (Jeff Healey, Uncle Kracker) and “class photos” taken by world-renowned rock photographer Robert Knight

Burton, Smith and 5 are all Fender signature artists with their own distinctive Telecaster guitar models.

Fender University offers a five-day behind-the-scenes music education experience to guitar and bass enthusiasts worldwide at all skill levels. Students experience a hands-on immersion in the world of Fender products and people, with exclusive access to Fender’s manufacturing headquarters and to the world-renowned Fender Custom Shop, all presented through a series of music workshops, hands-on educational experiences, facility tours, performance opportunities and special guest appearances.

The weeklong music education program was an unqualified success when it was launched in 2007 with a summer session that featured guest artists including Yngwie Malmsteen and Dweezil Zappa.

NAMM 2009: Fender Roadworn series

Fender has unveiled its new Roadworn series, which brings Custom Shop-style relic finishing to players who can't afford to spend thousands on a carefully bashed-up axe, but still want the look, feel and vibe. I guess cynics might say "Just buy a Mexican Strat and drag it behind the car" but I think these are kinda cool. I think they'll be even more cool after a few years when they've been knocked around for real and the edges of the factory-worn paintless spots start to get all funked up and more authentic-lookin'. Maybe in 20 years they'll release a new series of Roadworn Relics, which simulate two decades of wear on a 2009 Roadworn model.

The Roadworn series is based on Fender's 1950s and 1960s designs but with modern features including taller frets and hotter pickups. The line will be officially launched at NAMM.

Here are the specs:

'50s Strat
Distressed body, neck, and hardware creating an aged appearance
Aged knobs and switch tip,
Vintage styling
Synthetic bone nut

5-position blade:
Position 1 bridge pickup
Position 2 bridge and middle pickup
Position 3 middle pickup
Position 4 middle and neck pickup
Position 5 neck pickup

2-color sunburst or black (nitro finish)
Alder body
maple neck, soft "V" shape (poly finish)
maple fingerboard, 7.25" radius
1.650" width at nut
21 frets (6105 narrow jumbo)
3 Tex-Mex Strat single-coil pickups with staggered alnico magnet pole pieces and parchment covers
Vintage style synchronized tremolo
Fender/Ping vintage style tuning machines
chrome hardware
1 ply white, 8 hole pickguard

'60s Strat
Distressed body, neck, and hardware creating an aged appearance,
Aged knobs, pickup covers and switch tip
Vintage styling
Synthetic bone nut

5-position blade:
Position 1 bridge pickup
Position 2 bridge and middle pickup
Position 3 middle pickup
Position 4 middle and neck pickup
Position 5 neck pickup

3-Color Sunburst or Olympic White (nitro finish)
Alder body
Maple neck, "C" shape (Urethane Finish)
Maple fingerboard, 7.25" radius
1.650" width at nut
21 frets (6105 narrow jumbo)
3 Tex-Mex Strat single-coil pickups with staggered, alnico magnet pole pieces and parchment covers
Vintage style synchronized tremolo
Fender/Ping vintage style tuning machines
chrome hardware
3 ply Mint Green pickguard

'50s Tele
Distressed body, neck, and hardware creating an aged appearance
Vintage stylings
Synthetic bone nut

3-Position Blade:
Position 1 bridge pickup
Position 2 bridge and neck pickup
Position 3 neck pickup

Ash body
2-color sunburst
blonde (satin lacquer finish)
maple neck, "C" shape (poly finish)
maple fingerboard, 7.25" radius
1.650" width at nut
21 (6105 narrow jumbo frets)
2 Tex-Mex Tele single-coil pickups with alnico magnet pole pieces
Vintage style 3-Saddle strings-thru-body tele bridge
Fender/Ping vintage style tuning machines
2-color sunburst or blonde (satin lacquer finish)

'50s P Bass
Distressed body, neck and hardware creating an aged and worn appearance,
Vintage styling
Gold anodized aluminum pickguard,
Synthetic bone nut
Alder body
2-color sunburst, Fiesta Red (nitro finish)
maple neck, 7.25" radius
1.750" nut
20 vintage style frets
1 Precision Bass split single-coil pickup (Mid)
nickel/chrome hardware
American vintage Precision/Jazz bass bridge
Vintage style reverse tuning machines

'60s J Bass
Distressed body, neck and hardware creating an aged and Worn appearance,
Vintage styling
Gold anodized aluminum pickguard,
Synthetic bone nut
Alder body
3-color sunburst, Fiesta Red (nitro finish)
rosewood neck, 7.25" radius
1.50" nut
20 vintage style frets
2 Standard vintage alnico magnet Jazz Bass single coil pickups
nickel/chrome hardware
American vintage Precision/Jazz bass bridge
Vintage style reverse tuning machines

For more info: fender.com/roadworn

CLICK HERE to buy the Fender Rock Box watch and accessory gift set from Musician's Friend

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NAMM 2009: Fender Standard range, you've been pimped

Fender has beefed up the Mexican-made Standard range with some new cosmetic features which are sure to make the guitars look a little nicer in the eyes of consumers, while separating them a little more from the rapidly improving Squire line.

I’ve noticed Squire quality improving for a while, and I guess Fender needed to do something to give budget-minded guitarists a reason to go with the slightly more expensive Fender-branded Strat compared to stuff like the Squire Deluxe Stratocaster, which retails at US$449.99.

The new tweaks to the Fender Standard line don’t particularly represent an improvement in playability or sound (you might still want to upgrade the pickups and have a tech go over the fretwork to unleash the full awesomeness of a Fender Standard series), but they sure do look cool. I especially like the switch to the 70s logo.

Here’s the press release.

The Fender Standard Series, one of the world's most popular electric guitar and bass series, recently received upgrades that include new finishes, tinted necks, parchment pickguards/control knobs and '70s-style logos.

"The Standard Series is the entry-point into the Fender branded guitar and bass lines," said Justin Norvell, director of marketing, Fender electric guitars. "Fender has always been committed to both dealer and consumer value, and this latest refreshment has increased the value proposition for both. Some of the changes may sound somewhat minor, but they represent a massive positive change from a visual standpoint. In plain terms, the new instruments look more expensive, which should increase their desirability and turn at the retail level."

Fender Standard Telecaster, Stratocaster and Strat HSS guitars are available at Fender dealers worldwide with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $690 ($750 in Brown Sunburst); Fender Standard Strat HSS with Floyd Rose guitars are available at Fender dealers worldwide with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $880 ($940 in Brown Sunburst); Fender Standard "Roland®" Ready" Stratocaster guitars are available at Fender dealers worldwide with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,060 ($1,130 in Brown Sunburst); Fender Precision Bass guitars are available at Fender dealers worldwide with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $780; Fender Jazz Bass guitars are available at Fender dealers worldwide with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $830.

For more information, visit their web site at http://www.fender.com/.