Captain Kennedy wrote:My poor old Fender (made in America) is a F-75 sounded good 25 years ago and still sounds good.
I'd agree with you ALMOST 100%. Your F-75, however was NOT made in America. Most likely made in Korea, but definitely not made here in the states.
I did quite a bit of reserch on the "F" line of Fenders made back in the mid 70's to very early 80's. None were "Made In America".
I happen to own an F-65 (bought new in early 82) and I'd put it up against just about anything out there in a laminated spruce and rosewood guitar. In fact, I DO put up against some very stiff competition every Saturday when I go to my Bluegrass jam session. I'm talking competition like a whole bunch of Martins...D-15's, 28's, HD-28's......you name it.......and my old Fender looks, plays and sounds as good as any of 'em. I keep it setup properly and I keep good strings on it....which is what ANY guitar needs to sound and play well.
Right now, Fender makes a DG-100 that sells for less than some of the most popular Yamahas, and the DG-100 blows 'em away in my opinion. I've also compared it to Epiphone Masterbilts and Taylor Big Babys, and, again, the Fender DG-100 wins, hands down at half the price of either of those. Epiphone is having a rash of body crack problems and the Big Babys just sound sort of dead to me.
So, even though Fender is not noted for their "great" acoustics, they're not all junk. For the same money as the DG-100 (about $250) you'd be hard pressed to find a better sounding or better built solid top dreadnought guitar. I think the problem Fender has, if there is one, is that they don't make a more expensive guitar than the Terri Clark Signature model.........and it tops out way less than what most people think they have to pay for a good sounding and well built guitar. I think most guitarists just look at the "Fender" name on the headstock and don't even try it. That fine by me. If my old F-65 ever falls apart, and it's not showing any signs of doing it any time soon, I'll replace it with, most likely, another Fender. I like 'em!
I've had some other, more expensive guitars that were falling apart by the time they were ten years old. This Fender of mine is 27 years old this month.......it's played on a regular basis.......and still holding up just fine. How can you argue with that?
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle,
Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor.
