Fender Guitars I Wish They Would Reissue

Tom Morello Strat$1800Fender seems to be stuck selling tribute “artist” model guitars for folks that once were notable but no longer seem relevant. There are 20 or more of these available, ranging in price from $850 to well over $3,000. Fender Player iiMany of Fender's latest creations are no longer made in the USA and given the designation of “Player” or “Vintera”. I am sure they are fine instruments, though they are pretty much the basic guitars that Fender had been offering since 1950. Lately the Fender Musical Instrument Company has accrued some pretty bad publicity because of their cease and desist threats to other manufacturers and instrument retailers. The company's reputation has become so tarnished that they are now advertising their guitars on TV. I don't think my old granny cares a hoot about the new Mike Campbell Telecaster.Perhaps emphasis on some of their previous creations might help boost the companies image and reputation. It couldn't hurt!Over the years Fender has created some unique instruments that I wouldn’t mind seeing return. Here is a list of five guitars, and three amplifiers. 2011 Fender '51The Fender 51, and the Squier 51. These hard tail Strat shaped guitars included a single coil pickup in the neck position, and a humbucker at the bridge. While the control panel looked like it was taken from the original P-Bass. Squier '51The Fender 51’s was a little pricey, but the Squier 51’s retailed for less than $200. Back in the day a lot of folks modified the heck out of the Squier versions. Some had brilliant results. The Squier '51 was first introduced in 2003 and made until 2006. Fender then introduced the Fender '51 in 2011 and offered it until 2013, when the Squier '51 was re-introduced. Production ended in 2013. The '51 uses a humbucker pickup in the bridge position and a single-coil pickup in the neck position. The 4-wire bridge pickup allows for coil splitting by pulling up on the volume control knob to limit the humbucker to single-coil output. The neck pickup is slanted with respect to the strings, better aligning the single-coil pole spacings under narrower spacing of the strings. The lower control knob is a three-position rotary switch, selecting between the neck pickup, neck plus humbucker, or humbucker. It was a very unique electronic design.Fender Bullet #1In 1980 Fender designer John Page was given the task of producing an inexpensive guitar that would boost Fender’s sales. He created The Bullet #1. This unique instrument had a Telecaster neck, and a smaller “Tele” style body. It had two single coil pickups that were in a similar arrangement to those on a Fender Duo-Sonic. This guitar had a 3-way Stratocaster style switch, and a volume and tone control. The scratch plate on the standard version was made of black, or white, anodized metal and had a lip at the distal end to attach the adjustable bridge saddles. Fender Bullet #1 DeluxeThe Bullet #1 Deluxe came with a white scratch plate, and a separate metal plate to hold the bridge-saddle, and strings. Originally both guitars came with a molded hard-shell case and sold for less than $200. Fender Bullet PackageIn 1981 the American made Fender Bullet #1 was paired with a 20 watt Fender Harvard solid state amp as a Christmas promotion. Bullet H-1By 1982 the American made Fender Bullet was changed to have a Stratocaster style body shape. In 1982 the Bullet became the H-1, which had one humbucker and a coil tap switch. Fender also offered the H-2 with two pickups.Fender B-34 Bullet BassDuring this same time Fender also produced the American made B-34 Bullet Bass. This was made like a Precision Bass, but it was considered a budget or beginner instrument.Vista VenusThen in 1996, under Fender’s Squier name, the Venus series of guitars were produced in Japan, and came in several version.. The Vista Series were uniquely shaped electric guitars that came in several different versions. My favorite was the Squier Vista Venus 12 string. '97 Vista VenusThe Squier Vista Venus had a slanted single coil pickup in the neck position, a humbucking pickup near the bridge, and an adjustable tune-o-matic style bridge. The strings were anchored through the guitars body through six grommets or the front and back of the body.. The neck was bound. The six string version came with a Strat-style headstock. The Maple body was wider than a Strat shape. The pickguard covered much of the instruments top. The Vista Venus had only a volume control and a pickup selector switch. Vista Venus 12 The much rarer Vista Venus 12 string came with all of these features, but included split pickups in the neck and bridge position, a volume and a tone control, and a selector switch. The strings were attached to a large adjustable, metal bridge/saddle. The pickups were split, like on the 1966 Fender XII.The bound neck had a straight painted headstock. On the used market these guitars are selling for around $1800. They are definitely some of Fender's more unique guitars. Fender Lead ii and Lead iiiThe Fender Lead ii and Lead iii were both offered in 1979 and lasted until 1982. Both instruments were built in Japan. They were seen as Stratocaster stylings paired with the simplicity of a Telecaster. Fender Lead iiThe Lead ii came with two offset single coil pickups that emphasized the bright sounds. In addition to the pickup selector this guitar had a phase switch allowing the guitar to achieve a unique "quacky" sound.