Re: Fender Tom Delonge Starcaster
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2024 7:54 pm
Is it technically a Starcaster with that headstock?
Talk about the Fender Jazzmaster, Jaguar, and any other offset waist guitars with us!
https://offsetguitars.com/forums/
Not really, there's at least a few posts that are positive about it, I think it's cool but not for me is roughly what mine said so I don't think you can blanket statement it like that.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:20 amShock - a forum of traditionalists dislikes non-traditional Fender model.
Well that’s my point. They could easily have called it something different like the Fender “TDL” etc. When he used to have an endorsement deal with Gibson they came out with a ES-333 TDL signature model. There already was an ES-333 that had just recently been released. His model didn’t look much like it and just added to the confusion. Other than that I’m cool with it. More instruments the merrier I say.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:20 amComparing it to other Starcasters is missing the point. Like comparing a Jerry Garcia Alligator to a Stratocaster. Other than the body shape, it's a completely different instrument.
It would be fairly unlikely for Fender to contract out to a different factory in Indonesia given that they already have the tooling to make that specific model of guitar, though none of us has proof one way or another at this time. As for the serial number, the letters at the beginning usually indicate a few things: ISS is used on all of the current Squier Starcasters, and I believe this means Indonesia/Samick/Squier. The serial number formatting changes from time to time, but generally those three elements (country, factory, brand) are present. You would think they would change to ISF for the Delonge if they were being consistent, but they're instead using "ID" - and I would guess that just means Indonesia/Delonge, since it's a signature one-off model. My point being that I don't think the serial number deviates in such a way that implies a different factory, and perhaps they're even intentionally obfuscating the fact that it's made in the same factory due to the price gap.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:20 amI don't think the price is completely unrealistic. Lots of assumptions here about factory, I suspect it is not the same factory that turns out the Squier Starcasters but happy to be corrected on that. (The serial number format is quite different).
Thanks man, can't disagree with any of that. It would be interesting to clarify one way or the other. The upcharge for the 'upgraded' parts alone probably gets you fairly close to the list price anyway so this would make sense.alexpigment wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:09 pmIt would be fairly unlikely for Fender to contract out to a different factory in Indonesia given that they already have the tooling to make that specific model of guitar, though none of us has proof one way or another at this time. As for the serial number, the letters at the beginning usually indicate a few things: ISS is used on all of the current Squier Starcasters, and I believe this means Indonesia/Samick/Squier. The serial number formatting changes from time to time, but generally those three elements (country, factory, brand) are present. You would think they would change to ISF for the Delonge if they were being consistent, but they're instead using "ID" - and I would guess that just means Indonesia/Delonge, since it's a signature one-off model. My point being that I don't think the serial number deviates in such a way that implies a different factory, and perhaps they're even intentionally obfuscating the fact that it's made in the same factory due to the price gap.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:20 amI don't think the price is completely unrealistic. Lots of assumptions here about factory, I suspect it is not the same factory that turns out the Squier Starcasters but happy to be corrected on that. (The serial number format is quite different).
There are a lot of things that go into the price. It's a name brand pickup rather than an in-house pickup, so they have to pay Seymour Duncan some agreed upon price for a *relatively limited quantity* as opposed to a huge volume deal. That is no doubt considerably more than they would pay if they were making them pickups themselves. Then there's the neck, which is both roasted and has rosewood on it, so those two items will cost more. Then there's the custom neck plate, which I would guess they make somewhere in Mexico or the US (i.e. it's the same plate as his signature strat) and have to ship them over. Same is true with the tuners; they're made by Fender so probably shipped from [some country] to Indonesia and will cost more than what is used on the Squiers. Fender probably takes a higher cut on its own guitars than they do on the Squiers, so there's an added cost there. Lastly, Tom's probably not doing this for free, so he's surely getting a cut.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 11:12 amThanks man, can't disagree with any of that. It would be interesting to clarify one way or the other. The upcharge for the 'upgraded' parts alone probably gets you fairly close to the list price anyway so this would make sense.
One thing folks here don't seem to be aware of is the price is completely in line with the Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster which currently streets at $1100. Both are artist semi-hollows with Seymour Duncan pickups, and the Jim Adkins has been produced in Indonesia since it's release in 2009.alexpigment wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 2:45 pmNow, if you think this adds up to $1200, or the manufacturing cost equivalent to their other $1200 guitars, I think that's a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, they probably are wanting for the price to reflect the prestige of the model - i.e. they want this to be a major artist's signature line rather than an artist's budget line - so that currently means $1K+.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 11:12 amThanks man, can't disagree with any of that. It would be interesting to clarify one way or the other. The upcharge for the 'upgraded' parts alone probably gets you fairly close to the list price anyway so this would make sense.
The Jim Adkins is 30% cheaper according to Fender’s website (£1149 to £909).vistavision wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:34 pmOne thing folks here don't seem to be aware of is the price is completely in line with the Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster which currently streets at $1100. Both are artist semi-hollows with Seymour Duncan pickups, and the Jim Adkins has been produced in Indonesia since it's release in 2009.alexpigment wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 2:45 pmNow, if you think this adds up to $1200, or the manufacturing cost equivalent to their other $1200 guitars, I think that's a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, they probably are wanting for the price to reflect the prestige of the model - i.e. they want this to be a major artist's signature line rather than an artist's budget line - so that currently means $1K+.IrishBread69 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 11:12 amThanks man, can't disagree with any of that. It would be interesting to clarify one way or the other. The upcharge for the 'upgraded' parts alone probably gets you fairly close to the list price anyway so this would make sense.
The math is actually 21% cheaper not 30%. Fender's USA site has the DeLonge at $1199 and Jim Adkins at $1099 so the Adkins is 8.5% lower here.sal paradise wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 10:00 pmThe Jim Adkins is 30% cheaper according to Fender’s website (£1149 to £909).vistavision wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:34 pmOne thing folks here don't seem to be aware of is the price is completely in line with the Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster which currently streets at $1100. Both are artist semi-hollows with Seymour Duncan pickups, and the Jim Adkins has been produced in Indonesia since it's release in 2009.alexpigment wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 2:45 pm
Now, if you think this adds up to $1200, or the manufacturing cost equivalent to their other $1200 guitars, I think that's a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, they probably are wanting for the price to reflect the prestige of the model - i.e. they want this to be a major artist's signature line rather than an artist's budget line - so that currently means $1K+.
Oops, yes 20 not 30.vistavision wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 10:32 pmThe math is actually 21% cheaper not 30%. Fender's USA site has the DeLonge at $1199 and Jim Adkins at $1099 so the Adkins is 8.5% lower here.sal paradise wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 10:00 pmThe Jim Adkins is 30% cheaper according to Fender’s website (£1149 to £909).vistavision wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 9:34 pm
One thing folks here don't seem to be aware of is the price is completely in line with the Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster which currently streets at $1100. Both are artist semi-hollows with Seymour Duncan pickups, and the Jim Adkins has been produced in Indonesia since it's release in 2009.