62 AVRI Stratocaster - Skinny Frets - AAaaaarggghhhh

crunchman

jeztone2 said:

I agree choice is good. But then your stifling choice by not offering an option of bigger frets. I guess it's marketing. But it annoys me.

I'd love a Clapton Strat, but not with those tiny frets. The only guitars Fender make that are non CS with a vintage neck & beefy frets are the Kotzen's. I'm suprised fretwire size isn't more of a purchase critical issue.

  The EC Strat is obviously what EC likes though.  SOme people do like that.

I think there is a deliberate policy of not offering that big fret combination on a vintage neck to try and make people spend CS money.

guitars4you

crunchman said:

jeztone2 said:

I agree choice is good. But then your stifling choice by not offering an option of bigger frets. I guess it's marketing. But it annoys me.

I'd love a Clapton Strat, but not with those tiny frets. The only guitars Fender make that are non CS with a vintage neck & beefy frets are the Kotzen's. I'm suprised fretwire size isn't more of a purchase critical issue.

  The EC Strat is obviously what EC likes though.  SOme people do like that.

I think there is a deliberate policy of not offering that big fret combination on a vintage neck to try and make people spend CS money.

I'd tend to agree with you that they need to keep a good differential between AVRI and C/Shop models - obviously the C/Shop is geared up for various options as required - An AVRI is only about colour options - Some might look at it as the C/Shop is an upgrade on regular production models - Others will look at it as the C/Shop represents the pinnacle of Fender models and everything else down the line is then built according to a price point

EC does appear to be one of a small number of players who still favours the small fret approach - idiosyncratic nature of a signature model, that you effectively buy what they like

Schnozz

Trade it for a G&L Legacy as they're more or less the same price and you'll get your Leo Fender fix. You could try for a Musicman Silhouette if you like small necks.

I had an AVRI '57 Strat Reissue and an AVRI '62 Tele Reissue...They were a nightmare so I went straight back to G&L.

TimmyO

The (discontinued) AVRI '62 Hot Rod model fixed this with meatier frets (and neck) - I love mine 

jeztone2

TimmyO said:

The (discontinued) AVRI '62 Hot Rod model fixed this with meatier frets (and neck) - I love mine 

The one guitar I regret not buying is the American Deluxe 62 FSR they did in 2005. It was basically an American Deluxe with a 62 neck profile, medium jumbo frets & a vintage style bridge. 

Ive tried to make my Kotzen like a 57 Hot Rod by adding a DiMarzio Tone Zone to the bridge.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7537/30347933056_c7e0c02f77_z.jpg

impmann

I quite like the combination of 7.25in radius and standard Fender frets.

HAL9000

crunchman said:

jeztone2 said:

I agree choice is good. But then your stifling choice by not offering an option of bigger frets. I guess it's marketing. But it annoys me.

I'd love a Clapton Strat, but not with those tiny frets. The only guitars Fender make that are non CS with a vintage neck & beefy frets are the Kotzen's. I'm suprised fretwire size isn't more of a purchase critical issue.

  The EC Strat is obviously what EC likes though.  SOme people do like that.

I think there is a deliberate policy of not offering that big fret combination on a vintage neck to try and make people spend CS money.

Don't the Classic Player instruments have big frets on vintage style (as opposed to vintage radius) necks?

crunchman

HAL9000 said:

crunchman said:

jeztone2 said:

I agree choice is good. But then your stifling choice by not offering an option of bigger frets. I guess it's marketing. But it annoys me.

I'd love a Clapton Strat, but not with those tiny frets. The only guitars Fender make that are non CS with a vintage neck & beefy frets are the Kotzen's. I'm suprised fretwire size isn't more of a purchase critical issue.

  The EC Strat is obviously what EC likes though.  SOme people do like that.

I think there is a deliberate policy of not offering that big fret combination on a vintage neck to try and make people spend CS money.

Don't the Classic Player instruments have big frets on vintage style (as opposed to vintage radius) necks?

Not sure.  I'm pretty sure there isn't a US option though.  The Mexican stuff isn't really going to eat into CS sales.

axisus

I quite like vintage frets. I prefer them to massive ones.

gitapik

Schnozz said:

Trade it for a G&L Legacy as they're more or less the same price and you'll get your Leo Fender fix. You could try for a Musicman Silhouette if you like small necks.

I had an AVRI '57 Strat Reissue and an AVRI '62 Tele Reissue...They were a nightmare so I went straight back to G&L.

I've had a '57 AVRI Strat for about 10 years, now. I love it. There's no doubt that the neck and fingerboard require an adjustment in technique (and saddle height on the high E for bending) if you're used to medium and jumbo frets (I've played an LP for decades), but when you get it down the guitar plays beautifully.

Funny you'd mention G&L and the Silo. My ASAT Classic (which I set the action a little high on) and Silhouette Special (action set to factory specs) are great guitars.

Funkfingers

+1

Fender vintage spec re-issues are fine, provided that you are prepared to work that bit harder.