I recently had a "conversation" (on the Fender forum) with Mike Eldred from Fender. To sum it up as best I can, I had read an article that he was given the privilege of taking apart Jimi Hendrix's woodstock strat to measure every little detail with pinpoint accuracy. I had a few questions like what was the output of the pickups and asked if it was particularly heavy/light, etc. I was quickly told that they dont EVER release that kind of information. My follow up point was why dont they make some kind of Legend Series custom pickup line that would be identical reproductions of the various famous strats/teles that Fender has recreated (SRV,Clapton,Hendrix etc.) I was then eaten alive by the various people who owned the $20,000 tribute guitars and told to kick rocks basically. I felt angry that only the rich would ever have access to these guitars and to atleast include the working musician in maybe creating a pickup line. But nope! Only the rich, famous, or high ups in the company would ever have access to this kind of stuff.
I've come to the realization that these big companies like Fender and Marshall are riding on their name and the legacy created in the Golden Era of their company. They now are about nothing but the money, not about the musician, and creating mass produced, lacking products for the masses of people who think they're getting it just like the product from the 60's. And most don't know any better and the cycle goes on. (I know you're thinking "tell us something we don't know)
I was recently watching some videos of these aboriginal didgeridoo players. These guys are piss poor, making an instrument out of a termite hollowed out tree trunk. And their making music straight from their heart, not replicating "Jimi Hendrix" or some other hero. I realized how guilty I've been of being a typical American consumer, needing to have some name brand equipment. Its so easy to get caught up in gear, specs and brands that we forget that this is all in the name of creating the best music we can dream up inside. Today these big companies are plastic shells of what they used to build and every day people fall for it because it looks the same and sounds kinda close. I know this is a story you're too familiar with, but I'm turning over a new leaf and steering clear of these big corporations and sticking to the company that has no compromise when it comes to tone.
This is my point, You guys have a passion about NOT ONLY creating a superior product that sounds great, looks great, isn't priced completely out of reach of the working musician, BUT, you happily share your knowledge and you run a forum where all of us can grow and share knowledge. You build something that is without compromise, a professional tool for the professional musician. YOU PUT THE POWER IN THE MUSICIANS HANDS AND FOR THAT I AM SO GRATEFUL! I know times are tough but I just wanted to extend my thanks to you because you've made a difference in this musicians life.
to that!