My "Road Worn" Story

[Bikedude]

Tried out the RW tele in white at GC today. Been researching for weeks and have wanted this guitar pretty badly. So I play the guitar for about 20 min. Like the vibe, and it sounds pretty good thru the HRD 2X12 I was playing it thru. Looked for a salesman dude to purchase. None available, so I left the RW sitting plugged in by the amp. So I grab an American Standard Tele sitting right next to the amp. Sounds fabulous and plays like a very well put together instrument, and actually blows the RW out of the water in playability, but they sound similar. So I figure what the hell, and grab a 52RI and game over. The 52RI plays like buttah, and for $400. more than the RW, I think I'll wait for the RI. Really no contest here, as others have said, the RW's are nice, but IMO for $949, not in the ballpark for either the Am. Stand Tele comming in at $999, or the RI at around $1349. I may be looking at some of the "thin skin" nitros/modern switching RI's soon. So what I've learned is, I think the RW's are a little steep in price for the playability, and for $50 or about $400 more you can get a much better instrument. So as others have said, yes I now believe the mexican made RW's are too much $$.

[zosozep7]

Originally Posted by Bikedude

Tried out the RW tele in white at GC today. Been researching for weeks and have wanted this guitar pretty badly. So I play the guitar for about 20 min. Like the vibe, and it sounds pretty good thru the HRD 2X12 I was playing it thru. Looked for a salesman dude to purchase. None available, so I left the RW sitting plugged in by the amp. So I grab an American Standard Tele sitting right next to the amp. Sounds fabulous and plays like a very well put together instrument, and actually blows the RW out of the water in playability, but they sound similar. So I figure what the hell, and grab a 52RI and game over. The 52RI plays like buttah, and for $400. more than the RW, I think I'll wait for the RI. Really no contest here, as others have said, the RW's are nice, but IMO for $949, not in the ballpark for either the Am. Stand Tele comming in at $999, or the RI at around $1349. I may be looking at some of the "thin skin" nitros/modern switching RI's soon. So what I've learned is, I think the RW's are a little steep in price for the playability, and for $50 or about $400 more you can get a much better instrument. So as others have said, yes I now believe the mexican made RW's are too much $$.

LMAO!! There aint even no comparison from a RW to a 52 RI! Like you said, for $400 more you can get one hell of a guitar. Actually, if your looking at GC, you really can talk them down. I was able to get my 52RI for $1100 out the door. You can get 52RI on Ebay for $1000 if you look. I see them all the time for that price.

[AudionAnalog]

oy ...

[poolshark]

If you get along with the neck finish, the 52RI is a great guitar. I prefer satin, meself.

[Bikedude]

Originally Posted by zosozep7

LMAO!! There aint even no comparison from a RW to a 52 RI! Like you said, for $400 more you can get one hell of a guitar. Actually, if your looking at GC, you really can talk them down. I was able to get my 52RI for $1100 out the door. You can get 52RI on Ebay for $1000 if you look. I see them all the time for that price.

Your're right about that. What's even more staggering is the quality gap between the RW and the Am St Tele. For a MRRP of $50 more than the RW the Worn feels like a POS.

[Eric Thomas]

I think what you really learned are that Fenders are each unique instruments and should be evaluated individually. Line up 10 Road Worns, 10 American Standards, and 10 52 Reissues and the 10 52RI will not consistently be the best 10 guitars. If you found one that you considered to be the best, then buy THAT ONE NOW. Don't assume that another one you get off eBay or somewhere else will be just as good.

[benjammin420]

plus, arent the RWs MIM? these tend to be sloppier from my experience

[stormin1155]

Originally Posted by Bikedude

Your're right about that. What's even more staggering is the quality gap between the RW and the Am St Tele. For a MRRP of $50 more than the RW the Worn feels like a POS.

I agree. I played on a couple of RWs, and for the same money the Am Sts are vastly superior guitars. ...not even taking into account that the cookie-cutter relicing doesen't even come close to convincing.

[buddastrat]

Originally Posted by eric thomas

i think what you really learned are that fenders are each unique instruments and should be evaluated individually. Line up 10 road worns, 10 american standards, and 10 52 reissues and the 10 52ri will not consistently be the best 10 guitars. If you found one that you considered to be the best, then buy that one now. Don't assume that another one you get off ebay or somewhere else will be just as good.

POTD.

Post of the day : )

[Blue4Now]

I think with the price increase the 52RI is going up to the neighborhood of 1800 street price. So there is going to be a mach larger price gap. The Am Standards are going up to $1400 I think as well.

[openbar]

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

I think what you really learned are that Fenders are each unique instruments and should be evaluated individually. Line up 10 Road Worns, 10 American Standards, and 10 52 Reissues and the 10 52RI will not consistently be the best 10 guitars. If you found one that you considered to be the best, then buy THAT ONE NOW. Don't assume that another one you get off eBay or somewhere else will be just as good.

Have you done this? Have empirical proof? I think there's a reason the standards and AVRIs are more money.

[Trainwreck]

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

I think what you really learned are that Fenders are each unique instruments and should be evaluated individually. Line up 10 Road Worns, 10 American Standards, and 10 52 Reissues and the 10 52RI will not consistently be the best 10 guitars. If you found one that you considered to be the best, then buy THAT ONE NOW. Don't assume that another one you get off eBay or somewhere else will be just as good.

[Bikedude]

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

I think what you really learned are that Fenders are each unique instruments and should be evaluated individually. Line up 10 Road Worns, 10 American Standards, and 10 52 Reissues and the 10 52RI will not consistently be the best 10 guitars. If you found one that you considered to be the best, then buy THAT ONE NOW. Don't assume that another one you get off eBay or somewhere else will be just as good.

In theory you may be correct, but this is a highly unprobable evaluation "strategery" for most of us. Show me the shop where I can line up 10 Am Sts, 10 RI's, and 10 RW's to try in one sitting. It aint happenin in Cleveland, Ohio dood!

[buddastrat]

It's funny because I just talked to my buddy a few minutes ago, he's in Fla, and is super excited about the guitar he just got. Went down to GC and came home with a 60's RW. Said it blew everything else away. He'd always crack on me for digging relics. But he says this guitar outplayed everything in the shop, sounds so good, etc.

He's had A custom shop classic, several Am. Std.s and he's a great player.


Every guitar is made of wood and that's where most of the tone comes from or doesn't. Just going by specs on paper, I would take a RW over any Am. Std, or USA RI (can't stand the thick neck finish).

But that's because I prefer the features or the RW. If I tried 10 RW's and they all sucked, I still might find #11 that smoked.

[rburkard]

Absolutely true. One out of ten is usually a good one from my experience.
Rene

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

I think what you really learned are that Fenders are each unique instruments and should be evaluated individually. Line up 10 Road Worns, 10 American Standards, and 10 52 Reissues and the 10 52RI will not consistently be the best 10 guitars. If you found one that you considered to be the best, then buy THAT ONE NOW. Don't assume that another one you get off eBay or somewhere else will be just as good.