Fender Road Worn ?

[Born2Blues67]

I have played a few of the RW guitars. I like them. I was just wondering
if they used cheaper hardware(pots tuners,bridges,etc.) than the USA
models? Any opinions welcome.

[VaughnC]

The only "shortcut" I found in the 60's Strat I tried out was a non-steel tremblock....other than needing a fret dress, all else looked/felt fine to me.

[\DARKMETL/]

I would guess that they are not the USA electronics, if they were they probaby would be another $500.

[VaughnC]

Originally Posted by \DARKMETL/

I would guess that they are not the USA electronics, if they were they probaby would be another $500.

Well, while tone is subjective, I think the stock Tex-Mex pickups sound decent...the pots are full sized, and the switch is the open frame American style. If the neck had been thicker I definitely would have kept mine and the only thing I would have replaced would have been the tremblock.

[ktp_blues]

Tuners are the mexican Fender Ping variety. Does the job but needs to be changed over the years of use. Bridge seems to be american spec'd but I don't think it is the same one on the MIA strats.

[NHDave]

I like the Tex Mex pickups... I bought my tele used and it
came with the tuners swapped out with Callahams and Glendale
saddle. They felt more substantial but honestly, I thought the
originals fit better so I put em back in. I think if you have a
decent setup, they will do the job.

My strat I didn't have to tweak at all and it stays in tune
great...

[ESPLTD200FM]

Originally Posted by NHDave

I like the Tex Mex pickups... I bought my tele used and it
came with the tuners swapped out with Callahams and Glendale
saddle. They felt more substantial but honestly, I thought the
originals fit better so I put em back in. I think if you have a
decent setup, they will do the job.

My strat I didn't have to tweak at all and it stays in tune
great...

So you have a Roadworn Tele and a Roadworn Strat? I'm really wanting to add a RW Tele to my collection. I think my Roadworn Strat is the greatest guitar ever made. You like the Tele? Is it just as good as the Strats? I definitely might have to buy one. Talk about GASing.....

[Boris Bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Born2Blues67

I have played a few of the RW guitars. I like them. I was just wondering
if they used cheaper hardware(pots tuners,bridges,etc.) than the USA
models? Any opinions welcome.

The pots are fine. The jack is lighter guage, you can upgrade to Switchcraft.

The tuners are Ping. You can upgrade those to the Gotoh split shaft with a set of 3/8ths conversion bushes. But these Ping vintages are better than the die cast tuners in the American Standard guitars if you ask me.

The pickups have no base plate, but you can add one, to either the Strat or the Tele. The Tele bridge pup is about 8.3; I stuck one of those in my MIM Esquire with a base plate. I like it.

The bridge on a Tele isn't really much different, new saddles are easy if you age 'em a bit. The Strat bridge is the cheaper import stuff just as in the Classic and Deluxe MIM guitars, just relic'd. A Jimmie Vaughan or AV57 or 62 would have the nicer stuff.

Guitar isn't supposed to be shielded, so they save money there.

If only the neck was bigger, as Vaughan says.

[Born2Blues67]

Thanks for all the replies.