The more I learn about how electric guitars are made, the more I want to learn. Pound for pound, the company best at making electrics IMHO is Fender. But they also have the most confusing product line. It used to be simple – If you wanted a cheap guitar, buy a Squier Bullet. If you wanted a good inexpensive guitar, buy a Squier. If you wanted a professional guitar, buy a Fender.

Now? Good luck. The bottom is still easy to understand, but things get hazy after that:
$100 = Squier Bullet
$179 = Squier Affinity
$225 = Squier Standard
$350 = Squier Classic Vibe
$399 = Fender Modern Player (Fender China)
$499 = Fender Standard (Fender Mexico)
$599 = Fender Deluxe (Fender Mexico)
$799 = Fender Classic Player 50’s (Fender Mexico)
$799 = Fender USA Nitro Satin (Fender USA)
$950 = Fender American Special (Fender USA)
$999 = Fender USA Professional (Fender USA)
$1250 = Fender American Standard (Fender USA)
$1600 = Fender American Standard Deluxe Extra Such and Such (Fender USA)
$2,299 Up = Fender American Select Vintage Custom Shop Blah Blah (Fender USA)

Confusing, yes, but I appreciate the fact that Fender is willing to put their name on the Modern Player, so people can buy a Fender Stratocaster for $399. But there’s an interesting thing that happens at the price point of each country crossover – the Squier Classic Vibe is a better guitar and the Fender Modern Player. The Fender Classic Player 50’s is a better guitar than the Fender USA Nitro Satin.

People want to pretend that Fenders made in America are better because we have the best craftsmen. Nope. It’s time on task. What’s the difference between a Mexican neck and an American neck? Mostly the amount of time spent on getting it perfect, including the fret work. Especially the fret work. The wood in the American neck may be graded higher, but it’s a pretty subtle thing.

The country of origin used to be an easy way to spot quality, but not any more. High quality guitars are coming out of everywhere now. So what’s the best value in the product line? I still like the $499 Fender Standard. Change out the pickups and the tuners, and maybe the nut, and you’ve got a good guitar.  Or buy a Fender Deluxe, which is sort of like buying a Fender Standard and swapping out the pickups.

But for my money, if I could only own one electric guitar, and I couldn’t swap out any parts, I’d be looking at the American Standard.  The quality of workmanship is top drawer and so are all of the parts.