1997

Well, well, well... a 1997 Fender Frontline magazine was hiding between books, still in very good condition for a 20-year old publication. I used to bring this along to cafes for a good read back then. Life without wifi & data connection was simple & good.

That Strat on the cover- I wouldn't buy it. Look at that gap there, you'd wonder how it got through QC.

My first Fender was not a Strat for this reason; that headstock outline. Maybe I have OCD genes in me somewhere but I noticed how the trimming of that indicated outline was somehow 'wrong'. I've included the later, Y2K-ish headstock on the right for comparison. It seems that the design was somehow a little compressed at some points so to me it's quite repulsive. I bought a Tele 😜

Unworthy?

Sharing with you how a Mexican Fender looks like under the hood (the pick guard more like it). As indicated above, the surfaces were not levelled/filed down to a smooth finish. They didn't give a hoot about it & went ahead with the shielding paint. Mind you, this product has a 'Fender' slapped onto the headstock, it should carry some fundamental pride in terms of goodwill but that's how it is if things aren't 'American'. Surprisingly, the instrument displays good QC in all other areas so they skimp at places where you can't see. Tsk, tsk...