Did Fender Underestimate Demand for the AV II ‘61 Stratocaster?

Knightrich

Knightrich

Strat-Talk Member
Jan 15, 2020
48
Tennessee
I preordered a fiesta red and don’t really have any idea when it will come in (maybe 2023). I’ve noticed that there are plenty of other ‘57s in the wild as well as the other models. I think there don’t seem to be too many ‘77 telecaster customs either. I’m just impatient lol.
 
sonny wolf

sonny wolf

Most Honored Senior Member
Aug 7, 2009
5,442
austin texas
The fact that they layed off 300 employees last month isn't going to help speed up the wait.Hopefully you get lucky and get it soon and get a nice one.I tried a Fiesta red one last week and it was ok but I didn't feel that immediate bond with it when you first pick up a guitar.Very nice but not the one that had that mojo....they're all different.
 
John C

John C

Most Honored Senior Member
Silver Member
Jul 17, 2012
8,685
Kansas City
sonny wolf said:
The fact that they layed off 300 employees last month isn't going to help speed up the wait.Hopefully you get lucky and get it soon and get a nice one.I tried a Fiesta red one last week and it was ok but I didn't feel that immediate bond with it when you first pick up a guitar.Very nice but not the one that had that mojo....they're all different.
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Fender's "spin" when the layoff happened was that the production crew for the 2nd shift was had a 50% defect/rework rate so that crew was let go along with some other personnel in other departments, although I suspect they probably kept the best personnel from that crew. The 2nd shift was added to catch up with the COVID-period backlogs. Again I imagine this was PR spin - to cover that they should have hired the 2nd shift as temps/contractors instead of employees - so they could be easily laid off and rehired whenever demand again reached the point where a 2nd shift was needed.

Knightrich said:
I preordered a fiesta red and don’t really have any idea when it will come in (maybe 2023). I’ve noticed that there are plenty of other ‘57s in the wild as well as the other models. I think there don’t seem to be too many ‘77 telecaster customs either. I’m just impatient lol.
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So yes they underestimated the demand for the AV II '61 Strat and a few other models; most models are still in stock so they hit them right. And with the 2nd shift gone it will take a while for the AV II's to come back into the 1st shift's production crew.

I haven't seen many of the 77 Tele Customs either; I don't know if they underestimated or if they were/are the last to be produced. It doesn't seem like the '61 Strat where there were a lot in stock that were sold, they never really were in stock like the other models.

It seems like the '73 Strats have also sold well (for the amount produced) but there are still some of them around.
 
BoredAtWork82

BoredAtWork82

Strat-Talk Member
Sep 25, 2017
36
Australia
I got the last Oly White one I could find in Australia.

Two shops I asked gave me an estimated time of July 2023 so I just made a snap decision.

I think other people that ordered earlier would get one earlier but best I heard was March 2023.
 
Chipss36

Chipss36

Senior Stratmaster
Oct 1, 2018
1,457
Texas
Oddly fender started out making guitars,then would lay-off people once a quota was made, Leo did that all the time.

Andrew Mooney was certainly not the first, and keeping major shareholders happy, keeps Andrew himself in a job, so….


or I could be completely full of it, and just pulling your leg…
 
Knightrich

Knightrich

Strat-Talk Member
Jan 15, 2020
48
Tennessee
John C said:
Fender's "spin" when the layoff happened was that the production crew for the 2nd shift was had a 50% defect/rework rate so that crew was let go along with some other personnel in other departments, although I suspect they probably kept the best personnel from that crew. The 2nd shift was added to catch up with the COVID-period backlogs. Again I imagine this was PR spin - to cover that they should have hired the 2nd shift as temps/contractors instead of employees - so they could be easily laid off and rehired whenever demand again reached the point where a 2nd shift was needed.



So yes they underestimated the demand for the AV II '61 Strat and a few other models; most models are still in stock so they hit them right. And with the 2nd shift gone it will take a while for the AV II's to come back into the 1st shift's production crew.

I haven't seen many of the 77 Tele Customs either; I don't know if they underestimated or if they were/are the last to be produced. It doesn't seem like the '61 Strat where there were a lot in stock that were sold, they never really were in stock like the other models.

It seems like the '73 Strats have also sold well (for the amount produced) but there are still some of them around.
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That makes a lot of sense. You’re right. And, I’ve been tempted to just go for a ‘73 they have in stock right now because in the online video reviews, personally, I think the ‘73 amazing! Some cognitive dissonance occurs when I think ok I can get that roughly 15% off or look for a vintage one. But, maybe the new ones are made better, etc. maybe not depending on the shift.

I’m sure there will eventually be more 61s in the wild and it’s interesting because I get the impression that fiesta red is the most sought after, but they are all equally scarce. I’d be tempted to go for another color if another came in stock for sure.
 
Knightrich

Knightrich

Strat-Talk Member
Jan 15, 2020
48
Tennessee
3bolt79 said:
I don’t know, but I just hope they still have the 73 reissue in Mocha still available by the time I can afford one.
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I am super tempted to just say forget it and grab a LPB in stock. But then I think don’t you like it as much as fiesta red but the guitar sounds so good!
 
crawdaddy

crawdaddy

Most Honored Senior Member
Feb 11, 2010
7,009
Valley o Sun
Fender had lefty FR AV II's available.....so I got one and love it....

IMG_20221101_104631692.jpg

With Christmas coming.....I'm hopeful that Santa (aka my wife) will find a left handed AV II '57 in Vintage Blond to be found by moi under the Christmas tree...It's good to have dreams :whistling: :) :whistling: :)
 
M

mike58

Strat-Talker
Nov 25, 2017
225
Uk
crawdaddy said:
Fender had lefty FR AV II's available.....so I got one and love it....

View attachment 605065

With Christmas coming.....I'm hopeful that Santa (aka my wife) will find a left handed AV II '57 in Vintage Blond to be found by moi under the Christmas tree...It's good to have dreams :whistling: :) :whistling: :)
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Best I could do 18months ago was get a Fender Japan Traditional 60s in lefty... one of 85 produced. Up until then Fiesta was unobtainable in lefty unless you went Squier or CS.
I would put the build quality as potentially superior the the AVll, a few I have seen were simply not right ( fixable but that is not the point) whereas the Fender Japan instruments were flawless and 60% cheaper

B9505059-1C1D-44C4-951B-47521857B0DA.jpeg
 
crawdaddy

crawdaddy

Most Honored Senior Member
Feb 11, 2010
7,009
Valley o Sun
mike58 said:
Best I could do 18months ago was get a Fender Japan Traditional 60s in lefty... one of 85 produced. Up until then Fiesta was unobtainable in lefty unless you went Squier or CS.
I would put the build quality as potentially superior the the AVll, a few I have seen were simply not right ( fixable but that is not the point) whereas the Fender Japan instruments were flawless and 60% cheaper

View attachment 605068
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I have an older ST-57 in Fiesta Red....I'm on the fence about selling it as I never play it....It is just to dang good looking to screw up....

CIMG0676.JPG

To me the MIJ is a very nice guitar, but definitely not in the same ball park as the AV II....
 
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