Is Fender Screwing things up? (Rant)

[Ragpicker]

I walked into a shop today that stocks new Guild Guitars.
They had several of the GAD series, Traditional series, Jumbos and twelves. What stopped me dead in my tracks was they had three F412's and a couple F512's all hanging side by side.
Upon closer inspection, some had plastic pins, some had bone, some had tusq saddles, some had bone, some had tusq nuts and bone saddles, etc.
But what really dissapointed me was the pickguards :evil:
Both the F412 and the F512 had the newer GAD style chinese pickguards on the twelves
One blond 12 had a light tan mahagany neck, the other dark brown.
The dealer said they were all brand new, just made, just recieved this month. They almost looked like parts guitars!
Some had compensated saddles, some didn't (same model).
I was really looking forward to having a MATCHING PAIR F50R/F512, with the same pickguard, pins, saddles, etc.
Now I'm not so sure that will ever happen.
If this is a sign of things to be at Fender, I'm glad I purchased my JF30 when it still looked like a JF 30 :shock:

sorry for the long rant.

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Where did You find F 512's? I've only found a blonde F 412 in My area. I'd love to phsically inspect a new F 512.

 

[J45dale]

Ragpicker,
I agree with you, regardless if a feature is good or bad on any given high-end model, I feel that constance is important at this time in the Fender-Guild marketing plan.
Dale.