Fender® News

Special Edition American Standard Telecaster®

Special Edition American Standard Telecaster®

Now available in three Special Edition vintage colors with painted headstocks! Today's new American Standard Telecaster® carries on a 50 year legacy of superior guitar design. This ubiquitous and historic instrument permeates the sound scape of popular music. From orchestra pits to mosh pits, from small clubs to stadiums, from garages to recording studios, the Telecaster‘s unique tone can always be heard. We have upped the ante of this platform with a new bridge, a new neck and body finish, and a Fender® exclusive high-tech molded case. Of course we kept the hand-rolled Fretboard edges, alnico V pickups and staggered tuning machines for tone and stability to last a lifetime! So make history with the new American Standard!

Limited numbers available in New Zealand now! contact your local Fender® dealer for more information.

Special Edition American Standard Stratocaster®

Special Edition American Standard Stratocaster®

Now available in cool Special Edition vintage colors with painted headstocks! Today's new American Standard Stratocaster® guitars are worthy heirs of their revered ancestors. Mindful of player needs and taking full advantage of modern advances, yet remaining completely true to the elements and spirit that made these instruments legendary in the first place. Improvements include a new bridge, a new neck and body finish, and a Fender® exclusive high-tech molded case. Of course we have kept the beloved hand-rolled Fretboard edges, alnico V pickups, and staggered tuning machines for tone and stability to last a lifetime! So make history with the new American Standard!

Limited numbers available in New Zealand now! contact your local Fender® dealer for more information.

The Danny McCrum Band

Newly signed to Liberation records sees the release of their new Album Say What You Mean, produced by Danny, Glen Child (Drums) and Dave Holmes.


With an excellent production and strong songs, the album cracks straight into the Upbeat One people, then to there first singe release, In my Corner, this album is a real treat, tracks like, All of you, shows the bands more laid back style, with excellent guiatr work and tones this album is certainly worth checking out.
With 2009 been a huge year for the band gigging and recording ,the band also got to support great acts for the likes of Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel and Eric Clapton as well as many others in the past, including John Mayer, has seen the band reach a new level in professionalism.


Danny's a huge Fender® fan, he states the fact is, I am very passionate about Fender®as not only do they have a great tone, but I can take them into any situation and they will perform outstandingly. I have played in many bands and genres, worked in many studios and played all of the country and my Fenders have never let me down.


My favorite guitar is the standard American Fender Stratocaster® in Sunburst with a black pick-guard. (I changed the pick-guard) I love this guitar because of the feel of it and the huge range of tones I can get. I don't use many effects; just a distortion and wah and sometimes delay. Instead I rely on the quality of the guitars tone and the marriage of the guitar and the amp. You often read about guitarists finding a guitar that is extra special to them and that brings out a different player in them. This particular Strat is my version of that.


I also play an Eric Clapton Signature Blackie Fender Stratocaster®. This is a very powerful guitar with a preamp built in and the lower tone knob swapped out for a gain knob. This guitar is more specific in its tones but when it's played in the right song, it's amazing.


My first real electric guitar which I bought in 1996 is a Japanese Jerry Donahue Signature Fender Telecaster® for my first years of gigging this is the only guitar I had and used. It's now completely worn out and realistically I shouldn't play it live - though I still do sometimes because I like it so much. Mostly though I use it in the studio as it has so many warm tones that I love to dial up. Many years ago I dropped a stacked humbucker into the back pick-up position which makes it quite unique.

My main amp is a Fender 4x10" Blues De Ville®. This amp has a power and mid tone that you simply can't get on 12" speakers or most other amps. I bought this amp in 1997 and again it's quite beaten up and needs a bit of tender love from time to time, but I would never stop using it until it literally fell to pieces and I have the feeling that won't happen for quite some time.
On our latest album I also used a couple of 2x12" Blues De Ville's® to achieve some other sounds we were looking for.


For more info and Gig guides on the band check out the website at http://www.dannymccrum.com/index.htm your in for a treat!

 

Groove Tubes® Now Shipping

Groove Tubes® Now Shipping!

Fenders® latest acquisition sees the famous tube producer products now available here in New Zealand through Direct Imports New Zealand Dealer Network

Key Points

Groove Tubes has been in the Guitar tube business for over 22 years. The company started in a garage and is now multi-national. One of the inventions that have come from them is the Speaker Emulator which is a circuit that lets you connect the output of an amp directly to a PA or mixing board. The Groove Tubes has created a rating system that allows you to select how "HOT" of a tube you want. The rating is based upon gain to distortion ratio.
Groove Tubes® started back in the late 1970's when Aspen Pittman, founder and visionary, hired some technical folks to explore why tubes performed and sounded so different. Apsen has always had a great fascination with tubes, tone and amps and his personal collection of vintage amps and tube recording mics hovers around 250+ pieces! Driven by curiosity, as much as an itch to start a new business, Aspen and these engineers discovered entirely new tube operating characteristics to measure and new ways of interpreting these test data results. This research became the foundation for the Groove Tubes performance testing and matching process we still use today.

A "1" means you get distortion sooner while turning up the volume. A "10" means you get a very clean tone. Rating numbers 8 -> 10 are mainly for bass guitar and keyboards amps.
Each tube is measured and rated at the factory on a point scale of 1 to 100. For tube duets, quartets, and sextets each tube is matched to this point system so you end up with a better more predictable sound. No dead spots/frets or notes. GT rejects quite a number of tubes just because they have leakage problems or just don't sound good. This is the reason they sound the way they do. It's worth the price to have someone go through the thousands of tubes and sort them out.
These tubes can replace almost any tube you may have in your amp. Some of the amps that Groove Tubes® makes replacement tubes for are: Fender®, Marshall®, Mesa Boogie®, Ampeg® and many more.

 

Fender® '57 Champ® Reissue

Fender® is proud to announce the release of an iconic reissue amplifier - the '57 CHAMP®!! 

The Fender® Champ® amp of the late 1950s is well known as the small-but-mighty tone machine that belongs in every serious guitarist's collection. The tweed Champ is a terrific practice amp, and has been a prized possession of countless pro players for its great sounding, low output, easy-to-record capabilities.

Most people like to turn the amp's volume all the way up, and manipulate the guitar's controls for a variety of sounds from pristine clean to swampy overdrive. It's a uniquely inspiring, complex reedlike voice. This faithful hand-wired recreation of the 1957 Champ amp is not just for collectors or retrominded guitarists. Any player seeking the ultimate in low-powered, top-quality tube performance need look no further!

Fender Goes Large

Fender Goes Large


This is one Strat® you won't miss!

 

Recently the Music Warehouse in Lower Hutt, makes there Fender®
Presence Known, with a hand made super large Strat®
Head stock, attention to detail is simply amazing and has to be seen to be believed, so when you are next in Wellington be sure to check it out.

The Music Warehouse, one of our long time Fender®
Dealers, is a family owned business, and has been around since the 80s, for further info go to http://www.themusicwarehouse.co.nz/

 

Fender NZ Get to See Eric Johnson at NAMM 2009

At the recent NAMM music convention 2009, we got to experience the amazing Eric Johnson play a 50 minute set, along side the release of his new rosewood signature Stratocaster, and what a mind blowing experience it was! Eric played some of his classics and to hear it live was a completely new experience!

For further info on his new model, see our New Releases section.

The Tutts And Fender

We catch up with Kiwi Band The Tutts,and chat to the Bassist John Mcnab to find out what's happened after the excellent debut release K, one of the best singles we have heard for some time.

Fender NZ, -So John what's the latest with the band?

John-Has been a while since the "K" release, but we have been receiving good response & airplay for the latest single "All over town", . The Rock have just picked it up as have the Edge and ZM are starting off with spot-playing it.

Fender NZ-You guys have a great sound, its seems when you play live the crowd loves it, they go crazy when you play K I noticed, I was to catch you guys last year playing in Hamilton, the shoiw had a great vibe.
So what Fender gear have you guys got?

John- I'm playing a Mexi Precision bass & BXR Dual 400 amp
Mat plays a Tele custom Mexi & 60W Deville (2x12)
Dan plays a Mexi Strat & 60W Deville (4x10

Fender NZ-excellent stuff! Those Deville's have just a great tone, so versatile!
So a busy couple of months coming up/

John- We're just made our 3rd video this week-end (All over town) and the album is all but complete, will be released  Oct20 . Currently organizing Nth Isl. tour for end of Oct, early Nov. (South Island early next year) ... and being optimistic, things should be looking good for Big Day Out 2009... We'll see.

Fender NZ-Yes caught the new video last night, excellent track!!, cant wait for the album release, Well keep the music coming, and if any of you out there, have not heard these guys, do yourself a favor and check them out at a gig near you soon, see the links below for further info and Music from The Tutts

 

Ian Morris of the Dudes

Ian Morris , One of New Zealand's rocks icon, from the crazy days of the Dudes along side Mr Dave Dobbyn, and many jingles written, Ian talks to us about his Fender collection and what's he's been up to and find out his current projects.

Fender NZ- So Ian what's in your Fender collection at present?

Ian Morris -Well there is my original 1964 L-series Strat, a matching set of 1980s Made in Japan reissue Telecasters: a pink paisley one and a blue floral one. They're outstanding guitars - I used the pink one in a country band for many years. I've also got a 1954 Telecaster, blond with a black scratch plate. It's a beast! It growls!

I had a great old Twin Reverb for years in the '70s and '80s. Got it off Martin Hope when he played for the Human Instinct. It had JBL K120 speakers and a huge power transformer and weighed about 16 tons.
It was LOUD! I don't think I ever got the volume past 2"I'm hoping Direct Imports are going to give me a Deluxe Reverb Reissue ha ha!

Seriously, I'd love to get a new "Classic" Fender valve combo. There's something about that Fender sound.

Fender NZ-Wow a original L series, see pictures attached, it doesn't get much better than this, and in Original condition, Amazing!
Tell us more about its history.

Ian Morris- It's a 1964 L-series Strat. I bought it in 1977 from Kingsley Smith's, Auckland's legendary music shop in Customs Street. Back in those days it was nearly impossible to get decent gear - it was really pot luck as to what would turn up in the shops - so when I spotted this Strat I knew I had to move fast. It cost $600. I was earning $50 a week, less tax, cleaning cars in a car yard, so it was quite a pile of money. I had to put it on hire purchase. It was a wonderful feeling when I made the last payment.

          

Fender NZ-So what part had it played in your musical journey?

Ian Morris-I played it all the way through my time with Th' Dudes. I loved it (and still do!) All Th' Dudes hits were written or performed on it - "Right First Time", "That Look In Your Eyes", "Bliss", Walking In Light". It was perfect for that ringing string thing I do in "Be Mine Tonight

Fender NZ-Excellent stuff, so what's keeping you busy lately?

Ian Morris-Well I'm still busy writing and recording Jingles for film, TV as well as been part of the recently re opened Cabana Bar here in Napier, famous for many kiwi and international acts throughout the years, the bar has come back to life ,and its proving to be a huge success .

Fender NZ- Thats great, thanks for letting us get our hands on a orginal L series,  and thanks for you time, fantastic!

For more info on Ian click on the links below

Live like a Rock Star!

Love all things Fender®? now you too can live like a Rock Star and add a genuine Fender® Hotseat® or a Fender® Stratocaster® table to your collection.

 

Guitar players tend to have a lot of accessories, such as pedals, cords, strings, picks, tabs, etc., the Fender® HotSeat® takes care of it all. Each HotSeat® is individually hand built the same way Fender® Amps are using the same materials. No detail was left out on these, even the volume knob used to release the seat cushion is pulled from Fender® inventory.

They are the Fender® classics you sit on, perfect for any space. 

All you do is kick back and enjoy.

 

  

The Fender® HotSeat® is available in Tweed and Black

Both are available now for $299 SRP including GST.

 

© 2007 Overkill Design, llc. Fender® is a registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments, Inc.

Tweed and Blackface HotSeat® are designed by Overkill Design, llc. and are manufactured under license.

 

 

Introducing the new Standard series coffee table.  Same concept as our original Deluxe series but easier on the pocketbook. Still custom crafted, these officially licensed beauties are replicated from Fender's own Custom Shop® blueprints and mirror the original contours note for note. Fender® logos and tuning pegs caps are silk screened on color matched and lacquered wood. The leg struts are chrome plated for a classic look. They are the Fender® classics with legs, perfect for any space.  All you do is kick back and enjoy.

The Fender® Standard Stratocaster® Table is available now for $499 SRP including GST.

 

© 2007 Overkill Design, llc. Fender® is a registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments, Inc.

The Fender® Standard Startocaster® Table is designed by Overkill Design, llc. and is manufactured under license.

Surf's Up

 

Direct Imports is pleased to announce the arrival of 2 new Fender® Limited Hot Rod Deluxe amps. The first new edition is clad in a stunning Surf Green, the second new edition is clad in a classic Wine Red. 

They proudly take their place beside the other Hot Rod Deluxes in limited edition colours, White Lightening and Texas Red.

These Amps in the limited colours are all available now from your local Fender® retailer at the price of $1899 SRP including GST.

Be quick and get your hands on something a little different, these colours are strictly limited and are only available while stocks last.

Fender Ltd Hot Rod Dlx Surf Green #021-3232-902

Fender Ltd Hot Rod Dlx Wine Red #021-3232-611

Fender Ltd Hot Rod Dlx White Lightening #021-3232-406

Fender Ltd Hot Rod Dlx Texas Red #021-3232-601

 

 

Fender NZ catches up with Jakob

Fender NZ catches up with Jakob
We recently caught up with one of New Zealand's hardest working bands, Jakob, with there huge layered guitar, bass drums sound, these guys are certainly a act you must see live, with a huge fan base worldwide, to discuss, what's been happening, where have they been, and what part Fender gear is playing in the band, with 3 releases under there belts, 5 star reviews, many air miles travelled, we chat to Jeff Boyle the bands guitar player and find out the low down.


Fender NZ - So Jeff, how's 2008 been for Jakob?

Jeff - It's been crazy since the release of Solace, we have travelled to Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, playing shows with Isis, and then a 2 week stint in Australia, with Cog, then to top it off, toured NZ celebrating our 10th anniversary!!!

Fender NZ - Wow that's a heavy schedule, so what's next for Jakob?

Jeff - November will see us hit the studio again, to record the 4th album, we are really looking forward to the creative stage again and getting stuck in, I have been working and writing hard out on my new guitar, its really inspiring me, I just cant put it down.

Fender NZ - So tell us more about your new guitar?

Jeff - It's the Fender Baritone, unbelievable, even acoustically its got something about it, I cant wait to hit the studio with it, its cool B,E, A,D, F and B tuning works a treat for me, the 27" scale gives me a feel and tone that second to none.
The other Fender purchase I recently made was the Fender Platinum Guitar lead, man what a difference a lead makes, its hard to believe that a lead can make that sort of difference, but I would recommend these to any guitar player, you got to check them out.

Fender NZ - Yeah your right with those leads, made specifically for different instruments, be it a bass, guitar or acoustic the difference in tone is astonishing, they have proved to be excellent seller for us, because the players really hear the difference, especially in the recording area.

Jeff - Your right, when we I first heard the difference, I was completely blown away.

Fender NZ - Tell us about Maurice's Bass setup

Jeff - Maurice gets his sound with a Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass, plugged into the thunderess Fender 300 Bassman and 215 cabinet, the combination gives Jakob Rhythm section the dynamics to lay down huge layers that is part our sound, the Jazz bass tone just cuts through, along with the warm all tube Bassman amp, it allows me to clearly layer my sounds, along with Jason's dynamics drumming, the live sounds is simply huge!

Fender NZ - Well we wish you guys the best for the rest of the year, and can't wait to hear the new album, for all you guys that haven't heard or seen Jakob check them out its well worth it

For further info about dates and releases see and hear more about Jacob at www.jakob.co.nz