Fender “Made In China”?

Is this a thing?

https://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/msg/d/malverne-fender-bass-telecaster/7367394220.html

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Im always skeptical when I see something on Craigslist so, (shrug).

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After a little looking, turns out they did make some Fenders in China.
I had no idea.
Which begs the question, were they / are they any better than a Squier?

Not sure if they made others than this tele, certainly interesting, no clue if any good, not my thing.

FEATURES

  • Modern Player series
  • Alder body
  • Gloss Polyester finish
  • “C” Shape maple neck
  • Gloss Polyester neck finish
  • Maple fretboard
  • Synthetic Bone string nut
  • Pickups: Modern Player Wide Range Precision Bass Pickup (Middle)
  • Modern Player Wide Range Precision Bass Pickup (Neck)
  • Controls: Neck Volume, Bridge Volume, Master Tone
  • Nickel/Chrome hardware
  • Open Gear Tuning Machines
  • Vintage Style 4-Saddle Bridge with Brass Saddles
  • Knurled Chrome Dome knobs
  • Pickguard: (503) 3-Ply Parchment, (550) 1-Ply Black
  • Strings: Fender USA, NPS, (Gauges .045-.105)

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Fretboard radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
    Frets: 20, Medium Jumbo
    Scale Length: 34" (86.36 cm)
    Nut Width: 1.625" (41.3 mm)
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Yeah it’s a thing. I have a white Tele.

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LoL! I dont know wherethe seller got those specs from but it isn’t that bass. :rofl:

The serial number decoder says
Serial number: CGF1205355
Production year: 2012
Made by AXL, China

On another note, why are the pups jammed against the fingerboard and bridge?

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Looks like here’s some info on it…

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Aren’t some of the Player series made in China?

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I have two MIC Squier basses, theAffinity Jag and Paranormal. Both are well constructed.

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I had found those specs somewhere else as an example.

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Correct. That’s what I found.

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It’s a thing!
An identical tele bass showed up in my local music store.
Plays great.
Pretty thick neck radius for me, but had a real cool thick, growly sound.

I asked the shop owners about it and they were saying that when Fender started making “Fender” label products in their Squier facilities, the shop didn’t go for it.
It didn’t make sense to try and sell a Fender next to a Squier both made in the same factory, both made in China.
Didn’t matter if the specs and ingredients and quality was a shade better - it just didn’t have a reason to exist in the spectrum of Fender products.
I’d have to agree with that stance.

Though… it was a real cool bass…

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