Fender Thinline Super Deluxe

[Greenfuz]

throw a white pickguard on it and yer good to go

[Chankgeez]

And TV Jones, are they? Described as Fender "Fedelitron" HBs? If it's MIM, gotta be some Fender branded knockoff right?

Yeah, you're right. If it were made in the US, they'd probably be TV Jones. I think Fender used 'em on some of their US made guitars. They're probably a Fender knockoff version of the Filter'Tron. Makes sense. Keep costs down.

[dubkitty]

Fender owns the distribution/manufacturing rights to Gretsch, so they don't have to go far afield to make FilterTrons or need to worry about patent problems. honestly, i don't understand why they don't just cut the comedy and call them FilterTrons.

[Bellyheart]

Doesn't Fender own Gretsch...why wouldn't they just use it.

[dubkitty]

.

[dubkitty]

Doesn't Fender own Gretsch...why wouldn't they just use it.

not quite. Fred Gretsch Enterprises, i.e. Fred Gretsch III, owns the designs, copyrights, and intellectual property; he worked for years to win the company name back from corporate ownership and get the business back into the family. FGE has a licensing deal with Fender which allows them to build and distribute the guitars, and they've done so wonderfully in the last few years. i'd like to see whether the FideliTrons have the FilterTron patent number on the covers like the Gretsch and TV Jones FTs. they may just be trying to differentiate, or FGE may own the "FlterTron" name/design.

and yes, i do care about Gretsches too much...i grew up in the CSNY era, after all.