The Made in Mexico Road Worn Fender Telecaster
First let me say, that I may sound like an expert in this review. (That’s just me, folks, I can’t even help it. It’s just the way I roll, dawg.) But the truth is, I’m not an expert on guitar manufacturing nor do I keep abreast or up to date on the latest products or news surrounding the guitar and amplifier or musical instrument industry. Not really. Not like the, I’m sure, scores of more qualified reviewers and musicians who post their reviews online or even in video form on YouTube. I’m just a long time player. (I’d tell you how long, exactly, but then I’d have to kill you. Okay, not really.)
Fender has been doing some things for a very long time. For one, they have been manufacturing guitars, or, in some cases simply assembling them, outside of the United States for at least the last two decades. They have had great successes and great failures. Their Made in Japan guitars from the early 90s, which cost probably around $300 new, are now fetching, on eBay, thousands of dollars. I had a Made in Japan Stratocaster from around 1990 and it was an incredible guitar and I sold it like the fool that I am.
I’ve learned a lot since then. Point is, so has Fender. They have learned from their successes as well as their failures. Which I think used to pretty much sum up the verdict that was given by players and consumers on their guitars that were made south of the border in Mexico. To be continued…
8 Feb 2012 / 0 notes
Pretty Shabby Chic: ‘Fashion’s Night Out’ in Beverly Hills
Okay, right up front I should say that my attending the recent Fashion’s Night Out in Beverly Hills on September 8th, 2011 was for the sole purpose of shooting some frames of fast film with some even faster Leica and Zeiss glass mounted on my M7.
But I’m a critical sort of motherfucker. So, in between trying to catch some of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen in my camera’s viewfinder, I did manage to cast a critical eye towards the event itself.
First, I think it’s a great idea. I’m a photographer. I love beauty and fashion. I have no connection, however, with beauty or fashion as a photographer, or in any other way except as a admiring male who doesn’t leer from behind a camera.
Much. Come on, I am perfectly capable of taking a great picture of a beautiful woman without leering. In theory.
Anyway, I didn’t attend the event in 2010 so I have no reference point to compare this year with last. But I was surprised at how little there was actually going on at this event on the very premier blvd of shopping and fashion: Rodeo of Beverly Hills.
Not to be overly critical, but I expected many small continuous fashion shows outside of some of the major trendy stores. A little more effort from the big fashion houses. An appreciable media presence. A few big names.
Pretty much nothing like that here. There was a set up for a fashion show, so maybe I was late. Got there at 8:00 and the event was scheduled till 10:00. Stores were pretty much an indoor thing, just like any other day. Except this was night.
There was a makeover area which was certainly busy. A street portrait artist working in charcoal, I believe. Food was supplied by a handful of not very interesting food trucks. People were lounging on the curb eating.
At one or two of the stores, there was an actual doorman allowing entry to only, I supposed, an invited few. Nice touch there as some pretty fancy Beverly Hills wives were turned away. Ouch. I have pictures of that. ;-)
I’m sorry. I just think that this is a great idea that should be done with a little more attention to class and detail and results. The number of people in attendance clearly demonstrated that there is an appetite for this kind of event right there on Rodeo Drive.
Come on, Beverly Hills, you can do much MUCH better than this.
That said, please enjoy the pictures.
