It's a first generation '81 Fender Bullet. This was Fenders replacement for the Mustang and took it's place as the entry level/student guitar of the time.
The body is laminated hardwood and the stamped metal pick guard doubles as the bridge base. All gen1 Bullets were S2's. These were made through '82 at which time Fender began making the Mk2 Bullet which came in a number of configurations from HH, to single Humbucker to triple single coils (like my red version). The first generation Bullets also came in a Stratocaster double cutout shape as well. Whites like this are somewhat rare- most came in red or cream. The pickup selector switch has three positions with single tone and volume knobs. It's pretty heavy in the body- nearly the same weight as the JMJM.
The serial has no "E" which supposedly means this is an early '81 version. The serial still comes up in the Fender database after adding the "E" however. The pickups are surplus Mustang types. I'll take a look at the innards and neck stamp when it's time for a string change. Looks like the truss rod needs a bit of tightening to bring the neck down a touch and I think it might need a touch of shim, but for now it's definitely playable and sounds fantastic. The neck has no blemishes and the fingerboard is in near perfect condition.
The scale is 25.5 inches (or thereabout)- seems the same as my Squier JMJM, thought the JMJM feels a bit wider fingerboard wise. The Gen 1 neck has no skunk stripe unlike the Gen 2's (at least mine doesn't).
So far I'm loving it-absoultely over the moon- I'll post up a sound sample out of my Fender Twin.
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:20 pm
by robert(original)
i have never seen a cream with black guard one before, you may have one of the rarest versions of an already rare guitar.
i always kinda liked the querky bridge attached to pg type thing.
actually,i don't think i have ever even played one, nor seen one in real life. very cool indeed. and the pickup covers are definitly a plus in my book
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:38 pm
by jculpjr
robert(original) wrote:i have never seen a cream with black guard one before, you may have one of the rarest versions of an already rare guitar.
i always kinda liked the querky bridge attached to pg type thing.
actually,i don't think i have ever even played one, nor seen one in real life. very cool indeed. and the pickup covers are definitly a plus in my book
It's actually a white version that has yellowed- not the cream. White and red versions could be had with the black pick guard IIRC.
The guy from Phoenix plays the same combo- actually both guitarists in Phoenix play white bullets (among other guitars).
Here's the other Phoenix guitarist playing a cream/white on Letterman
[youtube][/youtube]
Want
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 9:34 pm
by Doug
Nope, never heard of that model before but just did some internet research and may be lookin for one. I have three guitars I can trade for one...I'll ask my vintage guy to be on the lookout.
Cheers,
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:13 pm
by lorez
And here was me thinking it was about this classic
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:54 pm
by robroe
jculpjr wrote:
[youtube][/youtube]
never seen this band play live before. heard a couple songs.
THE DRUMMER COMPLETELY STEALS THE SHOW FOR ME. LOVE HIS BEAT THE FUCK OUT OF IT STYLE
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 12:26 am
by Stuart
Here is my bullet project from last year. Nice looking guitars, the original necks, which I don't have, are supposed to be really nice.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:05 am
by ultratwin
lorez wrote:And here was me thinking it was about this classic
Haha beat me to it again.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:12 am
by jculpjr
Here's a quick demo. The first part is clean with bridge/both/neck and the second dirtier part is neck/bridge/both/neck
That looks brilliant. Love the orange, and the black headstock.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:28 am
by blane
i remember one of my friend's brother had a red one back when i was learning. Along with an 80's lake placid blue squire.
I don't remember liking that bullet much. It felt cheap but the set-up probably sucked too.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 3:49 am
by dots
fantastic thread, thank you for all the detail!
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 1:26 pm
by jculpjr
paul_ wrote:
Stuart wrote:
That looks brilliant. Love the orange, and the black headstock.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:18 pm
by Doug
blane wrote:i remember one of my friend's brother had a red one back when i was learning. Along with an 80's lake placid blue squire.
I don't remember liking that bullet much. It felt cheap but the set-up probably sucked too.
Thanks for being candid, Blane. How would you compare it to a mid-60s Mustang?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:47 pm
by jculpjr
Doug wrote:
blane wrote:i remember one of my friend's brother had a red one back when i was learning. Along with an 80's lake placid blue squire.
I don't remember liking that bullet much. It felt cheap but the set-up probably sucked too.
Thanks for being candid, Blane. How would you compare it to a mid-60s Mustang?
Doug- I also have a '66 Mustang and I can say the Bullet quality is really quite good if not equal comparatively. All Bullets are not created equal- there have been many many variations made over the years and I have no idea which version blane experienced. The US made early '80's examples are very good indeed and on par with any Fender offering I've experienced. I obviously recommend you check one out for yourself- you won't be disappointed.
Oh, and Robert- you are actually correct- I couldn't wait for strings and took off the pick guard and she's cream- not white.
Mustng vs. Bullet quality
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:59 pm
by Doug
jculpjr wrote:
Doug wrote:
blane wrote:i remember one of my friend's brother had a red one back when i was learning. Along with an 80's lake placid blue squire.
I don't remember liking that bullet much. It felt cheap but the set-up probably sucked too.
Thanks for being candid, Blane. How would you compare it to a mid-60s Mustang?
Doug- I also have a '66 Mustang and I can say the Bullet quality is really quite good if not equal comparatively. All Bullets are not created equal- there have been many many variations made over the years and I have no idea which version blane experienced. The US made early '80's examples are very good indeed and on par with any Fender offering I've experienced. I obviously recommend you check one out for yourself- you won't be disappointed.
Thanks, Jculp. That's encouraging. Let me see if I can cut this a bit finer. Or if you can.
The early 80's Bullet has the benefit of 15 years of technological progress in parts, materials, assembly and so on over the '65-'66 Mustang. Which doesn't necessarily mean it's a better guitar, but certainly could be. My beloved 65 Mustang has a toy-like playing feel compared to my '65 Casino, for example. But sticking with our Bullet...Seems you think the Mustang and Bullet are about the same quality...can you be more specific? And if you can't, that's fine.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 6:14 pm
by jculpjr
Doug- I'll try to break down the components comparatively.
Tuners- Bullets are better- stock tuners on the Mustang are pretty bad.
Neck- Comparable- the Mustang is a touch chunkier overall and near the first fret area the tele part of the Bullet feels different- not better or worse just tele. Mustang has a thicker rosewood fingerboard- I think I prefer the thinner profile of the Bullet- but that's just aesthetics. Both have great necks and fingerboards.
Bodies are bodies- just what you prefer.
Electronics- the Bullet switches- particularly the three way selector is very "beefy" and feels quality- I prefer the Mustangs tone and volume knob feel- they're just more "liquid" feeling and solid. The pickups for both are the same FWIU.
This is all really subjective. I'm just saying when I hold and play the Bullet, the last thing I'm thinking is "cheap"- it's a very nice guitar and should in no way be compared to modern Affinity style Squier Bullets that litter all pawn shops across the land. They're just two completely different animals.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 6:16 pm
by blane
jculpjr wrote:
Doug wrote:
blane wrote:i remember one of my friend's brother had a red one back when i was learning. Along with an 80's lake placid blue squire.
I don't remember liking that bullet much. It felt cheap but the set-up probably sucked too.
Thanks for being candid, Blane. How would you compare it to a mid-60s Mustang?
Doug- I also have a '66 Mustang and I can say the Bullet quality is really quite good if not equal comparatively. All Bullets are not created equal- there have been many many variations made over the years and I have no idea which version blane experienced. The US made early '80's examples are very good indeed and on par with any Fender offering I've experienced. I obviously recommend you check one out for yourself- you won't be disappointed.
Oh, and Robert- you are actually correct- I couldn't wait for strings and took off the pick guard and she's cream- not white.
I couldn't say for sure as I've never played a vintage mustang. jculpjr could be correct in the quality at least of his bullet. I just remember wanting to play the Japanese squire over the bullet because it felt a bit nicer.
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 7:04 pm
by Doug
Thanks, guys. That's all very helpful...and balanced, as in fair-minded.
