Posts tagged bullet

The Fender Bullet

-Not the prettiest guitar in town but a real obscure hidden gem-

Designed by John Page in 1981, this machine was Fender’s full scale answer to replacing such student guitars as the Mustang and Duo Sonic whilst implementing a new design and cutting back the costs.

Customers were given the option of a dazzling red finish or a beautiful cream coat accompanied by a not too familiar set of black knobs and pickup covers or the typical standard white.  The real beauty lies where most of the action takes place, the neck.

It is widely rumoured the Fender Bullet series used surplus US Telecaster necks from around the 1960’s period and were literally picked off the line.  It is because of this reason most of the guitars were parted with the necks which came in both maple and rosewood. 

Similarly, the pickups and covers are noted for being left over Mustang parts, giving quite a nice warm, deep tone on the neck, a sharp tone on the bridge pickup with the perfect balance when both are selected. 

The bodys are mostly made from plywood yet a fair amount were made from hardwood, despite this the tone is what you would expect from a heavy vintage Fender.  

Perhaps the quirkiest feature of the guitar is the bridge.  It is crafted out of the steel pickguard as opposed to a independent mounted bridge most commonly seen on Fenders.  

So what did this make the Fender Bullet? A mean sounding, comfortable to play hybrid of a short lived guitar. Though these guitars are rare as hens teeth, the model name can be seen sported on early Squier series Strats scattered around pawn shops.

If the pictures below are not showing just click on the frame icon for full glorious technicolour pictures of the Fender Bullet