How much is my guitar/amp worth?

As a company, Fender has no involvement in the used equipment markets, and is therefore unable to offer you the current value of your instrument or amp. Many variables are involved in establishing the value of used equipment; i.e., condition, rarity, desirability, etc. These conditions are best determined by a used instrument dealer or even better as a Consultant.

Can I order a "one-off" instrument directly from the Fender Custom Shop?

No, but Fender has established a network of Authorised Fender Custom Shop Dealers who will give you personalized service on product pricing, options and availability for Custom Shop instruments.
Talk to your local Fender Custom Shop Dealer and may you like to visit our Custom Shop Lounge in Düsseldorf.

How do I register my Fender instrument?

The registration card that comes with new Fender products is for the United States only. To register your instrument, click here. Please note that this facility is not connected with any warranty scheme, and is mainly for the purpose of informing you of new Fender products.

What are the tonal differences among solidbody guitars made of alder, ash, basswood, mahogany, maple and poplar?

Alder is full and rich, with fat low end, nice cutting mids and good overall warmth and sustain. Generally considered the "traditional" Stratocaster® guitar body wood.

Ash exhibits a snappier tone and a bright edge, with warm bass and long sustain. It's often considered the other "traditional" Stratocaster body wood.

Basswood is mainly used on many Japanese-made instruments because of its tonal response (very similar to alder) and ready availability to manufacturers in Asia.

Mahogany presents deep warm mids, good sustain and nice "bite."

Maple is punchy and bright, with nice high-end "bite." Because it's particularly heavy, maple is often used for laminated tops rather than entire bodies.

Poplar, one of the softer hardwoods, is nicely resonant, with a meaty tone. Many guitar manufacturers use it as a substitute for alder, as it is quite similar in tone.

Does Fender sell replacement guitar necks and bodies?

No. Fender necks and bodies are not available as separate parts unless it is deemed that a fault is the result of manufacturing error and the product is still under warranty. If you feel there is an issue with your Fender product, please contact the dealer from whom you originally bought the instrument and they will arrange for Fender to assess the damage.

What kind of finish do you use on your instruments?

Our U.S.-made American Vintage series instruments are finished with nitrocellulose lacquer (exception: the '75 Jazz Bass® guitar has a polyurethane finish). Our other American-, Korean- and Chinese-made guitars are finished with polyurethane.

Our Mexican- and Japanese-made instrument bodies are finished with polyester, with polyurethane-finish necks.

Fender Custom Shop Relic, Closet Classic and New Old Stock (N.O.S.) series instruments use "thin-skin" nitrocellulose lacquer finishes.

Most other Custom Shop models use urethane; however, for "one-off" orders, most finishing material requests may be accommodated (note: finish specifications are subject to change without notice).

How do I get a replacement certificate for my Custom Shop guitar?

If a Fender Custom Shop instrument is purchased new from a music shop and has no certificate, the shop should contact us.

If the instrument was purchased second hand, however, we cannot under any circumstances issue a replacement certificate.

What Fender instruments are available in left-handed models?

To view our full selection of left-handed models, visit the "Products" section of this site and type the word 'left' in the "Search Guitars" field.

How often should I change my strings?

There is no set rule for how often you should change your strings. If your strings are worn, flattened, kinked, corroded, rusted or mucked up with sweat, grease and grime, then it's probably time to change them. It's really a matter of personal preference—if your strings are no longer giving you the tone, brightness and response you want, it's probably time to change them.

View Our Setup Guides

How often should I have a set-up done on my instrument?

Again, no set rules here, but, depending on where you live, every six months or perhaps seasonally is a good guideline.

All wooden instruments are subject to changes in temperature and humidity. These instruments are machines with moving parts and, like any machine, require periodic maintenance and adjustment to ensure maximum performance and playability. This is precisely why there are many different points of adjustment on each instrument, and it's important to familiarise yourself with them—i.e., truss-rod, tilt-adjust, saddle height, intonation, etc.—as these features exist for very important reasons.

The wood of your instrument absorbs moisture in the air and expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. For example, if your instrument is in tune and you transport it during summer heat to an air-conditioned venue, the pitch will drop dramatically, causing the tension on the guitar to decrease, as the wood cools and shrinks after you take it out of the case and let it cool to room temperature.

While this dramatic example may not require immediate adjustment, it's often necessary to make seasonal adjustments to the action of your instrument to compensate for such changes. It's also important to note that changing string gauges or materials will also affect the amount of tension on the neck. To compensate for this change in tension, a neck adjustment is usually required.

For new instruments, a "settling in" period is not uncommon, during which periodic adjustments to the action must be made until the wood stops moving (bear in mind that seasonal adjustments may still be necessary). If you're a "do it yourself-er", visit our Setup Guides page (see link below) for detailed information on setting up your instrument.

If you're not comfortable adjusting your instrument's action yourself, we recommend having a qualified technician at an Authorised Fender Dealer check your instrument for proper setup adjustments approximately every six months. This is also a good time for your tech to keep an eye on issues such as fret wear, intonation, etc. Please keep in mind that setups and adjustments are the owner's responsibility and are not covered by warranty.

View Our Setup Guides

How do I intonate my instrument?

To maximise your instrument performance, you must be sure to always keep it properly intonated so that the instrument will be in relative tune to itself. Always check and adjust the intonation as needed after every change of strings.

To intonate a guitar is to shorten or lengthen the active vibrating length of a string so that it will be in tune with itself, given the scale length of the instrument and various differences in string gauges and micro-variations from string to string which occur in the manufacturing process. For information on how to set the intonation for your guitar, check the Setup Guides for your instrument on this website.