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. Please consult our Dealer Finder to find a dealer near you.

What are the terms of my S.A. warranty?

Every new Fender instrument or amplifier purchased in Southern Africa carries a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Should the product be found to be faulty due to a manufacturing problem, you can return it to the dealer from whom you bought it within one year of purchase. The dealer will then send the instrument back to Fender, and the damage will be assessed.

Providing that we're satisfied with the validity of the warranty claim, we will make the necessary repairs and return the instrument to the dealer free of charge. After the one-year warranty period has expired, the owner of the instrument will be responsible for subsequently incurred repair costs. We therefore advise that you keep the purchase receipt for your Fender product in order to validate the date of purchase.

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.

The procedure for ordering a custom-made "one-off" instrument from the Fender Custom Shop is as follows:

First, please contact your nearest Authorised Fender Custom Shop Dealer. This dealer has helpful information on options for neck profiles, wood selection, hardware, finishing materials etc., along with a Custom Shop instrument detail form. If your dealer doesn't have these forms, any piece of paper with the details of the instrument on it will suffice.

Please complete the paperwork detailing the instrument you wish to have built and submit it to your Authorised Fender Custom Shop Dealer (remember, not all Fender Dealers are authorised to sell Custom Shop instruments, so please consult your local dealer to confirm his status).

On receiving the information, your dealer will contact a Custom Shop sales representative who will quote a dealer price for the instrument. Your dealer can then give you a price for the instrument, review the details of the quote and confirm your consent to place an order. After your order has been placed—but before construction of your instrument begins—the Custom Shop Master Builder assigned to build your instrument will contact you to confirm your specifications. Be prepared to furnish information about your playing style, background, other favorite instruments, etc., as this information is critical to the building of your instrument.

After order confirmation, your instrument will be worked into the Custom Shop production schedule, and construction will begin accordingly. Delivery of a custom "one-off" instrument usually takes ten months to a year.

Our goal at the Fender Custom Shop is to ensure that your "dream guitar" meets your exacting needs and is precisely built to your specifications.

To locate a Fender Custom Shop Dealer near you, please Contact Us.

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.

How do I buy Fender T-shirts and collectibles in Southern Africa?

There is no S.A. Online Store, but you may be able to order T-shirts and accessories through your local Fender dealer. Contact your dealer and place an order using the ten-digit product code. You will be asked for payment in advance. If the item is in stock, it should arrive in five to ten days.

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).

I'd like to buy a Fender guitar in another colour. Does Fender do re-sprays?

No. Those wishing to change the colour of their Fender/Squier® guitars should consult experienced repair personnel. This can be done through our Dealer Finder or through ads in local music magazines. Please be aware that any such alterations may invalidate your warranty.

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

If a Fender Custom Shop instrument is purchased new from a S.A. music shop and has no certificate, contact us. Tell us where and when you bought the instrument, and we will contact the dealer. If all is satisfactory, a replacement certificate should be issued.

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.

Can you send me information on Fender's marketing strategies, financial performance, etc?

We are unable to divulge sensitive financial and operational information to third parties. This policy is essential if we are to safeguard our commercial interests in Southern Africa and elsewhere.

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.