I've had a Marauder since they were first released. The overall effect is something like a really heavily modded strat with a jazz master in the neck, a tele neck pickup in the middle and a mini humbucker in the bridge. RIDICULOUSLY versatile. I'm a 30+year pro and have a closet full of high-end axes from Gibson, Fender and more to choose from, but this Marauder has become my go-to Fly Gig guitar, as I can get nearly ANYTHING out of it!
same..I have my eye on one..I'm a fan of the switching,pickup selection, and the whammy option..not to mention the location of the pickup selector location
What did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking? I bought one for my sister when they were out and paid £350, we think they must have pit the wrong price on it because it's an amazing instrument.
I have managed to get the guitar after a very thorough search throught Europe (spotted and bought from in a town of Sicily,Italy). It looks,sounds and works perfect. If you out there find any of them just get it!!!
The best way to visualize the pickup selection is to imagine the front coil of the triplebucker is by itself in the middle position giving you a humbucker in the bridge, a single in the middle, and the jazzmaster in the neck. It is wired just like a strat would be with that layout allowing bridge, bridge/mid, middle, mid/neck, and neck but with the middle coil is physically moved into the same place as the bridge pickup.
One of the best demo's ever seen. Someone who knows what we want to hear and who knows how to play guitar :P Nice job. Really expanded my knowledge about the Marauder (y)
Seeing as you're a Fender rep, I'd say you've certainly earned your pay with this demo. I was in the market to get another Strat soon, but after seeing this I'm putting in an order for one of these in Lake Placid Blue as soon as I can. Well done, sir.
i got one of these yesterday and i have to say, it is one of, if not, the best guiar i have ever played/owned, honestly, i chose it over a slim line telecaster, the thing i think that tops it off, is the trem, which opens up a huge amount of possibilities, and if you turn up on stage with this, people WILL remember you
Excellent demo of a guitar that is on my short list for my next purchase. I really appreciate that you went through all the options that it has, both clean and overdriven. Looks like Fender has a winner!
I just bought a Marauder in the same Lake Placid Blue color. It's great. I got a good deal on it I love the way it sounds and plays. It's also a great value. The neck is super fast and feels perfect. The triplebucker is nasty, and the Jazzmaster pickup is both smooth and punchy, and very loud (as loud as the triplebucker.) This video helped sell me on the guitar. I was impressed by the variety of different sounds the guitar produces. Buy this guitar. You won't be disappointed.
I have one of these layed away. It is awesome and I was shocked by the quality of the neck wood. Excellent fret job, nice dark rosewood. neck pocket is tight and the paint was perfect.
Very infomative demo. Seems that the guitar will cover a big variety of sounds. But why didn't FENDER applys the Marauder lettering beside the FENDER logo?
This is probably THE first commercially available guitar with a Triplebucker. I know Kramer and Ibanez had custom guitars like that in the past but I think they were special ordered models.
I got one of these for 160 from a now closed local music store that i wanted a guitar from because they were always super kind and supportive and qfter going on a 30 min rant on hating guitar center they knocked 60$ off and holy crap this thing plays so far above its pay grade.
The 3X Bucker is misleading. It's just a bucker with a mid coil at the north of it. Gives you a bit different sound at the bridge/middle switch position than a Strat does though. If you want one or both bridge coils going along with that neck Jassmaster I suggest going to AwesomeGuitars and getting their proprietary T-4 switch, which will turn this guitar into a 76 tone option beast. I did it for my Strat and you can see the yellow capped 6 switches in my thumbnail picture.
I got one of these for $289. Had to wait 9 weeks if I wanted one of these Lake Placid Blue ones. I waited, then they made me wait another 5 weeks and sent a reboxed one that had been returned god knows how many times. After soldering the jack back on and raising the neck jazzmaster pickup up (it was buried deep and had no carpet pad backer to sponge it upwards) it was passable after also having to shim the neck. I think Fender DCed this thing because of the massive returns of it. Anyway, I feel like I've got a freak oddity of Fender history and will hold on to it. Remember, the original Marauders were only prototype guitars that never went into production because of legal haggling with the non Fender employee designer that wanted big $buck$. So you might say that the Marauder name is cursed.
I have had several Chinese Fenders and Squiers. They were all very well made and sounded killer. I had the Squier Classic Vibe Strat and Tele. Both were well made.
I have some really nice gear, including a Rick, a vintage Strat, a vintage SG, etc. This thing is the most fun I've ever had with six strings. It does almost anything, and surprisingly well. So good in fact that I'm playing it thinking I must be losing my mind, because this little Chinese guitar plays like a guitar five times it's price, and the quality is superb. So I took it along on a trip to my luthier, who is pretty much high end only, and showed it to him. Not surprisingly, he wasn't
this is one of the best style of reviews Ive sen. It goes into good detail about each of the pickup combinations, etc. Is there a review by this guy of the new Fender pawnshop Mustang Special? I'm thinking of either a Mustang Special or a Marauder.
A melhor apresentação da Marauder que já ví. Muito bom! Parabéns e muito obrigado! The best demonstration of maurader they've seen. Very good! Congratulations and thank you! Fpolis/Brasil
Got this same blue Marauder, plays great, great sound. sweet guitar. The only glitch... The pickup selector switch lost the specific point to point feel within a couple days. Today after a month the pickup selector switch only works for two of five pickup variations. Expecting a new switch in the mail tomorrow. I hope I don't screw it up replacing the 5 position switch, I like this guitar.
Jeffster1993 i'm not scared because it's made in china...i'm scared for the people in china that didn't get paid a living wage to make it. that's why i am mindful of what i buy
@bugo348 When you say it is super fast do you mean it is really thin front to back? It will be a deal killer if it is. Thin necks with slab rosewood boards = problems.
This thing looks great and sounds like a genius idea! And in reply to if it's good for punk, I'd think so. Held one today, feels great/smooth and tones seem thick/almost fuzz-like so thru a modern amp it'll probably sound badass!
Nice. Though I've never been a die-hard fender guy, this is a great suit for fender-edge classic rock styles. I fond the triple coil configuration a little too bright and sharp for a bridge setup, but you cant always get what you want( PS found this guitar while reading march issue of Guitar World.)
My black Marauder cost me $400 new. It came out of the box flawless. Hard to believe it was Chinese built. Even my USA Buddy Guy strat takes a back seat to the Marauder.
I dropped a Gibson 59 in there and I really missed the top end out of the triple bucker and I lost the middle single cool option so I put it back. Worst move I made on that guitar. Plus it would really drop in value not having he triple bucker.
Was listening to this in my headphones on my own, just enjoying the playing at the start Then when he starts talking it sounded like it was coming from behind me WHO GOT IN MY BEDROOM Shit me up! Haha
great demo, however it didn't make me want this. despite the stunning looks. from the range I still want the mp tele. triple bucker is just a legover. its a middle position single coil slipped right next to the bridge humbucker.
Hey I need some help I'm getting my second guitar what do you guys recommend me? This, the Modern Player Jaguar or the Squier Jagmaster? I play grunge/punk/alternative and blues. HELP PLEASE!
The new Fender Maurader looks like a Jazzmaster , Jaguar or Mustang body , but its pickups and pickguard look different and might play better :) on a big amp
I've finally got one,same as this,looks nice,great tones but the fret work is def not U.S. quality!! I had to do a complete fret level crown and polish to allow a low action,so many high spots,this is a must for old school 9..5 "radius fretboards,,I think these are Squier classic vibe factory guitars with a Fender logo,,,plays great now but not everyone has fret work experience,, I'm going to flatten the radius to 12" and fit jumbo frets ,graph tech nut and sperzel locking tuners for my new gigging guitar ! hope you guys pick up a good one !
Onyx ianz The original Marauder was supposed to be Telecaster Mrk III like how the Strat was Telecaster Mrk II, but this is not the original Marauder. Said Marauder's cousins currently are the Fender XII and the Fender Bass VI which did get released and the Marauder was basically an aesthetically pleasing cousin that was wasn't shite of the 4 pickup guitars of the mid 60's that companies like Tiesco were trying. It never got released.
I've had a Marauder since they were first released. The overall effect is something like a really heavily modded strat with a jazz master in the neck, a tele neck pickup in the middle and a mini humbucker in the bridge. RIDICULOUSLY versatile. I'm a 30+year pro and have a closet full of high-end axes from Gibson, Fender and more to choose from, but this Marauder has become my go-to Fly Gig guitar, as I can get nearly ANYTHING out of it!
Gary Stackhouse how about in the long term, two years later? Thoughts?
same..I have my eye on one..I'm a fan of the switching,pickup selection, and the whammy option..not to mention the location of the pickup selector location
What did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking? I bought one for my sister when they were out and paid £350, we think they must have pit the wrong price on it because it's an amazing instrument.
One of the best guitars Fender has made for a awhile. Highly underrated. This guitar sings in person and could really do everything
I have managed to get the guitar after a very thorough search throught Europe (spotted and bought from in a town of Sicily,Italy). It looks,sounds and works perfect. If you out there find any of them just get it!!!
The best way to visualize the pickup selection is to imagine the front coil of the triplebucker is by itself in the middle position giving you a humbucker in the bridge, a single in the middle, and the jazzmaster in the neck. It is wired just like a strat would be with that layout allowing bridge, bridge/mid, middle, mid/neck, and neck but with the middle coil is physically moved into the same place as the bridge pickup.
One of the best demo's ever seen. Someone who knows what we want to hear and who knows how to play guitar :P Nice job. Really expanded my knowledge about the Marauder (y)
love the sound of the triple coil
Seeing as you're a Fender rep, I'd say you've certainly earned your pay with this demo. I was in the market to get another Strat soon, but after seeing this I'm putting in an order for one of these in Lake Placid Blue as soon as I can. Well done, sir.
i got one of these yesterday and i have to say, it is one of, if not, the best guiar i have ever played/owned, honestly, i chose it over a slim line telecaster, the thing i think that tops it off, is the trem, which opens up a huge amount of possibilities, and if you turn up on stage with this, people WILL remember you
Excellent demo of a guitar that is on my short list for my next purchase. I really appreciate that you went through all the options that it has, both clean and overdriven. Looks like Fender has a winner!
I just bought a Marauder in the same Lake Placid Blue color. It's great. I got a good deal on it I love the way it sounds and plays. It's also a great value. The neck is super fast and feels perfect. The triplebucker is nasty, and the Jazzmaster pickup is both smooth and punchy, and very loud (as loud as the triplebucker.) This video helped sell me on the guitar. I was impressed by the variety of different sounds the guitar produces. Buy this guitar. You won't be disappointed.
I have one of these layed away. It is awesome and I was shocked by the quality of the neck wood. Excellent fret job, nice dark rosewood. neck pocket is tight and the paint was perfect.
Very infomative demo. Seems that the guitar will cover a big variety of sounds. But why didn't FENDER applys the Marauder lettering beside the FENDER logo?
@codyjt5150 They are all from a Fender G Dec 30 Blues Edition...
I'm getting this for Christmas to play heavy riff alt rock and some Shoegaze, quite excited!
This is probably THE first commercially available guitar with a Triplebucker. I know Kramer and Ibanez had custom guitars like that in the past but I think they were special ordered models.
im throwing money at the screen but it wont work =/
I got one of these for 160 from a now closed local music store that i wanted a guitar from because they were always super kind and supportive and qfter going on a 30 min rant on hating guitar center they knocked 60$ off and holy crap this thing plays so far above its pay grade.
@oscarmarin23 Thank you El Salvador! xx
The 3X Bucker is misleading. It's just a bucker with a mid coil at the north of it. Gives you a bit different sound at the bridge/middle switch position than a Strat does though.
If you want one or both bridge coils going along with that neck Jassmaster I suggest going to AwesomeGuitars and getting their proprietary T-4 switch, which will turn this guitar into a 76 tone option beast.
I did it for my Strat and you can see the yellow capped 6 switches in my thumbnail picture.
I got one of these for $289. Had to wait 9 weeks if I wanted one of these Lake Placid Blue ones. I waited, then they made me wait another 5 weeks and sent a reboxed one that had been returned god knows how many times. After soldering the jack back on and raising the neck jazzmaster pickup up (it was buried deep and had no carpet pad backer to sponge it upwards) it was passable after also having to shim the neck.
I think Fender DCed this thing because of the massive returns of it. Anyway, I feel like I've got a freak oddity of Fender history and will hold on to it.
Remember, the original Marauders were only prototype guitars that never went into production because of legal haggling with the non Fender employee designer that wanted big $buck$. So you might say that the Marauder name is cursed.
+dedicated2WHOiLove Mine was perfect.... clearly your mileage DOES vary....
The 2nd position is rad! The output is so damn high!
I have had several Chinese Fenders and Squiers. They were all very well made and sounded killer. I had the Squier Classic Vibe Strat and Tele. Both were well made.
@simezra Shure PG81's - It sneaks in camera top left... oooopps! Amateurs!!
Acoustically that thing is LOUD! love it.
Looks very versatile. Loving all the pickup positions. And it looks awesome in lake placid blue! If it's possible, it does look comfortable too.
What an amazing review, great job man.
Finally a good demo of this awesome guitar! Thanks, you made me decide my next purchase.
Not my style of guitar but definitely a perfect demo of it.
Nice amp, nice sound, great playing and pickups positions overview.
Thank a lot. :)
I have some really nice gear, including a Rick, a vintage Strat, a vintage SG, etc. This thing is the most fun I've ever had with six strings. It does almost anything, and surprisingly well. So good in fact that I'm playing it thinking I must be losing my mind, because this little Chinese guitar plays like a guitar five times it's price, and the quality is superb. So I took it along on a trip to my luthier, who is pretty much high end only, and showed it to him. Not surprisingly, he wasn't
I literally somehow just noticed these existed and holy shit these sound cool.
One of the best guitar review.
But to your question. Indeed you are only playing the rear two coils of that 3X Bucker in bridge switch position.
@luizzhithooCrouch the body looks quite wide, even more than a Jazzmaster's or Jaguar's because of that upper horn projecting upwards.
this is one of the best style of reviews Ive sen. It goes into good detail about each of the pickup combinations, etc. Is there a review by this guy of the new Fender pawnshop Mustang Special? I'm thinking of either a Mustang Special or a Marauder.
Great demo! I am going to be purchasing a new electric and I am seriously considering this Marauder, or an Epiphone Nighthawk. Any advice?
Nice looking guitar, big variety of sounds...
Definitely a guitar i most own
I'm in love with this guitar...
I've been trying to find one of these but everywhere I go they're sold out...
it's like a strat! with the middle pickup inside the pickup cavity of the bridge pickup xD
A melhor apresentação da Marauder que já ví. Muito bom! Parabéns e muito obrigado! The best demonstration of maurader they've seen. Very good! Congratulations and thank you!
Fpolis/Brasil
man! Damon is my hero, he can really do a guitar presentation.
Keep up the good work!
p.s.: i'm hoping he sees my comment.
Got this same blue Marauder, plays great, great sound.
sweet guitar.
The only glitch... The pickup selector switch lost the specific point to point feel within a couple days. Today after a month the pickup selector switch only works for two of five pickup variations.
Expecting a new switch in the mail tomorrow.
I hope I don't screw it up replacing the 5 position switch, I like this guitar.
hi ! good video thank you of posting this model !!! but i need to know, are the tuners are good quality and stays in tune ?? or should they be ugraded
Best workhorse guitar I ever bought. Brilliant for the price and don't be scared because it's made in China, hasn't failed me yet.
Jeffster1993 i'm not scared because it's made in china...i'm scared for the people in china that didn't get paid a living wage to make it. that's why i am mindful of what i buy
Great demo!
@bugo348 When you say it is super fast do you mean it is really thin front to back? It will be a deal killer if it is. Thin necks with slab rosewood boards = problems.
one of the best guitars i have it's my favorite humbucker axe in my arsenal
This thing looks great and sounds like a genius idea! And in reply to if it's good for punk, I'd think so. Held one today, feels great/smooth and tones seem thick/almost fuzz-like so thru a modern amp it'll probably sound badass!
There are no rules in punk. Just play with attitude my friend. I play in a punk band and have one of these in black sounds and looks badass!
Is it possible to get one with a plain white pickguard? I hate the sparkly ones :/
I've added a spst switch to the neck pickup on mine so I can have positions 1 & 2 working with the JM pup.
please show us in a video!!!
Triplebucker has been around for a long time ..check out the Alvarez Dana Scoop from the 80's.
can you guys plz do reviews like these just the guitar straight through the amp with no extra pedals/effects?
Nice. Though I've never been a die-hard fender guy, this is a great suit for fender-edge classic rock styles. I fond the triple coil configuration a little too bright and sharp for a bridge setup, but you cant always get what you want( PS found this guitar while reading march issue of Guitar World.)
@thesjkexperience No, it's not thin. It's not as thick as my '52 Tele or my '57 Strat reissues, but it's not really thin.
witch is your favorite out of all of the modern player guitars? and why?
hey what mic did you use for recording your voice?
the triplebucker consists of a humbucker plus a single, or 3 coils inseries?
Would you suggest this for punk?
Would the bridge pickup be too big to change for a humbucker?
what was his comment? if u remember
Does this guitar stay in tune well? I'm a little concerned about buying, so I'd prefer to know if it stays in tune!
awesome review
@bugo348 what you say
this marauder OR a Squier Strat CV 60s OR a Strat Deluxe player?
My black Marauder cost me $400 new. It came out of the box flawless. Hard to believe it was Chinese built. Even my USA Buddy Guy strat takes a back seat to the Marauder.
Congratulations, Damon. You are a fantastic player... and teacher ! Wow ! :-)
beautiful guitar ...
Triplebucker FTW!
This guy shreds!
Man this would look so rad in surf green or seafoam green or even dapne blue.
how would u guys compare this guitar to standard tele?
im thinking of buying one of them
question: The triplebucker as i see, is at a humbuckers size.
Is it possible to replace the triplebucker on this guitar with a humbucker?
+Γιώργος Τ. Κατσής Yes....but don't do it...it's an amazing pickup!!
I dropped a Gibson 59 in there and I really missed the top end out of the triple bucker and I lost the middle single cool option so I put it back. Worst move I made on that guitar. Plus it would really drop in value not having he triple bucker.
Collector value is bound to rise on these due to them being discontinued and their uniqueness with that triplebucker. like Gary says DON'T DO IT!
Where is this guitar made?
you could spraypaint it white?
oh God! i must admit this sounds fantastic!! I was saving for getting a Strat but OMG I think i'll decide at the store (it's a sonic orgasm =O )
@TehSorso you reckon that will work?
@NevadaMusicUK haha thank you ..amateurs or not you guys rocks !
this one or the modern player tele thinline?
Please,oh please...,
the songs from 0:00-0:25 exists?
Was listening to this in my headphones on my own, just enjoying the playing at the start
Then when he starts talking it sounded like it was coming from behind me
WHO GOT IN MY BEDROOM
Shit me up! Haha
Me too!!! I actually turned around! Nice sound, though.
101SLASH101 exact same just happened to me lol
they should have a setting with all pickups working at once
great demo, however it didn't make me want this. despite the stunning looks.
from the range I still want the mp tele.
triple bucker is just a legover. its a middle position single coil slipped right next to the bridge humbucker.
Holy shit thats some fantastic playing!
@greenriver71lodi cause they didn't put it on the prototypes as well back then in the 60s.
is this guitar any good for punk and grunge like nirvana and stuff like that?
Was there not a gibson of the same name?
Hey I need some help I'm getting my second guitar what do you guys recommend me? This, the Modern Player Jaguar or the Squier Jagmaster?
I play grunge/punk/alternative and blues. HELP PLEASE!
Sounds killer
i think ill buy one when this school year is done :)
how he made this tone at 13:53 ?
The new Fender Maurader looks like a Jazzmaster , Jaguar or Mustang body , but its pickups and pickguard look different and might play better :) on a big amp
cool guitar.
must be a light thing but those strings look huge...
6:54 - 7:07 great tones.
Also what's it like with fuzz...
but will it blend?
@wehurtthosewelove Amen. With better layout and pick ups though. Maybe even a bigsby on it. That would be sweet.
Getting this for christmas
I've finally got one,same as this,looks nice,great tones but the fret work is def not U.S. quality!! I had to do a complete fret level crown and polish to allow a low action,so many high spots,this is a must for old school 9..5 "radius fretboards,,I think these are Squier classic vibe factory guitars with a Fender logo,,,plays great now but not everyone has fret work experience,, I'm going to flatten the radius to 12" and fit jumbo frets ,graph tech nut and sperzel locking tuners for my new gigging guitar ! hope you guys pick up a good one !
Any suggested fret crown and polish tools?
It's perfect, but what is it? Jazzmaster, Mustang, Jaguar
Onyx ianz ...hermaphrodite
Onyx ianz The original Marauder was supposed to be Telecaster Mrk III like how the Strat was Telecaster Mrk II, but this is not the original Marauder. Said Marauder's cousins currently are the Fender XII and the Fender Bass VI which did get released and the Marauder was basically an aesthetically pleasing cousin that was wasn't shite of the 4 pickup guitars of the mid 60's that companies like Tiesco were trying. It never got released.
Woah that neck pickup jumped out with sound.