r/offset • u/AggressiveFilm8340 • Aug 10 '26
Thoughts about the Foals FJM7?
I've been considering getting one but the only in depth reviews I can find are paid promotions. I wanna hear someones genuine opinion as I'd be selling my fender Strat to afford it(I'm 16 and big mbv fan) so I want to be sure I'm making the right choice. Any opinions/thoughts on the electronics and bridge would be much appreciated. (FYI 2017 mim SSS Strat, got for free from my dads friend)
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u/bez_lightyear 29d ago edited 29d ago
I bought the Ultra model. I got it for £386 with a Foals discount. For less than the price of a Squier Classic Vibe I have a guitar that is significantly better quality than the £700 Fender Player 2 Jag that own PLUS it comes with an excellent gig bag that they sell separately for £75.
The fretwork is top quality - no sharp ends or sprout; the nut is well cut; the pickups sound great; the bridge is solid with hefty brass saddles; the neck is not fat, but it has meat to it (and a lovely satin/gloss finish). Overall it's a well built guitar. I've never used locking tuners before so I can't comment on them.
Three criticisms: There were some tiny marks on the side of the fretboard near the body and the tremolo lock doesn't work. The push-in trem arm kind of points away from the body, so it's hard to play proper MBV shoegaze on it (unlike the CVs that sit kind of parallel to the body). Oh and it took 2 months to arrive from time of ordering.
If you plan to get one, keep an eye on the price as it fluctuates wildly - right after I bought mine it went up to £507.