I love the refreshing honesty from Baxter and Johnathan. How often do they do something like this? "We could make a lot of money, but we're good people so we're going to be honest with you." Not only are they super talented, but they're also decent human beings.
At 64 I started to take lessons and purchased a Breedlove acoustic-electric. Once I knew I was going to continue lessons, I purchased an American Fender and loved the guitar. I figured the time was a wasting and then made a jump to a Suhr Guitar, which I still own today after 8 years. The feel of the Suhr, I just know where my fingers are on the guitar, It's kind of eerie.
One of my favourite memories from working at guitar stores was when a guy came in who had recently retired and wanted to learn guitar. He had the very reasonable budget of around $200-$300 for an acoustic. I spent a solid hour with him chatting and demoing all different levels of guitars. He left with a $4k Larrivee and became a regular - always coming in for his strings and stuff and telling me just how in love with that instrument he was. I completely agree that starting with a CS is unnecessary but, if you can afford it, buying a guitar you'll grow into rather than out of is definitely the way to go.
Absolutely Jon that phrase buying a guitar you'll grow into instead of growing out of is really important i appreciate that insight a very cool piece of advice for every guitar player thank you very much and may the guitar lords bless you with a LP 59' someday sir.
That said, you can always buy a great affordable model like a Seagull and it will always be a good spare guitar, a campfire guitar etc. It’s nice to have something you don’t have to worry about in the trunk of your car for a few hours.
The stages of typical custom shop buying method I've seen are: (1 - just purchased) I love my new dream custom shop guitar (2 - after a couple of months) I'm going to change the pickups/saddles/tuners/etc. (3 - after six months) It's a great guitar but I just can't bond with it so I'm selling it to finance my dream guitar.
People buy a new guitar and you ask “how do you like it?” And they always reply “it’s amazing I love it best guitar I’ve ever owned” but they just haven’t had the newlywed faze wear off yet. They have to justify buying it by saying how great it is. Even reviews of gear are usually not someone who’s had it for 6+ months it’s usually first day/week/month of owning it so it’s not a good reference point.
Except your amp won’t sound good if you’re running it through a crappy speaker cab, but your crappy amp won’t sound as bad through an amazing speaker cab
That’s precisely why Baxter uses a Two Rock in the demo videos. Of course, to the dismay of many he only demos high end guitars in those videos. It might be nice to hear what a Squier Affinity series guitar sounds like through that Two Rock.
Nailed it , enough said You’ve really got to respect these guys and their honesty Pretty rare nowadays for a shop to help you out as much as they would (At least in my case) As usual ,,,,, great content
I picked up an American Pro 2 Strat this week Don't know what more a Custom Shop can give me that I don't get from this guitar. It's phenomenal. I have 11 other guitars and this one is a keeper. Love the neck carve and the pickups.
I had one, I really loved the switch to have all three pickups activated. It's such a unique sound, but it kinda spoiled me because I didn't like the other tones as much when I got used to that one.
TODAY, I got my first CS...Tele....lefty...used 2023...and as great as my Pro II Tele is...and my LSL TBoneOne....this CustomShop is noticeably better feeling, playing and sounding...magic. Sooooooooooooo happy I bit the bullet...despite having 7 other Teles....this CS is simply the best guitar of the close to 50 I've owned from major brands and not so major. I will be selling off some of my extensive collection to justify the CS to the wifey and recognizing that some guitars will get even less play with the CS in the mix. At 62...I've finally settled on a guitar as my go-to...the Tele.... With this CS...I'm done buying and selling lefty guitars....No point...I've had everything that's interested me...and now, I've found a gem that would be hard to best. If you're a righty...go play a CS to see for yourself. As a lefty...I had to buy sight unseen.... I got lucky...it's glorious thru a ToneKing Imp MkII and Hamstead Artist. Get some.
Bought my first CS this year. 70th Anniversary Broadcaster, and it is amazing. Took me forever to decide what I wanted to invest in... I decided on a Tele but bought into the history. I appreciate it so much having played every single level of guitars you talked about. Now all I can think about is my next one. They are worth it but as long as you have the experience to appreciate it.
I started off with a Gibson SG tribute and played it for like 15 years. I always coveted an American Strat and when I finally got one in 2020 it was everything I expected and more. By far my favorite guitar now. I wanna get a custom shop now tho. Lol.
I bought my first gigging amp when I was 18 years old, in 1970. I found an ad in the newspaper for a Fender Twin. Got there and it was owned by a steel player, and in mint condition. 1968 Silver Face Twin w/JBL speakers. My first clue should have been the weight, the JBL's had ~15 pound magnets! The amp weighed about 100 pounds!! LOL I took it to the gig that night all happy, proud.. and sweaty, in the 50 seat country bar. Plugged in my Gibson ES325 (yes, 325) for the first time... and you know the rest!! LOLOL That was one of many lessons learned the hard way!! 8) JMHO --gary
I scratched and saved to buy a PRS private stock..found one for sale used with literally the same specs and model I wanted to order….every detail I wanted including the finish and pickups. Only thing was the inlay type but I liked the inlays it had more. I had the money for it cuz I was saving to order one. Bought it. Best guitar I’ve ever played period…and everyone else I let play it says the same.
Very needed topic indeed! I am now in a process of building my dream rig. I had a cheap LTD guitar and a Roland 15CUBE for years, but I always wanted a strat. Last year I've got my self a MIM strat and a Marshall DSL40CR. Was happy as hell! The differance was HUGE. Now i've bought myself a black Tone King Imperial Mk2 , it is in my music room , and I am at sea , working as offshore guy and will be home by Feb 2022 if I am lucky, lol. My wife makes jokes now, that I want to see the amp more than I want to see her, haha. So cannot comment on the TK, as I did not really owned one before. The other thing now is the guitar, honestly I am torn appart between AO and CS, been at a shop and from 5 CS onley 1 was a really magical one, but the price is almost 2.5 times higher than an AO. BTW this MIM strat is now with me on a ship, together with Blackstar portable amp lol, just detached the neck of the strat and accomodated the instrument in my luggage, one happy sailor here :D
Not trying to raz you dudes, but I truly lol’d when the next suggested video in my queue was from your channel and titled “Why You Can’t Go Wrong With a Fender Custom Shop Guitar.” 😂
I guess I'm not too big on the custom shop guitars. They are beautiful instruments, no doubt. Definitely in excess of my ability to play. I appreciate y'all's honesty and transparency. A big reason why I watch your channel.
@@richsackett3423 - oh, I strive to be a $5K player. I always want to improve... even when I get to being a $3K player, I'm pretty sure I'll stick with the standard line guitars...
@@scottkidwellmusic9175 Certainly - constantly practicing and working on music. Myself, I play bass guitar regularly so the top of my 6-string comfort zone is $2k. However, I'd play a crazy-expensive bass if so-moved.
@@richsackett3423 - I've been a guitar and a bass player for many years. Learned both at the same time. I think the most expensive bass I own, and bought new, is the Fender Flea Roadworn I got on sale... I'm looking for a good P Bass, and contemplating a Ric at some point. Short list for basses... $2K for a bass seems excessive
I found a made in korea epiphone double cut I fell in love with it..Changed the pickups and it came alive P-90 lollars its a keeper I love it so much so you never know what you'll find got it at an estate sale.. Keep looking and you'll find yours,.. rock on people!!!!
I played all the guitars in the biggest guitar shop in my city, and other stores. And the best one in the end was the fender custom shop 62/63 Stratocaster sea foam green. So I bought it, the best guitar there was, that’s the only sensible way to buy what you feel is the best.
I recommend players figure out exactly what they dig about the instruments they love and why before taking the plunge. Also, if you're a steady working musician and the Fender Custom Shop has made a team built in the past that fits your specs. There's NOTHING wrong with getting a gently used one if you're going to be gigging it. It took me a few years after coming back to playing after years away to figure out I don't care for modern neck specs. It then took me years more of steady gigging and trying vintage instruments in shops to figure out exactly what i do and don't want in an instrument. Both my main basses (CS 55 P and AVS 57 P) were purchased barely used and have served me well on thousands of hours of shows in the past almost 10 years. Combined they cost under 3k at the time. Well worth that investment then, and I'd still spend it now at current prices. No question. Best decision I ever made as a bassist. (Besides going back to playing full tube rigs) Did I NEED either of them? No, but they were definitely investments in my playing and my enjoyment of it. Also, If you dig old school Fenders a used American Vintage Reissue can still be had for sub 2k and will give you a lifetime of quality playing. BTW, Y'all helped me quote a CS 51 P recently and I've decided to hold off on a one off for another 3 years til I hit 50. (it's a really big purchase) The email I received back was super informative on the process, and offered me realistic options as to how to choose financially between a Masterbuilt and Teambuilt as only one option I wanted would put it over the line. In the past I have dealt with two other showcase dealers on possible quotes and y'all are definitely the cream of the crop. Putting customers first. A rarity in today's world. Keep doing great work!
As for me I been practicing and playing on a cheap $50 Rouge dreadnaught acoustic for 2 years or more now. It has some issues but those issues never discouraged me from picking it up playing and practice. It’s been an ok guitar to learn on all this time. Now I’m ready to get an electric guitar. I feel my playing level justifies it now. I’m looking to getting a secondhand used fender player telecaster. But if I ever become a working professional someday, I wouldn’t rule out getting a custom shop guitar, something I could call my own.
One thing I learned a while ago is to get a guitar in your hands and see if it speaks to you or not. For example, I've had Squire and MIM Strats and Teles that felt better than some more expensive American made models. Yet, some other examples just didn't cut it. Quality control today is amazing compared to decades ago but there still are subtle differences so get one in your hands and make the decision based on feel and sound, not price tag.
I really appreciate you guys in these vids and the attitude you have on guitars. Finding what works for you, what fits you as an individual is more important than pricetag, brand name, headstock shape, etc etc. I've owned so many guitars over the years from American to Mexican, from Standard series to Custom shops, Fenders Gibsons Deans Gretsch Guildand so many others. Some of my favorites have really surprised me. I used to have a Danelectro DC59 I got for dirt cheap and with all those other guitars sitting beside me that Danelectro was my main instrument until it was stolen. Having had the best and worst in ranges from starter series and pro series guitars, I find some of the oddballs to be just as good if not better than a Fender or Gibson custom shop. There is something so special about the level of care and quality in the craftsmanship of a custom shop guitar. But sometimes you find those same qualities in unexpected places. My current main guitar is a Washburn WI64 which I picked up used for about $300, and I may be biased as Washburn was the first brand guitar I ever played growing up but this thing has the fit, finish, quality, feel, and that magic something that I missed from more expensive guitars. It literally feels and plays like the best SG you could get your hands on. Perfectly rolled fret edges, immaculate fingerboard, everything about it is perfect. And it was built in Indonesia. Lately I've been seeing a lot of very high quality builds come out of Indonesia, it has me excited about imports again. Whoever is running that factory out there, keep it up!
A great playing guitar is a joy... But bottom line is still..."It's not the tools that make the craftsman"... However...A great playing guitar IS a joy😉😎👍 😎👍❤🖖
Man that’s a big subject. So many factors goes into a guitar decision. Money,feel,playability,mindset, and what is going to get you to play more. I have a Nashville Custom shop ‘59 es-335 reissue and it’s cost is way, way over my ability to play. It falls into my mindset category in that it makes me smile to hold it. You need to feed your head if you can afford it. Ummm, now that I think of it, beg borrow or steal a custom shop. You can’t go wrong imho LOL
Great advice here to pay more for the amp and less on the guitar. That’s very important and will have the biggest difference. Knowing what gear you’re really needing is the biggest battle. It can take years to find that and it’s probably not about the price you actually pay.
I did the opposite- Les Paul Custom to Strats and Tele's and invested in a vintage 1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb with an Alnico Celestion bulldog speaker, never been happier.
I agree. I will say I may end up with a custom acoustic guitar because I am needing a few things with the neck scale, profile and string space to accommodate my wounded fret hand.
Totally agree with all this. I wish I had listened to people when I was starting out and saved up more to buy a higher quality guitar as my second one but now that I have the means to purchase a higher end instruments I’m loving having them. I don’t think I would have appreciated it if I had gotten one in the beginning.
I started out with an affordable American made guitar in the mid 80s. It wasn’t what I really wanted so I ended up spending years buying affordable Asian made guitars (that were no where near as good as that first guitar or the current affordable Asian offerings). After owning a budget version of the guitar I really wanted I decided that it wasn’t the model that worked for me, so I moved on to the budget version of that company’s other famous model which was much better suited to me but was still a low end guitar with all the usual shortcomings. Pretty early in my journey I also took a short lived side trip into a different genre of music and bought a cheap copy of a guitar often used by many in that genre. That guitar (and the entire experience) were definitely not for me. Finally, in 2014 I bought my first Mexican made Fender Telecaster which was a high end Road Worn model. It was a night and day difference. It was definitely my best guitar since the one I started out with (and probably better than that one too). I have bought several more guitars at or above that level in the years since, and their is no way I’m going back to the lower end models (even though as I said before some of them are now very good especially for their price). I had a similar experience with amps too. A few cheap ones to start with then a much better solid state Fender followed by my first tube amp a Fender Pro Junior that got stolen which I replaced with a Blues Junior. Shortly after I bought the Mexican Tele I decided to invest in a better amp and got a 59 Bassman Reissue and it was as life changing as the guitar. It too has been followed by other great amps some vintage and some new.
Speaking of Taylor. I have a 214 CE Koa and freaking love it. It sounds amazing. It sounded the same as the 8 series to me. To save 2500$ for a slightly different sound was a no brainer for me.
I had aspired to own a Gibson Les Paul Custom throughout my young playing years. I grew up on Ibanez and Japanese Fenders and Jacksons however. When I finally had the funds and bought that LP Custom I was slightly underwhelmed. Aesthetically, that was the guitar, it looked amazing and I was picturing Rhandy Rhoads, Jerry Cantrell, Zakk Wylde, all the guys I grew up on who were LP players and I’d learned their stuff on my Japanese made production guitars… that was then when I realized I’d really found the types of guitars I’m accustomed to and love to play. I traded up that LP Custom for an Ibanez J Custom. A dumb deal on my part? Oh yea… but that was ten years ago and that Ibanez still gets played every day to this day
I'm a pro player and I do have several high end guitars. That said, some of my favorite and go to guitars are NOT the very expensive models that I keep as collector's models and never take to gigs. I also paid $400 for a Squier 60's custom tele re-issue. I dropped in Fender IV generation noiseless pickups, a bone nut, a push pull for out-of-phase tones, and a brass compensated saddle for an extra $300. Total cost including labor = $700. The same guitar with Fender on the logo is $3400 in the custom shop. Seems to me that I came ahead with a savings of $2700.
My first electric was a CV 50s Tele and my second was a Gretsch Electromatic Pro. I’m still a beginner, but I’ve played some cheap stuff and know that I hit the groove with what I have quality wise. More would be wasted on me as a player, less would make me want to stop playing.
I called Baxter and the team at Casino to find out about a custom shop. I found out that it was NOT what I needed thanks to my friend Bax who got me into an American Vintage II Jazzmaster instead. Half the price and all the power!!! Now I’m headed towards getting into it and I can smell that sweet Two Rock in my future! 😊
Thank you guys for the great content! I think when considering rather to go with a custom shop guitar or not, one has to consider the law of diminishing returns. There comes a price point gap between guitar series where more expensive doesn't necessarily yield exponentially higher quality. For example, the Fender Player Series Strats at $799 are exponentially better in build quality, playability and sound then the Squire Bullet Strats at $189. Meaning for roughly 4 times the money or $600 you can get a Strat that sounds a plays 10 times better. However, when you look at the difference between the American Pro II at $1499 and a Custom Shop Strat at $4500, sure the Custom Shop Strat may be a better guitar but improvements/upgrades don't justify the $3000 difference in price. Essentially with spending the extra 3 grand you're definitely getting a guitar that is moderately better, but not exponentially better. Hence, I think for regular guitarists on regular budgets (not wealthy collectors) we have to consider the law of diminishing returns to make sure we get the best value for our money. Perhaps an episode on the law of diminishing returns and guitar gear would be good. :)
I say if you do want the custom shop, just wait and save up. You’ll buy a nice high end guitar but you’ll sell it down the road for your endgame guitar. It happened with me with my Les Paul. I got an amazing USA standard but I ended up selling it for my dream 57 Les Paul custom reissue.
So many guys have no idea - I was sitting in my local Sam Ash checking out the Epiphone Dot - a guy walked in determined to buy a new 335, which probably went for about $2600 at the time. He took it off the wall and handed it to me saying "you're already warmed up, play this a bit for me". Huh? I took it and started to play, wondering why this guy would pay that much for an axe he wasn't even going to try. I pretty much immediately handed it back, telling him that unbelievably, the fret ends were not dressed at all, they were ripping up my hand! There was another 335 there, it played real nice but I said "if you're gonna buy this, you need to demand that the repair guy clean this thing up first". Why anyone would buy an expensive guitar without playing it first is still beyond me to this day!
Find a light weight used American or Mexican strat. Get it PLEK’ed, the fret ends rounded, and the fingerboard edges rolled and a proper nut, bridge adjustment and it will play as well as any custom shop. You will probably want to replace the pickups too.
My first electric guitar was a Univox hollow body. The strings were flat wound and were about a foot off of the fretboard. The salesman didn't offer to have it set up and I didn't know to ask. It looked beautiful to me, but ripped up my fingers to shreds. -I could have used a Custom Shop. :)
From a ‘64 Duo Sonic to a MIM beater Tele to an American Strat…I tried a Gibson SG and the neck rake felt like the neck was trying to wrap around my back. I did find a Les Paul that I love, but it’s a Traditional with a baseball bat for a neck. Still love Fender over Gibson.
I went through a series of unfortunate musical events but they are about to pay out! Essentially, I'm getting a completely hand made instrument for the cost of parts. You may end up getting lucky and getting a 3-4k guitar for less than half of that. I never would be able to afford one at full price but keep those peepers peeled and don't be afraid to talk with builders!
As a player, I have a broad array of price point guitars - still no custom shops. I play what I like. One of my favorites is a Classic Vibe I bought used. It plays so nice, and I don’t feel that I need to baby it. Great advice on amps! What about pedals next? My thoughts, a nice tube Fender with the right pedals can mimic a Vox or a Marshall.
I think that with Fender making entry level guitars priced at 800 to 900 is CRAZY. I my opinion a Clasic Vibe is the new entry level!!!! I have a 60's Classic Vibe Strat with a Hot Rod Deluxe and I am as happy as can be. Would I like a Custom shop, sure I would but do I need it no!!!
I agree. Until I can go into a guitar shop, play a Squier and a Fender, back to back and say definitively that the Fender is that much better I'll go with the Squier. You can find hundreds of great guitars for under $500.
Baxter, I have a Dearmond 260 Acoustic P90 mounted J160E style on my 1965 Dove and Love the P90, Most players Don't Need a Collectors Grade Guitar that Either Breaks the Bank or leaves them broke and eating Spam and Ramen, and the level of Entry Guitars has Risen So Much that many of the instrument's in an Affordable price range play and sound Close enough to save the Extra cash , unless a performing Pro or Stupid Rich. I am 67 and My High end pieces were acquired over Years or Trading, saving and remaining nearly broke to supply my gear Fetish and so unless you Love Ramen morning noon and night, opt for a Decent Good Guitar and Stop buying Names and buy what you play. Shops Hated Me, because if there were 30 Guitars on the wall, I played all 30 so I got the one that played the best and sounded Amazing
I bought a Fender strat for 450 bucks back in 2002 . MIM but all the parts were made in the USA . Neck ,body and pickup's , Was assembled in Mexico . Called a milano strat only 200 were ever made . White with rosewood board[real rosewood] ,pearly pickguard ,noiseless pickup's [the kind Jeff Beck uses] and 12 radius neck ,gold hardware .I would put this guitar up against a 5000 custom shop any day ,it plays and looks that great.I liked it so much I found another one that I bought and have it stashed away.Price for a custom shop guitar is just insane in this economy.
Custom Shop prices have been insane for years it’s not just the current economy. I knew a guy who had a Custom Shop Strat built as soon as Fender opened up the option to “regular” people. He got to choose the builder he wanted, but the only thing about the guitar that wasn’t available on a production line model was a special color that Fender matched for him. He paid $1,500 for that guitar and it took 6 months for him to get it. He gigged it regularly, and about two years later he decided he wanted another one just like it for a backup. The second one (absolutely identical to the first one), built by the same builder cost him $3,000 and the wait time was a year and a half.
My dad was a collector & he left me quite a few nice guitars when he passed. I actually *play* a Mexican Telecaster 99% of the time, because it’s just perfect. The rest come-out for a spin now & then, but when it’s time to track or play a show, it’s my Telecaster. (Natural finish with tortoiseshell guard … It’s a 2010 special edition.)
It's great hearing guys like this say they want to sell you what will meet your needs and price range instead of their own. Refreshing. I've been in so many stores where I overhear customer conversations with sellers and the seller is like "oh yeah we got something for you, take a look at the prs custom" and the customer seriously said he hasn't played in 15 years and just wants something decent to fiddle around with. Then I have to go over to the guy and say look, if you want something to kinda rekindle your passion, just something that plays good, take a look at some of these yamahas and stuff like that. The seller is trying to rip u off and sell you what you don't need
The only custom shop guitar I've ever bought is a Heritage Custom Core H-150 that I bought as a demo this year. It had one scratch on the back, but the flame top on it is amazing! It was $3000 cheaper than a comparable Gibson, and I'll never part with it.
As someone who tries to buy the best I can - in a buy it for life sort of way, not so much in a status way, it's just me in my house, there is no status beyond that, I look at the custom shops and think "yup, those are the guitars I need". Fortunately there's another voice that says, "hey, you're a beginner that can barely get through easy Nirvana right now, $6k Gibsons and Fenders aren't going to change that. And the whole point of those guitars is literally in the title - custom! Custom to me. And I'm an inexperience beginner with more money than brains (guitar wise at least), that doesn't know what I want. What type of neck do I like? Ummm a good one. What sound do I want? Well.... Post Rock, Tom Petty, Tool, Noel Gallagher, most classic rock, grunge and some rock blues thrown in. I still have to go down the road to figure out what custom means to me. So thanks for the honesty guys, I'm easily a guy that could enter a shop and be dazzled by something expensive on a wall that wouldn't be right for me. It's good to know there are people with integrity out there to help people get the thing that's right for them.
I go to sleep every night dreaming of a Murphy lab lightly aged lemon 59. My very next thought is would I ever take it out of the house. I used to play with a guy who was partners in a studio and had someone famous come in to lay down some tracks with an original 59 les Paul. This rock star said “it’s made to be played” so I guess I would feel the same way. All the quotes about “the tools don’t make the craftsman” have probably never tried to screw in a Phillips with a chewed up tip
2:30 I know some people WORKING at guitar shops just buy a nice old Japanese Fender and put on a big fat Warmoth neck. It’s virtually the same stuff if you were to spend several thousand more on a custom shop with a baseball bat or boat neck, etc. you can get the custom nut width, frets, wood, finish etc.
I had the opertunity to play a fender player plus... I was surprised. That thing was awesome and I'm not just saying this. It felt superb, frets were perfect and neck was smooth. It sounded great too. Who needs a custom tbh
Lol hell yeah I want to see you two play a game of Warhammer 40k! Watching you guys talk guitars and nerd stuff is pretty much a recreation of me and my friends hanging out.
Definitely appreciate it the honesty. I probably won’t ever get a custom shop Fender or Gibson when I could support an amazing small builder like Chase from Gullett Guitars or Thad from Shumaker Guitar Works
Gotta say this is great advice. I have several American original teles, and a few custom shop teles. The custom shop teles are only slightly better sounding and feeling. But the look and vibe of the CS is unmatchable
@@jaymz8222 those are typically built using the old style knobs with small grub screws that hold it in place on the solid brass shaft of the potentiometer. That’s the price we pay for a vintage vibe. Pro Tip… the blue loc-tight is great (and not permanent). One drop into the area where the grub screw is and it’ll never back out (unless you want it to- and that’ll take a bit of effort).
I have a custom-shop g&l asat Deluxe. Very very nice guitar. I picked it up used and to be fair, I'm a lefty. Good guitars are few and far between so you grab what you can get! So yeah, unless you're dripping cash, maybe a custom isn't for everyone and that's just the economics of a custom - they cost $$$ But, having gotten it used and at a good price- I do like my custom guitar.
Example, I just purchased a fender squire hardtail strat for my son. I've been playing for over 40 years and have owned custom shop tele in Olympic white wash(2000) , fender American strat with Texas Special pick ups in shoreline gold (1998) , and a fender mustang (1969) orange with competition stripes. Let me tell you guys... This little hardtail that sells for $169 absolutely rocks. Great beginner guitar. Great intonation, and great sound though my fender 2×10 hot rod deluxe
I started playing Fenders and FSOs in the late ‘80s. I don’t buy Fender CS now, I build my own. Right now I’m building my version of an FSR LTD custom deluxe closet clean ‘58 P bass. 1-pc quarter sawn maple neck from Musikraft, 1-pc swamp ash body with nitro lacquer transparent white blonde finish, Klein ‘58 pickups, Gotoh Res-O-Lites machines, custom made 10-hole black anodized scratch guard, etc.
I love my Fender Player's Strat with my Orange Crush OC60C Total investment in them was about $1500 and I am playing every single day. In fact, more playing that I have done in years.
I've never played Custom Shops but after getting a great production line Fender and Gibson I don't really feel the urge like I did when I was still playing "beginner" instruments.
Got a very long time before I can afford a custom shop, but it only took me like 4 months to open a gear card so I could graduate from a Squier Tele to a Gibson SG
I’ve had multiple les Paul standards traditions prs 594 . I prefer my musicman cutlass I always go back to that bought on clearance at CME marked down because the new roasted necks were out. Best guitar I every played
yeah I'd have to agree . . . don't think about custom shop until one is intermediate / advanced and played lots of guitars, then they know how to customize . . . plus tons of guitars that are cheap and easy to play (sire) / have features of moar expensive guitars for newbs. Also amps, don't need boutique cuz so many great cheap amps out there (even non tube) but a good boutique cab and matching amp . . . spending time is pretty crazy what I'm finding out about my guitar preferences . . . I found with electrics I could play anything (any neck / radius) and if I spend a few days it grows on me . . . but I like strats, teles and ES-335's. but acoustics, I tend to like 12 fret and 14 frets I can get cozy but I keep thinking about 12 fret . . . I've had 2 stages of guitar, one was dabbler / collector 4 years but quit and sold it all . . . then came back . . . and now I'm into actually learning, taking lessons, and taking steps to mastering but got a metal reso and have an acoustic now . . .. trying to get electric but keep gravitating back towards them . . . now p90's i never had a p90 in the old collection (dozens of electrics) but might consider one once I get four electric f00d gr0ups. . . in the near / distant future
I have two very solid basses. A Schecter Studio-4 and a Studio-5. Very tonally diverse and comfortable to play. Built well and built to last. They aren’t $200-$300 basses nor are they $2000-$3000. They’re reasonably priced even for new (4 string is about $900 and the 5 is $1000) My point: I feel like if you have good quality stuff even if it’s not custom shop and you take care of it very well, you don’t need a fancy 5k/6k all the way to God knows what custom shop bass (or guitar) If you desire to have one then that’s cool too, more power to you. But at that point it’s definitely more of a want than a need. You want that crazy priced custom shop piece. You don’t necessarily need it. Amps, pickups, strings, etc are also just as important and arguably one of those things are more important but I’m saying for the sake of a bass or guitar itself.
My first "good" guitar was a MIM 50s Player after picking up every sub $1000.00 guitar in guitar center. I could afford more but I couldn't justify spending more, then I ordered an Epiphone. I played it a few times then ordered a case for it so I wouldn't have to see it. I kinda hated it... Two months later I went straight to the 50's American Original in pictured in my Avatar. I've since filled out my collection with several Strats and Teles between the MIM and the American Original, with a Gibson Studio, Silver Sky, and an offset with P90s thrown in as well... On the acoustic side I got my GS Mini, an SC13, and a Breedlove 12 string. At this point all I have left to get is a Thinline, maybe one shredder guitar which I have no business playing, and I'm looking for that used Team Build CS (or maybe a Tom Anderson) that has mojo and I can't put down. I don't want to order a CS because I'm afraid I'll spec it exactly like I want it and when I get it in my hands it just won't feel or sound right because good on paper doesn't always work.
If you play enough guitars, and know how to tinker, it's really easy to make your own CS happen for under a grand. I did spend more than that on my LP Special, but it's so good it didn't need any tinkering.