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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:22 pm
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[quote="ufboy73"]this has been one of the most informative, and my personal favorite, posts on the forums that I have found so far.that there is not something distinctive about the triple neck relative to the current CS versions?

You misinterpret his narrative. The 'triplets' are three guitars built to EC personal specs. One is owned by 'Kazter, the second by alainlafrance, the third by another collector. These are Todd Krause Masterbuilt and there's a very specific characteristic to this neck, different from either the CS Signature Series or Artist series guitars. Not only that, he contends, and I agree, that the earlier necks, '88/'89 were different still.

Read through the narratives completely, particularly the one accompanying the pics.

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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:38 pm
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doc,

thanks - actually, I now remember in another post alain indicating that they were quite different.

it was this statement from Stratokazter that had me wondering

"The guitar was great. The other two guys didn't seem to like the slim V shape... I thinks it's wonderful and much different than the production models at the time. (These were built before the Clapton Custom Artist model went on sale in January 2004, which has the same neck spec if I recall) So the neck shape and having no TBX tone was very very unique at the time"

The part about "which had the same neck spec if I recall" is, specifically, what piqued my interest


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:40 pm
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ufboy73 wrote:
doc,
"The guitar was great. The other two guys didn't seem to like the slim V shape... I thinks it's wonderful and much different than the production models at the time. (These were built before the Clapton Custom Artist model went on sale in January 2004, which has the same neck spec if I recall) So the neck shape and having no TBX tone was very very unique at the time"The part about "which had the same neck spec if I recall" is, specifically, what piqued my interest


OK...so if we dissect the fine details, it should follow as such: the 'triplets were built in 2003 to a specific neck carve; 'Kazter maintains that the "Clapton Custom Artist' guitar was introduced in 2004. I interpret that to mean the "Custom Shop Signature Series guitar" NOT the Artist series version which is production line. About 18 mos ago when I was auditioning a '57 Hotrod, I was comparing the neck to an Artist series
Clapton and the salesperson in passing said that the Custom Shop Signature guitar neck was slimmer that the Artist series and he handed one to me. There WAS a delicate but appreciable difference in the latter which would speak to 'Kaster's commentary. As far as the TBX, this issue has been put to bed. From what we have been able to determine, after an entire winter of discussion on this is that only the Masterbuilt guitars are fitted with standard tone controls. Both the Artist and Custom Shop Signature have a TBX.

I expect that all of this is taking you where you want to go.

Doc :wink:

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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:53 pm
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doc,

where i think it has led me is right to TK's door!


I was just wondering if i were to undertake a MB with him if I could expect the neck to be the same as the TB version - but, obviously, I would also discuss this particular issue directly with him


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:12 pm
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ufboy73 wrote:
doc,

where i think it has led me is right to TK's door!


I was just wondering if i were to undertake a MB with him if I could expect the neck to be the same as the TB version - but, obviously, I would also discuss this particular issue directly with him


The TB or the MB ?


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:18 pm
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TB or not the MB. That is the question!! :)


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:22 pm
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i am thinking MB


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:28 pm
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ufboy73 wrote:
i am thinking MB

A MB with TK!! 8) That's the way!! :wink:


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:32 pm
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ufboy73 wrote:
doc,where i think it has led me is right to TK's door!
I was just wondering if i were to undertake a MB with him if I could expect the neck to be the same as the TB version - but, obviously, I would also discuss this particular issue directly with him


If you are thinking along those lines why not just have him build the same guitar that 'Kazter and alain ordered. I am sure he remembers that project and we have a photo of it right here he can refer to. Besides, he's EC's luthier. That should close the circle for you.

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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:33 pm
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ufboy73 wrote:
doc,where i think it has led me is right to TK's door!
I was just wondering if i were to undertake a MB with him if I could expect the neck to be the same as the TB version - but, obviously, I would also discuss this particular issue directly with him


If you are thinking along those lines why not just have him build the same guitar that 'Kazter and alain ordered. I am sure he remembers that project and we have a photo of it right here he can refer to. Besides, he's EC's luthier. That should close the circle for you.

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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:57 pm
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a few things to clarify...

what you have to remember is that in early 2003, the only Clapton Stratocaster generally available was the plain old standard EC USA Strat that had been made since 1988. Custom Shop versions were very rare, as were Masterbuilt versions. (it's not long ago, but 2003 was light years away in terms of Custom Shop guitar production for Fender... 90% of us at the time wouldn't have known a Custom Shop guitar if it bit us on the a**, let alone a Masterbuilt guitar. In 2004 that all changed with the limited run of 1954 Stratocasters. Now there it seems there is a new Masterbuilt limited run every month... it's just not the same thing anymore... the "club" is bigger and now so many people own CS and Masterbuilt Fender's. But in 2003 this was just not the case)


So, when the three of us ordered an Eric Clapton Stratocaster from the same guy that builds them for EC himself...well... this was pretty spectacular at the time (and still is today in my opinion, TK is great). But in 2003, it really was a huge deal! So when we asked for guitar to be built "just like EC's"... this was just incredible.. the holy grail for alot of us, really.

The current Custom Shop Artists Series version came out in January 2004 (two months after the triplets were completed). So for two months I had a pretty exclusive guitar... Mercedes Blue was very unique and unheard of... not anymore. Also, the neck shape of the new CS Team Built series, from what I was told at the January 2004 NAMM show, was pretty much based on the neck shape that Todd was building at the time for EC (i.e., the "triplet" neck shape).

I know this is a definitive neck shape... why? Because in 2005 I custom ordered a one-off Team Built '56 NOS Strat and on the work order I specified "neck shape as TK Clapton Spec. as per serial number TK368". I had no contact with Todd during that order, but when I received the guitar it was built exactly with the same neck profile as TK368, two years after the original guitar, by someone in the Custom Shop. So there is a neck spec at Fender for this neck. You just have to ask.

The neck shape is as I said.. taken from one of EC's favorites circa April 1996. You have to understand that EC changes his stuff over the years... and probably still does today. (Though he probably cares alot less about the details then we do.) Things on the production line don't always change as rapidly... (example... the neck shape, TBX knob, signature, etc). So the production (USA) neck shape is what it is, and was what it was in 2003.

You also have to keep in mind that even if you ordered 50 Eric Clapton Stratocasters from 3 or 4 different Masterbuilders there would be just as many different neck shapes. Chalk that up to variation from hand crafting. So don't get to hung up on these "triplets". They are fabulous guitars built to EC's specs (at the time -- 2003). But you could also order one tomorrow and have it built it to EC's specs. They only thing they won't do (and I know because I tried) is Ferarri Grigio Silverstone which is EC's personal guitar color since 2006, and the superglue neck finish that EC used to have.

The neck shape, you can have made. Like I said in an earlier post, I have since ordered two more from TK at two different times, 2006 and 2008, they have the same neck shape as those triplets.

You can order pretty much what you want.... Heck... If you want TK to build one with a dimple in the back of the neck at the 7th fret, he'd do it.


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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:30 pm
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stratokazter,

thanks for all the clarification - i have only more recently become interested in fender custom shop guitars, so (for me) TB Claptons have always been option. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been to have scored an 'as built for' when you originally went to Todd..of course, in my mind, the fact that CS Clapton's may be plentiful still does not completely undermine the value proposition of having one made with Todd.

I have heard nothing but fantastic things from people that have had pieces done by him and your experience seems to echo this.

I have a TB clapton right now - and i do like the neck a lot...i am thinking of possibly tweaking it a little bit if i went with a Krause MB...assuming if i didnt say anything about it i would get the exact same neck that i already have now on my TB. it would be more for variety and a little different feel more than anything else really.

Again - thanks for chiming in. I hope you dont feel that i was putting words in your mouth!


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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:40 am
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ufboy73, the beauty of ordering a Masterbuilt guitar is that you can have direct communication with the builder. You can change the specs right up to build time.. and sometimes even after building has begun... I switched my second TK EC to nitro lacquer at the last minute... (I like to think that I started this trend.. my nitro lacquered black EC was finished back in 2006... now you can order nitro lacquered EC's from various dealers)

I would suggest going with what feels right for you, rather than go with a neck shape that you are unfamiliar with.

For example, when the three of us that ordered those triplets received our guitars, I was the only one that liked the neck profile... the other two guys sold theirs almost immediately.

So if your Team Built profile is what you like and is what feels right in your hands, then what you could do is send that neck to Todd (or whichever Masterbuilder you choose) and ask them to duplicate the profile for you.


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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:05 pm
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zzdoc wrote:
ufboy73 wrote:
If you are thinking along those lines why not just have him build the same guitar that 'Kazter and alain ordered.


Just to clarify again :I was not one of the three original buyers as Stratokazter, but bought mine second hand from one of the two others original buyers who disliked the neck shape.

Such neck is 100% to my satisfaction hopefully (same for the rest of the guitar :wink: )


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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:33 pm
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[quote="StratoKazter"]

very good advice. Sending the neck is a really good idea. Even if i wanted slight variation we could use the existing neck as a basis for discussion.

THE biggest value-add of going the MB route, personally, is the direct dialogue with TK. Otherwise, I could just buy a TK masterbuilt from a dealer and save myself the pain of the wait! Being able to discuss with him what I want directly has me very excited.

Incidentally, how do you like the nitro finish compared to the thin poly? Has clapton always gone with the poly?

also, has anyone ever had any experiences dealing with Frank at Music Gallery in IL? Im thinking of ordering thru him - his prices seem reasonable and he has been quite responsive to my questions.

Well, wish me luck guys...Im going to spring the MB idea on the gf in the next few hours :!:


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