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Post subject: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:41 pm
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hi guys,

I am a few days away from sending the first down payment for a one-off Teambuilt Strat project I have had in mind for a while.
it's a big one, $4000+, which is usually more than the price of a used MB (TMZ were even selling new Mark Kendrick Strats for 3k lately).

thing is, I already own a MB Strat, and it really is to me what people would call "the one".
it's my main guitar and a guitar I know I'll never part with, despite my tendency to sell gear all the time.

still, I really want another Strat. the reason it's so pricey is that it will be very unique, my dream Strat in terms of looks/specs if you will. an actual one-off.

but as you can guess, I can't help but think "what if it's really not as good as the one I already have?"...

I guess the usual move is to buy a Teambuilt then later on a Masterbuilt so I feel kinda lost right now... I actually have no idea of how much different the Teambuilt guitars are compared to their big sisters. I guess some of them sound just as good, but the consistency just can't be the same, otherwise the pricing wouldn't make sense.

I know some people here own both types of FCS guitars so if they can come up with some kind of "counseling" about this, it will be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance :wink:

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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:25 am
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I can understand your thoughts, here's my opinion. I've owned about 16 MB Strats (and 10 MB Teles) plus various Teambuilts in the last 2 1/2 years. All of the MB guitars were at least very good, and some were outstanding.

Regarding the Teambuilts i've owned/played there were some guitars that were just mediocre or OK - not that many, and of course its all a matter of taste, especially when it comes to tone. You're absolutely correct, the consistency on MB guitars compared to TBs is higher.

But, you don't have a guarantee if you go for a MB that you'll like the guitar as much as your "Number one". I currently own a Teambuilt which i would place under the Top 5 CS Strats i've ever played/owned. Again, its all a matter of personal taste.

Another point: We don't have the advantage to talk to a MB directly here in Europe (as far as i know), so you have to communicate with your dealer in both cases. Wait times for a TB should also be not as high as for a MB (depends an the MB).

Sum up: If you don't have to go the MB road specwise, i'd try the Teambuilt order.


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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:02 am
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klwn wrote:
I guess some of them sound just as good, but the consistency just can't be the same, otherwise the pricing wouldn't make sense.


I'm sure Fender charges more money per hour for a masterbuilder then a regular custom shop builder hence the price difference.

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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:03 am
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thanks a lot :)

wait times indeed played a big part in my choice.
I'm really not the kind of person that can wait one year and half to get a guitar.

and yes, I can "avoid" the MB road, if I'm not too picky (e.g. AA instead of AAA for the neck).

shops will get MBs in the next few months though (and Wildwood have tons in stock), and of course there is the after market too.

guaranteed a MB bought this way wouldn't match what I have in mind for the TB project, but in the end I guess it's more important to have an amazing guitar, even if it doesn't look exactly the way you want.

but still, I keep thinking that if I drop 4k on a guitar, it HAS to be amazing, both in terms of looks and feel. I can't imagine how it couldn't be, coming from something as big as the FCS.

I have to keep thinking about this I guess :)

edit: @Voodoo yes, no doubt, but I guess the wood selection isn't the same too for example.

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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:08 pm
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i have been going through this EXACT same dilemna for the last several months.

whether real (which is certainly a possibility) or just an imagined difference, i worry about thinking the TB is inferior...or that it actually will be inferior.

knowing me is why i am worried:)


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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:19 pm
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phew, at least I'm not alone! :mrgreen:

the thing that's killing me is knowing that some TB's are just as good, maybe sometimes better (you never know, wood is so random...).

so on one hand I'm thinking "why wouldn't mine be amazing?" and on the other I can't help it, I'm afraid I'll never touch it because of my John Cruz Strat :\

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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:07 pm
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my first CS clapton was/is actually a TB.

its a fantastic guitar. it would not be impossible, in fact, for it to rival or surpass my eventual MB Clapton - i know it is that good.

one thing though that TB will never have - and that also matters to me quite a bit - is the craftsmanship that goes along with a MB. the idea, and maybe its misguided, that there is a little bit of each masterbuilders sweat and soul in MY instrument is just something that, by definition, a TB will not have.

Again, doesnt mean that a TB wont sound or play even better than a MB - but it will never have that specialness to me....if that makes sense:)


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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:32 pm
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of course it makes sense :)

I think I need to keep thinking about it, and maybe be a bit patient too...

the wait time for a TB is 6-8 months.
it's highly probable Make'n Music will have received some new John Cruz 60's Strats by then, so in the end, it's the same.

the only "problem" still being that a MB won't match my current project... but, it's a MB :)

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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:25 am
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Personally, I would go the Masterbuilt route if you can afford it. Over the past several years, I have owned 17 CS guitars, 6 of them Masterbuilt. Whether off-the-rack or ordered, the quality of each MB was outstanding. There was something about each one that made it special in its own way.

As far as the Teambuilt guitars, all of the Limited Editions were very good to excellent guitars. This seems to be the direction that Fender is taking.

However, the Time Machine Teambuilt were more inconsistent. Some were really solid; others had issues.

If you can pick through a good selection of Teambuilt guitars, there is no doubt that you can find a really good guitar. But if you're ordering something, you obviously can't play it in advance.

For a guitar with unique specs that must be ordered, I look at the Masterbuilt premium as insurance that the guitar will be in the very good to amazing range.

Best of luck in your decision.


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Post subject: Re: ordering a Teambuilt when you already own a Masterbuilt
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:29 am
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thanks Paul, really helpful :)

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