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Post subject: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:58 pm
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Hello all, this is my first post so let me introduce myself. My name is Gary. I've been playing guitars for about 12 years now and have never had a Fender. I've had Fernandeses and ESPs and don't really play any style in particular, but I do prefer rock, as general a term as that is.

I have been thinking of getting a Stratocaster for a long time now, and I just got the perfect motivation for it. However, it brings to me a huge conundrum, which is where I hope you folks can help out. Please hear my story...

One of my favorite artists is getting his signature Fender USA Custom Shop piece released in Japan. The problems are: I live in the US; I'll only be in Japan for a week later this summer; the guitar is not available yet (should've been released Fall 2011) and the stores in Japan have absolutely no clue when they'll receive these guitars. While it's a collectible with a pretty huge price $7000 tag, I want to have it to play, not just to display. I am afraid I won't be able to try it out in person, so I'm faced with the tough choice of:
  • Just getting it blindly, or
  • Getting a Strat I can actually try out while losing a collector's piece that bears the name of my most favorite guitarist ever.

So now to get to the point: Is there anything Custom Shop pieces invariably guarantee over standard production pieces besides the higher price? Are they always going to feel, perform, sound better? Would it be a safe bet to just go for the signature Custom Shop guitar?

Or should I err on the side of safety and only buy what I've tried? I have heard from my friend who knows better that when you get to this level of guitars, they are all undoubtedly good; the difference between one piece and another piece, even of the same model, is the tone that the specific piece of wood that specific guitar is made from, and whether I'd like it is personal preference. If that is true, I would hate to happen to blindly get the guitar that does not sound good to me. $7,000 is no small change (and I don't like the guy that much :P :lol: ).

Maybe I made it seem too black-and-white, but I'm biased and highly anxious :roll: so I'm open to other suggestions, too.

Thanks, folks. And looking forward to learning and sharing much here, too.


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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:17 am
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First off, Welcome.

Which artist model was it? I am a big Char fan, and wondered if that was the one you were looking at.

Unfortunately to my knowledge no dealers outside of Japan will be getting any of them so you're correct, it won't be cheap.

I will also say that nothing out there plays like any of my Custom Shop instruments. I've owned many normal production line Fenders and not one of them are anywhere near the same caliber. The feel is there, pickups, wood, etc. there's no really clear way I can describe it haha. My CS '64 Relic Strat is the only guitar I'll step out on stage with every night on tour.

In regards to signature models, I think they're great, I owned a CS Clapton and it was cool. One drawback (IMO) is that playing a signature model live, you kind of trap yourself in the comparison game to that artist. That happened in Joe Bonamassa's case (love that dude, such an amazing player) but that said, alot of people use signature models and still make their playing unique.

And like your friend said, they're all good. Never played a bad one.

One thing I could suggest is look at the spec sheet, and then try to find a guitar with a similar neck shape. Then try playing it. If it feels good that's one factor taken care of.

Hope this helps in your decision.

Chan

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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:08 am
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Chan, thanks for the welcome and the help. Call me weak of will and character, but that is kind of the affirmation I needed to help me make a decision 8)

It's the ken model I'm after. I know very well that getting signature models are akin to wearing band t-shirts :lol: so I am somewhat conflicted on that point, too, but didn't want to bring it up. I think the great thing about most Fender signature models however are that they're still Fenders, basically, and they don't go over the top with unique superficial features or logos, so they still look like regular Fenders to most people.

Looks like I've got a game plan.
1. Find a lacquered mid 60s C-shaped maple neck to try out
2. Find a Custom Shop piece to try out
and it'll be great if they have a 69 Strat pickup in the neck Fat 50s elsewhere.


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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:58 pm
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No prob man! Any time, and sounds like a good plan. Do keep us updated!

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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 6:36 pm
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I remember seeing news about the "ken" signature Strat last year. But I guess it's taken a while to come out:

http://www.fender.jp/blog/artist/001130.php

It looks like they will be available soon.

It looks cool, but Char is my favorite Japanese guitarist, so I'd rather check out his signature model.

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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 6:46 pm
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Hm, sounds like I have to check out this Char guy more. Heard of him before, but two out of two real guitarists can't be wrong!

Oddly enough this guitar was supposed to be released in fall last year, and limited to 30 team-built models plus whatever master-built orders came in. Don't know what the delay is from. But the Fender JP blog post about it (http://www.fender.jp/blog/artist/001130.php) was just last month, and it seems like he's signing a LOT more than 30 certificates!

One Japanese store I contacted said maybe this month after I probed a little more, but everyone's initial response was that they have no clue when it'll be available.

Either way, I'm going to get at least a Fender Custom Shop model, and that's what I've learned from this thread so far. If fate should put ken's signature Strat out of my reach, I'll find another one to call my own first Fender.


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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:57 pm
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There are tons of Char videos on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R33pK358 ... ure=relmfu
He has played fusion, pop, and rock throughout his career.

I have done business with the Ishibashi music store, so I would recommend trying to get the "ken" Strat from them. I don't know if they have any restrictions on selling to someone in the US, however.

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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:06 pm
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chanman246 wrote:
No prob man! Any time, and sounds like a good plan. Do keep us updated!


Well, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I had a tough time "feeling" the difference between the master-built customs, team-built customs, and productions. I just don't have enough experience with high-end guitars to make a call after 10 minutes with one. Everything just felt fine to me. Maybe I'm highly adaptable.

This could be good or bad in general, but as far as getting the signature model is concerned, I suppose it means I can't go wrong. Thumbs up!

I'll just have to cope with playing "someone else's guitar" and the high price tag... the master-built version is about $10,000 with the current conversion rate. Let's hope I happen to like the team-built version more :lol:

And I checked out Char. He is pretty cool, though I prefer songs more than instrumental compositions. Even though he sings, from the videos I saw of him, he seems more of a guitarist than a singer-songwriter.

Orvilleowner, I did contact Ishibashi but they were the first one to say there are absolutely none available, good luck. It was the authorized dealers on Fender JP's site that said they're expecting some. The guys in California also recommended Yamano Music, saying they'd have the best chance of having the guitars in stock out of anyone, but they have yet to reply unfortunately.


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Post subject: Re: What does a Fender Custom Shop piece guarantee?
Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:56 pm
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I liked what I have seen of L'arc~en~ciel.

And after seeing Char's Signature Strat http://www.mars-guitar.com/Char145.html
I think I like ken's Signature Strat better. Char's is "Light Brown of Maple Sugar" color -- that's pretty unique in the world of Fender colors! The only interesting features of Char's Strat are a couple of off-center cresent moon fretboard inlays and a 3/4 size trem cover.

Good Luck!

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