FYI, Ceri...there are available small and relatively inexpensive hot-smokers designed for simple backyard use.

Last year I finally broke down and got a Bradley Smoker...

If I could make a suggestion, I'd actually recommend against a vertical charcoal smoker. They can be very difficult to manage the heat between racks. The lower rack can often burn from direct heat of the coals. This is especially true for top-loading vertical smokers because you cant really rotate the food for uniform heating. If you go for a vertical smoker, get one that has side-doors to access and rotate the food.

Hi ya all, I had this idea the other day. Would it be possible for a group of Fender Forum members like us, to order a limited private run of Stratocaster or Telecaster from the Custom Shop?. Just for the sake of sharing a special instrument within a group of respected and appreciated fellow members around the world.

Now there is a few things to consider, like Fender is probably going to build a 100 years Leo Special or something like that, the idea is not to interfere with that.

A member run private edition has surely been made somewhere, sometime ago so I didn't came with this idea by myself, so don't think that i'm trying to steal someone else's idea.

Not everyone is able to gather the big bucks to buy an expensive guitar or a second one. We could talk about a 1000$US to 2000$US for the moment and adjust as we go along with the project.

We would have to decide if we want a MIM with a sticker on it, or a MIA with a unique feature on it, like a special color and/or pups or something else, or a fully loaded affordable Custom Shop with a killer option unique for the members who would want to buy one. (The more initial orders, the cheaper the guitar)(Within reason, of course).

This idea would have to pass the test of customers interested enough to order the guitar.

We would have to decide of a reasonable price, probably linked to the number of guitars ordered.

It could be a one shot deal or a continuing run, let Fender decide about that.

There will be a lot of other things to consider but for the moment let's just think about it for a few days, and if this idea is not a winner, SO BE IT AND LET IT DIE. On the other hand if the idea catches on enough members maybe we could end up next year with a Special Limited Run Members Only killer guitar.

I want to finish this off by saying that this is just the idea or suggestion of a project, and I do not want it to be seen as a concurrent to any going or upcoming event, carried on by Fender. Just an idea, so what do you think?

Let's see if we can make something out of it.

Claude.

Done! No need to picket, lads: just turn up. Beer, smoked fish and custom built guitars. Let's do it!

BTW:

Claude, I have no idea what that means - but I'm up for anything! Let's go!!

- C

Drop the word forums and put the number there ( 1 of ??? )