Mike,

I was referred to you from TGP where I was looking for some detailed info on Fender Custom Classic strats. A kind soul on there told me that you were an authority on these babies!

Reply to this thread and hopefully I can get some insight from you. Thanks much!!

:twisted::evil::twisted::evil::twisted:

Thanks Mike! Nice to "meet" ya!

I'm looking for some experience/insight on these guitars. I am eye-ing one up that I found. I have a Custom Shop '60 Closet Classic that I absolutely LOVE, and I also have one of Wildwood's Thin Skin '52 Teles with the 9.5" radius neck. I ADORE my strat, but I must admit that the more modern neck on my Tele is easier to play.

I found a Custom Classic strat at Wildwood that's almost identical to my '60 strat, except it has the modern neck (a 10") and different pups ('69 Custom Abbie pups). I've been a vintage guy most of my life, and I am considering a change to the Custom Classic. I am concerned about the neck profile, the difference in the pups, and how much it will differ from my beloved '60 CS. I am used to the the neck profile of my vintage strats. However I like the fretboard radius of the 9.5". I HATE the feel of the new American Standard strats in the store, and I am worried that the Custom Classic neck might feel more like an American Standard than a vintage neck.

I know it's hard without actually handling the guitar first, but that's the tradeoff with buying over the internet.

Have you owned any vintage or vintage reissue strats? How do the necks compare? How does the Custom Classic compare?? How are the '69 Abbie pups compared to the '60's CS pups that I have? Do yours have a vintage "vibe" to them, or do they feel more like the American Standards?

Thanks Mike!

P.S. The dude on TGP didn't say you were an "authority"- my mistake. He said you were an encyclopedia on them!!

:twisted::evil::twisted::evil::twisted:

Holy COW, Mike-THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This is GREAT information and has really helped me. I have looked at all of the Models on Wildwood's site, so I was really familiar with exactly what you were talking about.

It sounds like the bottom line is: this isn't the right git for me. It sounds like the long and short of it is: I simply need to get a '60 Strat with the 9.5" radius.

PROBLEM IS: There are NONE of these with maple necks. I am quite familiar with the guitars made in these various years, and Fender wasn't making them (or making very many) with maple necks during this time period. Since these guitars are made to be "period correct", they all have rosewood fretboards. Which is fine I guess, but I have REALLY grown to dig the maple neck on my Tele.

So I have 2 options:
1) Go the Custom Shop route and order a '60 with a 9.5" maple neck just the way I want it. (Expensive, but I'll get exactly what I want). I could also get the more modern tuners and trem bridge too...
2) Grab one from Wildwood with a 9.5" rosewood neck, and forget about maple (I have maple on my Tele anyhow)

Well I guess I have a 3rd option to: Shut up and continue digging the '60 that I have, and keep playin' the crap out of it LOL!!

Mike- you were an excellent resource and great help, and I truly thank you for your time and insight. I really appreciate it!

Let's keep in touch, and I'll keep you posted as to what I end up with. Thanks again brutha!