Hello everyone,
I have finally found myself in the position to purchase a new guitar. I have had horrible g a s lately, and I have narrowed it down to a few axes. I really like a montego black hss am dlx at my local guitar store. But this store is also one of the seemingly few custom shop dealers in my area. They are priced about 1300 for the deluxe, and 1800 for the cs. I have played both, and each is unique. My question for all of you is, would you hold out for a cs, or go with a dlx? Is the quality of each build substantially different? Info on custom shops is hard to come by, and the website is fairly uninformative.
Lets say, hypothetically, I found both equally fitting to my hands and tonal preferences, is the cs the more desirable guitar in 20 years?
Any and all opinions on the subject are welcome.
J

I prefer Am. Deluxe myself- as for the value of a CS in 20years... is this an investment? because if so- you'd be better of buying a 20yr old guitar thats in good nick, because then your guitar will be 40yrs old. Look at the value of early 90's CS standard line strats on Ebay- and compare to a say, a '69 strat. which is more desirable?

Do what I did, and get yourself a 20yr old gem

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I am turned off by reliced guitars, and I can't bring myself to drop so much money on a new or used guitar that has been mistreated. Where I am, most of the guitars in the stores have been manhandled by countless kids with no real means of purchasing, and therefore the pickings of undinged new strats remains scarce. This will be a guitar I keep for life, with no intentions of selling, and hopefully no need to upgrade down the line. So I wonder, from an enthusiast, connissuer, and investment standpoint, what the differences in quality between the 2 are?

Quality wise- hmmm. both rate highly I think. Maybe a CS limited run will appreciate or a closet classic, NOS. There are old but mint guitars to be had- its just a case of having the paitence of looking for one.

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What does Vinnypop think?

Are you shopping at Guitar Showcase? I was there looking at CS guitars just before I bought my American Standard. They have a nice selection of CS guitars there. Which one are you looking at? Let me guess the name of your local shop, Guitar Center?

My advice is to get the one that you have the strongest affinity for. Which one do you find yourself playing more? Looking at a guitar and playing it are two different things. Get the one that you enjoy playing the most.

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

An American Deluxe can be had for in the $1500 area and is in this opinion, a so-nice-it's-stupid, "too nice to be a Fender, let alone a Stratocaster.," guitar.

If you want a versatile, idiotic-good-quality instrument, the Am Dlx is worthy of a long look and play, before you place a CS order.

Just one opinion.

I own both. Heres my sunburst 5oth anni deluxe next to my CS custom classic with exactly the same spec and a rosewood board.


New price the CS was £1200 ($1979 US) more than the deluxe Though i bought both used and there was only a £100 difference between the two.
Was the CS worth the extra £100 of course, Was it worth an extra £1200 new, certainly, the deluxe though a nice guitar doesnt compare to it. Even the way the CS body seems to hug you is not apparent on the DX, never mind the neck quality. They are worlds apart despite both being modern fat C's.

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No no and no

While there is no question that a Custom Shop guitar is better than a Deluxe, you will PAY for the difference. In fact, some CS guitars cost twice (or more) than the Deluxe.

No doubt, get a AD. You will want to replace the block and saddles with Callaham parts no matter what you buy in order to get the absolute best sound possible, so why pay all that extra for what amounts to a decal.

Of course the CS is a sweet axe, but what do you honestly get for that upcharge? I nicer finish? better wood? I've played both and can't tell the difference in tone by those two factors. Electronics? It's cheaper to buy what you want and stick it in there than pay for a CS and risk still wanting different pups. The hardware? Its the same! Get the American Deluxe, set it up real nice, maybe hotrod it a little and you'll have every bit the guitar the CS can put out and have more jing in your pocket.

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

Hello TheWood1987,

I would spring for the Custom Shop,
I have never owned one but have had the oppurtunity
to play a few and every one has been a gem.
One day when the planets are correctly aligned I'll
make the move to make that purchase.
It'll be a while.

Cheers.

I am shopping at showcase.

Thankyou for everyone's thoughts. I have been loosing sleep over a seafoam green, maple board, cs, but it has 2 pretty deep dents that I am having trouble getting past. The other 2 are, A sf green eric johnson, which is on the steep side of my price range, and a black am dlx hss.

I just recently well, in May, purchased a new American Deluxe for $1199 and I really love it. Here's a pic:

Although I do love it as well as my '98 American Std., if I could get a brand new CS '57 Closet Classic for around $1700 I would go that route. The S1 is cool, I love the SCNs, and the new moden features are awesome but nothing beats a Custom Shop neck on a perfect Strat body. Wildwood guitars have got tons of amazing CS Strats but they're more like $2500.
What it comes down to is how each one feels. From what you have posted it sounds like the Dlx feels better to you. But what do I know? Go for the one that you really love. You ask "is the quality of build substantially different?" You should easily have been able to tell if the quality is different. However, investment wise the CS will definitely be worth more in 20 years.

Russ

we should ask Vin-

as nik puts it-

WWVD?

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First off, that dlx is gorgeous. I am jealous. I do notice the figured grain necks on cs guitars. You are right though, I have been leaning toward the deluxe, but I am thinking to myself, why not get a cs when its price is within striking distance of the dlx. Normally the customs are about 2200, and for some reason they are marked down to 1800 right now. So, due to the markdown, I am able to spring for the cs, but due to my limited abilities as a guitarist, I find it hard to justify. Oh gas is painful... but in a good way!