Sure it would because you would be taking away some of the ability of the U.S made custom shop charging a premium because you are adding another option. And I am guessing you are wanting the MIM customs to cost less.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Some asked once, what's the difference between Mexican and American Strats. I replied, about 30 miles....

(I know there really are differences, but I referred to tone.)

If people want the custom top of the line guitars, then they buy Custom Shop. If they want a high quality guitar made in the USA, they buy MIA. If they want a high quality guitar and don't care where it's made, they can buy an MIM. IF they want a a custom high quality guitar and can't afford a CS, then they buy a different brand or they have the work done after the fact on a production guitar.

I'm just suggesting that they can bridge the gap. They can call it whatever they want so people won't think MIA CS.

Or not.

I think people will always customize their guitars, even multiple times. How many people have swapped out PUPS, Tuners, Bridges, Pickguards, etc. on their guitars when something better comes along? Then do it again.

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"Who says I can't get stoned..." - John Mayer

- "Honey" 09 HWY 1 Tele (Honey Blonde w/Maple)
- 08 MIM Standard Strat (Burst w/Rosewood,SCN,DeltaTone)
- Super Champ XD
- Marshall Class 5 Head
- Norman Acoustic (MICan)

I think people will always customize their guitars, even multiple times. How many people have swapped out PUPS, Tuners, Bridges, Pickguards, etc. on their guitars when something better comes along? Then do it again.[/quote]

Customizing a guitar and making it your own is a must. Sometimes you get lucky and buy exactly what you want. My Lonestar Strat is so far perfect. I'd still like a different neck. A friend just bought a 50th Annivsery Strat MIM with sweet neck. Drives me crazy! The saga never ends....
_________________________________________
2009 MIM Fender Lonestar Strat Alpine White
2008 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Ebony w/Gibson BB Pro's
2002 Ibanez Performance Series Accoustic
1991 Aria Pro II JS Series
Fender Super Champ XD
Digitech Bad Monkey
Boss GE-7
Boss TU-15

I think that is an awesome idea. As one of the middle-aged guys that can finally afford a few toys, I think that would be an outstanding way to go. I wouldn't mind a few grand on a CS MIM. I kinda balk at $5K for a MIA CS. It would be nice to order something I want w/o the high dollar cost of an MIA CS.

My other option, which I am just starting, is the Parts-o-Caster route. I'm looking forward to finishing the several I have started, but I hate the idea that the resale/trade value of a 100% Fender Parts-o-Caster is pretty minimal, no matter what you build.

I can afford to go to the Chevy dealer and get a new truck loaded the way I want it, unfortunately I can't afford that at the local Porsche dealer.

I love the idea of a MIM Custom - it would be the equivalent of a nicely optioned Chevy truck!

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

Sir your right, I got fed up trying to find the design your own section and didnt see the amount of options available. I'll never knock a guitar manufacturer, even Gibson. I may sneer at some of their decisions but I believe as do pretty much all here. Why only ever taste one flavour in your mouth when the deli is just round the corner.

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No no and no

I think the main premise of the argument centres around options, i.e other manufacturers such as Carvin offer options in a fairly simple and cost effective price plan. The thing is Fender do exactly that in the custom shop but with a few caveats that are not exactly a problem, it is more a problem of not being to peoples’ taste.

For example if you want to spec out a guitar you can go into your custom shop dealer and do so, there is no problem and the sky is the limit. So what is the problem? The price will be the rallying cry! Which I can understand, not everyone can afford the money involved in this process.

However I do not see how offering ‘options’ on the American Standard line, or a Mexican custom shop would be the answer. Let us look at both of those ideas, first the American line. How many guitars do Fender produce each year? I would suggest that they have reached economies of scale and are able to run a cost effective production line. Why would they drastically change that? It is not as simple as just changing a few things and taking orders. Everything about the American Standard line will be worked out to fine detail and to change that would take careful planning and costs. Also even if they did offer options, I doubt they will still be as cheap as Carvin.

Carvin offer these options, as far as I can see, as part of a ‘Custom Shop’ type set up. So in theory they produce stock guitars just as Fender do also. So what might become apparent is that they do exactly as Fender do, albeit at a different price point. So we are back to cost. So what about this Mexican Custom shop, well not a bad idea at first glance. You get a mexican guitar with some extra care bestowed upon it. Or you can even specify some tasty options to make it a one off design.

However, the problem again comes down to cost. It is very likely that by the time you buy a Mexican custom shop guitar you may well be up into Fender USA money, and then you are back to the argument of USA v Mexico.............

So what is the overarching trend here, COST! I would be willing to stake money on saying that the reason this thread really started was due to cost, i.e. Carvin can produce this guitar for x$$ and Fender charge this. However here is the point, are you buying Carvin or Fender? I can go out and buy a Ford with a list of fancy options as long as my arm, it will be nice, but hey, it is not an Audi. See my point?

Niki

Try this link...on the right of the page it will say "build and order your guitar" click on that and the build options window will open. Have some fun!

Noodles


http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/gu ... ?model=ct6

Can I ad my 2c worth of NZ currency here

Has anyone ever looked at the accesories section on this site??? you want a strat- then buy a strat. you want a pearly guard? well, im sure the shop will be happy to sell you one. P/ups? likewise. how bout that body- they can recommend someone paint it your fav colour for you.

Warmoth... goes without saying doesn't it? just BYO neck and you can do the rest...

Carvin make awesome guitars, like many other manufacturers. it comes down to taste, and obviously how much coin you have in your pocket.

Fender Customshop? hmmm. well put it this way, traditionaly- Fender here along with other manufacturers- bolt guitars together. I mean, it could be made from ash with AAAAA figured maple top with all the trimmings to die for. but the thing is... they bolt guitars together. Im sure its a concept that is more simple than we make it out to be. They are still mass produced to a degree, all be it a very high quality. Youll never see a violin maker mass produce stringed instruments in that fashion, then set up a 'Custom Shop' to sell at a higher premium. Anyone getting me here?

I had an Idea of us forum users getting our usernames on CS Custom Deluxe models next to the serial #'s- which I thought would be cool as others might've been keen on the idea...when Niki told me the price bracket as they would be like a "teambuilt" I quickly went for my ultra instead with my tail in between my legs.


So to round my post off- Hypothetically, If I went to the states for a holiday for a couple of weeks- bought a lottery ticket and won the big kahuna... I'd be shelling for something dare I say- a private reserve custom shop set or neck thru... maybe with dragons.

Fender CS not to be outdone... my preference would be a sonic blue '69 closet classic.. cheaper than buying the real thing I wouldnt go for a masterbuilt, as while I was at school, I worked during the holidays with a luthier in my city learning the tricks of his art (well, doing his sanding work anyway!!) I noticed he could do just as a good job as they could but for less premium.

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Greetings Mr Floyd

The original post was by no means cost inspired. It was a story about an American guitar manufacturer, in business for the past 60 years, in California, that allows you to build your own...one of a kind...custom guitar, by selecting from a vast list of personal options. Your personally designed guitar will be delivered to your door in 4 to 6 weeks.

My post was to express a desire for Fender to offer such an option.

I think that everyone jumped the gun by explaining to me how I can give Fender Custom Shop a call...tell them what I'd like and they will rush right out and start building it for me. All things being equal...FENDER IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE GUITAR MAKER! Everyone tried to defend them as if I were bashing them in some way, and nothing could be further from the truth.

Do you really think that the Ford / Audi comparison is valid? First of all we are talking about a SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR. Here is where the post strayed to cost. You know very well that Fender is not interested in making you a guitar from your long list of personal requests, and if you could get them to do it...it would be priced out of this world.

Solid Body electric...Ford / Audi....What is really the difference between the body wood used by Fender and used by Carvin? Is the maple in Fender's neck some kind of super maple that Carvin can't get. Are those Fender pickups the ones that some super winding guy made for them? Is mother of pearl not mother of pearl? Or is it the paint? Does Fender use Vinny Van Gogh to paint the 5 or 6 colors that they offer?

The post was a fantasy wish that if Fender (our favorite builder) would offer this program, at a reasonable price, and built in a reasonable amount of time....they would have a line out the door. This would not require them to totally modify and revamp their facilities. It would require them to erect a new free standing facility for your custom builds only. Now watch how the money thing jumps right back to the forefront.

I did enjoy that feature. Unfortunately it didnt cater to all my tastes. The options were good and extensive but all geared towards modern build style guitars. No one piece maple neck options. The lowest radius fingerboard was 10". I'd prefer compound 6.5 - 9.5" (thats what my self build neck is getting). No choice on rear of neck shape. The pickups didnt look very nice either, bit of a shame given the lovely bodyfinish options.

$1400 mine came out at. Nowhere near CS prices thats for sure and it offers a hell of a lot of options. Ultimately it doesnt offer the choices for everything I want. A lot of options non the less for what, standard to deluxe prices. I think their onto something with it.

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No no and no

Quote { it would be priced out of this world } Seems your bring up cost with that statement! Face it My Friend the availability to get anything made comes down to cost.
Post stray and who knows what you are trying to get here? I would say you could get Fender to build more of a custom guitar for you then Carvin.
Well I have following the boat in anticipation!!!!

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

When all is said and done it comes down to this. Do you want a Fender or a Carvin? I know which one I'd choose!!

Yep you got it fhop! The OP. talks about why cost come into the topic yet the first word made in the topics title by the OP is Quote [Price] I see your following the boat to!!!!

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Niki

It is fun to play around there. I think that variety is the spice of life, and although if I could own only one guitar...it would certainly be the Fender Am Deluxe. My personal favorite. I have made that crystal clear a number of times.

But I have been lucky enough to own many guitars and I do enjoy them in several different flavors. You mentioned not bashing other manufactures, and I completely agree that people should be able to like whatever they like without someone telling them that they did something wrong and should be sent to guitar prison. Lots of manufacturers make great beautiful guitars.

You also added "not even Gibson"...I got a kick out of that. I do also have several Gibson guitars...a 1/2 dozen killer Les Paul's, a gorgeous 1957 Reissue ES 175, and my favorite Gibson ...the 1960 ES-335 Reissue. I have had some of these for more than 20 years and some of them are relatively new, but they are all really very very nice. And they have their own place and their own purpose in the world of guitar variety.

We love guitars and that's why we play them, build them, talk about them, and I have what I call a Healthy Obsession for them. How boring would it be without this wonderful variety to explore.