I have been waiting for months on a v-neck American Deluxe Strat 2010. So far the dates keep moving back.

In the meantime, I have located a very sweet, just-in stock, Fender custom Shop, custom deluxe special. It has a 65 C-shaped neck, locking tuners, 9.5" radius neck, fat 50's neck and middle, Texas special Bridge pickup. The custom special is nearly twice as much a the american deluxe but I could cough up the extra money if it was worth it.

My question is, is it worth it? The American Deluxe has a compound neck 9.5" at the nut and 12" at the 22nd fret. It also has the S1 switch that allows 5 more combinations of the pickups in series over the standard 5 parallel settings. The American Deluxe has the new N3 noiseless pickups.

I live in the sticks and can't play either guitar. I've listened to youtube videos but it is hard to make out much from that.

Do any of you have any opinions on how the 2010 American Deluxe v-neck compares to the Custom Deluxe special? Is it worth extra money? Better built and better tone?

Thanks.

Why the double posting?

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Bill

I've both guitars and would buy customshop over productionline again in a heartbeat.
There's really no comparison between em.

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No no and no

Thanks for the feedback. Since you are familiar with both guitars, can you give me more specific reasons why you like the custom shop better.

Is it just because you know the custom shop is better made or do you actually hear, feel, and see a significant difference? Does the production line American Deluxe suffer from poorer neck, fret, and pickup quality compared to the custom shop?

I realize the Custom Shop model should be better made and be a higher quality musical instrument compared to the production line model, but just looking at the specs, the American Deluxe seems to offer a lot for the money. However, I don't want to just look at the guitar, I want a guitar I can play everyday.

Currently I play a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Acoustic guitar but I am itching to get a Strat. I love the Strat for slow blues, and expressive clean rock sounds. Like the work of Clapton, Gilmour, or SRV.

Mate if you want a guitar to play, then customshop is the way.

The one thing I notice more with my customshop is how appealing it is to put your hands on. Spec wise it was just the same as the deluxe. SCN's and S1. Ive since changed that to better suit what I use that guitar for. I like SCN's and the S1 switching, I just don't need it on multiple guitars.

It seems that every time I play the thing, the neck is perfectly suited. It's hard to describe without you actually feeling the thing. I'll be a couple of minutes into it and notice a ease to it that I just haven't got with my 57Hotrod or Deluxe guitars. It's not something you notice straight away, it's far more subtle. Like all the niggles I subconciously compensate for on my other guitars, just aren't there.
The fretwork was the best I've ever seen. Theres a reason Fender don't use plek machines and this is it. Perfect half circled tops, perfectly level. So closely matched to the radius of the fretboard, I can't see any discrepancy. Something I haven't seen with productionline guitars in any price bracket.
The body and neck are made to go together too. Unlike production line where they carve a load of bodies and a load of necks for a series and just bolt em together as they come off the end of the line.

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No no and no

It comes down to the simple fact of craftsmanship (yes it does still exist,) versus mass production.

The craftsman(or men,) just get into perfecting all those little things that just don't get handled the same way on a production line guitar.

The production guitars are excellent, but there's just that extra touch to the CS stuff. All those little touches add up.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

OK...
how many of the poll replies are from pollers who actually own a custom shop strat and a production line strat to evaluate???

You are going to pay for the attention to detail for a Custom Shop.
Is it worth the extra cost?
That depends on your own personal criteria, I will get another CS this fall, if I had to unload my other strats, the 56 NOS Reissue would not go, that is how much I think the CS's outclass the rest.

But before you decide, you should try out various CS models, NOS 56, 60's reissue, Custom Deluxe's etc..etc...
they are all quite particular and unfortunately ( for me) take quite some time to compare but it is worth it period..

" Oh... this isn't going to be easy to decide"

I dunno, seems fairly simple to me.

The American Deluxe and American Standards are very much jack of all trades guitars. They cover a lot of bases and don't excell in any particular one. On purpose I suspect to keep it a unbiased instrument.

If you want a guitar for a particular style, you target components that best suit that style. The CustomShop guitars are the pinnacle of that.

Personaly I use my mexican strat and tele far more than I use my Deluxe. I just don't find it that appealing. I understand why people like em I just find that nothing about em grabs my attention.


When did the poll take place? I didn't get a chance to vote.

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No no and no

MOST IMPORTANTLY !!!!

I also live 1 hour away (min.) from reputable guitar stores, personally I prefer the small High End music store versus a Guitar Center, sure the selection at Guitar Center's are many, however the fact that there so many others making noise really makes it difficult to properly assess a new acquisition.
That being said, I have purchased at Guitar Center and it was fine, I was fortunate that the sales staff that assisted me was quite knowledgable in acoustics ( fingerpicking). In addition the CS models are nonexistent since they are expensive to stock and so particular that only 5% of the potential buyers may consider a CS strat. Difficult to move out the door from GC's point of view of sales.

You are going to have to play the guitars, "YOUTube" just doesn't cut it, it is a great referral and I'm referring to Fender's Mike Eldred's Demo's only.
Also the amp is critical, actually when you consider a Strat as a musical instrument, the amp is part of that equation, being an electric guitar, without a great amp, it just doesn't work.
What style of music are you playing and how versatile do you need your sound??
The reason I mention your amp choice is concerning a CS reissue strat like the 56, best mated with vintage style amp (tubes/valves) I play thru a black and tan Hot Rod Deluxe, a Champ 600 and a late 50's Magnatone.
I have found that the Custom Deluxe Strat feels and sounds more like the vintage strats of the 50's and 60's rather than the modern versions.

Let us know what you decide on and post pics so we can be envious.

Happy searching and may your fingers be sore

Thanks for the info.

I would love to test out a few guitars unfortunately the closest guitar shop of any kind is 300 miles away. It is a guitar center and I hated the place. The sales people were no help, kids were tearing up the guitars, and what guitars they had weren't set up properly.

I have had good luck in the past with sweetwater.com and wildwoodguitars.com both seem like good dealers to me.

I have really only been playing consistently for the last two years. I like to play Pink Floyd, Beatles, and other old classic rock tunes which are more acoustic oriented, since I have a nice acoustic guitar. I like finger picking and 12 bar blues standards.

Right now I am trying to learn lead playing and I really like sound of a clean strat tone like Gilmour plays.

Guitars I am interested in are; the American deluxe 2010 with the new N3 pickups, the compound radius neck, and locking tuners.

Option two would be a CS custom special with 9.5 radius, v-neck, fat 50's pickups neck and middle, Texas special bridge, locking tuners.

Option 3 would be an CS Eric Clapton signature strat. Vintage noiseless pickups, v-neck, 9.5 radius , gotoh tuners.

I have a very nice Egnator Rebel 30 tube amp that I love. But lately I have been thinking of getting a Fender Dec-3 thirty practice amp. Simply because it has so many emulated sounds and effects as well as mp3 storage for backing tracks to practice lead on.

All purchases are weighted by my wallet. Currently the American Deluxe 2010 is in the lead because of the cost and feature set. But the CS Clapton signature keeps calling my name.

Why not go for a Gilmour strat?
Everyone I know hthat has one loves it.

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No no and no

I thought about it but the 7.25" radius, wide shouldered c-neck sort of scares me away. Besides it is about $4000.00 and the Eric Clapton strat at $3500.00 is already pushing my budget past what I want to spend.

Ok, Logistically you have a problem, but you may want to consider this for an option.
Where are You?
because if possible this is what I would seriously consider.
A road trip to NYC for a couple of days. You could plan it as a vacation, can you drive there within a day, or fly ?
There are numerous guitar shops within easy reach of each other in the boroughs, The Music ZOO, Mandolin Bros. etc.. etc..
Keep this in mind. In a big city like NYC, you should be able to find the right strat for you, it may be a Custom shop and it may not, point is in a store like mandolin Bros. or the Music Zoo, the selection is not only going to be extensive but the sales people are musicians and really know their strats and what will work for you, it could also be a preowned strat.
My 2001 56 NOS was preowned and I paid $1800 for it. It sat in it's case since 2001, occasionally being taken out for a play, no dings, no scratches as a matter of fact I had to remove the poly skin from the screws on the pickguard, whoever owned this guitar before me (1 owner) treated it like a prized heirloom.

Iv'e called and spoken to both Mandolin Bros and the Music Zoo and queried about my options for a Custom Shop Strat. Everytime I had informative answers and if they didn't know they got right back to me once they had an answer.
I'm about 4 1/2 hours drive from NYC also so that is going to be my option..

Good Luck

Thanks for the help but I will probably never get to New York city in my lifetime. I live in the four corners area near Aneth, UT but on the Colorado side. You need a four wheel drive vehicle to reach my house at 8000 feet.

Albuquerque, NM. Is about 300 miles away and it is the nearest airport. The best closest guitar shop is Wildwood guitars in Denver. It's about 420 miles to Denver but there is a lot of mountainous driving.

It would be nice to play a bunch of guitars but I am ok with online buying. Both sweetwater and wildwood will let you return guitars if you are not satisfied. I just want to make the best decision I can for my budget before I try and buy.

Thanks for the info. I have been waiting four months for a dealer to get an American deluxe in stock and now I am questioning whether or not I should go custom shop instead.

I 'll give you some insight from the my recent experience. A month ago there was a custom shop road show stop here in my neck of the woods. I had a chance to play and compare a bunch of CS guitars and talk with a lot of people that own CS guitars. I don't own one and I was in the same "decision boat" as you except I was comparing 62 Hot rod and CS deluxe Strat.

Observations:

1. "When you are ready" slogan applies very well. You will know to get one when your hart goes nuts for a particular guitar and you are not going to worry about the "finances". If you worry about the price as comparison point you are not ready.

2. CS Deluxes were not the attention grabbers as the "Vintage" oriented models. Many guys played them (these were professional musicians and not teen wankers from GC) and nobody had any special feelings from them.

3. CS Deluxes are roughly $1100 more than production deluxes, $700 more than 62 Hot rod and you get maybe some improvement. I say maybe because quality is excellent on all guitars. CS is more consistent in quality perhaps to the body/neck matching, but deluxes will surprise you.

4. I played CS Deluxe Tele and while it is an excellent guitar, I feel it is watered down CS, if you know what I mean.
CS 65 team built Strat was the winner but it was $3200. (See again I worry about the price, which means this guitar is not for me).

5. With CS you are most likely will get a better guitar, however that quality increase will not match the price premiums you have to pay. Please read a point one again.

I understand it is hard for you to pick blind, but maybe wait a bit longer and things will clear up for you. As for me I did not walk home with either one of the guitars mentioned, I ended up getting Gibson LP Standard and this particular one "spoke" to me. Life is full of surprises, what can I tell you.

Good luck