I've been offered a custom shop Fender Stratocaster '69 NOS from 2009. It's a custom order with medium jumbo frets and 9,5 radius neck.

What do you think of this guitar? You own one, how is the sound and feel? What are the pickups like? How will the custom order neck affect it's value and playability? I read that the standard neck of this is highly regarded - will the custom neck show similar performance and value? I guess the alterations will bring it a more modern feel. Tell me your opinions. Thanks!

If "value" plays any significant role in your consideration, you're buying a guitar for the wrong reason IMO.

Does the guitar play well?

Does the guitar sound good?

Does it provide you with sufficient vibe when you hold it?

These are infinitely more important parameters than any nebulous concern over value.

You want "value" -- buy gold coins and bullion. They are sure to appreciate. A new guitar, regardless of how much it costs, likely will depreciate despite what's printed in the usual trade publications.

JMO

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I know and you're absolutely right! But this is the preconsideration phase I'm going thru. I haven't played the axe yet. I want to gather the value knowledge before the bargaining process. Anybody have experience with these? This and my other questions interest me.

The resale value of all guitars, except for a very select few vintage types, has been trending downward for quite some time and this slide is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Since you're contemplating a "used" instrument, a significant percentage of the initial depreciation has already been borne by the current and any other previous owner(s). Thus, that works to your favor. That said however, I'd be surprised if the guitar managed to even maintain the value of the money you'll inevitably pay to purchase it. As inflation continues to spiral upward and the US dollar's value continues to circle the drain on the global market, any speculative prospect of profit will remain a zero-sum game.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

As others have said, buy it because you love it, not for the resale. I always seem to loose money on my guitars, but it's better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all.

As far as the guitar goes, I have never owned one but I did have a Strat the original owner swapped to the '69 single-coil pickups with grey bobbins from that model. I really liked the sound.