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Post subject: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:25 pm
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We know that the CS are higher than the AM. But there is much difference of money and little difference in sound. What think you?

We know that CS are higher quality than AM. But there is much difference between both of money and little difference in the sound. What do you think?


I have the CS and AM, both with Custom Shop Texas Special pickups, and there is not much difference in the sound. The truth is almost the same sound.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:43 am
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When you talk about custom shop, you're talking about the construction of the entire guitar. Proper shape of the body, premium woods, tight fitting neck pockets, rolled fretboard edges, superior fretwork. Electronics are a little different, fender already provides some of the best stuff available... So the guitars should sound the same. Big question is, do they feel the same?

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:10 am
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I confirm, the Fender CS is far superior to the touch, it feels different because it is better built and more elaborate. And that adds take hands a guitar plus three thousand dollars, gives you another feeling

But the result is almost the same sound or no difference. But if there is difference in dollars, not much sound.

If you customize the fender AM you certainly sound better than CS.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:16 am
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My thought is that, to be paid over three thousand dollars for something that may sound like a $ 1,100 fender AM?

We take the strat AM, the customize and ready may sound better or equal to a CS.


Custom Shop , feel and touch is more than anything else.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:19 am
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I have two guitars the strat AM and CS, and I wonder, because I had to pay more than three thousand dollars and the difference is minimal.


Both guitars custom shop texas special pickup, playing with the same amp and same gauge strings.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:22 am
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It all boils down to how much the money is worth to you. If the goal is to have as nice of an instrument as possible, then the extra $2k might be completely reasonable. That's not to say an American Standard isn't already an awesome guitar. It is.

Also as with most things, buying used gives the best value for your dollar.

In my experience, I would not part with my CS '57 strat. I've yet to play a strat that I like better, for my tastes.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:08 am
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DetroitBlues wrote:
When you talk about custom shop, you're talking about the construction of the entire guitar. Proper shape of the body, premium woods, tight fitting neck pockets, rolled fretboard edges, superior fretwork. Electronics are a little different, fender already provides some of the best stuff available... So the guitars should sound the same. Big question is, do they feel the same?


+1

I want to add one very important piece of the puzzle here - if you order a Custom Shop guitar online through a major retailer you are buying it from a nationally recognized luthier who will (rightfully) charge more for their work.

I have a Guitar guy in Lowell, MA who is an authorized Fender Custom Shop - Bill Whitsett - and he's an awesome guitar guy. He would make one starting around $2k - then obviously it goes up depending on your needs.

So the difference between an assembly line American Standard and the CS would be less than $1k, and the frets/neck...everything would be perfect.

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:26 pm
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If I know the difference and do not change my CS at all. But I was sad to see very little difference between the sound. But if there is not much difference and quality materials.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:16 pm
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I understand that some ears are more discerning than others. I understand that there is a percentage of the population that can tell when your G string is just barely out of tune and can pick that up even when it is in a band situation.

That being said, electric guitars are just that. Electric in nature. Some will argue this tone wood vs that other one, or this fret board construction vs another one. I have yet to see someone in my little world be able to blind pick with any consistency things they say they can pick out with just their ears. I have had people tell me that they can pick their AM Strat out of a group of MIM Strats and fail every time.

I have seen a great guitar player pick up and play a Starcaster and make it sound fantastic. Granted, it's playability left a lot to be desired of, but the sound it produced was nothing to complain about.

So if you have a $4000.00 Strat with Texas Specials and a $1500.00 Strat with the same pickups, you are unlikely to hear any difference in sound or tone. I WOULD expect the $4000.00 Strat to be more playable, to just plain feel better to hold and play. Your hands should feel the difference between the two guitars, but your ears will likely perceive them as the same.

If you put a set of Texas Specials in a muffler, they would probably sound darn close to the same. It is the electronics that pick up the vibration and convert it to electrical energy.

In my case I have a 2012 American Standard and a 2009 Standard Strat. My Standard Strat now has
1. CS69 Pickups
2. Bridge blocked using a piece of maple.
3. Graph Tech Saddles
4. Wired with a blend pot so I can get different combinations of pickups in use.

My American Standard is still and probably will always be well, standard.

I love both these guitars, but my American Standard feels better to play. Noticeably, but not tremendously so.

They sound very different. However it is not because one has 21 frets and the other 22 and therefore has more mass. It is not because one has the back plate on the the other off releasing the tone fairies. It is not because one one is made in Corona and one is made in Ensendada.

It is because they have two different sets of pickups and different wiring schemes. In other words it is because of the electronics.

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:34 pm
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If the touch, the touch feel the difference, only aesthetic difference, just that.


We will install the CS Fender pickup, DiMarzio, Fralin, Suhr or Seymour Duncan, so no follow me leaving in shame

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:24 pm
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markara wrote:
So if you have a $4000.00 Strat with Texas Specials and a $1500.00 Strat with the same pickups, you are unlikely to hear any difference in sound or tone. I WOULD expect the $4000.00 Strat to be more playable, to just plain feel better to hold and play. Your hands should feel the difference between the two guitars,


That's what I experienced when I tried an American Deluxe Strat HSS for the first time. Before I even completely wrapped my hand around the neck, I knew that this was going to be a joy to play. In terms of feel, it was definitely a few steps ahead of the American Standard which is a pretty awesome guitar in its own right.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:11 pm
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In conclusion: you can expect a nice neck on a Fender Custom Shop guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:12 am
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Toronado wrote:
In conclusion: you can expect a nice neck on a Fender Custom Shop guitar.


Agreed. I think what OP is saying, is that you can also get a nice build on an American standard or american deluxe too. Although fit and finish will be superior on the customshop, is it worth the extra $$$ to pay a premium for.

Perhaps we could say compare a 90's customshop to a current model deluxe.. I will argue that the quality of the fit and finish will be very high on the modern deluxe. But I think they will be at a very similar level.

Edit: although, a 90's customshop would likely to have sparkle finish and Birdseye maple neck, again- is that worth the premium paid?

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 1:25 pm
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I must be going mad, I could have sworn I had replied on this thread and then I found this one:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=83150


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop vs American Standard 2012
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 5:38 am
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I thought I was going bonkers too.. Seems there are two threads here! :oops:

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