Thinking of getting a Fender Custom Shop tele

[John_McEnroe]

I am thinking of purchasing a 51 nocaster CS relic guitar, but I have a question for you guys who might have more experience with the fender custom shop than I do. I have found a couple online, some at wildwood and one at a shop in NJ. The ones at wildwood are $4500, while what seems to be the exact same guitar in NJ is only $2600. Is there some reason why the prices are so different? The wildwood guitars say they are "master built" is this different from a standard custom shop guitar?


Any insight would be much appreciated! :bonk

[M40A1]

John, I believe I know what Teles at WW you are talking about. They are Masterbuilts by John Cruz. When talking new Fender Custom Shop (FCS) guitars there are two catagories: Team Built and Masterbuilt. Here's a link to WW's current FCS Tele lineup (note that some of the '51s have Abby handwound pickups, and some of these are masterbuilts): http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/electrics/fender/custom_tele/.

[big joe]

I have played and owned both teambuilts and masterbuilts, most recently a rosewood tele. My team built limited release one KILLED the John Cruz Masterbuilt, even the sales guy at GC asked why would I take the master over the team. However, my MB Strat (Mark Kendrick) kills most CS team built strats.

SO if you can, I think you have to play them, especially if you are going to fork out that kind of cash.

You will never see (or know who built) what a guitar sounds like ! Its all about how a particular guitar sounds like. That is after all what its all about. Its not a guitar beauty pagent!

FWIW,

JP

[John_McEnroe]

Ah ok that makes sense thanks guys. I definitely can't afford $4500, $2600 is pushing it as it is. I figure if I am going to own one tele for the rest of my life though it makes sense to get the one I really want.

Thanks for the insight, that clears a lot up for me. Cheers!

[sfarnell]

you should check out the '62 AVRI Thin Skin Telecaster. The ones that I played were as good as most custom shop teles that I've had, and they are relatively inexpensive, especially if you can find a used one. The double bound ones are beauties. $1599 at Wildwood and Dave's guitars.

[jherman]

Unless you absolutely have to have a new relic you should hunt around for a used one they can be found for about $1700 +/-.

I picked up a used 2000 Nocaster here in the emporium the price was right and it is very nice.

[Jahn]

If yer in sacramento i see one on CL for $1500, not a bad price:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/msg/2003737652.html

I remember GC blowing these out a while back for the same price, so don't go paying too much for these.

[Kitten Cannon]

If you're looking for a Nocaster, shop used. You'll save a lot of money. Also consider LSL, which seems to be the only real bona-fide Nocaster-killer out there from smaller builders. I've spent some time with a T-Bone and I've played a real honest to god Nocaster... the LSL guys got pretty damn close.

[John_McEnroe]

It doesn't have to be new no... but I do want it to be the all black one. Any of you selling yours? :)

[Flinto2002]

If yer in sacramento i see one on CL for $1500, not a bad price:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/msg/2003737652.html

I remember GC blowing these out a while back for the same price, so don't go paying too much for these.

This. Back in around 2008 GC blew out standard custom shop nocasters, closet classic finish, for $1450 with both cases, BRAND NEW!

I bought one, great sounding guitar, but sold it cause the little frets were just impossible to play(for me)

[Jim S]

Save thousand of dollars and get a K-Line for under 2 grand spec'd out the exacty way you'd like it or used for $1100 +/-. I'm not kidding. Those Fender prices for Masterbuilt are nuts IMHO*. And Chris's guitars play, sound, and feel great.

One day I will have one.

*IMHO reiterated