Need help deciding on a handcrafted modern retro axe

[Reeek]

Researching upper echelon modern retro guitars and will buy one just as soon as I decide which one.

Suhr? Why, why not?
Tom Anderson? Why, why not?
Melancon? Why, why not?
Tyler? Why, why not? (Don't care for the headstock design tho)
Grosh? Why, why not?

Looking at S or T style but leaning toward the S style.

I know the why and why nots are subjective. That's all I'm looking for from you? Opinions and preferences and why?

I'm BRAND new to small, eliet guitar builders and have never owned a small company, hand crfated guitar so I'm ignorant.

I have enough money for either.

Thanks!

P.S. What's Lentz up to these days anyway?

[Reeek]

I'm thinking Suhr . . .

[big mike]

Can't go wrong either way really. (now that you've decided against Roman)

Of those, for me, it would be either Melancon or Anderson, and most likely Melancon. I have met Gerard several times, have seen and played many, and they always impress. Gerard is a one man shop, and I like that about a small builder. Knowing it went through the man's hands, gives me a warm fuzzy.

But again, no losers there.

[Reeek]

Thanks for that, big mike.

I did just think about one good question considering this list is a list of super high quality guitars . . .

What are the typical build/wait times for these builders?

I seem to have read that 3 months or so is average for a Suhr. Correct?

What about the others?

[big mike]

Couldn't comment there.

[guitrr]

In addition to Suhr, Melancon, and Anderson, Grosh is an excellent choice too. I have a Retro Classic that is absolutely superb.

Unless you want something very unusual, you should be able to find a good strat or tele style in stock at a high end guitar shop. Wildwood, Fat Sound, and Magdon come to mind for high end toys.

Kane

[r9player]

I happen to know that John Mayes of Mayes guitars is finishing up a Vintage White Tele that looks really sweet (besides my HS strat and the Lacewood Tele which .. well is not very retro)
Even has the aging toner on a sweet maple neck.
Lollar pick ups I believe.
I have the first Tele he's done and it's amazing.

[Vince]

It's like trying to decide where to have an amazing dinner in New York City when you're lucky enough to be able to get a reservation at 5 of the best restaurants in town. Everyone on the "chefs" does something a little differently. It's all a matter of what you like.

[John Mayes]

Thanks for the plug Pai. I'm also building a 56' butterscotch tele repro right now.. as close to vintage specs as possible. The white one is sold, bu here are a couple pics anyway...

http://mayesguitars.com/images/h2005/h16.jpg
http://mayesguitars.com/images/h2005/h13.jpg

[yeast2000]

Originally posted by Reeek
P.S. What's Lentz up to these days anyway?

http://www.lentzguitar.com

He's making his new models. Amazing guitars..

[r9player]

Ahh that white one came out really Sweet!
How eh is my HS coming along! :D
Hard to believe the Lacewood Tele hasn't sold yet though, such killer looks!

[yanquii]

This is way off topic, but John Mayes, your website makes me giggle.:D

[John Mayes]

Originally posted by r9player
Ahh that white one came out really Sweet!
How eh is my HS coming along! :D
Hard to believe the Lacewood Tele hasn't sold yet though, such killer looks!

The HS is gonna be done soon finally. I talked to Tony yesterday and he was making good progress.

Yeah I'm surprised too. It is a great looker and sounding one too!

[John Mayes]

Originally posted by yanquii
This is way off topic, but John Mayes, your website makes me giggle.:D

haha.. you mean from all the pops, and flashy crap moving round or just in general cause I'm a dork? Either way I don't blame ya!

[boog204]

to me melancon and suhr's have felt, played, and sounded the best fo the s types i've encountered. i actually liked melancon a bit more to be honest. there was some kind of vibe there.

[yanquii]

Originally posted by John Mayes
haha.. you mean from all the pops, and flashy crap moving round or just in general cause I'm a dork? Either way I don't blame ya!

haha. All that boingy flash stuff.:dude

[decay-o-caster]

Chapin. He makes some insanely fine guitars.

Normal small builder order time if you order one from Bill (i.e., a few months), or you pick up one of those Stratahoulas or the TBird at Mike's (ToneGurus (http://www.tonegurus.com)) that look, play, and sound so sweet! :)

[Fantom1]

If you're not %100 set in stone about a dead on S or T style guitar I would definitely give Lentz's new stuff a look or better yet give him a call and have him explain them. All I can say is they are very very nice guitars with the vintage sound.

[big mike]

Originally posted by decay-o-caster
Chapin. He makes some insanely fine guitars.

Normal small builder order time if you order one from Bill (i.e., a few months), or you pick up one of those Stratahoulas or the TBird at Mike's (ToneGurus (http://www.tonegurus.com)) that look, play, and sound so sweet! :)

Oh yeah. Sorry, should've said that myself. I went with the choices listed.

Bill makes THE BEST S and T influenced guitars on the planet. Period!

[slowburn]

grosh retroclassic.

[Testudo]

Originally posted by big mike
Oh yeah. Sorry, should've said that myself. I went with the choices listed.

Bill makes THE BEST S and T influenced guitars on the planet. Period!
And another vote for Chapin. It's the only reason I clicked on this thread - it immediately made me think of Bill Chapin.

[Teleplayer]

I have owned an Anderson Drop Top (S) and Hollow T; owned a Suhr Chambered Mahogany T w/ P90s' and recently ordered a three pickup solid body T w/vintage body radius; have played a pretty good number of additional Suhrs and Andersons at a local shop. Friend owned a couple Melancons. I have also played a number of Tyler S's and also played a cool Tyler T.

My humble (and quick) opinions are as follows:

Anderson - Impeccable finish work. Didn't dig the pickups on either axe I owned. Too sterile to play (many guys know what I mean.

Melancon - Overall nice feeling and playing axes. No complaints at all, in the short period I played them at my firend's place.

Tyler (S & T styles) - great playing axes. Great sounding axes. Simply can not get past the head stock.

Suhr - Great fit, finish, neck and fret work. I dig the pickups on John's guitars. The ones I have played have all had a good balance between being excellent players -- while still needing a bit of "digging in" to coax what you want out of them. And, for me, that's what I am looking for in a vintage-type newly made axe.

At the end of the day, you probably won't go wrong with any of them. You may want to try and get a used one of each (over time), and see for yourself. If you get them used, you can likely turn around and sell them for little-to-no loss. There's nothing like getting first-hand experience with an axe.

[Reeek]

http://www.indoorstorm.com/product_info.php?products_id=2377

She'll be here tomorrow :D

An no, of course we don't pay MSRP :)