custom shop Fenders and Gibsons

[modavis99]

I'm curious about the differences that TGP'ers look for between custom shop and normal production guitars from Fender and Gibson.

I have an R9 that I love and I can rattle off the feature that distinguish it from a trad or a standard. Are those features "worth" the extra 2K in pricing? For me, yes. I haven't found a trad or standard that I like (and Ive played a bunch) as much as the R9 I own. I first encountered an R9 at CME I think, and right away I knew it was different than other LPs.

But I don't know what to expect from any other custom shop Gibson. Are there any differences between a regular SG or Firebird and say one from the custom shop? Same goes for a 335. Is it better wood or better attention to detail - at least on average?

I have the same question for Fender strats. I recently purchased a 2013 Am standard strat that's a great instrument. But what don't I know? What is it that distinguishes a custom shop strat from a normal strat? Or, rather, what in expectation do you expect to get from a custom shop Fender that you don't get from their USA line? Is the wood better? Better fit and finish? Etc.

I don't mean to start a weird thread. I'm curious about these differences in US made guitars.

 

[kracdown]

for gibson at least, it's like a Trad to an R9 with everything else. The only area where I've really dug the USA Gibson's as much as all my Custom Shops is my SG Standard. But I still want a Custom Shop SG someday. The woods, hardware, pickups, etc. are all a little bit different usually.

 

[XKnight]

With Fender Custom Shop you generally get better wood, better pups, better fret work and just more attention to detail in general. Plus, like the Historic Reissue Gibsons, the Fender Custom Shop offers many accurate reissues of iconic Strats and Teles along with some truly unique offerings that you can't get from the regular production line.

 

[ballynally]

You'll probably get a top spec guitar. Production line guitars can be hit and miss. And when its not good you wasted a lot of money. Some people won't notice though.But then instead of Custom shop, why not go boutique?

 

[Strat87]

I own two fender custom shop strats, both of which have features unavailable on production instruments with a fit and finish second to none. If they were truly their respective vintage they'd be priced way out of my league so I'm happy with what I have.
'69

'60

 

[rrhea]

I own two fender custom shop strats, both of which have features unavailable on production instruments with a fit and finish second to none. If they were truly their respective vintage they'd be priced way out of my league so I'm happy with what I have.
'69

'60

Gorgeous. Love them both! I'm a Fiesta Red fan, for sure, and would love to have a FR CS someday.

That being said, I do have a three color burst 1960 Closet Classic Relic Custom Shop Strat from 2006. It's just killer and sounds and plays better than any other Strat in my collection.

I also feel that way about by R9 and R7 Pauls. They just play and sound better than the regular production stuff I have, or have had, from Gibson.

Maybe it's mostly in my head because I either want them to be or because I paid so much more for the CS stuff that is it *supposed* to be better and my mind makes it so. Who knows? I just enjoy them at the end of the day.

RR