Fender Your Design, Built to Order

Securb

One of Jerry's Kids
This is pretty cool but I dont know if I would want to spend $1900 on a Strat. It is close to what I would want, I'm not 100% about the pickups. Still a pretty cool option from Fender. I would love to see what designs you guys come up with

http://www.fender.com/american-design/

wallpaper_bg2_1366x768.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

I'm a little disappointed by the options available. For that kind of money, I'd like to have a little more variety.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

I think it'll expand with time. I'd love to see more colors, more pickups and thinline options.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

You gotta give them kudos for even trying this. I too would like to see more options, and I was not sure if the pricing was list or if there was a MAP (kinda like when you order custom shop).
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

Not enough options.

it should be more epiC!!! Options like HS, HHH, Floyds etc.

I want to get a Swimming pool rout strat and put a pair of 7 string humbuckers in it.



I will make and or mod my own.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

"want moar optionz!!!" = "I want Custom Shop level of choice for production line prices!!!" i.e. not gonna happen.

This is basically pick-a-brick from the existing production parts. Kinda cool, but expecting it to be a full custom shop is a bit of a stretch.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

they need the 70s big headstock strat neck option. good start though.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

they need the 70s big headstock strat neck option. good start though.

They do have that neck. Like Grumptruck I would like to see a HH option. I would also like to see some switching options, coil split or a phase switch.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

"want moar optionz!!!" = "I want Custom Shop level of choice for production line prices!!!" i.e. not gonna happen.

This is basically pick-a-brick from the existing production parts. Kinda cool, but expecting it to be a full custom shop is a bit of a stretch.

In what world is just shy of 2k production line prices?
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

Isn't this the tool that Fender uses to come up with new models? Change the color of the pickguard or the knobs and give it a catchy name?
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

Isn't this the tool that Fender uses to come up with new models? Change the color of the pickguard or the knobs and give it a catchy name?

Don't forget signature guitars too.....It's like a regular Jazzmaster but has this guys name on it...you like this guy? Right? Oh Christ just put a floyd on it and be done with it......
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

For fun I spec'd one out similar to my Squier CV.
I know, Apples/Oranges. But, really like my CV.
So, I look at it as I got off on the cheap. :cool:

wHG6inv.png

Body Material:Alder
Body Color: Candy Apple Red
Neck:1950s Vintage Hot Rod Stratocaster, Maple Fingerboard+$200.00
Pickups:1959 Stratocaster SSS+$50.00
Pickguard:3-Ply Parchment
Knobs, Switch Tips & Covers:Aged White
Hardware Finish:Nickel
Tuning Machines:Vintage Standard
Bridge:Vintage Stratocaster
Strings:.010-.046
Case:Premium Vintage-Style Tweed Case+$100.00
Buy Now: $1,849.99 :wrf:


OwU3t4a.jpg

Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat in Candy Apple Red with matching headstock.
Body: Alder
Finish: Polyester
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Modern "C" Shape
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" (241 mm)
Frets: 21, Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Nut Width: 1.65" (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Tuning Keys: Vintage-style tuning machines
Bridge: Vintage-style, 6-saddle tremolo
Pickguard: 3-ply white
Neck pickup: Custom Stratocaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
Middle pickup: Custom Stratocaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
Bridge pickup: Custom Stratocaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
Pickup switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone
Strings: (.009 - .042) Nickel Plated Steel

excellent condition
$289 used at M-G-R . :cool:

Plays and sounds great and does the Strat thing just fine for me.


Now! On a more serious note.
The basic Strat build I did up there is not worth no $1850.
Not for someone to just grab basic production materials (not customshop) and assemble them together.
As someone else mentioned, one should be able to find an "off the rack" Strat similarly spec'd for much less. Even if the "rack" needed a couple upgrades it would still most likely be cheaper in the end.

If Fender wants to really compete in the "factory direct" "build to order" game, they have to bring prices down. They've cut out the middle man. No reason they should not be able to lower the cost. And they have to add a whole lot more options.

Maybe I'm just spoiled by my Carvins.
Here's my last build.
2O930.jpg

ST300C
OFR (German) bridge.
Deep honey burst flame.
Gold hardware.
Matching flame headstock.
Abalone dot inlays.
Rosewood board.
SS jumbo frets.
14" radius.
Twinblade neck & middle pickups.
C22b bridge humbucker.
Mahogany neck & body.
Sperzel tuners.
1 volume
1 tone.
5 way switch.
Tweed case.
$1525 shipped.

Even if I were to do $300 in upgrades (pickups, electronics, etc..) to this guitar, I would still have a lot more guitar for the money than what the Fender builder is offering.

A Carvin Bolt spec'd close to what the Strat builder I made is just under $900.
Again , with $300 worth of upgrades, Add another $150 for Carvin custom neck "hidden option" profile. I'm still cheaper than Fenders builder.
And yes, Carvin offers custom neck profiles. "Hidden option" from $150 (common neck profiles) to $300 (less common profiles). You have to ask.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

1900 is cool in this day and age. My strat that i bought new in 1991 was 1800 (good deal at the time) cos it was the first guitar the shop ever sold.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

I looked at it today. It appears the options are all just the bolt on parts that Fender already sells a la carte. So now you can pay Fender a handsome amount to put those pieces together for you in the order you want them. You would not have too much trouble finding something off the shelf that already has most if not all the options you might want (maybe a pickup change away?).

Cool idea, but it appears Fender is really starting to go after some of the niche markets they've ignored up until now. They already put out a line of hand built Tweed tube amps. Then they started selling necks and bodies. Now it's built to order guitars.
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

I wouldn't call it a handsome amount, the MSRP is right in line with the AVRI lines. It IS just a plug and play with all their currently available bodies/necks/hardware but hey, if you want to do it yourself, then cool. Try finding NEW pieces, exactly what you want and be substantially below their number. I know you can beat the number by scouring eBay, clearances at guitar stores, etc. but time is money. You can also beat it with Warmoth, USACG, etc but they know there are some players that WANT that Fender name.

Personally, I think that if they add more colors and hardware options its a cool way to bridge production and custom shop.

To those wanting Floyd's and exotic Pickups, you should price it out from the Custom Shop. PRICEY! For that, the aftermarket companies and other OEMs are the way to go.
 
Fender Your Design, Built to Order

Personally I'd like to see some options (like say, Sonic Blue on a USA Standard) that would justify paying the extra money. Nothing here worth paying extra for IMO. If I could get a USA standard in Dakota Red direct from Fender? I'd be on that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Fender Your Design, Built to Order

If the pricing was more reasonable, I'd like this idea. It's better than have 3.2 million slightly different models of Strat.
 
Back
Top