need a quality builder...

After waiting 7 weeks for a mear quote from the Fender CS, and getting my quotes as well as personal phone calls from Don Grosh (I spoke to Don 1 on 1), Suhr (I got a personal call), Bill Nash (I have spoken with bill several times both on the phone as well as e-mail), and a few others I have given up on Fender. The other people I got quotes from I did not like the way it was done, of the price was insane! It has come down to ...

-Nash
-Grosh
-Suhr

Any ideas...I don't want the price to come into play...so the cost is not that important, the customer service of these 3 people have been amazing, so it's not that either...what I need are opinions on these 3 makers...good or bad from people that have played/owned one or more of these guitars...If you played a Grosh, one time, for a minute, but you didn't plug it in...please do tell me about it...I need lots of imput
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Tough call. Grosh and Suhr have good reputations, and all reports seem to indicate they build a superb instrument. Nash is supposed to build a great relic type "S" or "T" guitar as he now has to call them, because of Fenders recent action.

I tend to think of Grosh and Suhr as taking the stratocaster design to the next level, while I tend to think of Larry Nash as more of a vintage, historically correct kind of builder. I guess my choice would be Nash, as I am more of a traditionalist.
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I'd go for Suhr out of that lot personally, as I have a feeling his stuff will retain value better.

What about Tom Anderson?
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I have a good friend who had Grosh make him a custom tele, and he's very happy with it. He has several higher end custom axes, and that's one of his favorites.
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Have Blueline build you something. Based on what I've seen, I would go with him if I were in the market for a custom built guitar.

Ryan
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Melancon, and Blueline were both on my list...Blueline does not want to build a Strat, which I understand, and Melancon does not want to build it like I want it to be built...

guys you have to understand...I would live to just go pickup a Fender and call it a day, but there is NOTHING in their line that is what I want it to be...So I did my research...I got prices from over a dozen dealers...I narrowed it down to 3 based on customer service, and if they would built the guitar EXACTLY the way I wanted it to be.
 
Re: need a quality builder...

If it's a Strat you want, have you considered building one with Warmoth parts? I had the same problem, I would never buy an off-the-rack Fender for several reasons. But with Warmoth, I was able to get everything 100% the way I wanted it. Unless you want some really wacky feature, I would strongly suggest Warmoth.

Ryan
 
Re: need a quality builder...

the guy who invented said:
Melancon, and Blueline were both on my list...Blueline does not want to build a Strat, which I understand, and Melancon does not want to build it like I want it to be built...

Now, you don't want that Strat with sirens and handcuffs 'n' **** like that do ya?

J/K

I admire that you have something very specific in mind and I hope you find it.

Any ideas of what that is, my friend??
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I know what I want/need...and can get damn close with warmoth stuff...but for a little bit more money, I can have it done EXACTLY the was I want it...example...the neck I want Warmoth does not make, nor does USACG, or allparts, etc...and I could settle, but this si suposed to be MY PERFECT STRAT!!! At this point I belive that Bill Nash is going to build the guitar...he has been a huge help, very nice, and quick with contact...even though he is very very busy, and most importantly he is going to do it just like I want it done...With Bill doing the guitar I will not settle for ANYTHING because he doesn't use a certin part or whatever plus his stuff just seems to capture the vibe of playing an old Fender
 
Re: need a quality builder...

I really wish I could build a strat for you - i'm just too nervous of the fender trademark police knocking at my door. If you were up for my flat top double cutaway - i'd be love to work with ya

goodluck with the hunt

cheers
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Blueline said:
I really wish I could build a strat for you - i'm just too nervous of the fender trademark police knocking at my door. If you were up for my flat top double cutaway - i'd be love to work with ya

goodluck with the hunt

cheers

hey man, It's nothing aganist you or your work...you do great stuff...I just want it to look and feel like a Strat as well as sound like one.
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Or, you could sit on the used site's, including Ebay, and swipe a boutique guitar that is someone else's big loss. Some of these guys end up selling $3500 guitars for $1400.

I'd wait till the options come up that you're interested in, then dive in and buy it.
Here's some dream guitars.

b5_12_b.JPG

bb_12_s.JPG

58_1.JPG

2d_1.JPG
 
Re: need a quality builder...

Gearjoneser said:
Or, you could sit on the used site's, including Ebay, and swipe a boutique guitar that is someone else's big loss. Some of these guys end up selling $3500 guitars for $1400.

I'd wait till the options come up that you're interested in, then dive in and buy it.
Here's some dream guitars.

b5_12_b.JPG

bb_12_s.JPG

58_1.JPG

2d_1.JPG

That stuff looks killer...my problem is it appears that nobody wants one like me...I have been searching EBAY as well as several of my favorite used music stores...no luck...I found a strat thats close but it still would have needed a pup swap plus it was the worst looking 3 colour burst I have ever seen...oh yea did I mention it was over 2 large...used!!! It looks like lots of people getting highend strat style guitars are getting maple tops/humbuckers/fancy tremolos/ and other such nonsense that I don't want or need.
 
Re: need a quality builder...

the guy who invented said:
After waiting 7 weeks for a mear quote from the Fender CS, and getting my quotes as well as personal phone calls from Don Grosh (I spoke to Don 1 on 1), Suhr (I got a personal call), Bill Nash (I have spoken with bill several times both on the phone as well as e-mail), and a few others I have given up on Fender. The other people I got quotes from I did not like the way it was done, of the price was insane! It has come down to ...

-Nash
-Grosh
-Suhr

Any ideas...I don't want the price to come into play...so the cost is not that important, the customer service of these 3 people have been amazing, so it's not that either...what I need are opinions on these 3 makers...good or bad from people that have played/owned one or more of these guitars...If you played a Grosh, one time, for a minute, but you didn't plug it in...please do tell me about it...I need lots of imput

A friend of mine has two Shur Tele's and two of his Strats. They are really nive guitars. Made well sound great. He has incorporated a few neat features into them. I would recommend Shur. But they also are not cheap!
 
Re: need a quality builder...

give JohnJohn a ring...

i don't think he wants the fender police around either, but maybe you guys could work something out...

him and blueline would be the "only" people i'd work with...

gotta support the "brotherhood"!
 
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