Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Especially the BEST!
Especially the BEST!
WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
- Thread starter Miget Kotla
- Start date
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I like G&L. You have so many options. Sure it's a production guitar, but each guitar is built to order. And they are certainly one of the best values.
I hear Michael DiTemple sells his strats for $4K and up, which is too rich for my blood. Don Grosh might be an option, but if I couldn't have a G&L, I'd probably choose something similarly spec'd from the Fender Custom Shop.
Bill
I like G&L. You have so many options. Sure it's a production guitar, but each guitar is built to order. And they are certainly one of the best values.
I hear Michael DiTemple sells his strats for $4K and up, which is too rich for my blood. Don Grosh might be an option, but if I couldn't have a G&L, I'd probably choose something similarly spec'd from the Fender Custom Shop.
Bill
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I highly recommend Don Grosh. He makes fantastic guitars (and pickups, too). For s Strat-style guitar, you'd have a choice between the Retro Classic and the newer NOS model. I have one of each and can attest to the build quality and outstanding tones.
Good luck with your decision.
I highly recommend Don Grosh. He makes fantastic guitars (and pickups, too). For s Strat-style guitar, you'd have a choice between the Retro Classic and the newer NOS model. I have one of each and can attest to the build quality and outstanding tones.
Good luck with your decision.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I think what a lot of the Fender CS bashers fail to realize is that the Fender CS can make anything you dream up. I think everyone just looks at the retail CS guitars and assumes that they just do vintage style Strat and Tele guitars. Take a look at some of the real custom work they do and it's astonishing. You don't custom order a piece from the Fender CS to get a guitar made to the same specs as production models.
http://www.fender.com/custom-life/master-built/
These are all out of the Fender CS.
I think what a lot of the Fender CS bashers fail to realize is that the Fender CS can make anything you dream up. I think everyone just looks at the retail CS guitars and assumes that they just do vintage style Strat and Tele guitars. Take a look at some of the real custom work they do and it's astonishing. You don't custom order a piece from the Fender CS to get a guitar made to the same specs as production models.
http://www.fender.com/custom-life/master-built/
These are all out of the Fender CS.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
^ You just brought a tear to my eye. DAT HEADSTOCK DEM TUNERS DAT WOOD (Homer Simpson drool)
^ You just brought a tear to my eye. DAT HEADSTOCK DEM TUNERS DAT WOOD (Homer Simpson drool)
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I haven't been overly impressed with warmoth, and especially the compound radius neck I had to deal with.
Charvel, Wayne, Suhr, Greenwich Village Custom Guitars, Tyler Guitars, there's a LOT!
I have a Cleveland Guitars Strat myself.
I haven't been overly impressed with warmoth, and especially the compound radius neck I had to deal with.
Charvel, Wayne, Suhr, Greenwich Village Custom Guitars, Tyler Guitars, there's a LOT!
I have a Cleveland Guitars Strat myself.
Miget Kotla
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I visited your site and checked out what I could from the pics and sound clips/vids. Very impressive everything - stunning work.
What does a project like the Woodhenge range from/to? Jupiter Lamia.....Evil Morpheus? Looks/sounds like a whole lot of everything goes into each of your guitars.
Mike
I visited your site and checked out what I could from the pics and sound clips/vids. Very impressive everything - stunning work.
What does a project like the Woodhenge range from/to? Jupiter Lamia.....Evil Morpheus? Looks/sounds like a whole lot of everything goes into each of your guitars.
Mike
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I do not have a website. I can only assume that like others in the past you are referring to Zerberus Guitars, a company that I am very proud NOT to be affiliated with.
What goes into those guitars is bottom of the barrel hardware and korean ghostbuilding, passed off as a custom instrument at an egregious price point.
I do not have a website. I can only assume that like others in the past you are referring to Zerberus Guitars, a company that I am very proud NOT to be affiliated with.
What goes into those guitars is bottom of the barrel hardware and korean ghostbuilding, passed off as a custom instrument at an egregious price point.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Buy a Teisco. You won't be sorry.
Buy a Teisco. You won't be sorry.
KeeperOS
Active member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
With respect, and assuming you are not jesting, it would appear that you do not know enough about what you want in a guitar (and I'm talking specifics here) to be ready to make a custom shop order.
Custom Shop guitars are real one-offs, meant for people that want something extremely specific that they can't find in regular production guitars or that have so ridiculously discerning tastes that only a custom shop piece where you can select even the exact pieces of wood the body and neck will be carved from will satisfy.
If you just want a top-of-the-line quality guitar, you can just go to a store and test-play a bunch of high-end Fenders or a Pro Series Suhr (the closest he has to a "production-line").
As far as I know Tom Anderson, Schecter CS and James Tyler do not offer "production-line" models.
If you are that determined to buy a Custom Shop guitar then don't think of it an an exaggeration when I say that in your current state you'll need to spend about a YEAR learning about different guitars and the effect each part, wood-species and differing spec. has to the instrument, play literally as many different high-end guitars as you can possibly get your hands on in order to be able to say that you absolutely, positively know for SURE what it is you want out of a custom shop guitar.
Otherwise you're just spending money solely for the sake of saying you bought the most expensive instrument you could find, not the best FOR YOU.
With respect, and assuming you are not jesting, it would appear that you do not know enough about what you want in a guitar (and I'm talking specifics here) to be ready to make a custom shop order.
Custom Shop guitars are real one-offs, meant for people that want something extremely specific that they can't find in regular production guitars or that have so ridiculously discerning tastes that only a custom shop piece where you can select even the exact pieces of wood the body and neck will be carved from will satisfy.
If you just want a top-of-the-line quality guitar, you can just go to a store and test-play a bunch of high-end Fenders or a Pro Series Suhr (the closest he has to a "production-line").
As far as I know Tom Anderson, Schecter CS and James Tyler do not offer "production-line" models.
If you are that determined to buy a Custom Shop guitar then don't think of it an an exaggeration when I say that in your current state you'll need to spend about a YEAR learning about different guitars and the effect each part, wood-species and differing spec. has to the instrument, play literally as many different high-end guitars as you can possibly get your hands on in order to be able to say that you absolutely, positively know for SURE what it is you want out of a custom shop guitar.
Otherwise you're just spending money solely for the sake of saying you bought the most expensive instrument you could find, not the best FOR YOU.
Miget Kotla
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Appreciate the direct advice. Unfortunately where i live we do not have the ability to try out 50-100 guitars and search for the right feel or sound off line (at a store). This leaves us with the internet. Not great, definitely not as good, but some possibilities. Sharing info really helps as does lots of reading on our end. I continue to wonder though, if not many (possibly any) major guitar lines carry.....for example, a 7.25 radius, thin and narrow maple neck on a shorter (24 inch) scale guitar...and I even want 24 frets (an extra would be to have frets preferred for strumming/chording/rhythm guitar)................how does anyone find this (especially if I'm hoping to find this all on a Strat-like guitar) without going to a custom shop? I wish I could build strats myself but that's not my line of work or profession and I have tons of respect for those who can do this work themselves - enough to know I can't do it justice or even come close.
Definitely not trolling here....and if anyone knows of high quality guitars that fit the description above I would definitely prefer to get one now rather than wait or pay more for a custom made guitar (I can even leave out the Seymour Duncan Zeph's although they sound great from what I can hear all the way over here!). Otherwise, I have to find Zerberus' real website/page/info or others that might be interested in this type of work (admittedly minor - not in search of super rare wood or looking for amazing design). I've seen everything I described/asked for on a Fender Strat (even the short scale)......I just haven't seen them all on a Fender Strat at the same time.
If I played at your level, I would probably be in search of the rare wood or specialized design and that's what would be most important to me at that time....at your level. I play rhythm guitar though and just looking to enhance what I find to be areas that would make playing a little easier and improve performance and sound. Thanks for any info you can share! Mike
Appreciate the direct advice. Unfortunately where i live we do not have the ability to try out 50-100 guitars and search for the right feel or sound off line (at a store). This leaves us with the internet. Not great, definitely not as good, but some possibilities. Sharing info really helps as does lots of reading on our end. I continue to wonder though, if not many (possibly any) major guitar lines carry.....for example, a 7.25 radius, thin and narrow maple neck on a shorter (24 inch) scale guitar...and I even want 24 frets (an extra would be to have frets preferred for strumming/chording/rhythm guitar)................how does anyone find this (especially if I'm hoping to find this all on a Strat-like guitar) without going to a custom shop? I wish I could build strats myself but that's not my line of work or profession and I have tons of respect for those who can do this work themselves - enough to know I can't do it justice or even come close.
Definitely not trolling here....and if anyone knows of high quality guitars that fit the description above I would definitely prefer to get one now rather than wait or pay more for a custom made guitar (I can even leave out the Seymour Duncan Zeph's although they sound great from what I can hear all the way over here!). Otherwise, I have to find Zerberus' real website/page/info or others that might be interested in this type of work (admittedly minor - not in search of super rare wood or looking for amazing design). I've seen everything I described/asked for on a Fender Strat (even the short scale)......I just haven't seen them all on a Fender Strat at the same time.
If I played at your level, I would probably be in search of the rare wood or specialized design and that's what would be most important to me at that time....at your level. I play rhythm guitar though and just looking to enhance what I find to be areas that would make playing a little easier and improve performance and sound. Thanks for any info you can share! Mike
Miget Kotla
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Mike
If we are not there personally is there any other way to take a look at and hear some of your work? Thanks so much!!!
Mike
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Currently, no.
See this thread for more info: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...e-the-umpteenth-wave-of-this-Zerberus-Guitars
I figured it`s more senseful to start a thread than to copy and paste the same answer to 8 different people, only to have to do the same thing again at some future point.
:beerchug:
Currently, no.
See this thread for more info: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...e-the-umpteenth-wave-of-this-Zerberus-Guitars
I figured it`s more senseful to start a thread than to copy and paste the same answer to 8 different people, only to have to do the same thing again at some future point.
:beerchug:
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Rockstar216
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
From reading your last post you don't need a super rare or expensive guitar to play well. With the right skill set a pro musician could make even a Squire strat sound like gold. You can get a very good guitar for under a thousand dollars but if you are dead set on having certain features like a 7.25 radius I'm sure there are online retailers that will sell you a guitar with that radius. Not to sound like a A$$ but honestly I don't think you should be even considering a CS build only because it seems like you have not a very good idea of what features and specs you want. If you honestly like Fender I suggest taking a day to go to the closes guitar store near you and try out every guitar that catches your eye and write down what you like and don't like. I have to ask have you honestly ever even tried to play on a 7.25 radius neck? You might find out you might enjoy a flatter radius but would never know until you play other guitars.
From reading your last post you don't need a super rare or expensive guitar to play well. With the right skill set a pro musician could make even a Squire strat sound like gold. You can get a very good guitar for under a thousand dollars but if you are dead set on having certain features like a 7.25 radius I'm sure there are online retailers that will sell you a guitar with that radius. Not to sound like a A$$ but honestly I don't think you should be even considering a CS build only because it seems like you have not a very good idea of what features and specs you want. If you honestly like Fender I suggest taking a day to go to the closes guitar store near you and try out every guitar that catches your eye and write down what you like and don't like. I have to ask have you honestly ever even tried to play on a 7.25 radius neck? You might find out you might enjoy a flatter radius but would never know until you play other guitars.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Is pretty easy to play on really....if you do not mind alittle action!
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Rockstar216
New member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
I don't mind but he might. Im just saying for him to go try a couple guitars in person rather then just throwing specs out without having played a guitar with those specs only to find out he hates it.
I don't mind but he might. Im just saying for him to go try a couple guitars in person rather then just throwing specs out without having played a guitar with those specs only to find out he hates it.
KeeperOS
Active member
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
Then this question would be easier to answer if we knew where you're from.
Also, when you say 24" scale, do you mean that literally like in a Mustang or do you actually mean Gibson scale, as in 24.75"?
Because if you're talking about the later and have a GOOD tech in your area or don't mind shipping parts twice, Warmoth does exactly what you ask.
They build what they call a "conversion neck" i.e. a Strat neck with a Gibson scale (24.75") that is meant to be installed in a normal Fender Strat body (although it would make more sense to have them build a matching body).
As far as I know they offer ALL of the other specs, just not all together. You can get the 7.25 radius but with 21 frets or the 24 frets with a 9" radius (or more).
They only build the body and neck though (and paint it if you'd like) so you still need a good tech to assemble the parts into a working guitar.
If that's not an acceptable option then I'm afraid save for one-man-operations like Zerberus here (who you should send a PM for more info), not very many Custom Shops would even entertain such specs, the 24" being the real deal-breaker here (for the reasons Zerberus already mentioned).
However the downside is that you cannot see/hear their work beforehand, what makes them able to do what you're asking is also what's making them obscure.
Like most said here already, John Suhr, Tom Anderson and James Tyler are the top Strat-style guitar builders, no one better than the other, just different, but I do not know if they'd go for that.
Alternately, the Schecter Custom Shop and maybe the ESP, Jackson or Charvel custom shops would entertain such an idea but only because they are already used to making crazy guitars (albeit said crazy guitars were crazy METAL guitars with specs the exact opposite of what you're asking).
Honestly, when I wanted a guitar with specs I couldn't find ANYWHERE I went the one-man-operation route with Will Stinnett and never regretted it. After all was said and done that guitar cost about 2000-2500 USD (I can't tell exactly because I paid in euro) and I couldn't have been happier. Yes it is a risk but most of the time it is worth it, it's just that, like I said in my first post, you have to know EXACTLY what you want to an insane amount of detail in order to get EXACTLY what you want...
Then this question would be easier to answer if we knew where you're from.
Also, when you say 24" scale, do you mean that literally like in a Mustang or do you actually mean Gibson scale, as in 24.75"?
Because if you're talking about the later and have a GOOD tech in your area or don't mind shipping parts twice, Warmoth does exactly what you ask.
They build what they call a "conversion neck" i.e. a Strat neck with a Gibson scale (24.75") that is meant to be installed in a normal Fender Strat body (although it would make more sense to have them build a matching body).
As far as I know they offer ALL of the other specs, just not all together. You can get the 7.25 radius but with 21 frets or the 24 frets with a 9" radius (or more).
They only build the body and neck though (and paint it if you'd like) so you still need a good tech to assemble the parts into a working guitar.
If that's not an acceptable option then I'm afraid save for one-man-operations like Zerberus here (who you should send a PM for more info), not very many Custom Shops would even entertain such specs, the 24" being the real deal-breaker here (for the reasons Zerberus already mentioned).
However the downside is that you cannot see/hear their work beforehand, what makes them able to do what you're asking is also what's making them obscure.
Like most said here already, John Suhr, Tom Anderson and James Tyler are the top Strat-style guitar builders, no one better than the other, just different, but I do not know if they'd go for that.
Alternately, the Schecter Custom Shop and maybe the ESP, Jackson or Charvel custom shops would entertain such an idea but only because they are already used to making crazy guitars (albeit said crazy guitars were crazy METAL guitars with specs the exact opposite of what you're asking).
Honestly, when I wanted a guitar with specs I couldn't find ANYWHERE I went the one-man-operation route with Will Stinnett and never regretted it. After all was said and done that guitar cost about 2000-2500 USD (I can't tell exactly because I paid in euro) and I couldn't have been happier. Yes it is a risk but most of the time it is worth it, it's just that, like I said in my first post, you have to know EXACTLY what you want to an insane amount of detail in order to get EXACTLY what you want...
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: WHICH CUSTOM SHOP MAKES THE BEST STRATS?
This is an excellent point that I honestly hadn`t even thought of. Most of my /our guitars are bespoke instruments with a customer chomping at the bit to get their hands on it because they have specs that nobody else puts together. Even if I had a website, the merit of posting an acoustic that can be flipped over on the strap pins to reveal a mandolin and ukelele on the back (for a cabarettist from Luzern, sounded like crap IMO but was primarily for the comedy-effect) or a triple neck bass, 12 string, 7 string firebird would be questionable other than to prove that I know how to build a guitar. Every instrument is really a one off that will probably require entirely new templates, as nothing is really standardized.
The advantage of that on the other hand is that most of us don`t have the "problem" that guys like John Suhr, Don Grosh or Tom Anderson have: We don`t have to spend half of our lives building guitars that are really just better quality knockoffs of somebody else`s design, thereby in essence becoming exactly what I don`t like about ESP and Ibanez and still hold against them, because we`re not building dozens of strats a year. Keeps us from having to constantly deal with the "but I can build the exact same thing from Warmoth for half the price" crowd, too, which can very quickly become more than tedious depending on the person and the size of the disconnect.
BUT, specifically while on the topic of Warmoth /parts guitars in general, there is also a hybrid route of ordering parts and having a pro assemble them. Obviously I or someone else can only make a guitar as good as the raw materials I`m given / I bought, but when those are of decent quality a good luthier can turn them into a damn good guitar, simply by knowing exactly how to do things to get them nearly perfect as opposed to "good enough".
Case in point, warmoth`s frets are level enough for most hobbyists, and better than many produtcion guitars. But if someone other than an apprentice were to present me with the same quality on a neck I built, I`d wrap the neck around his until he learns to use a straightedge properly. And the apprentice would still get whacked with it, just not quite as hard.
This is an excellent point that I honestly hadn`t even thought of. Most of my /our guitars are bespoke instruments with a customer chomping at the bit to get their hands on it because they have specs that nobody else puts together. Even if I had a website, the merit of posting an acoustic that can be flipped over on the strap pins to reveal a mandolin and ukelele on the back (for a cabarettist from Luzern, sounded like crap IMO but was primarily for the comedy-effect) or a triple neck bass, 12 string, 7 string firebird would be questionable other than to prove that I know how to build a guitar. Every instrument is really a one off that will probably require entirely new templates, as nothing is really standardized.
The advantage of that on the other hand is that most of us don`t have the "problem" that guys like John Suhr, Don Grosh or Tom Anderson have: We don`t have to spend half of our lives building guitars that are really just better quality knockoffs of somebody else`s design, thereby in essence becoming exactly what I don`t like about ESP and Ibanez and still hold against them, because we`re not building dozens of strats a year. Keeps us from having to constantly deal with the "but I can build the exact same thing from Warmoth for half the price" crowd, too, which can very quickly become more than tedious depending on the person and the size of the disconnect.
BUT, specifically while on the topic of Warmoth /parts guitars in general, there is also a hybrid route of ordering parts and having a pro assemble them. Obviously I or someone else can only make a guitar as good as the raw materials I`m given / I bought, but when those are of decent quality a good luthier can turn them into a damn good guitar, simply by knowing exactly how to do things to get them nearly perfect as opposed to "good enough".
Case in point, warmoth`s frets are level enough for most hobbyists, and better than many produtcion guitars. But if someone other than an apprentice were to present me with the same quality on a neck I built, I`d wrap the neck around his until he learns to use a straightedge properly. And the apprentice would still get whacked with it, just not quite as hard.
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