First off, in 2012, I would not consider buying a Fender Strat, let alone a Fender Custom shop guitar.
However, I would like to bring another guitar company to your attention. Let me be honest, I have never owned one of these guitars-only seem them in music stores and other owner's hands.
If I were going to get a Strat in 2013, I would get a G&L
The L stands for Leo Fender. This is the company he founded after he sold Fender.
Look the company up.
If you order an American made G&L, be sure to check out the options page. You can order an excellent custom guitar with a neck shape and finish of your choice for far under Fender custom shop prices.
Here are the links.
http://www.glguitars.com/
http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/guitars/index.asp
http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/finishes/index.asp
http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/USA/options/guitar.asp
G&Ls are great guitars - I love mine - but this guy is prepared to order a custom-made strat.
All the well-meaning but completely irrelevant advice for him to build a kit guitar or buy some off-the-rack version made by ESP or something doesn't help him or answer his question.
We need to stop trying to redirect people toward our favorite stuff just because it's somewhat related to what they're asking.
...
If you want a custom Strat and you're open to brands other than Fender, you will likely get as nice a guitar for less money by going with one of the boutique luthiers known for doing Fender-style guitars.
Of that group, I recommend checking out:
D'Pergo
DeTemple
Tuttle
K-Line
LSL
...And if having "Fender" on the headstock is important to you - and it's fine if it is - go with the Fender Custom Shop.
Enjoy the process and good luck with your custom build!
I think you should buy a kit and build it yourself, then it has everything you want and you won't molest a high dollar guitar. Carvin makes a good kit, Warmouth, PGK, their are several out there.
Keep in mind that our guitar heroes were rarely ever playing custom shop guitars when they recorded our favorite music.
This is probably gold-standard advice, assuming all you want to do is mimic another player. The flip side is, when you're buying/building/renting/stealing a guitar for you to play, it's about what you like, want, can afford. If you're keen to spend the price of a custom guitar and feel you can't get what you want elsewhere, go for it. But yeah, the vast majority of guitar playing has been, is, and will be played on more-or-less stock instruments, so do some looking before you decide it has to be custom.
This guy's talking about a custom shop guitar with 2 grands worth of pickups to play nothing but RHYTHM ?
Dude.. reality check !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll definitely send in the clip of the guitar jamming some rhythm - then we'll see whether worth it. Unless you were thinking 1-6-4-5? Heheheheheheeee......not exactly the plan.This guy's talking about a custom shop guitar with 2 grands worth of pickups to play nothing but RHYTHM ?
Dude.. reality check !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7.25 came out of the 60's pretty cool. Some think lead guitar was not invented until the 80's with pointed guitars but you might be surprised and some of the greatest coming off of a 7.25 vintage neck. We'll just have to rough it I guess! LOL Tough crowd - I take it R&B and classic rock don't win too many popularity contests here? Let's see how it plays/sounds......stay tuned!That way, he can get his guitar with just the twelve frets he'll be allowed to have as a rhythm guitarist.