FENDER CUSTOM SHOP ROADSHOW

[anniv 63]

Last night I attended an event run by a major guitar retailer in Glasgow. I will quote roughly what another attendee wrote on the
company's facebook page today
"If the demonstrator wanted us to hear the superior sound of these Strats , he should have unplugged the effects and switched off
the reverb on the main Fender Twin Reverb Amp he was using.
Really it was quite a dull excuse for him to show off Hendrix/Clapton and other overdriven licks etc ."
No it was a pretty poor presentation for superior quality instruments ,and his chat about his celeb guitar mates such as David Gilmour
of Pink Floyd and other luminaries was pretty boring too!!
The UK Sales Manager of the Custom Shop sat there doing little to enhance proceedings surely he could have run a wee video of the actual
Custom Shop manufacturing facility to illustrate points of interest but no!!
I didn't bother coming back for 2nd half proceedings or goody bag giveaways, on this poor show.
California here I come no thanks !!

Mike

[alanbakewell]

I've not been to one of these events nor am I any longer on Facebook. However, from what is written above, this sounds
like a golden opportunity lost.

I'll straight away declare my hand and say that I do own a Custom Shop NOS 1956 Stratocaster. I've had this guitar now close on ten years
and have always been delighted with it.

I would love to see how the manufacturing is different from the "Standard" production models.
I would love to see if the woods used are any different from the above. ( Mine has the bird's eye maple neck so clearly some of it is ).
I'd love to see the pickups being made and compared to the standard stock pickups.

I'd like the opportunity to stand up and ask how much "Snob" value is attached to these instruments.

How does the resale value compare with a "Standard" production Stratocaster. ( A quick glance on E-Bay will give you a guide to this ).

So many questions.

What would anybody else ask given the opportunity?

Cheers, Alan.

[abstamaria]

There are a number of videos on YouTube that are quite interesting. They talk about choosing wood and so forth. A Google search should provide the links.

It's taking longer and longer now to get a Customshop guitar done, particularly a masterbuilt one. I have a sunburst 59 PBass on order and have almost forgotten about it!

Andy

[ecca]

They're not a patch off my Cakeocaster.

[anniv 63]

The guy last night did state that the Master builders get first pick of all woods that come into the factory.
Particularly prized is 300 year old Canadian Maple, so if your neighbour has a big old tree chop it down and
give Fender first refusal!!
Not wanted next doors conifer crap!!

Mike

[leddo]

I am interested and surprised to hear about your less than pleasant night out Mike. I had planned to go along but was overtaken by events. I don't know if you went to the PRS evening that GG held in Oran Mor a year or so back. It was quite a night, but then they did have Mr PRS himself in attendance. Fender Custom Shop did roadshows a few years ago when Mike the CS boss and a builder or two were in attendance. I think part of the evening was showing how to relic a guitar. I take it that last night's show was a watered down version then.

[anniv 63]

Phil ,I don't normally attend events like these but this one I.M.H.O. was sub standard and poorly put together especially
when a quality and respected product is treated in this shabby manner.
I am not G G customer and wont go near them again.
I put my trust in guys like Steve Caban and Jimmy Cannel at CC who I have known for a good number of years and their
excellent service.

Mike

[George Geddes]

Well, normally I would have been at something like that, but I was on holiday, and clearly didn't miss much! I do remember a previous event in a Glasgow hotel where a range of CS guitars was on show and one of the Master Builders (Yuri Shiskov?) talked about his work - and about what it was like to be a guitar builder in Russia...

I was at the PRS demo several months ago. Admittedly, the playing (Simon McBride) was not totally to my taste, but I did get my copy of the PRS Book signed by the man himself... and learned a lot about how ORS operates. OK it did cost £10 a ticket but was certainly worth it.

George