Fender NOS/ Relics

[RGN]

Well, I had all intentions of scooping up a Hwy 1 Strat today. However, neither GC I went to had a sunburst finish model so I wondered into the room with the Custom Shop high-end relics, closet classics and NOS strats

Very nice guitars. I read some reviews on HC and everyone says the stock pickups on those are very good. We are taking about a guitar over $2000 so I'd expect the pickups to very good to excellent.

Anyone have any thoughts? If I decide to spend this kind of money I'd probably get the NOS and not a relic.

Bottom line: Are these guitars worth $2200+?

[Jeff_H]

IMO.....no. There just isn't enough difference to be gained to make them worth well more than double a standard American strat.

If I was going to buy annother new American series Fender, I'd get the 50th anniversary strat. All the nice appointments, + the factor of being an anniversary series. A $125 upgrade to the CS pups like those in the Custom Shop Strats and I believe you'd have just as nice a quality strat, for well over a grand less.

If I were going to buy one of the NOS or Relic series strats, I'd let someone else take the hit on depreciation and buy it used.

Just my opinion though.

[That90'sGuy]

Bottom line: Are these guitars worth $2200+?

Not even close. Are they great guitars? Yes.

Used they would probably be worth it because the price would be severely dropped.

When you can buy top of the line Anderson, Grosh or Suhrs for less than that or right around there... buying a Fender custom shop just isn't worth it.

Lentz makes AWESOME strats that will blow your mind and they're around that price (I could be wrong about that though).

[beandip]

dude, if you're not worried about the name, but want the custom shop quality, PM me, I've got a list of great guitar builders who can double the quality for half the price.

[Hot _Grits]

The custom shop strats are generally excellent. Get one secondhand, that'll take the gouge out of the price...

[strat_master]

i'd say instead go buy a 57 reissue strat. Itshould be cheaper since its not going through the custom shop i could be worng though

[Gearjoneser]

First, you gotta ask yourself whether or not you like vintage frets, vintage bridge, and 21 frets. If you're used to medium jumbo frets...probably not. If a great vintage Fender strat is what you're after, I'd find a Relic or NOS used. Then, it'll hold value, and you'll have the 'real' strat sound. If you're looking for a good Fender that will play similarly to your current guitars, I'd grab an Am Std, American Series, or 50th Ann. then upgrade the pickups if you want. I've had a few high dollar Custom Shop strats, and honestly prefer my regular American strats with great setups, Fat 50's, and upgraded pickguards and plastic. If I were you, I'd grab up a used American Series for $500 used, then put Duncan Ant. Hots, Fralin Vin Hots, or Fender Fat 50's in it.

[Gearjoneser]

Bububububub UMP

[Curly]

First, you gotta ask yourself whether or not you like vintage frets, vintage bridge, and 21 frets. If you're used to medium jumbo frets...probably not. If a great vintage Fender strat is what you're after, I'd find a Relic or NOS used. Then, it'll hold value, and you'll have the 'real' strat sound. If you're looking for a good Fender that will play similarly to your current guitars, I'd grab an Am Std, American Series, or 50th Ann. then upgrade the pickups if you want. I've had a few high dollar Custom Shop strats, and honestly prefer my regular American strats with great setups, Fat 50's, and upgraded pickguards and plastic. If I were you, I'd grab up a used American Series for $500 used, then put Duncan Ant. Hots, Fralin Vin Hots, or Fender Fat 50's in it.

ditto

I like to look at some of the Custom shop stuff, but I cannot get used to a vintage neck - just not as playable for me as a regular AS strat!

if you want a little better fit and finish than a regular AS strat, the Deluxes aren't bad

[Jeff_H]

I played one of the 50th Ann strats, as well as the 50th Deluxe recently at Lou's guitar store down in Columbia SC. I didn't plug them in, but man was I impressed. THe 50th standard blew the 50th deluxe away in my opinion. The neck was dressed just perfectly, tight neck joint and a very resonant body. I just don't see how you can justify double or more the $$ for a custom shop when the 50th standard is just so damn nice.

Like Jonesy said....$125 or so for new pickups and MAYBE a new nut and locking tuners....and you're set. Great, great guitars.

[Benjy_26]

Also, check out Anderson and G&L if you're shopping for a premium strat. Shoot, you can find used G&L's for way under a grand too.

[Jeff_H]

RGN -

Here's a sunburst Hwy 1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...740120600&rd=1

[Hot _Grits]

First, you gotta ask yourself whether or not you like vintage frets, vintage bridge, and 21 frets. If you're used to medium jumbo frets...probably not. If a great vintage Fender strat is what you're after, I'd find a Relic or NOS used. Then, it'll hold value, and you'll have the 'real' strat sound. If you're looking for a good Fender that will play similarly to your current guitars, I'd grab an Am Std, American Series, or 50th Ann. then upgrade the pickups if you want. I've had a few high dollar Custom Shop strats, and honestly prefer my regular American strats with great setups, Fat 50's, and upgraded pickguards and plastic. If I were you, I'd grab up a used American Series for $500 used, then put Duncan Ant. Hots, Fralin Vin Hots, or Fender Fat 50's in it.

Not every 'production' custom shop guitar is a vintage repro. Fender make the 'custom classic' strat, which is essentially a premium, handbuilt am std:

http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0156200

They also make the classic player strat:

http://www.fender.com/products/show.php?partno=0156602

thing is, I played a 'custom classic' model a while ago, and while it was great, there was a transparent white am std model in the same shop that was just as good. And neither sounded as good as the relics and time machines.