Off the Shelf Fender Custom Shop VS Spec your own?

Baxter and Jonathan talk about why your dream build guitar might already be on the way to Casino Guitars, and why you might be worth the wait to have one build for you at the Fender Custom Shop.

[@brrblack497]

First for the first time ever. So good to have Johnathan back!

[@allenmitchell09]

I wonder if they’d put a squier logo on a custom shop guitar if you requested it. I think that’d be kinda cool.

[@Nightshade1881]

I bought a well played and beat up rosewood 1986 MIJ squier strat neck that feels just as good as those custom shop necks I had it refretted with jumbo stainless steel frets I have a custom ordered hard tail body made And aged Got aged fender hardware Fender pure Vintage pickups Pretty much a custom shop under 1k

[@chrisegonsearlemusic]

Sand off the Fender logo and put a Squier one on there

[@chadwicks_guitar]

They actually do make Squiers at the custom shop. I inquired, built the guitar in my mind, but have yet to pull the trigger.

[@allenmitchell09]

@@chrisegonsearlemusic taking a piece of sandpaper to it is the last thing I'd do to a custom shop guitar. You already paid handsomely for the sanding labor. The point of the custom shop is for it to be CUSTOM.

[@chrisegonsearlemusic]

@@allenmitchell09 Was a bit of a joke.

[@goeldner87]

I bought a shell pink 61 Strat online sight unseen at the start of the pandemic. Best guitar I’ve ever played!

[@nalukeko]

The giant CS logo on the headstock completely puts me off. Just mark it under the heel. The body is stamped ‘relic’ where it’s not visible too. Happy with my AO 60s and an ‘08 Standard.

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

When you fellas said “you like arm wrestling.” Was that a euphemism ; )

[@paullanglois3768]

Baxter’s Fantasy Video was the store my mom would never let me go into when I was a kid in the 80s.

[@drivenmad7676]

Welcome back Northman.

[@michaelblaney4461]

It would be nice if Fender expanded their Mod shop . sometimes all you want is a specific color or pickups.

[@subzero308]

and give the same options for Lefty's as well.

[@jeffsquires6620]

Thanks guys. Good to hear some light humor and topics.

[@TheBrizzie]

I never was a big fender guy until recently when I purchased a 60’s reissue aged shell pink custom shop strat and I am blown away. Anyone who is on the fence needs to pull the trigger :)

[@natashanyxx9486]

Great episode!

[@mcleroy1967]

I have had 4 custom guitars built, 3 Heritage and 1 Keisel. I loved 2 of them, hated one of them and did a lot of reconfiguring to learn to love the 4th one. It is beyond disappointing to wait for months to get a guitar that I ended up selling or having to gut or have the neck refinished. After all that, my go to is and off the rack American Telecaster.

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

I scooped up my CS Time Machine 55 P about 8 years ago in barely played used condition. Best gear purchase I've ever made. However, I prefer 50's correct specs so that made it easy back when Mike Eldred was running the shop and the Time Machine models were plentiful. Now days vintage correct models are much harder to come by. I think whether it's "off the shelf" or "custom one off" when it comes to Fender CS instruments that a player needs to know exactly what specs they want in an instrument and exactly what specs are negotiable. Even used they are an serious investment in yourself as a player and in cash. So get to know yourself as a player first, then window shop and be mindful of the specs and what you're looking for. If you go a couple years saving cash and don't see anything new or used that strikes your fancy, or you know you want something truly off the wall that isn't likely to get made as part of a team build run. Then you're probably better off doing a one off straight from the shop.

[@216trixie]

Oh.

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

@UCULXIJrlBJQWezwipMu_gyg I think it’s a number of factors. One being that times are tough and CS instruments retain their value fairly well and actually gain value once the initial depreciation hits after the first purchase when new. So if people are in a tight spot. It’s the instrument you move to get cash. Whether you’re a player or just a collector. Second, and you’ll see a similar trend coming with the new American Originals, as well. The Custom Shop since the leadership changeover has loved stamping vintage year dates on instruments that really play absolutely nothing like the instruments they are named after. So players who are old enough to be chasing the playability of a classic instrument that they foolishly sold in their youth or younger players who are looking to add a higher end instrument to their stable of American Vintage Reissues or Road Worn/Classic Lacquer instruments purchase these on line without really paying attention to the specs. Then end up with a premium instrument that plays reasonably closer to a mid level US factory Fender for about 4-5 times the price. Despite the quality being on a much higher level. At the end of the day, paying top dollar for entry level neck specs doesn’t make a lot of sense in the long run. So they get moved on. Lastly, I think a lot of people get worked up about “owning a CS” and not owning the actual instrument they are buying. So they spend a lot of money for who made the instrument and not necessarily on what made the instrument personally worth paying the price to them. I love the quality of the CS, but sometimes in the last ten years it feels kind of like they “jumped the shark” in regards to leaning on marketing and not the integrity of the designs themselves. Just my opinions, of course.

[@BasswipeNC]

The wait time from when I filled out my order form to pick up was 1 year (that was 2021-2022). It seems like a long time but you get over that part kind of quickly. My guitar was worth the wait. I love it.

[@jowyong6769]

Just received my custom order tele about a week ago. Totally worth the wait! It arrived a little earlier than expected, took around 10 months, and I was stoked! The build was exactly as I had envisioned, the neck was a little too fat for my liking but I'm getting used to it. The sound however, is absolutely phenomenal! I chose to go with Josephina hand wounds and I must say that they're worth their weight in gold. Also, the guitar has a harmonic resonance that's almost other-worldly, every note rings with a kind of 3-dimensional effect, yet is so well defined and supremely balanced throughout the sonic range. To the FCS, just take my damn money and gimme more of that stuff!!!

[@thecappy]

If the team built has the specs you want why not. I picked up a used 2016 ltd edition ‘58 Jazzmaster is desert sand with black hw pickups and gold guard. It also has the ‘62 c shaped neck and 9.5” radius. That’s close enough for me. Plays and sounds fantastic.

[@JoeKyser]

No wonder why the wait time is 18 months. Casino Guitars has them stacked with orders 🤣🤣 Yo.this is pure genius.

[@JoeKyser]

@smth 9021 yeah nitro doesn't seem to take long for it to start working its magic lol. I have one that spidered and yellowed within a year. If I just put some wear marks in it, you would swear it was old as hell. As a .matter of fact I am not even mad its doing it. I feel like its adding value 😀 Go back to when I was a teen, I would have been mad as hell. These days its highly sought after. Go figure. I have customers that ask for Niteo finishes knowing what's going to happen. Thats a newer thing

[@yestoES355]

Many times the shops order the one you’ve been looking for. Wild wood had tele custom exactly to my specs. I simply can’t wait nor do I like crazy custom specs. For those that do, I’d say it is worth the wait to get your dream guitar

[@JPDevlin]

Off the shelf Classic Vibe.

[@smeercat]

I’m gonna do a parts caster to get what I want. Already done 3 Teles. The Strat I had in my youth is next.

[@trampley]

After years of scouring the web I was able to get a custom shop telecaster that met exactly my specs and it's the best tele I've ever played. And honestly, there's something to be said for finding a thing you love that you didn't design yourself, since at times something you might not have thought of just works perfectly.

[@hoopy63]

Always wanted a candy apple red hardtail strat… so bought dream parts (incl. roasted flame maple neck) and threw it together… I love it! Now I’m building an early 60’s trem bridge model (loosely influenced by srv’s no.1)… much more affordable than CS.

[@9372duffy]

Number one special guys!!!

[@biggblak69]

My CS is a cheap tele copy modified into an esquire with a hot rail. I did most of the work myself and gave it o a luthier buddy to fine tune. I'm diggin' it the most!

[@mitchellstrauss5117]

If you live near a good shop, it pays to visit on a regular basis to check out "what's new." The newly arrived axes like our hosts describe may surprise you and more than meet your needs... don't forget too, the traded-in preowned guitars that randomly pop up may be your dream guitar at a discount... just this past weekend at my local shop I stumbled onto a pre-owned Martin D-28 Authentic '37 made in 2014... got a killer deal and man what a guitar... visit your shop... a lot...

[@j.b.l.tones33]

Baxter, Get this message to Fender... 1. The neck volute on your guitars has got to be re-evaluated. The Custom Shop is the biggest perpetuators of this. The volute isn't shaped right. Reference 1959 Stratocaster and reshape it to reflect said Stratocaster 2. Build the guitars as you did from 2012 to 2017 in American Vintage series. These were the most accurate to pre-cbs specs and are highly regarded as the best Fender guitars made since 1965. 3. The gap between the bridge plate and pickguard has got to end on stratocasters. Again, reference 1959 Stratocaster. 4. For 30 years Fender had put the string tree in the wrong spot on all American made 1962 and 1957 REISSUE stratocasters. Yet, Japan made stratocasters had it in the right location. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?? 5. There is a reason that pre-cbs guitars are beloved, cherished, and are continuing to increase in value. Fender got it right. And in doing so they made history, made music, and became legendary. The legacy, standards, practices, craftsmanship, and reputation must be continued. Someone must stand up and say it's not about money, it's not about production... It's about THE MUSIC, THE MAGIC, AND WHAT FENDER STANDS FOR. Get back to where it all started. Make them like you used to so our great grandchildren will still be playing the same old Fender guitar or amp that their great grandparents, grandparents, and moms & dads played. Yes, a little more battered and tattered, a little more used and abused, a little more rusty and crusty... But also a little more magical. With a equally magical story to be told. All that history and experience soaked into the wood. Deeply resonating with each new generation that picks up that trusty old Fender and makes history all over again.

[@seanbarker4610]

20+ years ago I had a guitar built for me, by a local luthier and i've had a lot of guitars pass through my hands since and nothing suits me as well! So go for it!

[@davidevans3175]

Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Gilmour, all played off-the-shelf, regular retail priced guitars in their prime years. Today's custom shop restores build quality but the price is absurd. And I have a John Cruz Strat he built to my specs (normally a 4-year wait but I did know somebody and got it in 18 months).

[@pgfitzgerald]

Look, now you can't tease us with "the one" and then leave us hanging like that!

[@OliverAmberg]

I want this ES 335 in back... she wants me too. I can feel it

[@BarronVonSchnoot]

The sexual tension is palpable.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

My dream guitar would be a NOS purple metallic Strat with a tortoise pick guard. Honestly I’d be happy with a Mod Shop build if I could get purple.

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Casino 😎

[@paristhalheimer]

Two questions about the 18 month wait : could part of the reason there is an 18 month wait is that dealers are ordering guitars? And would the Custom Shop survive of dealers weren't ordering guitars?

[@markinthemix6055]

I have loved the idea of a P90 in the bridge of a Strat for quite a while.

[@billycramer8066]

Partscaster is where I go when I get what I need. Tools, good hands, and not a lot of cash can get your a great ax. In days.

[@Nick-qq2nq]

I feel like there are so many shops that keep a good stock of CS guitars. I would never need to spec out my own unless I wanted something very specific. I’m pretty content with the 9.5 radius and 6105 frets that are standard on most custom shops. I’m not picky about neck profile either. I can always adapt to the guitar and I like having guitars with different profiles

[@janeandthecoolcats5033]

I think so too - its better to visit some shops and play em.

[@guillermourrutia2159]

I wish I could do that, You rarely find 12” radius strats anywhere.

[@Nick-qq2nq]

@@janeandthecoolcats5033 yeah or just at least see the finished product before sinking money into it

[@Nick-qq2nq]

@@guillermourrutia2159 that would be a special exception where you have to spec your own. Ik Sweetwater has the gt11 with the 11in. The finishes and roasted necks on those always look sweet but im always just unsure about that flat of a radius on a strat/tele

[@tysoncloster1074]

“Look into my eyes. Your soul is stained by the blood of the innocent. Feel their pain.”

[@zoomzoom3950]

If you're gonna spend that kind of money for Fender CS, you may as well spec what you want and wait for it. IMO I recently had to wait 5-6 months for a new Fender MIM Jaguar ('60s Vintera Jag in Ocean Turquiose) which finally arrived last month. I had a standard Ibanez model on order for two months and called the dealer for an update, and they told me it would be another 6-7 months (Aug/Sept 2022) Many years ago, I had to wait nearly 2 years to get a standard -but at the time low volume - Ric model I wanted. You had to put your order into a Ric dealer who would place the order with Ric and then you wait until the Ric factory does a run of that model and hope your order is in the run. The wait is the hardest part. 😁

[@Airfire21]

Here's an idea for you. Custom shop Thinline Noventa Tele. I'm about to do a DIY build like that. I think it's going to sound absolutely killer!!!!!

[@JoeBlack1108]

Hey yo, seen a Ferrari yellow strat HSS with an ebony fingerboard in player plus, had to have it. Problem was it was in Anderton's in the UK 150 pieces. I live in Canada and ordered it anyway and worth it, only thing would have been better is if it had the 70s headstock. This is a good idea.

[@JoeBlack1108]

@smth 9021 in a strat? That would be different...nice

[@ryangunwitch-black]

1:35 Equalibrium is a cool flick. It was supposed to be an adaptation of Ferenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury but they couldn't get the rights. Gun-kata!

[@johnt.mickevich2772]

What do you guys thinking about the Mod shop? I know there's no direct business for you involved there, but I'm curious if you've seen any builds from there, and what you think of what comes out of it. They generally seem okay to me, but the premium is pretty high for what really only amounts to getting the exact color and/or tuners that you want. As always, you guys rock.

[@ptg2662]

Bought myself a 59 3tsb roasted ash body CS strat 4 days ago, with 59 HW pickups, Jesus , below 7lbs, lol, smells like cocoa , it is a team built, but the heavy relic is done super Mojo'we ))) Before I had an old LTD wit crazy high action, and a Mexican Player strat, that player is realy a nice guitar for the money! But 10/56 (boat neck) neck is soooo comfy in my big hands, btw, for those who have big hands, I really would recommend to try the bigger neck shapes, my hand is not getting tired as fast as with a,, Modern C,, neck. Now I'm broke, paid 4700£ , but I am happy as hell, worth every penny , the guitar just sings, and is so resonant. I would say it is about 40% better than my mexican strat, really nice tones, and has Mojo for ages, My wife also said, that man, this is the most beautiful strat ever, and she does not mind spending this amount of money for THIS strat, do agree with her,lol.

[@baileywatts1304]

I don't really want a CS guitar but there's just some parts that I crave. Those Jazzmaster bridges that are strictly CS are just amazing. Same with their RSD J-Bass bridges. Really though, I mainly am not there for a CS instrument because I don't have as much cash as I'd like, because a regular USA Fender is already a great buy, and because whatever goofy stuff I get custom is going to pretty much guarantee that it won't have the sort of resale value that an off the shelf CS fender or a really quality USA Fender would have. Seriously though, if y'all at Casino can get some of those CS only parts ...

[@jeffthomson1777]

Always wanted a fender custom shop now that I have an R8 Les Paul it’s next on the list only thing I can’t decide is strat or a tele

[@jeffhuxford2870]

I want a thin line Strat…

[@worldsheaviestjamband93]

Personally since I’m not a nut about specs (I’ll play almost anything) I personally prefer having a budget of 5K and then searching for a guitar at multiple shops across multiple states. It makes the trip a lot more enjoyable when you’re able to buy (almost) anything in the shop and sometimes you get surprised by a guitar that’s half the cost.

[@overdriveguitarchannel3403]

Cigars from Cuba haven't been illegal for years

[@dustinpeele2748]

I don't really mind the wait time. It gives the buyer more time to pay the guitar off.

[@ledzeppelinzoso]

When do you pay? Pre build? Or when guitar arrives?

[@keithbriscoe99]

@@ledzeppelinzoso dealer in Chicago area told me $500 when order submitted. Balance when guitar is done and ready to ship to me.

[@dustinpeele2748]

@@ledzeppelinzoso The shops that I have ordered guitars from where there was a substantial wait, I was able to pay as I wanted. The balance was due when I took position of the guitar. So if you wanted to pay a few hundred bucks here and there you could rather than paying several thousands of dollars at once. This eases the sticker shock some.

[@limpindug]

A don't know how/why you fellas get distracted, you are so myopic? 😂😂👍🥃Respect to you fellas.

[@allenhayesmusic]

I know what ya did there with the arm wrestling bit

[@NJSonye]

Personally, at this point… I’d be a little late to the custom shop party. I may never have the opportunity to use it outside of the house. I’ve been fortunate to have great amps and a couple of great guitars. I’ve never owned more that 5 guitars. Trying to figure out what guitars to take to the gig, and 90 % of the time I take a 2. I usually play 90 mins show, and there’s never time to change guitars…unless I break a string. I still miss not having a “Candy Apple Red” Strat/Tele - I do have a 27 yr old Strat. Everything is really cool about it… except that damn finish. The thing is that it held its own against a ‘65 Strat on a blindfold test too.

[@BigBDMDog]

Just scored a ‘60s Custom Shop 2022 in tri-burst with 3A slab board. Unfortunately the setup was terrible, however very satisfied with the guitar.

[@seanbrooks2583]

I know people love fender custom shops... i just. cant see it being worth it unless you are into flipping guitars for profit. If you are buying the custom shop to keep.. just build yourself a warmoth guitar. (or pay someone). MJT relic bodies look 1000x better than anything fender custom shop is putting out. If you really want it to say Fender on the headstock, go on stratosphere and buy one of their necks. They even have ones from the custom shop! lol

[@TOBORtheMighty]

Bang on. There's a reason shops like Casino are ordering them by the bushel, driving wait times into the multi-year range which makes demand seem higher which increases prices, while most players have never even held one. I'm sure they're great instruments, but the business of it is a dirty game.

[@TommySG1]

Go Warmoth and build your dream guitar cheaper and the wait time there is like 8 weeks LOL!

[@pgfitzgerald]

The answer is obviously both. :-)

[@FrankLafone]

I feel like "Custom shop" gets thrown around a lot in the guitar playing community... like it's a common place thing everyone eventually does. I wonder how prevalent custom shop orders/sales are in the community? Am I the only person out there that's poor enough to look at CS like it's the guitar equivalent of picking up a Ferrari?

[@misternobody4786]

Sounds like fun, wish I had bags of cash or played a fender…

[@BXGuitars]

At some point can you all do a segment about any experiences with the Fender Mod Shop? Is that something you can order through a dealer or is it just direct through Fender? Thanks for the videos.

[@alanlevesque7180]

I bought a hardtail Strat through the Mod Shop. Best Strat I've ever owned. I have a Tele ordered but it hasn't shipped yet. I think the Strat took about 3 weeks.

[@charlesbolton8471]

It’s been a while, but they did do a video about the Mod Shop. I don’t know if it is the case, but in their video they specifically said a dealer can order a Mod Shop for you.

[@BXGuitars]

@@charlesbolton8471 Thank you for the info.

[@brucer261]

I have tried some 5-6000$ guitars and I could not really see where it was worth that much money. Maybe I just have not tried a really good one or I just don't know what to look for. : )

[@stratmagic6893]

Do you have to pay for the guitar on a custom build in total before you get it?

[@jeffhuxford2870]

Hey guys I would like a custom/master built fender…I would be willing to buy one off the show room floor..you know what I struggle with…the entire relic thing…it would be nice if some of them came without the extreme relic finish…

[@DamingR]

They do.

[@VidMashUp]

How can I buy "The One"?

[@bassicly4250]

Why not show us some of these guitars you had made for the shop ?

[@Black-Jack-2022]

?? Please talk about the Keisal guitars???

[@ericwarrington6650]

🤘🤪🎸🎶

[@brianh794]

If I spend that much money on a custom shop, I want to order exactly the specs I want. Unless I just happen upon the perfect guitar in a store

[@23centrifuge]

Someday…

[@derekeboyd]

P90s rule!

[@clockwork914]

Isn’t it Kick the tires & Light the fires ?

[@travisjgood02]

penance stare, is the ghost rider thing

[@csnide6702]

Like I would EVER plunk down that kind of money and WAIT the better part of 2 years to play it..... 😂😅😆 No F-ing way !

[@jeffhuxford2870]

Please spec out some without the relic….

[@drivenmad7676]

Build some hardtail southpaw strats. The left handed player gets neglected.

[@charlesbolton8471]

I’m not left handed, but I’m well aware of how neglected you guys are. However, Hardtail Strats are neglected even for right handed people especially if you want a Hardtail Strat with a maple fretboard.

[@benlogan430]

So it takes longer to get a new Fender Custom than to have a new home built? Or it could take longer for a Fender Custom than to get a bachelors degree? Not my worry though! Ahahahaha

[@TheNohcim]

Get one off the shelf you like. Too much option paralysis having the ability to control every little variable and minutiae

[@russellstarkey8965]

Most likely your dream fender is available online. Waiting years is no fun.

[@keillerb.musicandreviews3682]

I have never understood the whole relic theme, I can see going for vintage spec but why pay someone to make your guitar look like it was beat to death when you should be doing that enjoying the instrument yourself. jmho

[@TOBORtheMighty]

"The wait is so long, but don't worry. We've got plenty of them!" Hmm... So the reason the wait is so long is that dealers are ordering bunches of them speculatively. I understand the business side of it but that doesn't feel in the spirit of a custom shop.

[@danjolly9505]

The new matrix was terrible.

[@brosphbehemoth6141]

So because Equilibrium came first, does that mean John Wick is a copy cat thus making Keanna Reeves a poser…..????

[@georgestahl8866]

Look in the mirror with me. Now say, I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me.

[@0burrus]

All about what kind of mula you got

[@karengayle9331]

2 high school graduates .making videos, only in AMERICA!

[@Atttuner]

Another sell boring 😴

[@ChrisOttoSTL]

Ok guys, we get it. You sell custom shop Fenders, you can walk the customer through the process. The Fender custom guys are great, they can make your dream guitar, complete with fake ware and tear- oops, sorry, relicing and such. We get it, you make lots of money selling Fender custom shop guitars. Yes, your KZbin channel is partly to promote the shop. We get it. We get it. Please give it a rest. I'm so sick of hearing you gush on about Fender custom shop, I'd almost rather hear Baxter blather on about the random stupid movies and shows he thinks are great. Almost.

[@homegrownson]

I build and/or assemble my own whenever possible and many times not only save money, time and get exactly what I want, but Not Everyone can do that or afford a Custom Shop Build, Right Now vintage Prices have went down, so maybe your Dream Guitar is that Vintage Guitar on the Wall at places like Casino, before that market takes off again and gets Stupid Expensive. So Always remember to ask what came in on Trade or was Bought as a vintage option. On a Side note my Screen name when did freelance Motorcycle and Music Magazine Photography was Ghostrider69

[@216trixie]

ThAt'S fANtasTiC