What Custom Shop is Right For You?

Are you trying to decide between a Fender Custom Shop or a GIbson Custom Shop or a PRS Private Stock, baxter and Jonathan talk about some of the custom options on each one that might help you decide what brand of custom guitar is right for you.

[@anthonypanneton923]

I've read that Jeff Beck could pick up ANYthing - any kind of electric or acoustic guitar - and whatever he played on it would be instantly recognizable as Jeff Beck.

[@samhealey7603]

I ordered my Fender Custom Shop in August last year, '60 Tele in Shell Pink. Should be here end of this year, beyond excited for that to come through.

[@terrylstarks]

I love Les Pauls and Strats!!!! Really enjoy PRS, all of their line. But if I had the money I’d have to do the PRS custom shop thing!!!!! I’d love to find a way to get to Maryland and go to the vault and hands on pick out each component and color and meet the people that will be dedicated to making my guitar for me!!!!! Acoustic if they would do it for me it would be Santa Cruz. But as you said it takes a lot of time out of their day to take us rubes around!!!! Martin would be a very close second. Thanks MEN!!!!!!!!!

[@TREVORJB101]

Honestly, I just want a '63 NOS Stratocaster from the Custom Shop. Nothing crazy, just can't afford a $20k+ 1963 Fender Stratocaster.

[@matthewhirt6092]

Great discussion! I tried to custom order a simple Flying V with a flame maple top and no pickguard from Gibson Custom last month at the Garage and they said they couldn't do it haha. I didn't think it was such an outlandish request

[@stacyp2744]

I ran into this same problem last year at the Gibson Garage on a trip to Nashville. Thought it would be really cool to order it at the Garage and direct from Gibson. I wanted a 1961 spec Custom Shop ES335 with split parallelogram inlays and an Aquamarine finish. They first seem to indicate that they should be able to do it, but despite trying to get them to respond for a month after my visit, I just gave up. Then I asked Wildwood Guitars in Colorado for help and they put my complete order together and even gave me a discount off the “list” price of the order. Why on earth Gibson wouldn’t want to take my money I have no idea and I guarantee you they would have charged me full list price.

[@DavidHBurkart]

Unreal

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@stacyp2744 I can’t say for sure why Gibson wouldn’t take your money at the Garage. However, my guess is that at least some of the employees have a problem with knowing who to take seriously. The Gibson Garage is a tourist attraction and tourists make it problematic for actual customers to shop at a couple of the iconic local guitar stores as well.

[@cesarfitforever3278]

#1 PRS, #2 Fender, #3 Gibson... 👍👍

[@calebshelton9240]

Paul Davids has the most gorgeous PRS custom shop I have ever seen.

[@ctcards2636]

I want a custom shop customized to my exact specs, customized just for me, customizable strat with the custom shop finish and custom shop little details professional model made from the custom shop relic. :-P heheh. Ive found some of the custom shop models to be not my bag, I searched for 30+ years for a Fender strat i liked. I had owned dozens of Fenders thru the years but was always disappointed with certain aspects of the guitars. In that time i discovered G&L. Life changed. But recently i got a Pro II HSS strat in midnight blue, this is hands down the nicest Strat ive ever owned/played. Yes im being serious. I have owned custom shop models that cot 4x the price, i didnt like them as much as i like this Pro II. Dont get my wrong its all subjective. But im blown away that for less than $2k i finally have a Fender thats worthy of hanging with my G&L's. For me personally i dont see a reason to buy a Custom shop. Their Mod Shop has enough options. Although i wouldnt buy a guitar from that. But my point being is I dont see where the extra $3-4k is going on some of these custom shops.I feel the same way about Gibson, i mean now its like $3k for a Standard with a decent top ? And the there is almost no love put into those guitars it feels like. Spending that type of $ to get a guitar with problems that shouldnt happen and dont happen on cheaper guitars. No excuse. Sorry Gibson lovers, i love Gibson too, but their older Gibsons. Get a 90s or early 00s Gibson used and save money and get a better guitar. Anyways my point is before ya waste a ton of money just to say "I have a Custom shop", see if you really need that label and if its actually gaining you anything other than just being able to brag about it. We are in a time where for very little you can find some amazing guitars, check out PRS SE line for example. If the US companies keep making crap... well thats the answer to why are you not seeing more Gibsons around. Epiphones are everywhere right now. To custom shop or not, that is the question. For me im good. You dont have to spend $4K+ to get a good strat, check out G&L as well. More people need to try G&Ls.

[@ledzeppelinzoso]

Im 32 i just got the jimmy page customshop and i love it, they got a few greenies coming to canada but w hst and conversion theyre 30000. I was thinking i might sell my other les paul and strat to pay for a third or half, it would be a bold move leaving age for the prestige of new customshops

[@cojohnso80]

I am craving a Gretsch Custom Shop Double Jet.

[@rylieriley]

The Washburn custom shop guitars, that were made in Chicago, IL, are darn nice instruments as well. My favorite custom shop guitars so far are the higher end Fender custom shop guitars (as opposed to the basic, entry level ones) and the Gibson made to measure guitars that are aged by the Murphy Lab team. I don't have any experience with the PRS custom shop yet, but I have no doubt they'd be out of this world, fantastic instruments.

[@SkunkworksProps]

The world is very much not your oyster with PRS Private Stock. I tried to order one; I wanted a custom 24 with the McCarty 594 control layout. No, they didn't want to do that. OK, make me a 24 fret McCarty 594 (apparently the thinner body on the CU24 was the issue with the first request). No, they didn't want to do that either. OK, make me a McCarty 594, but I want the brushstroke bird inlays on the fretboard and the regular private stock eagle on the headstock. No, they didn't want to do that either. I was allowed to pick the model, the wood, and the finish. So I ordered a custom shop strat instead.

[@DavidAlexander-jy5gk]

Thanks!

[@Bfordandafter]

My custom guitars have all come from small builders..... I have a Creston Electric Offset that is just a great guitar..... two Walsh guitars that were customs, though I didn't spec them out.. bought one used and one straight from Walsh after it was completed.... both are splendid. I wouldn't mind a custom shop G&L or Fender asat or tele style guitar...

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

I've got a Custom Shop American Vintage Reissue Strat in Fiesta Red and I adore that thing. It's from 2001 and is based on a 61 Strat. That thing will pretty much never go out of tune. That said, I've played some TERRIBLE Custom Shop guitars that are super expensive and really suck.

[@ct90twa]

Great discussion. Feel the conversation started with “custom shop” and veered off to custom order/built. I would still consider a Murphy Lab or Murphy painted a custom shop guitar vs. a Made To Measure custom order.

[@587583922]

If you didn't spec it out, it isn't custom. If you pick it up off a wall, "custom shop" is a marketing lie. It may or may not be nicer than whatever the standard offerings are. But it's still a marketing lie.

[@garycoates4987]

I bought my Gibson custom shop back in 2006 ,it was a run it's a 54 reissue but with ice tea burst plain top, the side aren't book matched and I love it, it is literally a guitar I had a dream about and found in real life, it plays great and sounds better than anything with endless sustain, I would recommend whatever brand or style you want as a player you should get a custom level guitar, you really can't match the upper tier instruments , they rival boutique quality, probably better than boutique quality, even if you can't buy a new one used on reverb custom level guitars are worth saving up for.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I think a Fender looks good with exposed ash or alder grain, but not with figured maple bodies like a LP or PRS. Ash body with flamed maple neck looks cool to me!

[@seanbrooks2583]

What about Wood Library? Is that part of private stock?

[@marksouthgate-wm8ie]

Great video, guys. Love your unbiased opinions. Being based in the uk, I just wish I could afford to cross the pond and visit your shop! All the best.

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

The closest I've gotten to anything custom is the Mule Resonator I recieved in January. Not sure I could justify a custom shop from any of the big makers. I have a fondness for pawn shop guitars...

[@ROCK-vl5yw]

You have to get a custom guitar to have anything worth playing back when I got my first in 66 they stood behind there guitar I payed 400 for Les Paul it was a beautiful guitar

[@jamesburge1983]

There are a lot of 'Custom Shops' out there. Some are better than others. It really comes down to what you want and what you are willing to pay for. EG Are Nash guitars 'Customs'? Are they better than Fender Customs? I dunno. What about Alembic? Do they still count as a custom shop? Look around find what you want, cross reference it with what you can afford. For me it is the G&L custom shop, but that is just me. BTW: Astonishingly good example of a Razorback crushing a long horn. Incredibly good insight, not falling for the LSU trick.

[@lorigilmore5521]

Baxter! You combed your hair? I can't afford a custom guitar. But I would love a Santa Cruz.

[@desimonenoah]

I'm curious how the fraser custom stuff is, if anyone has experience with their stuff.

[@stewarttomkinson3356]

I’m a lefty build my own Paul Reeds Smith silver Sky, because they don’t have one and put P90 in it so it’s a cheap custom guitar sound great

[@MrSmiley1964]

A thin line Katana with triple P-90s made of black Limba? NAW!!! In all seriousness I have an idea for one of two Fender CS Strats. I'm happy with my Teles. #1 is an Alder bodied SSH vintage trem with a '51 NoCaster profile w/Rosewood Board 9.5 R. I want to talk about the pickups. #2 Ash bodied mini, strat, tele, hardtail, '51 NoCaster 9.5 R. There will be only one (1). When my mind is made up the money will flow and I will call.

[@daves6220]

I’m my own custom shop!

[@Michael-bm8hi]

If you want to invest the amount of money it takes for a custom shop Gibson, go and buy a Collings. That is how a Gibson custom shop should sound like. Also look at their 360 model and you might let your Strat in the case. Not to speak of the 470 JL which is superb. … and be concerned of the Murphy Lab guitars. I had one at home and my hand were full of lacquer ‚glitter‘. Returned it as I don‘t trust their coating used for the aging effect to last throughout the years. Coatings are complex systems and take years to develop. Maybe Mr Murphy didn‘t take his time.

[@Lovell93]

Im a PRS guy through and through. Not a fan of Gibson. I have one Gibson Les Paul that was a limited line my grandfather handed down to me. Not sure on year. Made in the 70s, i know that. Fun to play but im not in love like i am with my Custom 24-08!

[@davidthynne4765]

I just paid a visit to the Gibson custom shop site how the hell do I order a custom Gibson? Am I just stupid, which I must admit could be the case! I'm 66 and do not have much of a clue online I did try to get in touch with Gibson way back in the 90's with no luck I wanted to replace the tail piece on a Gibson v that I had purchased new. they had a ad campaign at the time that said only buy American made parts for your Gibson so I tried with no luck no phone number that I could find no Email but I did get a Fax number I sent three faxes with no answer I took the part off and on the reverse side it said Made in Japan?

[@toddseitz]

ESP’s Custom Shop tops all of these companies. They will literally build anything.

[@caiusmadison2996]

Id say PRS is definitely a wood based masterclass, and the Dragon proves they mastered inlay as well. That said, a good Yuri "Jeweled" piece can be way more art than any PRS or Gibson has ever approached imo.

[@cortmiller]

I didn’t think PRS private stock was allowing as much off the rails options anymore? Had heard you kind of have to start with a core body style and can pick out all the wood etc but not as many custom inlays and weird stuff anymore? Could be wrong. Steven stern at gretsch is pretty damn phenomenal as well

[@maxfaith1940]

I feel it doesn't matter who you go with Murphy Lab, custom shop, Unless you have resources to get old growth wood,or refurbished old wood. You are paying for a service. Brian May ,and his Dad built his from a 500 yr old fireplace mantel. There are great guitars out there that are not custom built.

[@seanmiller7187]

Will Fender build an original spec Electric XII?

[@charlesbolton8471]

I’m sure they would (and probably already have built at least one), but the question is would you be willing to pay their asking price? I wanted the Custom Shop to build me one of Fender’s more obscure instruments. I wanted a replica of a first generation Fender Electric Mandolin. Of course,that instrument like the Electric XII is not one of the standard Custom Shop options so that automatically kicks it up to being a Master Builder project. In my case, Fender was willing to do it, and Master Builder Paul Waller had built a few. However, the asking price was $10,000 which was a little more than I wanted to pay. So I reached out to some small builders who have excellent reputations for building Fender style instruments and asked them. All of them except for one told me no. The one who said yes told me that he had a two year wait time. Oddly enough, his price was also $10,000. I spoke to him in person at his shop on a Friday afternoon. So, I spent the weekend thinking I was just going have to spend more money than I had planned on to get the instrument that I really wanted. However, that Monday afternoon, fate smiled down on me. After work, I was checking my email and as usual for Mondays there an email from Carter Vintage listing their latest arrivals. Right there on that list was an original 1957 first generation Fender Electric Mandolin for $4,000. I called right then and basically bought it over the phone. I picked it up a few days later. It is one of my most prized possessions. I still would like to have a Custom Shop copy of it, though. The moral of my story is that you can probably get an actual vintage Fender Electric XII for less than what it would cost to get one from the Custom Shop.

[@benfowler2127]

The ESP Buccaneer or Ghost Soldier

[@HDM3]

While I agree that options with gibson are way less than a fender, theyll do crazy colors. Just had a buddy get a sparkle red M2M Les Paul Custom. Seen a sparkle pink/orange/green on reverb too.

[@Boomsterblak]

I think Prs best built guitar at mid-high level..like Fender strat and Tele for playing and creating..Gibson Acoustic ..tone..all of these guitar brands are fantastic ..no matter how old you are..lol

[@randrothify]

Gibsons are great guitars. The problem is that their pricing has overshot the affordability needed to bring in young guitar players and their QC up until recently has not been terrific. Unfortunately Fender is beginning to mimic Gibson’s mistakes. I just bought my first PRS SE and it’s fantastic. The Gretsch‘s that I have bought are even better.

[@Black-Jack-2022]

check Keisel customn guitars!!!

[@guitarswh]

If only Jimi had a custom shop Strat… See how gullible we are?

[@erikolsen1333]

Guitar trader in asheville just closed its doors RIP

[@RolandSpecialSauce]

I didn't know anybody other than gibson had a custom shop.😮

[@danwilson9530]

Back when Grover Jackson owned Charvel those guys would build you anything. They did not have a custom shop because they were already that type of entity by nature, a low production single factory full of hand builders. That’s how Jackson got started. Rhoads came to Grover with a crazy offset V idea and Grover put his name on it as to not negatively affect the Charvel brand in case not well received. Next thing you know they were building guitars bodies shaped/painted like everything from machine guns to 35mm cameras, all handmade Custom Shop quality. Don’t know if the FMIC Jackson Custom Shop of today will still do the same or if they are governed by the same uptight rules as the Fender CS. So here’s my next pushing the limits of the Fender CS Master/Apprentice Build program. Will they build me a Rhoads V to the spec of the original RR Custom with “Fender” written on the headstock instead of Jackson or Charvel? Clearly they can do it, but for the right price will they???

[@bobbrown5212]

PuRSe 😂

[@harrycanyon273]

How can you be so happy with your hair so nappy? Lol

[@BrentAdams]

My Custom Shop! I had to make a "T-Style" guitar to make me happy. Nothin' else came close! Sorry...and I"m NOT going into business to make more. Most Custom Shops... are FAR from really being Custom Shops.....and Relic'ing sucks ... and is a very bad excuse for a finish to charge MORE for.

[@Atttuner]

I really want a silver sky w diamond encrusted birds, coated in gold flakes, resin hardened caviar set into the headstock??? Can you also take my bank account and give a crackhead unlimited access? That w make me feel like my life working as a lifeless stiff has been validated 😂

[@yestoES355]

After purchasing a 10K custom shop gretsch I was not impressed at all when compared to the current high end Japanese models. 3-4K vs 10K is a big gap and I saw no worth in the USA gretsch custom shop. Kinda disappointed, but at least I now know.

[@seanbrooks2583]

I feel like Gibson's brand is irreversibly damaged. Every single player i know under the age of 30 thinks they are heavy boomer guitars with bad quality control.

Lol...I'm a Boomer have owned 30+ new Gibsons since 1979. But I have also owned brand new Schecter, ESP, Reverend, Yamaha. Ibanez guitars. Gibson has a mentality in the current to sell yes to the high-end disposable cash peeps. And the suckers are born every minute!

[@seanbrooks2583]

@ They are the harley davidson of the guitar world.

[@davedavid7061]

@@seanbrooks2583 I hope your song lyrics are less cliched than that comment

[@seanbrooks2583]

@@davedavid7061 i only play acid jazz. no lyrics homie

[@216trixie]

Been playing for decades. Gigged last night with a 2020 SG. Best guitar I’ve ever played. People young and old come up to me and tell me what an amazing sounding and looking guitar it is.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Bragging rights are a thing of the past so it seems (so is Hair Metal). Same in the synthesizer domain. It is pretty much every time frowned upon buying something special, something special to you. Impress yourself not others. Some brands get it, some do not. Gibson is a bit like Ferrari. A lot of potential but mostly bad decisions.

[@danwilson9530]

I was surprised to learn that Yamaha, “the sleeping giant”, has a custom shop in Los Angeles, but they only work with select artists to build crazy handcrafted high-end stuff.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Yamaha is no sleeping giant imho. Their synths,(el)piano's and guitars are pretty well regarded.

[@danwilson9530]

@@michelvondenhoff9673 They are indeed well regarded. Nobody can deny the good reason for the ubiquity of their grand pianos and as a synthesizer enthusiast/collector, I agree that Yamaha made some of the most notable classics before and as pioneers in the field of digital FM synthesis. The problem with Yamaha guitars is not the quality but their generic, boring image. There's nothing glamorous about the brand guitar-wise. It's as bland as plain oatmeal. They are very good, solid instruments, and an excellent value because of their less than sexy image. While they have made some very cool guitars along the way, they are anything but a cool brand as far as guitars.

[@alistaircononach6456]

Dunable, all day long.

[@johnwashburn3793]

I think that it's ironic. You guys order a bunch of guitars from PRS and you don't get them for 40 months. You don't attend their event last month. You finally get your order after a f.u. video and now you love PRS...and you say it is worth the trip....

[@stratmagic6893]

My K line strats absolutely destroy all the Fender CS strats I have played at less than half the price. Fender is so overpriced.

[@seanbrooks2583]

Anything over 5k is just price gouging.

[@sdelling1]

Not for a hand built custom

[@seanbrooks2583]

@@sdelling1 you can get hand built custom shop fenders for under $4k.

[@wammons007]

@@seanbrooks2583 where? i didnt see any but would love to maybe try one at that price

[@joshuajkoplin]

@@sdelling1 Production guitars are just as much “hand built” as a masterbuilt guitar. Production guitars are not made by a machine that you throw a bunch of wood, steel and wire into and the machine spits out a completed guitar. Masterbuilt are just built by 1 builder.

[@seanbrooks2583]

@@wammons007 sweetwater has several custom shop teles for $3800 in stock. Unless you actually mean built to your 'custom spec'... the word "custom" gets used very liberally in the guitar world.

[@joshuajkoplin]

Paul Reed Smiths are the Nickleback of guitars. Full on Bro guitars.

[@anthonypanneton923]

I have no idea what that even means.

[@joeykelly5642]

I wouldn’t support the Fender Custom Shop after they fired John Cruz over a post on his personal social media account. Companies shouldn’t police the political expression of their employees off the clock.

[@pureblood3823]

ESP Japan

[@anthonypanneton923]

custom shmustom. just play the f@#$%^g song!