Stratocaster Shootout: Whats The Custom Shop Difference?

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[@RhettShull]

My first video course, The Tone Course, is available now! Check it out here. flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course

[@tommyhoffman4587]

I take almost every new strat apart and throw everything away,put in the best of everything,wire to my liking,all soldered by hand with the best wire and solder,then it couldn't sound better,and doesn't cost thousands

[@harshtruth9148]

You do a great job at blending the three guitars one after the other with the same lick. Makes it so easy to hear the differences. I think the Fender CS has a much more polished sound than the other two, and looks better but 4K? I don’t know. I have a 1990 fender USA Strat and it’s unreal. Dad bought it for me at 12...first guitar...I was spoiled....lol. Awesome channel brother. BTW, I changed from 10s to 9s after watching your comparisons.

[@drpastormartinosempa8930]

Possibly wasn't the best move to compare a maple boarded stainless fret guitar with two rosewood boarded with nickel frets??? Brighter guitars generally feel sterile to me because I'm used to rosewood and nickel.... there's something about the low end that disappears that makes everything sound and feel all wrong...

[@benjaminschoendorff8700]

n n n nn n n bbn*

[@josephlerz6889]

I'd buy the botique for the white and blue relic finish

[@onlyfromadistance7326]

Price shouldn't be an issue. A REAL guitar player gets his girlfriend to buy it...

[@RKDriver]

Marry a nurse!

[@MrPINKFL0YD]

Swing that handbag!

[@kawmic7]

Good luck with that!!😎😎🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@blackbearbear9313]

If you don't have a girl friend fine someone else

[@okamuspanulirus9614]

Srv levels

[@Sammywhat]

Honestly, a blindfold test is really the only way to be fully unbiased. Seeing that Fender name will usually spark a sense of that certain "something" that may not really be there if you didn't see the name. Or at the very least, may not be there at that price range. I'd like to see a test of midrange Strats with Rhett blindfolded. Andertons does this on occasion and it's a real eye-opener - egregious pun intended. Hope to see one in the near future, Rhett! Nice playing by the way!! 🎶💜

[@son0fsocal]

They don’t do them because they are afraid of saying a squire sounds better than a 5k fender . Confirming what I’ve always said ..they all sound the same.

[@Sammywhat]

@@son0fsocal I think you're right. They really do sound the same. Which is a testimony to Leo's amazing design in the first place. The thing for me is, does a $5000 dollar custom shop feel that much better? As a lefty, I've never played a custom shop Strat or Tele. So I'm not one to say. But after rolling the fret board edges and dialing in the fret ends, is there really a $4500 dollar difference? I'm guessing not.

[@AndrewTGreen]

Dare you to take a 'Murican Std, Japanese, Mex and lowest rate Tele and do the same. Let's hear it! Don't give me that Custom Shop BS...

[@clemdog76]

AndrewTGreen just another way to turn just about anything pretentious. The reason the suhr didn’t resonate with him because it was the least expensive, more manufactured line. Strats were less than $200 new back in the day and were just like any other consumer product. In fact modern manufacturing had come a long way since then.

[@weschilton]

Yeah Ive done just what you said.... in fact I’ve owned everything from a Squier, to Mex, AM standards and off the line reissues. My 1959 heavy relic custom shop blows them out of the water. Yes its really expensive, but they are the best Fender’s I’ve every played. ZERO BS.

[@Badhands55]

The MM sounded best to me- the most vibe and mojo - and the budz - awesome

[@TheRixstar]

For me sound wise goes Fender, Mario, suhr. Feel wise... I'll never know 😭

[@GMec78]

Honestly, when buying a Fender maybe more so than any other brand (and I love Strats) really the law of diminishing returns hits hard after the $700 to 1000 range. If you can sand, spray paint, and soldering for $1000 or less you should be able to build a reliced nitro finished partscaster that rivals the top of the line from production guitars from Fender and maybe even the custom shop guitars

[@cardbored_]

LOL except everyone who does their own relics they always look silly and nothing like a CS relic

[@GMec78]

@@cardbored_ so would you say the same thing if EVH where in front of you?

[@keithtpc1508]

Rhett you're playing this wrong , Jimmi used the bottom e string in addition to the root note on the A string in the opening E flat Chromatic chord sequence. Try it and let me know if I'm wrong.

[@merrykrismuntz]

that's not 3 different price points, that's pretty much 3 incredibly high end guitars,. top 10% prices

[@juliensoyer5786]

Digging the custom shop and the mario ! I have exactly the same feeling about Suhr guitars ! had one, extremly well made, easy to play, amazing neck pickup sound but something was off my tastes, this "root", the little imperfection in the sound that makes the sound vibrant, that is what I love on CS fenders

[@sluggdiddyyddidgguls]

what happened to the off the line fender. I think that is the more interesting comparison. If you are spending 3500 on a guitar you can spend 4400 just the same in most instances. The suhr vs the off the line fender is the more likely decision most people will encounter. Boutique vs mass produced. that said..appreciated the take on the custom vs the mario.. I will just never ever spend over 2500 on an electric guitar and I imagine most guitar players are in the same boat.

[@Yumemaru.]

Yeah I feel you.

[@patrickfoster4586]

In the intro that sunburst sounded AMAZING!! A real standout! Cheers P[>

[@capybaraman1359]

60’s sg’s go for pretty good prices if you don’t buy from a store

[@jakebrandt5882]

Check out the Bluesman Vintage Sedan series. John Scott is a master at "building new vintage guitars". I say that because he will straight up build you a to-spec 64 S style for 2200 bucks (which is still a lot of money). Not just build you a reissue or a remake of a 64...Im talking, all the components are even there all the way down to paper in oil caps and cloth clad wiring. Dude legit "makes them like they used to" for about half the price of a manufacturers Custom Shop. Phil X even said "This is the best strat Ive ever played" about em. Worth a look if you havent heard of them. I ordered a Tele/Firebird hybrid from him, expecting it any day now, and CAN NOT WAIT to get it.

[@samthompson4815]

It's down to the talent to make a guitar sing but it's the guitar that inspires the player to make that guitar sing. I agree there's definitely something about the feel of the neck/body/sound in vintage Fenders that can just inspire people to come up with incredible music, myself included. This is what it comes down to imo Plus a guitar like that will last a lifetime and can be passed down generations

[@78tag]

...take ten of those other guitars to ten other people and they will say everything you just said about "that" guitar. I'm not buying it. (what you said or the guitar) imo

[@samthompson4815]

@@78tag what one man loves another man hates bud

[@barrelburger]

I just don't get the appeal of relic guitars. I know many people love them, but to me if a guitar has a blemish, I should get a discount for buying a "scratch & dent" item. I have 9 Strats and none of them retail over $1000. I've lovingly customized each of them and each one sounds and feels amazing. I just can't imagine spending over 4K for a beat up guitar, or for that matter a vintage guitar either. But that's just me. To each his own.

[@ginolamendola4084]

I thought the Mario Martin sounded the best !

[@gladejustglade]

Part of me says you should have thrown a Squier in there for good measure.

[@Craig_Fussell]

Agree! I hear the Classic Vibe Squiers are really good instruments.

[@flyingstratosurfer6285]

@@Craig_Fussell They are. Definitely. Plenty of Strat for few bucks. Check out the Tellys too...

[@williamleiplein9799]

Just bought a classic vibe. I compared it playing with a Mexican made classic style strat, I think it was called a Ventura, for a while and just couldn’t justify the massive price difference. The squire classic vibe felt good and sounded good too so that’s what I went with

[@jielyu4943]

To me Fender just build good guitars. All the guitars across the price range from Squier to CS plays super nice

[@eddiegodoy5120]

The fender vintera, not ventura lol

[@RobertNolan]

*walks out of the jam room filled with 12k worth of strats* "...Yeah, I'm just here to buy strings... Thanks."

[@Rangoslap8]

You said it right.

[@cuauhtemocmorisco3493]

😂😂👍👍👍

[@davidbowen169]

Robert Nolan yes. Not to mention the $4000 boutique amp playing through high end boutique pedals.

[@SolamenteVees]

*picks

[@RubbelisPro]

You've gotta do it to them at least once.

[@gardnerfiddle2927]

God, the prices are so relative! As a violinist, dropping $5K is pretty much an entry level professional instrument...

[@clintwilson6380]

Just curious, what is the most expensive violin you ever played?

[@gardnerfiddle2927]

Clint Wilson $15 million Guarneri del Jesu.

[@marceliptero]

As a doublebassist .. 5k$ Doublebass is a very cheap entry level one ... very far from a profesional one ... 15k... 30k ... 100k and so on

[@gardnerfiddle2927]

Marcel by the Strings so true! Let’s not even get started on how much cheaper guitar strings are in comparison!

[@tegucigalpa4696]

How much did your bow cost?

[@brndgtl]

Fender should hire that guy from the store. He is knowledgable, passionate about guitars and good on camera

[@hibernative]

Agree!

[@hkguitar1984]

I totally agree, he most certainly has been around the Block with a Stratocaster. He was good on camera too. Would like to see video of him playing.

[@Paxilthedog]

Let's pay him 3 times more and keep him independent. There are enough people praising chinese made fenders out there all ready.

[@koonsickgreen6272]

As an executive of course, vp of sales or what not.

[@matthewatwood1060]

Someone should tell Rick Beato.

[@thep2pband]

Life is too short to play a crappy guitar.

[@hhattingh]

Preach brother!

[@J__C__]

Rhett: *Life is too short to interact with viewers* 👎

[@TheRichie213]

But you don't have to spend thousands either. Not even one thousand.

[@hibernative]

I think the Suhr sounded more muffled because of the hum canceling pickups. I’m sure it kills some high frequencies.

[@fvlok]

Absolutely

[@RJRonquillo]

I dug the Mario

[@gookiecrunch]

I love the mario martins. Get one!!! They make amazing guitars! Of course me being me i swapped nearly everything out on it though. (Had em put in virgil arlo pickups, pots, cap, pickguard, tremolo and saddles.) Haha I'm a weirdo though!! 😄 🤣

[@MrLinuschan]

Seldom come across comparison that have suhr as the cheapest guitar hahaha

[@ben156]

Funny isnt it...

[@rickc2102]

That's when you start talking about professional-level axes. If you can get a tax write-off for it, $2500 starts to look a little smaller.

[@kitano0]

@Possumlove Jack Pearson comes to mind...he plays Squiers.

[@TheEchelon]

@@michaelluczak3019 You mean like all the other companies? The patent, if there was one, has expired. Fender only has the rights for the headstock shape now.

[@jarredhicks]

I own a 64’ Fender Custom Shop Journeyman Strat ($4100). I will say having something so beautifully crafted and easy to play keeps it in my hands longer and encourages me to practice more. Because the instrument is so intuitive, attractive, and I made the investment, I find myself walking across the room to play it much more than my old Epiphone (also a great guitar)!

[@winfredroberson2027]

I bought a 63' Fender Custom Shop Telecaster(NOS) and man, the thing plays like a charm. Every time I look at it I end up picking it up and playing. Spent($4000) on it and it is totally worth it, I practice all the time and plan on keeping it for the rest of my life, so the money is irrelevant.

[@vinced5741]

@jarredhicks that's how it should be.

[@jonkomatsu8192]

Teles next, please. And yes Gibson, please. Mahalo!

[@JohnFoxBass]

@@CocoKoi321 Guild Bluesbird and S-100

[@jfar3340]

and why not PRS, gretsh, ibanez while you're at it

[@jfar3340]

@@JohnFoxBass S-100? I prefer SOX10 most of the time (this is not a medical advice)

[@davidmahoney1248]

Not discounting the fact that these are obviously all finely crafted instruments, I can't help but remind myself of the fact that Rory Gallagher, played one, single, very slightly modified, stock, off the shelf Strat his entire life, that Clapton's "Blackie" was a mongrel guitar, pieced together from used, stock, bargain bin instruments, and of course, Hendrix's Woodstock Strat was also a stock, off the shelf, mass-produced, instrument.

[@rickc2102]

Makes me feel better about the multiple rebuilds of my A.S. Strat. Next is the 3 mini hb mod and a 24.75" scale neck. I'll make up for the sacrilege some day with a C.S.

[@nazmoking3171]

You left our Jack Pearson (former Allman Bros. Band) and his Squier strat.

[@northof50now]

David, I've been saying this since I picked up my first guitar. How is it these guys could play outstanding with stock stuff; Clapton with pieced together guitars - all having tiny vintage frets with 7.25" radius boards. Probably talent. I think we let our emotions carry us away today. Listening to Rhet, clearly his assessment was purely emotional. Count the number of times he reference "looks" and "vibe." Vibe being a completely made-up, mind-game.

[@blue-tb2fd]

Walt Coyle - "it isn't a great guitar" let's see you make something better

[@ThePinkguns]

David Mahoney back then there was no custom shop or «vintage» strats.. ofcourse the factory strats are getting better and better, however the cs og master built fenders have a selected wood, selected parts and so on. I know the price is alot more than what you Get. Bet if i had 4000 to blow on a guitar i would buy a custom shop 60’s strat. Improved but still classic and full of tone

[@DavidSJ_DAP]

I wish you had added in a run-of-the-mill Am Std Strat to the comparison...I would have liked to see how it compared to the premium and above guitars you looked at here...

[@wilson4180]

DavidSJ I get this, but there’s literally 100s of others demos on KZbin of American standard strat vs custom shop strat and squire vs custom shop and squire vs American. This demo is great for people who are going for a custom shop fender, but maybe there’s something else out there within that custom shop realm that they didn’t know about.

[@benberman1926]

@Boston Mike: Exactly the reason I wish he'd included a Nash in this look :-) though I realize this line of thinking might lead you down a path that never ends . . .

[@jcd13able]

Major difference is going to be the nitro finish. I love how nitro guitar ages with cracks in the finish and all of that. I also have poly guitars and they never age, well except for swirl marks :) One thing that I do prefer nowadays, is recessed heel so I can reach the upper frets. I also like 9" radius, two point bridge for stability, old kluson tuners, basically some old mixed with some new appointments. If I was buying a strat today, I would either buy a used american fender strat or the new mim player's series that come awfully close to am std. strats.

[@WhalerGA]

Agreed, but I don't think they carry those at Righteous Guitars.

[@danieljensen2626]

It's all subjective at this point. No strat in the world is "better" than an American standard, it's just slight differences which anybody may or may not like.

[@Craig_Fussell]

I dream about the day when I’ll be a good enough player where these differences matter to me LOL! Oh well, gotta go practice on my MIM Strat that feels and sounds fine to me! 😉✌🏻🎸

[@heythere6983]

some of the biggest bands in the world don't care so much, they play average guitars , and dont spend so much money on a super pricey guitar and worry about micro feels and all. Any guitar can be good, price doesn't matter. I think this is more of a hobbyist thing for sure. An actual musician will learn to write on any guitar and a better one can write to the tonal qualities of each guitar.

[@Craig_Fussell]

Agreed! Have you seen what Jack Pearson can do on a Squier Stratocaster? Mind blowing! ✌🏻

[@shanekiely]

Mexican strat with hand wound pups and a fret job, spend the rest on lessons.

[@dezionlion]

That would cost you as much as a used custom shop genius

[@undergroundjohnny]

Yep. I have two awesome Mex Road Worn Strats from 2009 - Rosewood and Maple - both have Ron Ellis PUs in them. They sound like custom shop Stratocasters and one of the Strats I purchased used for $600!! 4K for a Strat? Total rip off man!!

[@brunovidana7837]

dezionlion, not true man. I bought a used MIM, vintage noiseless pickups, locking tuners, a rolling string tree and got a fret job for under 600 man.

[@weschilton]

LOL... you kids are hilarious and totally dead wrong.

[@TDig.]

undergroundjohnny road worns are amazing..

[@shredx81]

The Suhr pro series still go through the same build process as the Suhr custom guitars. They just have a predetermined specification.

[@joechip1232]

Never buy a guitar that doesn't inspire you. I don't think there's anything responsible about buying something less expensive if it doesn't excite you because you're never going to play it and then it's a total waste of money. Oh, and definitely the Fender. I picked it right away before I knew which was which. The Suhr sounded about as good as my Squire Strat to my ears, which isn't bad, but my Squier would cost around $500 tops.

[@MK4vDubbin]

Joe Chip Great point. I have a Suhr Modern that I absolutely love and some really nice Fender strats that I also love, but the Suhr Standard series does nothing for me. Build quality you would expect from Suhr but just doesn’t have the strat feel. I don’t care about SS frets, compound radius, locking tuners, etc on a strat. I have plenty of modernized super strats for that. I want it to feel like a strat with all of its perfect imperfections. That’s what makes it a strat.

[@HeyLiem]

Your advice is wise and accurate and true. Buy the real American made fender, You will love it for decades and respect it. If anyone needs a discount guitar, fender makes their own discount guitars, called the Fender Squires! I bought four imported discount guitars this year, the Danelectro is the only one I can play on stage because that is the only novelty guitar brand that rock audiences respect. It also plays pretty freaking awesome, it's effortless to play their 12 string Danelectro, amazing. All the other imports that I got this year, felt good that I was saving money when I purchased them, but they just don't have the sentimental value of an American made fender, I should've just bought one American made fender. I was foolish to nickel and dime myself, and eventually deprive myself of an American made fender because I bought three discount copies instead. Doh!

[@TheFrederic888]

Agreed, though I own some cs fender and ibanez, my 2 « cheap » wasburn are the only ones to inspire me.

[@utooberblooper]

only view these videos with your ears

[@faiz88ish]

I've owned Suhr, Silversky and Fender Strat. My verdict, Suhr makes the best quality guitar not the sounding guitar, Silversky the best sounding guitar not the best quality. However, Fender specifically Custom Shop, makes the imperfect sound and not too perfect quality, but Fender Customshop able to make the right combinations to make it the best of all. Fender, afterall is the rightful owner of stratocaster no matter how other builders try to replicate it. Cheers.

[@alcoyot]

Used fender Mexican strat. Just put in whatever pickups you want. $500.

[@turamvar]

"lefthanded...mistake I made long time ago". I feel you, bro. I feel you

[@russk1971]

South paw here to... not sorry. I'm glad that others look at my guitars, comment on the beauty then ask to play them, only to realize they can't because they play backwards. Lol

[@seinmstudio3646]

@@russk1971 Exactly, THEY play backwards, not us. Mwahaha!

[@zachattack2775]

As a new, left handed player (I've been playing for about 2 months) should I learn right handed instead? I started out with the mindset of doing what was most comfortable. But I've already noticed that it seems like it would be easier to just bite the bullet and learn righty. Particularly when it comes to guitar selection and availability. I also want to collect vintage guitars and it would be great to be able to play them instead of them just being show pieces. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

[@seinmstudio3646]

@@zachattack2775 personally, I started out playing right handed for about 6 months and progressed very slowly, then switched to left handed and it was night and day. I was ambidextrous as a kid but still just chose the left hand for writing and guitar. It's up to you though, but consider this: when you play left handed, your guitar is like Excalibur, only the Trve King can wield it.

[@zachattack2775]

@@seinmstudio3646 I'm VERY left handed, so I may find it difficult to try to switch. And you have a good point with the uniqueness of it!

[@wynnfirstwave]

Something about the sunburst finish makes the tone sing hahaha

[@sinjon]

Wynn Yang lol you sound like Billy Corgan when he said paint color changes the sound of a guitar

[@magnushallmundsson6927]

Dude everyone knows white sounds better loool

[@hkguitar1984]

@@magnushallmundsson6927 It's my understanding that "white" guitars have a brighter tone while sunburst guitars sound more colorful, maybe more mid-range. I was going to have a white guitar finish on the front and a sunburst on the back to even out my tone!

[@eddiem4868]

It's just your mind playing tricks

[@rickc2102]

Either playing tricks, or extrapolating unwarranted assumptions based on anecdotal evidence.

[@jeanpat8946]

I own a custom shop heavy relic Fender and i can tell you it s a war weapon ,the kind of guitar you can keep and play all your life long and more !!!

[@jim21jam]

Agreed, me too, Rory Gallagher custom shop, just a beast, what a neck, smooth as silk, I will have it until the end of my days!!! I have gone through a ton of strats throughout the years, never real happy with any of them, traded 4 guitars for this one, worth it!!! Playability and tone!!! Pro guitar!!!

[@gillesgenete9598]

@@jim21jam I have a Rory Gallagher custom shop too, and fully agree about your comments, smells wood, smells leather, body vibrates long looking for you playing, neck so smooth ... AND the tones of those pick ups, warm, powerfull, still sparkling through an AC15 or 30. Really honoring the great Rory Gallagher.

[@weschilton]

Absolutely, Ive had Squiers, Mexican Strats, AM standard strats and finally found a 1959 fender custom shop that is just incredible. There’s nothing like it.

[@fvlok]

Yeah. I have a 57’ heavy relic customshop (2010 roadshow) strat with Abby’s pickups and a very light ash body. So good compared to the standard.

[@PAS540]

I own a 59 sunburst heavy relic CS. Best guitar that I’ve ever played. It just sings and is easier to play. Everything sounds better. I have a Fender American Standard as well, which is a great guitar, but there is no comparison. If you really feel like spending the money, don’t be afraid. The guitar will keep you happy for many years.

[@brianpetersen3429]

It's the talent that makes a guitar sing.

[@bm7760]

Indeed. Hendrix or Rory or any number of other guys couldn't have cared less about boutique labels. Maybe these guys are spending far too much time comparing apples with apples when they should just be playing.

[@kurtlonde5892]

.... wisely spoken... but it needs the guitar itself... and.... there are so many differencies

[@kurtlonde5892]

@@bm7760... you are right in playing... but how good you re in kontact with jimi an rory.... perhaps they hear the difference between the sound of different instruments better than you and me

[@zepp3lin]

Yes you're right. Talent plus a cheap DIY kit with the right measurements, setup and a nice fret work will put to shame to those overpricing Fenders and Gibsons.

[@jcd13able]

I agree. The good thing about a custom shop guitar is that the person making it maybe spent little bit more time on it to make it more playable. About Hendrix, let's not forget that he didn't have an access to a 60 year old guitar when he was playing. He played guitars that were just made by fender and didn't have time to age. I think this point is mostly ignored by those buying vintage gear. It's all in the fingers baby.

[@7dragongames]

I think to most people these three are all in the SAME price range... too high!

[@hollywoodactress]

Good review and to me with headphones all sounded very similar so I suspect it is how you connect with the Instrument. Also why not next time include some cheaper fender strats around $2000, $1500 then $1000.

[@jmendi55]

My guess is Hendrix was playing an off the shelf strat from Manny's that he paid $150 for in 1965. Then he'd set that on fire and get another one. So much for connecting with a guitar.

[@wilson4180]

I said this in another comment, there’s 100s, if not 1000s, of cheap vs expensive guitar reviews/demos on KZbin. There’s almost no custom shop vs boutique or custom shop vs vintage or vintage vs boutique. Why does everything have to be compared to something cheap in the guitar world?

[@bernardhossmoto]

In the opening of the clip the Sunburst immediately stood out, tone wise. The Suhr sounds very modern. Rhett, great playing as always. Keep it up and yes, a Gibson shoot out would be great.

[@CFCMahomet]

I wished that you had included a lower end MIM Fender Strat.

[@Kris-P343]

Or perhaps a high end Squire...just for comparison, much of our hearing is with our eyes.

[@diydad7704]

I would take the Mario just for the look. The Fender sounded a little sweeter/melower sometimes but that may have been the picking. The Mario as you said has vibe for days. That's mine!

[@MikeLee-lg5vq]

"Left handed. Mistake I made a long time ago." That's why I learned to play guitar right-handed. (I'm left-handed)

[@Supperconductor]

I was born a lefty and raised a righty. Therefore I do nothing well.

[@MrBladle]

I'm a lefty playing lefty, I feel the same as him, it makes finding guitars so much harder!

[@rydock]

This. I always try to encourage lefties looking to take up the guitar to learn on a right handed guitar. They end up fine.

[@Glicksman1]

Me too. When I learned to play guitar, my friend, a right-handed player, taught me the basics. He had a Gibson LG-1 and an old Harmony archtop, so naturally I played the Harmony. I had no idea about lefty or righty, the question never arose, and anyway, I had no option.

[@patrickmulder2450]

I'm a lefty but learned to play on my dad's guitars who's right handed. So, I play right handed guitar.

[@-doggy-6670]

Play as many strats as possible,pick the best attributes of each then build your own.Who knows,you may learn something

[@druwk]

$4500 was not an option. I wanted a Strat, bad...I put together my own parts-caster from Warmoth. My take was a Post Modern style Strat. Pretty much like the current Black Fender version? I chose all the options, some vintage, some modern and did all the finishing work. $1300 All those guitars look and sound great. Feel, playability and Vibe are important. If money were no object, I’d get a really nice true Vintage Strat. If I had the budget, I would definitely get the Custom Shop...though probably not the sunburst? If/when I have the money, I might build another one? I’m glad I finally have a great Strat! The spec’s are custom, sounds “right” and plays well. Didn’t break the bank. It’s a weird thing how things come together? Sometimes you have to try different options to find the “right” part. Sometimes, the parts have to live together for a while before a really good guitar becomes a really great guitar. Sometimes difficult

[@fernandoreynaaguilar1438]

No strat style guitar costs that kind of dough. It was designed by leo to be Mass produced. The Bolt on neck Is the proof. Gibsons up until the les Paul are a different story. And even then, to Pay More than 4,500 or 3,000 Is unnecessary. My personal rule Is to never Pay More than 1,000 for a strat.

[@itsthenicolas]

I wouldn't pay more than $1000 for a brand new strat. I never actually have even owned a brand new strat, I always buy used and usually under $900. My most expensive guitar though is $3000, but its an early 74 strat in almost pristine condition.

[@subzero308]

I agree guitars r highly over priced for no reason at all.

[@j_drichmond]

It’s interesting that shopping for a violin makes guitars seem cheap.

[@wildeman1253]

Or horns, 4k is a intermediate horn.

[@ronj9448]

But you get more for your money when you spend more on a good violin. After a point, electric guitars are not really sounding or feeling better - more like jewelry.

[@jjcbassguitars2114]

I guess when you take other equipment in mind that you need to get the guitar to gigging level they may even out in price compared to the likes of violin. I presume if your looking at a £4k guitar you’ll probably be looking at a £2/3k amplifier and then £1/2k on pedals. Does £8k total bring it close to a top of the range brand new violin?

[@ronj9448]

@@jjcbassguitars2114 Most performers are not bothering with a 4K guitar. Some lawyer who is noodling on weekends is buying that. LOL. Think 500 with a few mods. Heck over the weekend I saw Buddy Guy perform and he was using a 800.00 MIM Fender. Regardless it makes no sense to try to match Violin costs and values. They can go up to 10-20K. And the bow to play it with? I've seen them for 1000. I know they can go up from there for a nicer one. Check out StringWorks.

[@jjcbassguitars2114]

Ron J is that a brand new price?

[@THEMASTEROFYOU2000]

Suhr has the favored sound to me, much more huge mid-range squawk......not too bright like the mario and much more punch than the fender...............imho

[@speedriff]

THEMASTEROFYOU2000 don’t forget the SSCII system as well. It’s dead silent. The V60LP’s are amazing sounding pickups.

[@sounddesignmix3002]

Great video Rhett! I completely agree with your final analysis, if you're thinking of buying a "real" 60's Strat for $30K, go with a Custom Shop one. I was given the same advice back in 2002 and have played my Cunetto Custom Shop 60's Start to the point that it's gone from a Relic to a Heavy Relic. It's been a work horse.

[@hobbyknight9962]

In short, Rhett is a "vintage guy" that likes "relic'd" guitars. I love you man but if it isn't designed like an old guitar replica you don't like it. Just be honest. =)

[@BITESIZEJONES]

The custom shop sounded best to my ears. Rich and warm

[@richardlee866]

Stratocaster sounded the best to my ears. I owned a 62 Stratocaster at one time unfortunately I had to let it go. Custom Shop Stratocaster it's what I play nowadays it's a great guitar strange as it may seem it can hang with a lot of vintage strats I have played.

[@mrodriguez4879]

I’d like to see a blindfold strat shootout! Have a few strats at different prices, and go by feel and sound only!

[@jmendi55]

Why in gods name to they still make you take the neck off to get at the truss rod. Living it CT, it's bone dry in the winter and humid in the summer and truss rods need need to be tweaked often. Is it just to honor a 60 year old 'vintage' design flaw????

[@lockedowng]

NY here. I feel your pain. Every guitar should have a truss wheel. They put them on the elite strats, it should be on everything.

[@jmendi55]

@@lockedowng I have MIM thinline with the headstock bullet - 2 second tweak. I have a nice 30 year old MIJ telecaster with that old design which I never play it because it needs adjusting and I can't be bothered. Think of the tech in the store taking the neck OFF 3 times to get it right.....

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

@@jmendi55 - That's why they charge you so much money for what should be normal operators adjustments. A hint: the shop calls it a "set-up" and some take 10 minutes - and some take most of a morning(or afternoon, you're still talking about a couple of hours) to dial it in. Remember, string guage, height, action, ALL have to be addressed. So if you don't have a Strobo-tuner or the experience to do it, be ready to pay your money.

[@hkguitar1984]

It's a Custom Shop Guitar, couldn't you just specify the truss rod be adjustable up at the nut or the new wheel type adjustment. I mean for over $4000 you can order just about any option you want.

[@2beJT]

@@hkguitar1984 That's using your noodle

[@pttrent123]

I bought a PRS Silver Sky about a year ago and love it, PRS does a great job on quality control and it was less than all of these options, but, hey, everyone has their preference

[@svenzia]

The SE model? I bet they are good guitars but the headstock just destroys the look imo.

[@woofcity6307]

I say prs core over fender anything any day. That’s my personal opinion. You can build and finish a strat for about 1k that rivals a suhr or fender if you know a good luthier, you get boitique pickups, get the fretboard radius width and nut you want from warmouth and sand and finish yourself. If you don’t or can’t dp those things can then I can see why you prob can’t do that. But i think fender custom shop looks cool but it’s just overpaying by 3k imho. They are nice but why be stuck with a reproduction old guitar from fender for 5k. I’d rather have 2-3 custom 22’s or a real vintage gibson or whatever else

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

I played a Strat that John Cruz built once and it was the greatest guitar that has ever graced my hands. It was also $7,000. Still an awesome Strat though. I had my wife take my picture while I was playing it. LOL!

[@davidcotton6999]

Yeah, people knock John Cruz prices and CS prices but I agree totally, a John Cruz 59 Strat I played was the best guitar that I ever played, ever, and I've played a LOT of guitars.

[@ericvituccimusic]

4k for a strat... ouch... I will keep my Mexican and be happy with it. I will say the custom shop sounded the best to me.

[@pereztube2]

just get some good custom shop pickups and you're like 98 percent there.

[@brentparks3669]

Dude I’d love a Mexican strat! Gotta save up when you have kids, but I’ll get one and let my young ones have it someday.

[@joshistyping]

My Mexican Strat in Polar White is the only one I've ever owned and I love it. If I opened my guitar case tomorrow and had that 4k custom shop Strat in it, I'd sell it, buy another Polar White Mexican Strat and 3 other guitars.

[@CamiloVelandia]

I gotta say the custom shop sounds the best to my ears. I also recall playing a Fender John Cruz Custom Shop and it sounded better than any Suhr, Anderson, whatever, that I've ever played. Great video Rhett!!!!

[@StringsAndWings61]

I've owned both Fender American Strats and Fender Custom Shop strats. Now, I only have Suhr and Tom Anderson strats. I will take those over Fender every time.

[@Jackal799]

Strings And Wings 61 me too. I play suhr and my buddy plays Anderson. I’ll never give fender another dime after the American elite I owned.

[@zoranallen5205]

Brandon Powers what makes those options better, in your opinion?

[@Jackal799]

Suhr and Anderson’s fit and finish are second to none. Their necks are smooth as butter, fretwork is perfect, and they sound great. I also don’t like that fender doesn’t use stainless steel frets. You really need to try a suhr or Anderson next to a Strat. Even though they are similar styles the feel and attention to detail is way different. Some guys prefer strats and that’s cool. Whatever works.

[@CrispyRice454]

I bought a Custom Shop Stratocaster, the 1964 in super faded Sonic Blue. No regerts...seriously, I love it.

[@aixpert291]

Crispy Rice's Mellifluous Sonic Chamber 😮😳😍

[@JonREvans]

I've got the 1964 custom shop super faded Fiesta Red version... yeah the best strat I've played hands down

[@CrispyRice454]

Jon Evans, gorgeous color! Yeah, they definitely have the mojo. Instantly became my #1.

[@KaizenOz]

Custom Shop 65 in shell pink checking in 🤪

[@tricko2286]

Suhrs left me a bit cold too (prefer SilverSky or Cutlass). Think Nash’s are better value than Mario. CS’s are hard to beat though.

[@troydavis1612]

When you played that amazing strat in another video, you acquired strat-fever.....no Silver Sky in the mix?

[@KrlosRodz]

Definitely should've added a Silver Sky in the mix...

[@speedriff]

Carlos Rodriguez I played a Silver Sky and it’s a nice guitar. But, the pickups are noisy as hell. I’ll take the Suhr.

[@jf542]

the other 2 sound more stiff.. the custom shop strat sounds more fluid to me

[@NickB-md1oy]

*me clicking this video* “is it worth 18 minutes?”

[@burt2800]

@@hazor777 Except that he makes a living playing guitar so yeah

[@moonstation8585]

Yes

[@PhilLament]

Worried about copyright strike due to store background music...proceeds to play "Wind Cries Mary" note-for-note.

[@ZackSeifMusic]

Sanford Rogers they flag the sound recording, not a solo cover. It’s in the algorithm

[@GDawg2K2]

Lol.. Good one..

[@TheEchelon]

Sanford Rogers You don't know how the algorithms work do you bud

[@johnvcougar]

Well, Rick Beato got pinged for his covers sounding too close to the original. Coz KZbin are a pack of tossers with that stupid algorithm.

[@foxxygearreviews7754]

John Cougar I just got smoked for a video with no background music - said I had a Sony copyright infringement.

[@PsychedelicMind67]

I just can't stand Strats without a fender decal/headstock.

[@J__C__]

Snobbery?

[@PsychedelicMind67]

J C No, just a fender enthusiast and it looks the best. Credit where credit is due. And like a dude already commented: Live is to short to play a crappy guitar.

[@J__C__]

@@PsychedelicMind67 perfect reply. Thanks!

[@jjohn341]

I lived through the 70s and the memories of the 60s (jimi) only fender for me , anything else is like saying you love Fender Stratocasters but dont think Fender are worthy ???

[@ZankoGamer92]

Imho the only brand that got it right beside Fender is Macmull. I really like their straight headstocks

[@mattyounis5636]

Schecter USA custom shops are amazing to me and not outrageous on cost

[@mrroye]

I thought.the suhr sounded the best clean on those Hendrix licks.

[@richardwalley2862]

Yea the suhr was not “hipster” enough

[@toddflowers8052]

I 'd buy the Fender not only for the playability but the resale on the Fender will be the best . Love the vid and yes please do a Gibson ES 335 vs Collings vs Heritage video . Cheers Rhett !

[@filiprogina1753]

I'm guessing you'd choose a Gibson, so what would be the point then? :P

[@toddflowers8052]

@@filiprogina1753 Heritage and Collings are great guitars and while the Heritage resale can be lackluster the Collings hold theirs so I guess that's why .

[@filiprogina1753]

@@toddflowers8052 Agreed, and...I did not mean to insult you, sorry. Damn, I'd probalby be the first one buying a guitar because of the name.😂 I don't know much about Heritage, but I'm falling more and more in love with Collings, thanks to Joey Landreth. Since I'm GASing for a 335, it would definitely be useful to get a comparison video ;)

[@hkguitar1984]

@@filiprogina1753 Up until I played a Collings I would have been 100% Gibson for that style guitar. Collings instruments are worth every Penny.

[@toddflowers8052]

@@filiprogina1753 Joey is friggin' awesome !

[@donharrold1375]

“When you play vintage instruments there’s something you can’t get on a modern guitar” - Vintage guitars are more like works of art than musical instruments. It’s really all about rarity and nostalgia rather than playability or sound? I understand why people want rare things and might enjoy playing them, but in reality these so called classics were built by hand in a low tech environment using fairly basic wood working tools with all the inconsistencies inherent of such an approach. No doubt a few were very good, probably the majority were fairly average and some would have been truly terrible.

[@ronwilliams1094]

I don't know. Maybe it's just me but from playing for over 35 years in the music industry, I've personally found that if a guitar feels good in my hands, stays in tune and has great sounding pickups, no matter what the price point be it $3500 or $350, it's all that matters. Inspiration is key. Everything else is marketing to separate the consumer from their money.

[@speedriff]

Ron Williams exactly! You know what we called a 59 Les Paul when I was a kid? A used Les Paul. Marketing hype 101.

[@jmacc9876]

These overly relic'd Strats are just investments with value growth potential. There's nothing wrong with that, if you don't break them or have them stolen they're a great investment with value that will always rise. But the monetary value of a custom shop Strat is just a religious story that guitarists have told themselves and choose to believe.

[@FreedomExperiment]

That Fender sounded like it was right off Jimi's album. Pure gold for my ears

[@dbvetter7485]

I think the Fender definitely sounded better in all cases. IMO.

[@tommytorres]

To my ear the Suhr did not sound as rich in overtones. It sounded solid and fat in the low frequencies but didn't have much "air", which is were all the expression of an instrument is. I kinda liked the Mario better than the Fender, at least in the clean tones.

[@jfar3340]

you could tell that through a youtube video?

[@louislouis4517]

@@jfar3340 exactly.

[@cardbored_]

@@jfar3340 exactly, listening to any of these videos for any sort of accurate representation of audio is silly

[@coppulor6500]

I agree completely. so for everyone who wants to get semantic, based on the audio through a computer using headphones. wtf else we supposed to base our opinion on?

[@thejonnyfantasm]

Gretsch professional VS custom shop! i just want you and RJ to jam on some Gretsch guitars

[@alexdenton6586]

It's personal but I find that no it's not worth the price, Fender Custom Shop are of excellent quality it's true but for much cheaper I tested a lot of Tokai Premium Series and Navigator ( ESP's custom shop reserved for the Japanese market ) And I find that the quality is similar or even better for often half the price or almost The Japanese, especially when it is made in Japan, are uncompromising on the quality of the products they manufacture , This is often not the case with American products.

[@sparkeyjames]

The Mario Martin just sounded so fine I couldn't believe the difference. Pure heaven made into a strat style guitar. The Fender was in the middle and the Surh was last.

[@frankswildyear]

Same here

[@rayschoch5882]

Sorry. Unless you're a professional musician, playing regular gigs and making a good living at doing so, paying $4,500 for an electric guitar makes zero sense. Differences in tone are subjective, as are differences in appearance. Decent (not fantastic, but decent) quality and tone can be had for a few hundred dollars. Above that, unless you're the above-mentioned pro, it's strictly ego.

[@lifelongfan07]

The MM has slightly more bottom end than the Fender or Suhr.

[@dowaliby1]

Fascinating and informative video. I can't speak to playability, but tone-wise I think the fender custom shop was the winner, although the Mario wasn't far behind at all. To me, the Suhr sounded kind of sterile and lacking in character in comparison to the other two. I may be in the minority on this, but I don't get the relic thing at all - trying to make a new (and non-vintage) guitar look old, beat up, and "vintage." Personally, I like a beautiful, pristine finish on my guitars, but I realize it's a subjective thing..

[@zepp3lin]

I'll take Warmoth anytime. And relic is stupid. For that pricing I'll rather have a new shiny that will relic on it's own thru years from my own playing.

[@Slackboy72]

Never understood relicing. Old beat up guitars just have history. You can't buy that.

[@dezionlion]

ss you know what’s stupid, your ignorance. Store owners are in the business of making money by giving customers what they want! If they purchased 10 relics, and 10 non relics, the relics would be gone in 6 months, and most of the non relics would still be there a year later

[@zepp3lin]

@@dezionlion you're a fool!

[@dezionlion]

Southeastern777 No people just want what they want. If you could go to the sporting goods store and buy a stiff new baseball glove for $40, and you could buy the same new glove oiled up and broken in for $50, which one would you buy?

[@dezionlion]

Southeastern777 Let me know when they start discounting vintage strats

[@redielg]

A strat is worth $4500 if you’re stupid enough to believe it is. In today’s market, paying over $800-$1000 for a guitar is paying for bragging rights and the name on the headstock. Guitars are just wood, metal and simple electronics.

[@Th3F0nz]

For the price of the Fender I could build two Warmoth strats with the most insane wood choices and the nicest components and still have money left over. The price of the Suhr could still build two strats with nice wood and impressive components. If you are a DIY-er I'd highly recommend that route if you really need/want a custom instrument on a "budget." I put that in quotes because my guitars still cost more than an American strat, but I still got to choose every aspect of the guitar. I just had to put it together myself. No idea what getting a tech to build it for you would be, but I'd bet it would still be cheaper than going thru Fender/Suhr/others.

[@hkguitar1984]

Building your own Guitar and choosing all aspects of the instrument is the best thing ever. It's like designing a girlfriend from the ground up for yourself...............

[@MK4vDubbin]

Warmoth builds are hit or miss IMO. There’s more to a great guitar than neat specs. Crazy figured woods do nothing for me personally anymore besides being pretty to look at. Kiesel is a great example of being able to spec out a guitar to the moon and back with exotic woods and finishes and ending up with a $4k guitar that plays like a $900 guitar with a cold and sterile feel. Of course it’s all subjective. I’m not arguing you need to spend anywhere near $4k for a CS strat if you go the Fender route. I’ve played some pretty great MIM strats that felt and sounded wonderful. Just don’t want people to make the mistake of thinking that buying super fancy woods from Warmoth is going to automatically give them an equivalent or superior guitar to a properly built Fender.

[@hkguitar1984]

@@MK4vDubbin Agreed Bolting the parts together is about 20% of the project. Setting it up and fine tuning is the rest. I think with Warmoth parts you are assured a certain level of quality that you can fine tune and set up the guitar to be a superior instrument, the Devil is in the details. And if a person doesn't know how to properly set up a guitar and is building/assembling an instrument they really should learn how and what to do. The information is out there and accessible. Myself, I'm self-taught and have had very good results so far. 3 builds and three winners. That said, I have attempted to work on some really cheap guitars with mixed results. I've had examples of a truss rod not responding and/or the bridge/neck not even properly aligned, again that was with cheaper components. You only get what you pay for, and that's if you're lucky! I still contend that building a guitar for yourself can be a wonderful/rewarding experience. As with most things in Life, Your Mileage May Vary..........

[@Th3F0nz]

​@@MK4vDubbin IMO, Warmoth is only hit or miss of the person building it/buying the parts doesn't know what they are doing. The niceness of the specs isn't what makes them special, it's the fact you get to choose every tiny detail, even if it's the cheapest options, you still got to chose. That's what makes it "custom". Truth be told, I've heard some horror stories about Warmoth or similar companies, but everything I've built is way better (for me) than whatever I pick up at a guitar store, and the quality of construction is superb. If you don't know exactly what to get you can definitely end up with a less than perfect guitar that might only look nice, but then it's on you not the company.

[@mwyatt222]

lve got a friend w/ 40+ strats going back to the 50s. He buys a custom shop per year. Out of all his collection and he keeps them all on wall hangers tuned my favorites are the 80s japanese strats and the 90s strat plus. Custom shops are not worth the money when compared to nice older ones . My least favorite is his 63 fiesta red custom shop. That guitar isnt as nice an instrument as the japanese from the 80s and 90s.

[@LeilaLamb]

Could you do a ‘blind test’ where you don’t know what you’re playing and you choose your favorite?

[@clintwilson6380]

I think they hate doing that .

[@subzero308]

if I'm gonna spend my then 2.5k$ for a guitar I'm just getting a Fender custom shop no point in buying anything else especially if ur looking for a strat or tele

[@kellykasparek8150]

like all american labor over priced over hyped and not available to poor musicians. i buy vintage Japanese affordable and the woods are the best tonal woods EVER. you can keep this expensive shit. have to admit Suhr is my fav tho.

[@ElDuderino502]

I would have liked to have seen a Silver Sky in this video, but I'm a huge PRS fan.

[@ScottJamesHicks]

I’m curious to hear your opinion of the American Original Strat vs the CS 60.

[@tdunster2011]

There is so much variation between individual guitars that a question like this is nearly impossible to answer. Looking at names on headstocks or models is pointless. Play as many as you can and when you find the right one you will know. Having to ask others their opinion about a guitar by model most likely means you haven't found the one you are looking for. Fender, G&L, Schecter, Nash, Suhr, John Page, and many others make great guitars - play as many as you can as often as you can.

[@longlivegarybusey6409]

If you really love guitars and want the greatest strat ever made go out and buy 10 or so pawn shop squiers (never walk out the door paying more that $70 a piece). Go on amazon and buy files, sandpaper, a good soldering iron, and a tool kit. Buy after market parts you think look cool or feel the best. Now start trying to build your own. It's ok to be terrible at it and ruin things in the beginning. Swap parts around, swap necks around, pickups, wire in new pots and switches...I guarantee that within a year you will have created a guitar that you would save in a fire over your custom shop guitars. And in the end you will have still spent less money ($700 in guitars, about $300 in tools and supplies, maybe $1000-$2000 in aftermarket parts and pickups depending on how expensive you wanna go) and gained a new skill that you will benefit from for years to come as you will be able to do all your own luthier work in the future, and maybe make some side money while you're at it. Try all the expensive pickups people rave about, then go buy a set of GM Smooth Velvet pickups or something similar and realize price doesn't mean shit when it comes to tone. It's real hit or miss but sometimes even cheap stock squier pickups can sound great and not need to be replaced at all. Keep every part you remove as you will find a use down the road for every spring, screw, and discolored pickup cover. Best part about building your own is that it's yours. it's not a collectors item you would be afraid to damage or customize down the road. You really gonna tear apart your $4000 guitar and solder in new pickups if you wanted to try something new? Drill new holes in the headstock for a different style of tuner? Would you take sandpaper to the neck or to the body if you want to round a corner or remove some finish for aesthetics on your custom shop guitar? Owned plenty of high end guitars over the years. Best sounding/feeling/playing/looking guitars I own cost me less than $500 all said and done with every part on them that I wanted. Last thing then I'm done wasting your reading time. Nobody cares. Read that again....nobody....cares. Your guitar nerd friend might think your dirty looking chipped beat up fender custom shop looks amazing. Nobody else does. It looks like a piece of shit owned by a careless clumsy moron who never washes his hands. And your dumb ass paid thousands for it. Most compliments I've ever had on a guitar I own is on a cheap red burst flame top starcaster strat I bought on ebay for $80 and added about $300 in parts to. People pass up all the expensive guitars and go right for that one when they come over. Up to you though. Gain a skill, gain tools, discover a new hobby, and be able to own a room full of beautiful guitars people will envy built and set up perfectly just for you by YOU....or pay double to have none of that and own one guitar that says nothing personal about you at all.

[@mnementh06]

I was amazed that the while all 3 guitars sounded good, I thought the fender sounded amazing. It sounded the way I think that a strat should sound.

[@Rangoslap8]

So what amp and caninets pedals input cord etc was used? Next

[@speedriff]

R2 did you actually watch the video? It was a Divided by 13 amp and he discussed the pedals.

[@Rangoslap8]

@@speedriff believe all you see and hear? I dont . Hopefully it was as it appeared.

[@Rangoslap8]

@@speedriff so no freedom to have a diff opinion.

[@speedriff]

R2 ? It’s not a matter of a different opinion, he clearly stated what he was using.

[@splawn86]

Not worth the money. Get a standard American or build one yourself. It's really that simple.

[@richardcrompton6009]

Isn't it about how the guitar makes you feel? Im pretty sure hendrix just had stock models - maybe build quality has gone up over the years or maybe down I think there is a lot of bollocks over tone woods and pickups blah blah I think the equivalent is the mountainbike Road bike mindset where middle aged men salivate over saving. 3 oz on some nonsense widget holder or some nanodiamondadamantium frame and the guy riding the bike weighs in at Mr creosote levels Sigh I don't know whatever tbh It's all silly nonsense isn't it life

[@nc6714]

I 100% agree with you. I have scoured youtube for guitar reviews of all types, and furthermore, listen to people play those specific instruments in all types of genres and playstyles. One thing I have learned is that there are youtubers and guitar players that seem to have that same kind of mindset you touched on with that motorcycle analogy. It's all nonsense. There are so many great players out there that just get the instrument that is right for them and they go to town making awesome sounding music.

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

A cheap guitar set up properly will sound and feel great. An expensive guitar that isn't set up is going to leave you disappointed...

[@duaneallen1792]

I have a Mario Tele... weighs 5.0lbs best tele ive ever heard or played. Played a Mario strat that was the best strat I’ve ever played. Serious guitars.

[@britewiresatx]

Ben seems like a super nice guy. Would be alot of fun making a video like this. What an amazing collection!

[@jeffreysurette1901]

I think the American pro 2 2021 is the flag ship of the strat and you can mod any American strat to youre taste

[@adamwhite2329]

The answer? Find a used Custom Shop Strat. I just scored a 2018 for roughly $1,000 off the cost of the same model new. In fact, it cost about the same as the Suhr in this video. They're out there.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I wonder how custom shop guitars compare to Fire Fly guitars at $150

[@jasonwatts9519]

Shocking... picks the most expensive. Who could have seen that coming?

[@Rangoslap8]

And with a ....be glad Im testing for you..persona

[@lptomtom]

Should've been a blind test, as always

[@vladimirlopez7840]

Yeah a high price tag will get you believing a lot of things

[@XLBiker13]

Jason Watts - I was actually surprised. Its so popular for everyone to go out of their way to hate on Gibson and Fender top tier guitars that I didn't expect this conclusion. Its also definitely not the conclusion his audience wants. Most viewers can't come close to dropping over 4 grand on a guitar so they want to hear that the custom shop axe is an overpriced joke that only poseurs buy. Which is probably exactly what you and the other guys who've commented here think.

[@zakktothefuture]

well all the basement players here are saying you can just get everything you need from the dollar store to build a guitar and that people who pay professionals who build or source high quality parts and wood are idiots. Funny how in everything we do there are people who get paid to do what they love and there is a group of completely incapable people saying they know better than the ones who actually make a living in the subject which they argue.