NGD: Fender Custom Shop Strat - in blue (obvs!)!

Jonathanthomas83

After deliberating about whether or not I could get close to the Custom Shop experience with a less expensive model - a question I asked on this forum a week or so back (http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/134344/can-you-make-a-less-expensive-strat-feel-play-sound-as-good-as-a-custom-shop) - I decided that I would take the plunge on a Custom Shop and I'm bloody glad I did too, it's an amazing, amazing guitar!

Big thanks to everyone who chipped in on that thread. To @guitars4you for talking through a few spec decisions with me and ultimately he and @dangriffiths for convincing me that buying something I liked straight off the shelf would be a worthwhile thing to do given the wait and relative risk involved in ordering your first custom instrument.

For all the flack World Guitars get, they were tidy with me and made the experience a nice one considering this is the most I'd ever spent on a guitar. I'm over the moon with it and have written some thoughts about how I think it compares to my old Suhr and why I sold the Suhr on and bought this one, which you may/may not be interested to read - there's some specs and also a few nice pics in there too of the new one and the old one!

https://medium.com/fretboard/new-guitar-day-fender-custom-shop-stratocaster-44019c0c4f4f

Thanks all!

fretfinder

Looks lovely. Didn’t Mark at G4U have anything you fancied? He’s got a lovely selection on his website at the moment. 

zepp76

Congrats mate, looks lovely. What pickups does it come with?

Edit: Just read your link, nice pickup choice!

Jonathanthomas83

fretfinder said:

Looks lovely. Didn’t Mark at G4U have anything you fancied? He’s got a lovely selection on his website at the moment. 

I looked and he had a couple of nice LPB Strats in his arsenal, but as I alude to in the blog post I linked to, I was looking for a very specific spec and didn't want to have to change pickups in this one as it's such an expensive purchase in the first place. Mark was incredibly helpful throughout this whole process though and one day hope to repay him for his kindness and time in some way.

zepp76 said:

Congrats mate, looks lovely. What pickups does it come with?

Edit: Just read your link, nice pickup choice!

Thanks mate.

• 69 in the neck
• Fat 50's in the middle
• Texas Special in the bridge

All three are perfect for us Gilmour enthusiasts! haha

dangriffiths

Pleased for you sir - enjoy!

Bellycaster

Oooooh, dat nice!

Jonathanthomas83

Thank you guys, really appreciate it! And again, really appreciate your superb advice, @dangriffiths, thank you!

duotone

Jonathanthomas83 said:

 (http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/134344/can-you-make-a-less-expensive-strat-feel-play-sound-as-good-as-a-custom-shop) 

https://medium.com/fretboard/new-guitar-day-fender-custom-shop-stratocaster-44019c0c4f4f

Thanks all!

Cheers for the links, I enjoyed reading about your journey.

Philly_Q

Very nice!

Just out of interest, why "obvs" for the (Lake Placid) blue?

Keefy

Congratulations on a fine-looking instrument. I'm not a huge LPB fan, but that looks utterly gorgeous!

I wasn't aware World Guitars got flack - or at least not more than any other dealer. I got my CS Strat there too - went in to look at a Tom Anderson T-type and came out with a Jeffocaster!

Jonathanthomas83

duotone said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

 (http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/134344/can-you-make-a-less-expensive-strat-feel-play-sound-as-good-as-a-custom-shop) 

https://medium.com/fretboard/new-guitar-day-fender-custom-shop-stratocaster-44019c0c4f4f

Thanks all!

Cheers for the links, I enjoyed reading about your journey.

Thank you so much for reading, it really means a lot!

Philly_Q said:

Very nice!

Just out of interest, why "obvs" for the (Lake Placid) blue?

Ha, good question! I've got a bit of a reputation for liking blue guitars a bit too much! - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/100707/blue-guitars

I only own three now, but they're all blue! I need to update that thread with this one :-)

Jonathanthomas83

Keefy said:

Congratulations on a fine-looking instrument. I'm not a huge LPB fan, but that looks utterly gorgeous!

I wasn't aware World Guitars got flack - or at least not more than any other dealer. I got my CS Strat there too - went in to look at a Tom Anderson T-type and came out with a Jeffocaster!

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I dunno where I got that from then, maybe it's just me then as I've never really taken to their style of salesmanship (is that a term?), I've always come away a bit offended by them slagging my gear to make a sale...regardless, I did ok with this so credit where it's due :-)

gringopig

.

Jonathanthomas83

Thanks very much @gringopig :-)

You got me gassing over that nice Ice Blue Metallic Tele of yours, that could well be my next order with CS!

gringopig

.

Jonathanthomas83

Ooh, that went in the last hour then! They'll love it, beauty of a guitar!

gringopig

.

Jonathanthomas83

guitars4you have some lovely ones in stock!

bluechargeboy

Holy shitballs, that's nice!

Philly_Q

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Philly_Q said:

Very nice!

Just out of interest, why "obvs" for the (Lake Placid) blue?

Ha, good question! I've got a bit of a reputation for liking blue guitars a bit too much! - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/100707/blue-guitars

I only own three now, but they're all blue! I need to update that thread with this one :-)

Fair enough!  I like blue guitars too, I ordered my CS Strat in a shade of blue although it looks much darker, almost black.

Jonathanthomas83

Philly_Q said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Philly_Q said:

Very nice!

Just out of interest, why "obvs" for the (Lake Placid) blue?

Ha, good question! I've got a bit of a reputation for liking blue guitars a bit too much! - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/100707/blue-guitars

I only own three now, but they're all blue! I need to update that thread with this one :-)

Fair enough!  I like blue guitars too, I ordered my CS Strat in a shade of blue although it looks much darker, almost black.

Nice mate, do you have it yet or is it on the way? Please post a picture in that thread if you can, I'd love to see it :-)