Considering one of the following three guitars - help needed to pull the trigger :D

AndrewM

As above. 

I've got some cash from sale of some gear and I have a custom shop tele. I need a custom shop strat to complete the collection.

These are my three options:

1)



https://www.coda-music.com/electric-guitars/fender-custom-shop-60-strat-journeyman-reliccandy-apple-red-matching-peg-head-r89506.html

2)



https://www.coda-music.com/fender-custom-shop-60-strat-relic-candy-apple-red-r89295.html

3)

https://www.protonemusicuk.com/products/fender-custom-shop-1960-closet-classic-stratocaster-sea-foam-green-case-coa



I like them all. 

Are any particularly expensive for what they are, or alternatively a good deal? 

My gut is saying go for the journeyman candy apple as I loved the checking on the paint on one I saw in guitar guitar.

However I also really love how the seafoam green is cracked but still has all the paint.

Help me choose!

impmann

You can't buy one based on a photograph.

Go and play them. I spent an afternoon playing all of Doug's CS Strats at Coda, and they were *all* different. Some suited me better than others.

munckee

Top one has the wrong sort of headstock so that's out.  I would swap my spleen for either of the other two. 

darthed1981

Buy all three, problem solved

Whitecat

The Seafoam Green is definitely the looker of the bunch... 

guitars4you

on pics alone - 2

JerkMoans

Genuine guitardon for #3...  Just look at it..!

TA22GT

guitars4you said:

on pics alone - 2

That is the correct answer.

Sparky

Based on the only thing you've given us to go on - looks, I would go for number 3. But you've gotta play 'em before you smoke 'em.

chris78

You need to play them, but for my money, the custom shop are making more consistent guitars now than in 2003, so I’d go newer.
If you’re looking at Coda, it’s then down to pickups. Fat 60s are very decent pickups, but the anchos are a very expensive option and in my view, the best pickups Fender has made. My anchos have been maple and the slab rosewood will darken the sound, but they do everything from chimney neck to an almost tele like hot bridge. Those pickups would make my choice easy.

DrBob

Having read the thread about Craig Greenwood/Protone earlier No3 seems a contentious choice 

terada

Personally I’d go for the top one on looks. But you should try to play them and see which you prefer the feel and tone off also

AndrewM

Thanks all! Really appreciate the advice. Of course I'd love to play them but at the minute that's not going to happen, and there is nothing near me in my budget like these. 

Fully prepared to send back if they don't play well. 

A little concerned about the protone one for the afore mentioned reason but the guy in the shop I spoke to said he would knock a few quid off and seemed nice. 

I'm mainly concerned that I don't know the various options for custom shop guitars that well so I would struggle to say if any were particularly expensive/good deal. 

Anyone with any insight into that? 

Also if anyone near London has similar they want to sell I'd be interested.

John_A

guitars4you said:

on pics alone - 2

In agreement there, that it a beauty!  However as others have said go play them

prlgmnr

2) is more relicing than I personally would go for
3) made me go "ooh" but it might be because the colour surprised me after two red ones

John_A

AndrewM said:

Fully prepared to send back if they don't play well. 

 They should all 'play well' but I'd say with Strats more than a lot of guitars finding one that really hits the sweet spot is important

timhulio

What's the story with the pickups on the third one? The polepieces have dots or indentations in them.

They're nice, but I think each would be improved by a white or mint pickguard.

guitars4you

JerkMoans said:

Genuine guitardon for #3...  Just look at it..!

Don't think the p/ups on 3 would be my 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice

Fishboy7

I'd go for no.1 (as slightly lighter and less reliced) then immediately buy a white pickguard. 

AndrewM

I've got a nice light mint pick guard...

Is the matching headstock really off putting? Would it be an issue later if I wanted to move the guitar on?

stimpsonslostson

2. No question.