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I've probably played and owned around sixty of the old school masterbuilt guitars and they were amazing. I have a few still that I've owned for a long time and they are going nowhere. The big difference to me were the neck profiles which were quite like no other stock CS Fender I ever played. Of course neck pocket fit, fretwork and general finish are top drawer too. The later post 2000 Masterbuilt guitars I've gradually sold off one by one. Had an early John Cruz Masterbuilt Esquire that I bought from a Guitar Center in NYC and it was dreadful when it arrived.....the wet cardboard box tone. Took it to a well known tech and he said nothing could be done for it short of stripping it and starting again....like deadwood. Worst thing was I had an email from John prior to buying the guitar telling me how great the guitar was and how sad he was to see it leave his bench! Oh well....
I think on a blind fold test we can all say we prefer guitar a or b or c for what ever reason that might be, when we compare a few side by side - But I bet it would be more of a guess as to picking out a good C/Shop or M/Built on a similar test - I think there is still something in there but more minimal - Yet I sell plenty of both as well
People want a reproduction of the mythical pre-CBS perfect masterbuilt guitar, hand caressed by Leo Fender himself, imbuing the mojo magic that flowed through a tiny artisan workshop full of skill professionals.
What they don't want is a copy of a mass-produced guitar with variances, designed to be modular, the neck disposable when the frets wear out... the paint prepared in a dangerous, unprofessional way. 4 or 5 piece bodies, variable neck carves, etc.
John Cruz wasn't a guitar builder before starting with Fender
he started as a finish tester, strumming in the sound proof booth
The real difference is the quality of the paint work. The actual guitar underneath is pretty much the same.
No one will ever convince me that Fender CS and MB guitars are worth the extra money... unless you are looking for a particular finish - which is the only reason I have one.
My mates custom built Patrick Eggle blows my mb out of the water. And it was half the price.
I own a '93 Strat Plus Deluxe, it's my dream Strat and after being allowed to randomly strum on one in a guitar shop back in 1995, made me want to learn and play the guitar (Nirvana was the other main reason). Now my Strat is an amazing guitar, as are all of the Strat Pluses, as they were the flagship American made factory built guitars (I think back in '87 when the first pluses came out, the C/S didn't exist or was just being put together).
So what makes a C/S better over a top spec American made guitar, when they are both built as current models?
I'm not suggesting that automatically makes a poor guitar - but it is an example of a difference....
I think the Custom Shop finishes might be a bit different. For a start they are nitro, and there aren't many models from the main factory that are. The AVRIs are nitro but I think the nitro is sprayed on top of a poly base coat with those. It's probably a thicker finish than the Custom Shop guitars. There have been a few "thin skin" guitars from the main actory like the Eric Johnson signature and a few special runs but they are few and far between.
I don't know of any other actual differences in construction. In theory there should be slightly more attention to detail in the Custom Shop from more experienced workers.
Edit: the other thing you can do with Custom Shop is actually spec up a guitar yourself (within limits) and get something that may not be part of the regular line.
I know it's hard to really compare these old Strats due to them having so many quirky parts on them. I guess the modern version was the Strat Deluxe?
So really the C/S is the whole kid in a candy shop situation, where is you have the money you can pretty much ask them to build the most crazy design lurking in the customers brain? I will need some confirmation with this, but does the C/S turn out "modern" style guitars to make sure a set quota is met and they just ship them to any guitar shop that wants to have a modern C/S guitar to give their customers more options in the store?
My own personal feelings about C/S Strat's is I think the whole "historic" models they produce are worth the money and there is plenty of people who have compared them and a normal "bedroom" player would never hear much of a difference if any. I really love the special runs of famous Strat's like the David Gilmour (my all time number one guitar hero) "The Black Strat". If it was just a "random" built C/S guitar where something was just specced up by the shop, then I guess I wouldn't see the point in spending that money. Because I've never played on a C/S Fender, I can't see what would make that guitar stand out next to a top production line US Strat?
This carries on through the range - the small details get better (generally) the more you spend, right up to the Custom Shop.
Whether the level of improvement warrants the price differential, is down to personal taste - and whether you can afford (or are willing) to spend that much.
I paid less for my used CS Strat, than I did for a new Pure Vintage (not CS) 59 Strat. The CS is significantly better - particularly in terms of sound. It was bought on merit - not because of the badge.
Try some and see what you think. Try some Suhrs and Andersons too - but do remember - there's nothing wrong with being happy with the guitar you've got....
Ref your comments above regarding Fender Custom Shop and a more 'modern Strat' - this might give you some help info and ideas http://www.fendercustomshop.com/how-to-order/ - Effectively many options are available, so if you want a modern or vintage based Strat with 22 frets, locking tuners a vintage trem or modern 2 point assembly you can have it - I believe you can still order a Strat with Lace Sensor pick-ups - There are many options on a neck profile but I know the exact profile on your Strat Plus is not available, but there are options that are similar - satin finish on the neck or gloss - Nitro or poly etc
Over the years the Custom Shop team have released a few 'modern' based Strats, often around a custom Deluxe format, so essentially the Deluxe was the replacement for the Strat Plus, as the Strat Elite has now replaced the Strat Deluxe - so they would build a Custom Shop Strat Elite with various tweaks as required - compound radius, 7.25, 12" etc - different pick-ups - different finishes - new shiny gloss, or aged etc
Any C/Shop dealer or customer can spec accordingly from the options list - Hope that helps you a bit more
If I want to order a Tele with a decent arrangement and placement of controls it doesn't look possible. I want a switch that's not too close to the volume knob, and I'd like the volume knob closer to me. Not Strat close so I knock it with my little finger, but closer than the standard Tele layout.
It looks like it's whatever they can do without having to manually rout something or reprogram the CNC.
But I guess MOST people are traditionalists and just want their idealised version of a Strat from any given year rather than some new-fangled nonsense...