BTW - I played a caparison

[Philly Q]

Don't get me wrong - I'm sure the luthiers here make superb guitars and  I'd certainly love to try one of their creations one day.  It's just that I don't have really defined exacting requirements, so 'off the shelf' works fine for me  :)

+1

If I was to ever go for a custom guitar, it would probably look very much like a bog-standard SG or Les Paul Jr (maybe with different timbers or construction refinements).  But it seems almost insulting to go to a luthier and say "Hmm, yeah, your designs are nice, but could you just copy my SG?".

And there's always the nagging doubt that your custom creation wouldn't turn out to have "it", that special mojo you hoped for.  Not necessarily because of any failing by the luthier, but perhaps because you didn't really know exactly what you wanted.

[MDV]

Don't get me wrong - I'm sure the luthiers here make superb guitars and  I'd certainly love to try one of their creations one day.  It's just that I don't have really defined exacting requirements, so 'off the shelf' works fine for me  :)

+1

If I was to ever go for a custom guitar, it would probably look very much like a bog-standard SG or Les Paul Jr (maybe with different timbers or construction refinements).  But it seems almost insulting to go to a luthier and say "Hmm, yeah, your designs are nice, but could you just copy my SG?".

And there's always the nagging doubt that your custom creation wouldn't turn out to have "it", that special mojo you hoped for.  Not necessarily because of any failing by the luthier, but perhaps because you didn't really know exactly what you wanted.

I know what you mean on the 'getting it wrong'. But I went to Bob with a tone in mind, and he gave me advice on how to get it and we hammered out ideas between us and decided on a spec that would do the job. And so it does. I think if you go with a set spec and dont have that discussion, you could get a guitar that falls short of expectation in unexpected ways, for you (but probably not so much for the luthier: I think tone is still a black art to even experienced luthiers, but they certainly have a better idea how a guitars going to turn out). If you talk it out, youre going to get much closer to what you want.

[Lew]

How do Caparison necks compare? I find Ibanez great but Jackson a slightly wide feel. Are they more Ibanez, Jackson or in between?

They are pretty big by super strat standards.
Chunky and wide, nothing like an Ibanez, the radius of the board gets flater as you get further up the neck. It has as dead flat center in the middle of a U shape. The frets are like rail tracks ;P

You can spend 2k and get a Hamer/Suhr/Anderson and they are always floating around the used market, they may not be any better a guitar than the customs but they have the street cred/brand.

[dave_mc]

No offence posh and wez  :oops:

I might add, chiselled not with a chisel. With a sharpened spoon.

Anywho, I think youre right Dave. Of those reasons the only one that resonates for me personally is 'try before you buy'. I was bricking it till my legra got here. All decisions vindicated in the final analysis (lets just say I didnt brak Bobs string of 10s in all catergories for all guitars on HC reviews!). But the gamble would be there again with a different buider or different design.

I have enough guitars though. I'll struggle for space for more. I'm more interested in buying new heads.

my biggest problem was actually deciding on a final spec as i'm the most indecisive person on the planet.

the wait's the annoying thing too. worth it, no doubt, but it is hard.

[Jonny]

[my biggest problem was actually deciding on a final spec as i'm the most indecisive person on the planet.

the wait's the annoying thing too. worth it, no doubt, but it is hard.

I'm sure there is the temptation that you want to buy something else within that time too.

[dave_mc]

yeah. or at least, the major concern is that you might change your mind once you've placed the order.

this sounds like i'm down on custom-builds... i'm really not, i'd do it again. just it's only fair to point out the (possible) problems and/or concerns to others.

:)

[ToneMonkey]

I think that people are different in the fact that people after a custom are often after the guitar that is going to stay with them, whereas other people like to have a lot of off the shelf guitars (isn't that right Mr King   ).  If your after a guitar for keeps then you wont mind the wait so much.

[kevincurtis]

If I can remember back far enough, the initial reason I went down the custom build route for my Strat was simply colour - I wanted a translucent black quilted maple finish which at the time wasn't available stock.  As soon as I had, my discussions with the luthier lead to other subtle variations - the body contouring is slightly different, the neck join has been contoured slightly to allow better access, as well as a subtle larger scoop for the bottom horn. Also I wanted a fixed bridge.... I guess I am saying there are loads of ways to make a guitar just that little bit more personal that a luthier brings - and I think it's always great to have a 1 off :)

I would definitely do it again...just got to keep saving!

[Philly Q]

I think that people are different in the fact that people after a custom are often after the guitar that is going to stay with them, whereas other people like to have a lot of off the shelf guitars (isn't that right Mr King   ).  If your after a guitar for keeps then you wont mind the wait so much.

To be fair, I think Phil has everything - vintage, modern, off-the-shelf, home-builds and customs.

The thing with off-the-shelf guitars is that - obviously - they're already built.  So you can pick something up with no particular expectations of liking it, and it turns out to be magic.  

I wouldn't rule out a custom build one day though - in fact I know pretty much exactly what I'd want.  But I feel like I ought to be a decent player to "justify" a custom build.

[Jonny]

I wouldn't rule out a custom build one day though - in fact I know pretty much exactly what I'd want.  But I feel like I ought to be a decent player to "justify" a custom build.

That rules me off the list.

[PoshCollins]

The only I'd really see myself trying a Caparison is due to the fact I'm a big fan of Matthis 'IA' Eklundh. But in all honesty I don't really feel the need to try them out.

[zilong]

I hear that the stock bridge pickups on the Horus models suck, while the Dellinger/TAT bridge pickups are pretty good.

[Lew]

I hear that the stock bridge pickups on the Horus models suck, while the Dellinger/TAT bridge pickups are pretty good.

Ye, I thought the bridge pickup was shite in my horus, but the PH-R in my deli is a good metal pickup.

I dont like the single coils in either models, but that 's why I have a Crawler/Mmilk/Mmilk on order  8)

[dave_mc]

I think that people are different in the fact that people after a custom are often after the guitar that is going to stay with them, whereas other people like to have a lot of off the shelf guitars

that's very true.