Custom vs. High-end production guitars

[Ratrod]

Another thing that infuences the price is labour.

A Tele is significantly easier and quicker to make than an arch top hollow body.

[TheIronBeast]

I was kind of in the same boat as you when I made my decision to make a custom order. I always wanted a Fender CS Esquire and was trying one out at my local store a few months back and needless to say I loved it. At the time I couldn't afford the CS Esquire and I was also thinking to myself while playing it that I think the guitar would sound great with a humbucker. Thats when I got the idea to contact Wez to order a custom built Esquire, I could have a humbucker equiped Esquire and I also chose a design that represents me as a person too (Celtic FC football supporter ;)). So all in all I'm getting the design I wanted, the specs I wanted and it works out much cheaper than the Fender CS.

I do agree with what Twinfan says though. You are best to try out the guitar that you would like first though before making your decision.

[Twinfan]

GAS?  ;)

http://www.guitars4you.co.uk/guitars/2692.htm

[sambo]

^Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh! So incredibly nice.

I'm still deciding which is my favourite finish. This is amazing, from Machinhead:



And this is an alternative Vigier with a similar spec (considerably cheaper though):




Keep the thoughts coming chaps.

[ToneMonkey]

Having an early  Patrick Eggle Berlin, I would say to have a go on one of them too........ and then you could still afford to go on holiday  :lol:

[sambo]

I've heard lots and lots of good things about Eggle. Weirdly I met Mr.Eggle's current business partner down the pub the other day!! How weird is that? Quite an interesting chap he was indeed.

Anyway, I must confess I don't HAVE £2000 ready to spunk on a guitar! Rather, I've recently got a job and I'm considering the Arts Council "Take It Away" scheme. You pay for an instrument in 10% monthly payments (0% interest), and take the guitar away same day.

Even if I decide against that I'll be saving like mad, I just feel like now is the right time for a step up in the quality of guitar that I've got.

[Philly Q]

I don't have anything to add on the Custom vs. High-end debate, but those Swamp Ash Specials would be beautiful.... if they didn't have that middle pickup ruining the look.  :?

[sambo]

I don't have anything to add on the Custom vs. High-end debate, but those Swamp Ash Specials would be beautiful.... if they didn't have that middle pickup ruining the look.  :?

I'm the complete opposite- that's one of the things that sets them apart from the other PRSs. Another thing being the maple boards, which is a key thing for me.

[ToneMonkey]

Don't know what the crack is with the Take It Away scheme.  Can you get used guitars on it, or doesn't it matter as long as it's at a shop?

The other side to a custom is that you can't really play it before you buy it.  So unless you're 100% sure what you want on it, then maybe it isn't time one of them

I think it's going to depend on your circumstances at the time and what you come across.  I've just spent far too much money on a watch (twice what I was intending to spend), because I fell in love with it.  There was nothing I could do, resistance was futile  :lol: Guitars are just as dangerous  :(

[sambo]

Yeah with Take It Away it can be secondhand, it just has to be from one of the participating retailers (loads of decent shops, including Machinehead and Coda which are local to me).

And what you mention about customs not being playable until they're done is one of my biggest worries about that route.

[MDV]

Very helpful so far guys keep it coming.

Mark I've probably asked you this before, but if you don't mind how much did your Legra set you back?

I have the Modern Eagle for several reasons:

* I fell in love with them the first time I saw one
* The spec suits me perfectly (twin cutaway, scale length, woods)
* I'm lucky enough to be able to afford one

But most importantly:

* It's the best sounding and feeling humbucker loaded guitar I've ever played

^That bit is I suppose what I'm trying to decipher. And I have reservations about going custom because my reference point would be production-model guitars: I feel like if I asked Bob or Jonathan for "basically a PRS Swampash Special" the end result may not be what I was hoping for, as a PRS SAS is a PRS SAS and a Feline copy will always be just that.

Such a hard decision!

Cheers dave

And, I cant really give you a usefull answer to that, sam! The MDV602 cost me ~1350 a few years ago, before the price hike in woods and hardware, so I dont know what it would cost now. My second Legra, the Aurora, got a reduction at Bobs discretion, so I dont know what that would have cost either (I paid about 1800 though, which isnt worth batting an eyelid at for the spec and design I'm getting).

But, the only thing out of Legra that I do know the price of any more - a CNC line based on the RG shape that hes put a lot of thought and work into getting under the £1000 mark - CNC the general shape, assembling by hand, choice of hardware (and *I think* bridge routing, if any, and pickup config) and woods. If you like the RG shape and 25.5 scale (more or less the only constraints, I think, due to the CNCinc of the body and neck shape) then that might be of interest to you?

Failing that, decide on a preliminary spec and ask for some quotes from Legra and anyone else, and ask some questions in the email, see how they reply. Its what I did first time round (Bob gave a good price, but most importantly, the most complete and sensible answers to my quesitons; that plus reputation is how I chose Legra in the first place, having never played one - perhaps a similar processes would help you decide which custom, if any, you'd go with?).

[MDV]

And what you mention about customs not being playable until they're done is one of my biggest worries about that route.

Me too. I utterly swear by only buying guitars you've played, and I was shiteeting bricks the few days before my first Legra arived, and it was the single biggest thing against me getting a custom in general: "What if its cr@p?" going through my head, repeatedly.

That I'm nothing but excited about my second one should tell you something though :D

[gwEm]

I wonder if Feline would do a 'budget' CNC assisted version of his Lions.

[hunter]

I've always been GASing for SASes ... but I never actually played one :O

[Matt77]

My 2 pence:

There is little discernable difference between the Feline's I've played and own and a good example of a  high end guitar from PRS, Gibson, Vigier etc.

If a major manufacturer happens to make a guitar that has exactly what you want in terms of spec, then you should buy it.

If you want something that is a slightly different spec and are prepared to wait longer; go to a luthier.
Many luthiers in the UK can build a guitar to the exact spec of the well known brands, to at least the same quality and at a lower price. Due to their smaller capacity, you have to wait longer  :(

You get what you ask for. If you don't know 100% what you want then chances are you may be moving the guitar on at some point, as Twinfan pointed out be prepared to lose financially on the re-sale value of a custom build.

My top 3 guitars (potentially) are my Feline Lion, Musicman Axis SSport, then Feline Tiger, in that order.

Can't remember the prices at new, but it would be about £2,300, £1,250 and £1,900 at a guess. There can't be more than 10% difference in quality, but there is in price.
Likewise all of these 3 can absolutely piss on a lot of guitars I've played that weigh in at £3,000 plus.