Fender Signature-Series Guitars from the Custom Shop

@rgbrock1 10770 wrote:

Hi.

I was wondering if anyone here has experience – good and/or bad – with any of the axes produced by Fender out of their custom shop.
The reason I ask is because I have my eye on the David Gilmour signature-series Strat which is rather costly at $4,000-$5,000. With such a huge price tag I’m just wondering if
one gets what one pays for.

Thanks.

Hello rgbrock1, 🙂

I know we’ve chatted before in the past in these IG-Forums (about the band Tool and maybe Flaxwood guitars!), but I don’t remember if I mentioned (or if you’d remember) that I teach out of a cool little music store in Woburn, Massachusetts, (called: Performance Music Center) and they’ve been a Fender Custom- Shop/Master-Dealer for about ten (10) years! 😉 😎

I don’t handle retail, but if you’re interested, contact the guys at Performance Music Center, and ask for Paul or Joe (you can tell them that the guitar teacher named Bill referred you, but it doesn’t ultimately matter much, since a.) I’m NOT in retail…. and b.)NO ONE at Performance Music Center works off commission anyways! I remember seeing a Fender Gilmour Signature Model Strat a few months back, and it was sweet, but you’d have to talk/correspond with Paul or Joe to get any meaningful details regarding the specifics of the guitar and/or it’s pricing, build/wait-time, shipping, etc 😉 .

BTW, if I remember correctly, there was also a guy who wanted a Gilmour Signature Strat, but couldn’t afford it, but he came up with the idea of getting a much less expensive Custom Shop stock-model which had very similar features (but NOT identical of course!) Although it wasn’t actually a Gilmour, it was sweet, and it saved him a “couple-of-grand/($$)” He was a happy guy! 😀

Best of luck either way! 😎

~Bill Meehan~ 😀

Hi rgbrock1,

In my opinion, the short answer is no, you don’t get what you pay for. I see that Fender has jumped on the same bandwagon as Gibson, and is offering “signature” series guitars for ridiculous prices.
You can buy a much more reasonably priced Strat, and outfit it with all kinds of different pickup and hardware options, including whatever it is David Gilmour prefers, and come out spending thousands less.
There is nothing magical about these signature guitars to warrant their high cost, other than the fact that they are associated with some rock stars’ names. Fender and Gibson are laughing all the way to the bank. If it were me, I’d steer clear.

Frank

-Tundra Music has a sweet in stock selection of Fender Custom Shop Guitars with the new Josephina Hand wound pickups.
-They can custom order any guitar if you can’t find anything you like that is in stock our of 40+ guitars
-They have by far the best HD videos on their custom shop pieces check them out guys http://www.youtube.com/user/TundraMusicINC/videos
-You know if they are vintage specialist there only getting the best new stuff!
Hope you guys enjoy… let me know what you think….