Stratocaster build time ?

[cockneymike]

I have always wondered how much time it actually takes for a master builder in the Fender custom shop to actually build and finish a Stratocaster style guitar.

Can anyone provide any information on this ?

Also do the master builders work on one guitar at a time from start to completion… or do they have multiple builds running simultaneously?

Thanks

Mike

[glyderslead]

Hello Mike,

I expect we also need to clarify the “build” word. How much do they actually make? Are they really screw together people who select the best of the parts others have made and put on shelves.

It must, of course, take at least a full weeks work to justify the cost of “making” a road worn item. .........though I could b*gg*r up a perfectly good guitar in 10 minutes!

Mick

[sixchannel]

Oct 17, 2017 7:59:16 GMT glyderslead said:

Hello Mike,

I expect we also need to clarify the “build” word. How much do they actually make? Are they really screw together people who select the best of the parts others have made and put on shelves.

Mick

That would be my guess. Maybe its also to do with the way in which they put them together - a bit more TLC and Luther type knowledge perhaps? Maybe they have 30 minutes to put one together rather than, say, the 10 allotted on the production line? AND you get a guitar with that lovely "Custom Shop" decal that you can show to all your friends.
Ian

[glyderslead]

Hello Ian,

I guess your as cynical as I am with all this this "Custom Shop" and "Road Worn" business.

My guitars range from a £110 Squire - crafted in Indonesia, to a PRS Artist Pack for a few bob more, with many big name brands in between. Each and every one has its own good points and is a pleasure to play.

Much depends on set up and pick ups of course. My six channel Fender is a good example of a well put together instrument that plays very very well - thanks.

Regards

Mick

[georgemc]

Hi All,
Some years ago i was fortunate enough to have a tour of the Fender factory in Corona, which included the Custom Shop, so I can give you a little insight.
The Custom Shop was a lot smaller than I expected and busy doing a run of about 65 Road Worn guitars and had set-up a mini mass production line.All the components, as far as I could tell,were made in the main factory and only assembled in the Custom Shop.
In my naivety I thought the guitars would be hand crafted, as in the 50's and 60's, which would justify the higher price and a personal touch.
Regards

[sixchannel]

Oct 17, 2017 9:55:57 GMT glyderslead said:

Hello Ian,


My six channel Fender is a good example of a well put together instrument that plays very very well - thanks.

Regards

Mick

J'know Mick - I regretted selling it very quickly. It was a nice 🎸 .
In time I realised I really did need a second Strat, if only to take the wear off my Brason but she was long gone.
Fortunately one of those cheapy Harvey-Wallbanger - er, sorry - Harley-Benton ST62's filled the gap. Surprisingly decent to play and with a better pickup set would be very good indeed.
Cheers
Ian

[allclaphands]

I think the difference comes in what can be described as a bespoke guitar, basically,prepared and made
literally from scratch to the buyers requirements and then what is called a custom guitar made from pre-made
parts and assembled to the customers choice.The time difference between making each one is huge and I
would imagine the price would be.Speaking for myself I would love a one off made to measure guitar just for
me (In my dreams)

Pete

[newliverman]

When I visited the Fender factory in Corona they produced 400 guitars a day with 70 workers. Each part was manufactured separately and passed on to the relevant stage. Unfortunately the custom shop section was closed to the public when I was there.
I bought a Fender strat. fiesta red custom shop guitar '56 NOS in this country and there were only 13 produced that year but I had to have various modifications done as for example the trem. arm would not fit correctly. other than that it is a lovely guitar.

[garyallen]

Hi Mike,the process usually takes 6-9 months,they ask that it's ordered through a diamond dealer paying half up front,last I heard it was about £7k for a masterbuilt strat to your specs,it was £4k about 10 yrs ago,It's built by 1 master builder and he will even email you as part of the price.....regards gary

[sixchannel]

£7k? And of course it plays 7 times better, sounds 7 times better, looks 7 times better and lets The Player play 7 times better than a £1k Fender?
But this is moving away from the original thread concept. Sorry. Just had to get it off my chest! lol!
Ian

[glyderslead]

6 to nine months eh!

Well we’re talking about time so let’s see

1/ let’s allow an hour to select the parts and pick them up from the shelves. That includes walking around the factory to the various places where the shelves are located

2/ if the body is not already painted perhaps a day for painting and drying and perhaps a week or two for the paint to really harden before it is handled.

Meanwhile feet up and plenty of coffee.

3/ Screw Body to neck. Body will have predrilled holes, so perhaps a pilot hole needs to be drilled into the neck - allowing for coffee and waking up time, say 30 minutes.

4/ Perhaps a day relaxing and putting all the other bits in place. Oh and stick on transfers,

5/ say 2 hours to set up.

That’s about 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours and 30 minutes = 7 thousand pounds less cost of materials and wages for the
“ Master Screweruperer”.

That’s the price the special transfers command.

Mick

[garyallen]

Some of the shops have dealer select strats where they've already picked the specs,jumbo frets,flatter radius,and so on....starts about £3500-£4000 for a masterbuilt,at least you can play them before parting with your cash.One way to save that sort of money is to YouTube the custom shop,they'll bore you to death in about 5 mins.

[allclaphands]

6 to 9 months wait Eh!!
Most of the time is waiting in the queue before your order gets to the limited amount of guys
who build them.Then it only takes a certain amount of time after that to complete Order it
now and pay up front and they have your money for 6 to 9 months before you get it.

I had a similar experience some years ago when I ordered a Burns payed on the day
I ordered it and waited nearly 9 months for it to be delivered the reason given was they
had to have sufficient orders before making and shipping.

Pete

[Tone]

I have a friend who bought a new Masterbuilt Strat this year and as I'm aware of what went on with the process as well as having a Masterbuilt myself I can perhaps correct a few misconceptions which seem to have cropped up in this thread.

1. The cost of the guitar built to his complete individual specification by Greg Fessler (who was responsible for the 'Oasis' 50th Anniversary Strats) was £4195 from Guitar Guitar Birmingham. Of course, you can pay more (or even a bit less) than this - it depends on how exotic you want the spec to be.
2. You don’t have to pay up front .. a £500 deposit will suffice. The balance is payable when the guitar has arrived at the dealer and you arrange delivery.
3. You can specify which Masterbuilder you want to build your guitar and the waiting time is based on the workload of that builder, not the time it takes to actually assemble the instrument. Just like waiting for an operation in an NHS hospital !!!!! The waiting time is usually around 6-7 months (as was the case with my friend) unless you want it built by John Cruz who has a waiting list as long as your arm.
4. You do get the better quality materials. Parts like the scratchplate, tuners, bridge and so on are indeed 'off the shelf' but the Masterbuilder personally selects the neck and body woods and fits the frets. I believe that some builders even finish the body and neck themselves
5. It is assembled and set up perfectly from the start by the Masterbuilder.

I see that the perennial question of value for money has crept in again. Of course, in strict terms of quality of materials, sound etc it can be argued that a Masterbuilt is not worth 4 times and upwards the cost of a standard Strat but Fender are very clever at marketing and they know that people are prepared to pay a hefty premium for the kudos and satisfaction in knowing they have 'the best.' They've been doing it for 30 years so there must be something in it. And it's not just Fender. You can buy. for example, a standard Ford Mondeo and then load it with your chosen extras so that the cost doubles. It won't get you from A to B any more quickly but you've got what you want and it's personal to you so it stands apart from the rest.

You pays your money and you takes your choice!

Cheers.

Tony

[glyderslead]

Hello Tony,

Well I guess us moaners needed telling just how it is. And you are right in what you say “ You pays your money “

As for me, I can afford to buy a Custom Shop guitar or two ........from the odd bit of change I have hanging about; but I just don’t think they are worth it.

So, I am in the process of making another “Strat”. The fully finished body, this time, has been purchased together with a highly figured birds eye maple neck with jumbo frets and 10 inch radius ( just what I like. Custom shop fat 50s pick ups with the push pull switch for 7 sounds - loaded onto a white black white board and Wilkinson gold plated hardware - I like Wilkinson’s parts. Waiting for a couple of bits to arrive and I can put it all together, which I will do over a couple of days during the next couple of weeks when I have time. Then set it up - not rocket science. Cost? Well under a grand and a great ldeal of satisfaction in having exactly what I want. - without feeling I have overpaid. I don’t do soldering, so a friend has offered to solder the wire to the trem claw and the two wires to the jack socket.

I painted the body on my earlier bitsa and messed it up a bit so I will re-do it. Again, that’s the price; but I’m in no hurry to do it. Meanwhile I don’t have to worry about dings or scratches as any that come my way will be sorted out.

All that said I am sure that the people at Fender are very good at what they do

Cheers.

Mick

[garyallen]

I remember filling out a spec sheet and I asked the shop owner a question,"If the materials are the same then what's the difference between a teambuilt and a masterbuilt ?" the answer was "about £2000" and he laughed...I replied "so I'm paying £2000 for a set up" he laughed even more so I said "just give me a pack of Ernie ball 10s"