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Post by Ward on Mar 26, 2017 17:23:34 GMT -6
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Post by swurveman on Mar 26, 2017 18:57:16 GMT -6
Did Eric Clapton and Jimmy Hendrix buy "Custom Shop" Strats?
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Post by Ward on Mar 26, 2017 20:09:13 GMT -6
No, they had guitars that were made before everything was CNC machinery. The custom Shop guitars restore the quality that the original guitars had... and a price to match, if you factor in inflation.
I have a few system Shop models and they are the same quality as my 1964 - 1966 originals.
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Post by winetree on Mar 26, 2017 22:01:02 GMT -6
I lived in Fullerton, Ca. during the 60's, early 70's, and knew the fender factory on Walnut Street well. I had friends that worked there and took me back into the factory.
When you walked in the door, there was a counter in front of you and to the left was a room with the guitar tech.
In the early 70's I had purchased a new natural finish, blond neck P-Bass. The natural finish was an ash body weighing 14 pounds.
Playing 6 nights a week, I had to have a custom padded leather strap made to ease the shoulder pain.
I walked in complaining and the tech guy took me in this room. He replaced the body and asked if I wanted to try out a Jazz neck. I said yes. I basically walked out with a different bass.
I later decided against the change, went back, he changed it back and I walked out with my original bass. I wound up selling the bass and buying a used 1968 P-Bass for a $100.
It weighed only 7 lbs. I still have it.
That was the kind of service you got back in the day.
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Post by jimwilliams on Aug 13, 2017 11:52:17 GMT -6
I took the tour with Rex Bogue (Mahavisnu double neck builder) back in the mid 1970's. They showed everything but the paint shop. That was kept secret as they had an automated assembly line system and fast drying acrylic paint.
They were cranking out pretty sloppy stuff as fast as they could, this was not Fender's "Golden Era".
The most memorable part was watching the rather obese Mexican guy that did the rear "offset body" contouring of the Strat and P-bass bodies. He had a bin of bodies on one side and the empty bin on the other. He would grab one, tuck it under his gut and lean into the large belt sander and press with all his weight. After 30 seconds of gut busting sanding he would toss it into the empty bin and then grab another. It was truly fascinating to watch. I suppose you could call that the "Corona" contour as he was built perfectly for that job. If you have a 1970's ~80's Strat, P or J bass he probably cut your guit.
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Post by levon on Oct 26, 2017 1:47:55 GMT -6
Great story, love it...
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