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AndrewG · February 17th, 2012, 06:35 AM

After all a Tele isn't exactly the last word in high-end, complex luthiery. I'm assuming they don't hand-carve necks and bodies, or do they? Do they fret the necks, paint and finish the guitars; solder up their own electronics?
Or (with my cynics hat on), is the whole Masterbuilt thing simply a marketing ploy?

rotheryrules · February 17th, 2012, 06:46 AM

I'm a trained Luthier, and though I haven't made a guitar from scratch in a few years when I did I made everything from scratch, even the truss rod!
The wood arrived rough sawn and it was painstakingly planed, filed, spoke shaved, routed, fretted and sprayed until it looked like a guitar!

For me Master Built means more time was taken in everything from wood choice measurement, look at a neck joint on say a Suhr or Anderson compared to an American std.The former is microscopic in its fit and finish.

Twang Tone · February 17th, 2012, 07:31 AM

I thought they selected the timber, prep'd, painted and built individual instruments by themselves. In other words, NOT Team-built. I could be wrong!

Thanks,

Latebluesman · February 17th, 2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotheryrules

I'm a trained Luthier, and though I haven't made a guitar from scratch in a few years when I did I made everything from scratch, even the truss rod!
The wood arrived rough sawn and it was painstakingly planed, filed, spoke shaved, routed, fretted and sprayed until it looked like a guitar!

For me Master Built means more time was taken in everything from wood choice measurement, look at a neck joint on say a Suhr or Anderson compared to an American std.The former is microscopic in its fit and finish.

I believe they build guitars, that is what they do.
They carve bodies, fret necks, solder electronics and everything.
See:

http://www.stratcollector.com/newsde...es/000110.html

http://www.fendercustomshop.com/index.php/master-built/

http://www.fendercustomshop.com/index.php/master-built/

John Cruz

Greg Fessler

Dennis Galuszka

Todd Krause

Yuriy Shishkov

Jason Smith

Stephen Stern

Paul Waller

Dale Wilson

bbmyers · February 17th, 2012, 07:55 AM

"What do 'Master Builders' actually do?"

Simple.. They are the best at hiding their mistakes!

Bb

Ronkirn · February 17th, 2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

They are the best at hiding their mistakes!

Voila!

Ron Kirn

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:07 AM

They don't buy necks from other people, bolt them on a body and say they "built" it. :)

ME

Latebluesman · February 17th, 2012, 08:08 AM

So Fender are paying big salaries to 9 people for choosing wood,
looking at the neck joints and covering mistakes...

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:08 AM

They do this...

ME

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:09 AM

And, this...

ME

Latebluesman · February 17th, 2012, 08:09 AM

How many "masterbuilt" gtrs are made by Fender CS every year?

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:10 AM

And, this...(Kit Carson made the little bits on this one)

ME

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:12 AM

oooh, and this...

ME

brookdalebill · February 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM

I'd guess the "Masters" use the best materials available,
and exercise the most care and skill possible.
I don't have much (any) experience with Masterbuilt models.
The Fender style, bolt/screw together electric guitar is a comparatively new
art form.
All of us here are devotees.
It owes a lot of it's origin to Henry Ford and his assembly line building style.
Having one (master) builder puts a lot of responsibility to "deliver" on the guy.
Now I'm going to seek a few out, and form an opinion.

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM

And, this...(the balls even have the FCS logo laser etched on them!)

ME

Latebluesman · February 17th, 2012, 08:21 AM

They also do simple and beautiful "things", like this:

Mike Eldred · February 17th, 2012, 08:23 AM

ooooo....my want!!!!

ME

Latebluesman · February 17th, 2012, 08:27 AM

Oh, and they also have a sweet lady, hand wounding pick ups for them all day long...

Guitarmadcat · February 17th, 2012, 09:36 AM

A.Y. is definitely my [removed by Admin] Suppose I'll get banned for this now

Latebluesman · February 17th, 2012, 09:49 AM

bbmyers and RonKirn, please explain what you mean by "hiding their mistakes".

February 17th, 2012, 06:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
AndrewG Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2007 Location: Exeter, UK Age: 60 Posts: 917	What do 'Master Builders' actually do? After all a Tele isn't exactly the last word in high-end, complex luthiery. I'm assuming they don't hand-carve necks and bodies, or do they? Do they fret the necks, paint and finish the guitars; solder up their own electronics? Or (with my cynics hat on), is the whole Masterbuilt thing simply a marketing ploy?

February 17th, 2012, 07:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Twang Tone Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: UK Age: 40 Posts: 2,268	I thought they selected the timber, prep'd, painted and built individual instruments by themselves. In other words, NOT Team-built. I could be wrong! Thanks, __________________ TT

February 17th, 2012, 08:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
Latebluesman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seal Beach, California Age: 41 Posts: 280	So Fender are paying big salaries to 9 people for choosing wood, looking at the neck joints and covering mistakes... __________________ “I was never really insane, except upon occasions when my heart was touched.” (Edgar Allan Poe)

February 17th, 2012, 08:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
Latebluesman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seal Beach, California Age: 41 Posts: 280	How many "masterbuilt" gtrs are made by Fender CS every year? __________________ “I was never really insane, except upon occasions when my heart was touched.” (Edgar Allan Poe)

February 17th, 2012, 08:21 AM	#16 (permalink)
Latebluesman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seal Beach, California Age: 41 Posts: 280	They also do simple and beautiful "things", like this: __________________ “I was never really insane, except upon occasions when my heart was touched.” (Edgar Allan Poe)

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February 17th, 2012, 06:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
rotheryrules Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Manchester Uk Posts: 300	I'm a trained Luthier, and though I haven't made a guitar from scratch in a few years when I did I made everything from scratch, even the truss rod! The wood arrived rough sawn and it was painstakingly planed, filed, spoke shaved, routed, fretted and sprayed until it looked like a guitar! For me Master Built means more time was taken in everything from wood choice measurement, look at a neck joint on say a Suhr or Anderson compared to an American std.The former is microscopic in its fit and finish.

February 17th, 2012, 07:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
bbmyers Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2011 Location: NY Posts: 362	"What do 'Master Builders' actually do?" Simple.. They are the best at hiding their mistakes! Bb

February 17th, 2012, 08:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	They don't buy necks from other people, bolt them on a body and say they "built" it. :) ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	They do this... ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	And, this... ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	And, this...(Kit Carson made the little bits on this one) ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	oooh, and this... ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
brookdalebill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Austin, Tx Age: 55 Posts: 4,323	I'd guess the "Masters" use the best materials available, and exercise the most care and skill possible. I don't have much (any) experience with Masterbuilt models. The Fender style, bolt/screw together electric guitar is a comparatively new art form. All of us here are devotees. It owes a lot of it's origin to Henry Ford and his assembly line building style. Having one (master) builder puts a lot of responsibility to "deliver" on the guy. Now I'm going to seek a few out, and form an opinion.

February 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	And, this...(the balls even have the FCS logo laser etched on them!) ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:23 AM	#17 (permalink)
Mike Eldred Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 186	ooooo....my want!!!! ME

February 17th, 2012, 08:27 AM	#18 (permalink)
Latebluesman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seal Beach, California Age: 41 Posts: 280	Oh, and they also have a sweet lady, hand wounding pick ups for them all day long... __________________ “I was never really insane, except upon occasions when my heart was touched.” (Edgar Allan Poe)

February 17th, 2012, 09:36 AM	#19 (permalink)
Guitarmadcat Banned Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Colchester, England, UK Posts: 1,169	Stop TRYING to get banned. A.Y. is definitely my [removed by Admin] Suppose I'll get banned for this now Last edited by TDPRI; February 21st, 2012 at 04:36 PM.

February 17th, 2012, 09:49 AM	#20 (permalink)
Latebluesman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Seal Beach, California Age: 41 Posts: 280	bbmyers and RonKirn, please explain what you mean by "hiding their mistakes". __________________ “I was never really insane, except upon occasions when my heart was touched.” (Edgar Allan Poe)

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