I think the Gotoh brand Kluson style are a much better built and longer lasting gear than the new Kluson branded Kluson style gears. Allparts sells them, and lots of places sell stuff from Allparts.
I had the same experience when I toured the Memphis factory. The showroom/giftshop had incredibly sloppy guitars priced at $4000+. Binding scraped where it should been wasn't. And areas that shouldn't have been were. Runs in paint, orange peel. Sharp fret ends sticking out. Things that...
I would assume its for adherence reasons. If you read through this thread Steve has had a few adherence problems, and when he found a protocol that works, he stuck with it. Maybe it is necessary, maybe not, but I would guess he's sticking with what works.
I have recently picked up the Classic Vibe Custom telecaster, and the CV 60's candy apple red Strat, to go with my CV 50's tele. I'm really loving my CVs
Both those sellers are totally stand up guys, and both have been vintage dealers a long time. That being said. Gary's looks totally legit, Craig's I have my doubts. I would need to see the neck route.
Wow that picture is the smoking gun. Same "long drill" hole in the corner, same odd rounded corner routes, same round indentions around the neck screw holes. The only real difference is the truss rod access route is deeper, but looks 'messed' with.