Are early years Fender Custom Shop becoming the new "vintage"?

[rze99]

I'm spending a bit of time on sites for parts as I've another needless vanity partscaster project going on.
What I think I'm seeing is that early years Fender Custom Shop guitars and parts are becoming the new "vintage" in terms of price, perceived rarity and provenance. Isn't that just a bit, well, mad?

 

[Rufustelestrats]

Well, in some ways it does equate to what the vintage guitars were. While you and I may not consider those core builders from the 50s and early 60s master builders, who knew better than them how it should be. Sort of like the assembly line Rembrandt had going on. It only makes sense that once the true vintage pieces are out of the reach of the masses that the lesser pieces would take over. Look at the rise of late 60s and early 70s CBS boat anchor Strats and Tele's. The increase in the cost of 50 and 60s Jassmasters, and student models.

This has been demonstrated before with many collectible items. Cars, coins, watches. Secondary level items begin to rise as top tier items are priced out of reach of normal collectors.
R

 

[brookdalebill]

Gawd, no!

 

[Gibsonsmu]

They still make them just the same - that is sellers selling no one would actually buy for those prices

 

[Lobomov]

Gawd, no!

+1

 

[Dacious]

I think they maintain relative value. But so do all expensive guitars. A Shelby Mustang is always worth more than a regular one from the same yeae even though it's still worth maybe 6/10ths of new, depending on guitar. Although there's been greater and lesser models as CS individual examples may be molested or dogs the oldest are 20+ years old. Then again 52RIs are 30 yo and some of them are marching up in price, even though the model they make today is arguably as good or better than any prior.

 

[FendrGuitPlayr]

So we have pre-Mike Eldred era CS guitars vs post Mike Eldred era?!?!

 

[Heyitsmejoeg]

I'm spending a bit of time on sites for parts as I've another needless vanity partscaster project going on.
What I think I'm seeing is that early years Fender Custom Shop guitars and parts are becoming the new "vintage" in terms of price, perceived rarity and provenance. Isn't that just a bit, well, mad?

Needless vanity partcasters lol never heard it phrased like that. I have partcasters I’ve only played a few times

 

[Tom-Australia]

Certainly in Australia this is the case. Whether anyone is actually paying the prices that are being asked is a completely different question.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

First year for the custom shop instruments was what year ?

 

[teledude1958]

My 1984 57 reissue strat that i brought new is going up in price. I paid 850 for it in 1984. I think it is worth more than that surely. Didn't the custom shop start a little after 1984? The strat is one of the last made in Fullerton, that should count for something.

 

[FendrGuitPlayr]

My 1984 57 reissue strat that i brought new is going up in price. I paid 850 for it in 1984. I think it is worth more than that surely. Didn't the custom shop start a little after 1984? The strat is one of the last made in Fullerton, that should count for something.

From Wiki:
The Fender Custom Shop began in 1987, under the supervision of then-CEO Schultz. The initial staff comprised only two Master Builders (John Page, Michael Stevens) and a Haas VF4 CNC machine (modified for woodwork) that cuts three bodies or four necks at once. The primary intent of the Fender Custom Shop was to create instruments in the tradition of Leo Fender and his staff at the original Fender facilities in Fullerton, CA, accommodating famous endorsers and other discerning players who wanted the accuracy, detail, and quality—as well as customization and personal touches—that were widely perceived as omitted under the tutelage of CBS, and considered lacking on the revamped Fender's mass-produced instruments.

 

[GuitarJonz]

Cunetto

 

[Ripradiant]

I think guitars in some ways are made better today than in the "vintage era." Sometime there is much confusion with "market value" and what that means. Just because a guitar is highly valued doesn't mean "per se" that it is the best. I'm gonna guess that a custom shop probably has way more build time in it than any vintage Tele: snd, if one is not concerned with market price - might be a better buy.

 

[gitold]

Vintage Guitar has a great article this month on the Fender Custom shop. I would think that the first few years had some excellent guitars being made. The few guys that worked there have all become luthier legends and they were really trying to bring Fender back from the dead. Schultz told then to not worry about making money, just make the best guitars you can. Don’t think I’ve ever played any from that period but I would love to.

 

[Middleman]

In a word, no.

Resellers are constantly trying to find perceived value for which they can improve margins. If greater than 5% of CS guitars actually sounded or played better than the deluxe models then it could be a market based on pretty colors and fancy necks. I've played few CS models that sounded outstanding.

Buyer beware.

 

[rodger]

YES!!! I only say that because I own 3 Custom Shops from the early days. 40th Anniversary Tele, 35th Anniversary Strat and a tri-gold Strat based on a rare 1957 version.

I like the new headstock logo. Mine have the old one like this one from the tri-gold.

 

[TeleTown]

nice try but no!

 

[rze99]

Cunetto

Yup.
Case in point: Cunetto Tele pickups, £462.57. Really? a bargain down from an original £555
https://reverb.com/item/5780141-fender-telecaster-pickups-cunetto-custom-shop-90-s-extremely-rare

 

[trev333]

a few 87's I have here.... I'm sure the guys put in a lot of effort to get back into the market....

probably as good as CS.. IMHO...