I know I should get excited by this guitar but I can't. In fact I get angry. Angry because it shows the one main gripe I have with "Custom Shop" guitars no matter who the manufacturer is. Lets have a look for a second at this:

Fender recently announced one of the latest instruments to come out of its venerable Custom Shop, the new Stratocaster Pro––a guitar apparently aimed at the pro-level market, and sporting a number of features that according to Fender can be found “on the instruments of famous Fender artists.” (Sweetwater claims the guitar represents “20 years of the Custom Shop’s most requested modifications.”)

Unique features of the Strat Pro are to include a body of select alder, Fender’s popular (and incredibly comfortable) modern “C” shaped neck, a contoured heel for better access to frets in the upper register, 22 MJ frets, and a slightly aged “Closet Classic” nitro finish.

The guitar is also expected to come full loaded with top-shelf parts, including a trio of Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups, Fender’s “Greasebucket” tone circuit (on bridge & neck pups,) Fender/Schaller deluxe staggered locking tuners, a 2-point synchronized tremolo (w/stainless steel saddles and block,) LSR roller nut, and strap locks.

The Stratocaster Pro will ship with a deluxe hard case, and is expected to carry a street price of around $2200.

Lets look at that again:

the guitar represents “20 years of the Custom Shop’s most requested modifications:.

If so many people request these modifications time and time again, doesn't that say that maybe, just maybe, there is something wrong with the original? Before you all shoot me, I'm not saying that Strats are bad. I'm just thinking that these changes should not be reserved for the "special, limited edition, just because we feel like charging twice the price for parts we have lying around the shop" Custom editions.

It also says to me that the designers, instead of coming up with anything original have just copped out on a popularity contest for parts. Kind of like A&R people do now with all these reality TV glorified talent contests.

If you are doing a custom shop, make it worthwhile. Not this crap. Am I the only one who feels like these manufacturers are really just trying to squeeze every last buck out of us?

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