My good friend Cary over at EGR (as if thats not the best guitar site in the world) posted this great video of the one and only Howlin Wolf (featuring the one and only Hubert Sumlin on guitar, thats two one and onlys in one video).

His comments got me thinking about what he said and how much of today's blues is missing that pure emotion. And he is right. I like the blues, but only a few acts really hit me emotionally. Gary Moore is one. Joe Bonamassa is another. After that I'm starting to run low on ideas. Does Keb' Mo' count? I would like to find more people like these. If you have any suggestions for me on who I should check out let me know.

This is definitley something worth reading over time. John Page is famous for his work in the Fender Custom Shop and now after a lengthy hiatus from guitar building has decided to once again delve into a new manufacturing endevour. This link is the first of John stepping us through bit by bit the manufacturing process of the first guitar in this run.

Turns out it's not that hard. Be someone of note who plays guitar, preferably a washed up screen actor stuck in a TV series that is about 2 seasons past it's prime, and own a lot of one manufacturers guitars. Here's proof.

The Gibson Custom Kiefer Sutherland KS-336 features carved mahogany body with carved maple top, 1-piece mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, 24.75? scale length, ABR-1 bridge with lightweight aluminum tailpiece, two ‘57 Classic Plus humbucker pickups, 3-way pickup switch, 2 volume and 2 tone controls.

And here is the reason why he got a signature guitar:

Inspired by Kiefer Sutherland, you know him from 24, a long-time guitar player, who joined the Gibson Custom Shop to create this guitar based on a Custom CS-336 that belongs to his more-than-60 Gibson guitar collection.

I'm sorry Gibson, but you really are becoming a very stupid company. First you try to sue PRS over their single cut design, and now this. By giving Gibson Kiefer Sutherland a signature series guitar you are elevating him to the same level as your other signature players. Thats right. Mr. Sutherland is now in an elite group of guitarists that include Warren Hayes, Jimmy Page, Slash, Ace Frehley, Billie Joe Armstrong, Les Paul, Joe Perry, and many more. If I were one of these guitarists I would see this as an insult to my credibility as a musician.

Am I the only one who finds this model completely offensive?

Oh look, another custom guitar. And this time it's a "relic" as well. Is no one happy to just make a great "standard" guitar anymore? This does look like a great guitar, make no mistake about it. I just don't get this whole relic things. I'd rather have my guitar look like a product of my blood, sweat and tears and not someone else's.

The guitar, dubbed the Limited Edition Brian Setzer Tribute, will bear the markings of a seriously worn-in Gretsch, including painstakingly recreated scratches, dings, worn down finish & hardware, and even some old stickers (note the oh so rock ‘n’ roll yellow skull & crossbones on the headstock.)

While full specs aren’t available at this time, the Brian Setzer Tribute is expected to feature a single cutaway hollowbody design, with trestle bracing, an ebony fretboard with 22 frets (and neo-classic thumbnail inlays,) a pair of TV Jones Classic pickups, authentic Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece (including “wear & tear” of course,) dual “dice” tone knobs, and a Relic Cowboy case.

I really don't think a guitar like this is a playable instrument. It's a collector's piece. And if that's the case why use such valuable components? As long as it looks the goods, right? Have I just started the next "relic" fad, Knock of replicas?

I hope not.

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?