Fender Custom Shop Relic OR Vintage ProShop? The Unnecessary Comparison

Before getting too riled - I write this with tongue in cheek - a rye smile on my face and awareness that my "issue" is with a minority - all be it a very vocal one!

As you will know, I have been really enjoying the privilege to be at the fore of the Vintage ProShop developments in the UK.  

If you dont know the details then I will give you a couple of links to my previous blogs and catalog links to see the guitars themselves but the simple story is - you take a Vintage guitar - strip it down - refinish it in whatever way you wish - whatever parts you wish - whatever color etc - all done in the Vintage ProShop in the UK - and hey presto you have a ProShop.

I then combine this with my own eye for what I love - pickup configuations I know will be popular with my customers and ensure our guitars are setup to perfection in our workshop which I call Vintage Custom Pro service.

I have created a template / formula of 7 different colors I love - 5 body shapes and all the popular pickup configurations to ensure I can consistently bring you exciting and individual pieces over the year to come.

Click here to see my first examples.

I have been featuring developments across Facebook and have noticed the most fascinating trend.  I would define the "types" of comments as follows....

1.  90% Overwhelmingly positive.  Like a "Wow" type comment

2.  5% (Not scientifically calculated but maths was never my forte) - I really dont like aged/relic guitars. 

3.  4% Players who like aged guitars but seem to have a problem with anything that is not "worn naturally" - These players all tend to focus around "I would rather wear it in myself or I would always know it was "fake".

All of these replies are what I call RATIONAL communications, lol

The ones that I am most fascinated by are the 1% who say....

"It looks cheap and like plastic compared to a Fender"

"Why would anyone spend that kind of money when they could buy a Fender for a similar amount?"

"Why would someone waste their money on a Vintage when they would get a much better investment buying a Fender"

My conclusion therefore is that for some reason, Fender players or players who love Fender - seem to have a view that this Vintage is in some way competition to the Fender?  Which in itself is a credit to the Vintage brand in itself - but still naive and not the case at all.

What these commentators don't understand is I wouldn't DREAM of trying to persuade a Fender player to buy a Vintage!

My passion and excitement for what I do and what I share with anyone who is interested is in no way aimed at or FOR Fender players - It's for players who want to look outside the marketing, the hype, the histrionics, the endorsements - They just want to buy a guitar that is fun - exciting - different - value for money - giggable - one they can love and truly look at as their OWN. 

These super sensitive Fender lovers are just way too protective of their cherished brand.  To be SO sucked in - its painful.  An almost militant stance that someone like me DARE convince innocent victims to tread any other path than one they themselves have trod.  Its one of the reasons I know I will never truly be "part of " the industry because the industry is represented so much by what I loath in life - marketing - brainwashing - control.  Every industry and life itself now is dominated by smoke screens and misinformation - that clouds what we should know and why - not genuine passion or education and certainly very little clarity.

The best example of this would be the most legendary brand of all - Gibson - Which is in my experience the greediest, unethical, awful brand I have ever experienced.  Yet, you can walk into a guitar shop or watch videos online where none of this is mentioned - Every awful aspect of their brand is swept under the carpet - because they know you want to buy one - they are going to sell you one.  Guess what - every person who owns a multi thousand pound Gibson will defend them to the hilt - not to do so would of course expose their own rationale for owning one.  I will never forget my disbelief at the chap who brought in a brand new Gibson Les Paul for a setup.  The nut slots had not even been cut - I kid you not.  He wasnt going to send it back - no way.  Quite happy for us to do the work that Gibson failed to do..... Wow.

Anyway.... back to Vintage ProShop and why Fender Players seem to keep insisting on comparing Vintage to Fender in a very disparaging manner....

Lets be 100% honest with each other.  I think 99% of us will come to the same conclusion if you picked up a Vintage ProShop - and my guess is,  if we dont agree with each other - you are also a Fender lover!

Lets test my hypothesis :)

This guitar was Rory Gallaghers.  For more details and history visit...

https://www.rorygallagher.com/1961-stratocaster/

Although he paid £100 you could probably add several 000 to that number if you wanted it to buy it.

Here is a Fender Custom Shop version of the guitar - This would set you back around £5000