I can get around to it (Edit: there's a side pic of it on page 3 of this thread). It's not the prettiest thing in the world. If I could have this exact same guitar in candy green, I would take it in a heartbeat. In fact, it is a super heavy relic. I actually think the fact that the base finish is gold sparkle keeps it from not being as gaudy as you would think, after being heavily relic'ed. However, the relic'ed neck just feels so smooth and broken in. The Anderton's guys were right when saying it's like waking up on a Sunday morning, putting on your favorite pair of sweatpants you've had for years and sitting in your broken in recliner you have had for years. Just feels so comfortable.

What buying that guitar and playing it for so long did teach me is the very real difference in relic'ed pickups versus brand new. There is something about a degaussed pickup that I absolutely love (even more so if it is handwound/scatterwound). In fact, my top 4 guitars all have degaussed (relic'ed) pickups:

1. CS Tele - Relic'ed Custom Shop '63 pickups (HW)
2. '61 ES-330 VOS - MHS P-90's (I don't think they are hand wound, but they are aged)
3. Les Paul Standard - Seymour Duncan Antiquities (HW)
4. Fender American Original 60s Strat - Seymour Duncan Surfer Antiquities (HW)

If you are a fan of truly classic tones, I would heavily recommend making the investment in a set of handwound, relic'ed pickups. Complete tonal bliss. The machine Seymour Duncan uses to handwind their Antiquity humbuckers is literally the same machine used on the hallowed Gibson PAFs.

For you guys that are looking at Warmoth builds....

Never heard of them until you mentioned it. From what i know about Rhett he is pretty particular on what he likes. In terms of his opinion on quality and playability I trust what he says. He's been pretty spot on w/ amp and guitar reviews when he's gone to his local guitar shop and played stuff - find the video of him in London when he goes to Macaris and plays the MkI tonebender. He likes some high end stuff - those Dennis Fano Novo guitars he plays are not cheap.

FYI, another boutique builder you might want to check out is Shabat guitars out of CA. I have no experience, but I read they put out good stuff.

Another more recognizable brand is Suhr guitars. I've played one of their strat models which was great. I think they have a custom shop too.

Gorgeous top.

I'll tell you, I was very surprised by the difference in the stock CE bridge as opposed to the real PRS one. Much brighter and more articulate on the true PRS USA one. Granted, it isn't cheap.

Might have to try that eventually. Right now buying that bridge might get me killed in my sleep.

Beautiful top!

Thanks!

This one got posted on the PRS Forum. The front is awesome, but I've never seen a finish like they did on the back. The original wood color must have been really light. Apparently it's curly ash on the neck which is definitely a light color. They said this is one of their builds from NAMM this year.

That's crazy. Would have sworn that was a flame maple neck. Never heard of an ash neck, wonder how it'll hold up.

That grain going down the neck is the giveaway I guess. I've never seen maple with anything like that.

hypothetically speaking...if one was looking to round out his collection before getting married where "my" becomes "ours" and certain purchases must be consulted and explained ahead of time (ahem...Ranger ) and was looking for an acoustic and a strat, what would you get? not looking to break the bank on an acoustic...around $800 or below and probably $1,800-$2,000 or below on the strat.

hypothetically speaking of course.

I've always liked Takamine acoustics personally. They've usually got some stuff in that price range. I know Martin and Taylor both have offerings in that range. Seagull is always solid and I think their higher end stuff ends up around there.

I got nothing for you on Strats, but I think we've got plenty of guys on this thread that know all about that.

Also, now seems like the right time for a Mike Leach wedding refresher.

it's always time for mike leach.

ruddyduck said:

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hypothetically speaking...if one was looking to round out his collection before getting married where "my" becomes "ours" and certain purchases must be consulted and explained ahead of time (ahem...Ranger ) and was looking for an acoustic and a strat, what would you get? not looking to break the bank on an acoustic...around $800 or below and probably $1,800-$2,000 or below on the strat.

hypothetically speaking of course.

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Not the most knowledgeable on acoustics. I have a Taylor 324ce that is fantastic, but that was a $2,000 guitar.

As far as strats for that price? You have your pick, outside of custom shop model. Simply comes down to what you are looking for in a strat. Neck size, pickups, etc.

For me, I wanted a strat with a nitro lacquer, a 60's neck profile, and tall fretwire. The Fender American Original 60's strat met just about all of my requirements. I replaced the pickups with my set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity Surfer pickups for a fantastic, classic strat tone.

If you like more modern features and pickups, the Ultra series are great guitars. Hell, the basic Fender American Professionals can be picked up for $900-$1,100, used, and are absolutely fantastic guitars.

thanks, guys.

sure wish they would make the american professionals in the sherwood green. love that color but mostly find it on really expensive custom shops or relics. the faded candy green is beautiful as well.

did find a japanese strat in that green in my budget but i know nothing about those. if i'm going to get a strat, i want a u.s. one.

Fender mod shop?

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/mod-shop/stratocaster/0181900706.html

Under $2,000.

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/mod-shop/stratocaster/0181900706.html?recipeId=68559243&utm_source=FluidCustom&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=LinkShare

gracias, amigo.

NP. If you do order a Mod Shop guitar, let us know what it's like. I would order one if they offered them in Candy Green, but that seems to be the only candy color they don't offer from the Mod shop.

absolutely will do. and just like reverb, that mod shop site is quite the time waster, haha.

They had a special offering for a while with the option to have the rosewood fretboard mounted into the maple neck, so that the maple made up the binding. They also added colors several months back. It's a pretty cool offering from Fender. A way to get a guitar that looks how you want it, without paying CS prices. However, it is still similarly specced to all the other production models.

any recommendations on pics? I've got big hands (long fingers) and these .70 classics aren't cutting it.

that roasted maple neck option is intriguing as well...particularly paired with that sherwood green.

I've always used Snarling Dog .88mm picks. I like the grip and that thickness has always been my favorite. However, it's so particular to the player.

I don't like very thick picks because I feel like I lose the nuance in my picking.

ruddyduck said:

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that roasted maple neck option is intriguing as well...particularly paired with that sherwood green.

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I thought so as well, which is why i linked that version.

I am not a big fan of very light tinted maple on guitars. That's why I like the vintage tinted maple necks, which is what I have on my Tele and Strat. I love my Olympic white strat with the mint green pickguard and tinted maple neck. Just a classic look.

I also don't like white plastic hardware. I much prefer the cream or aged plastic look.

you'll have to give us a little peek at that strat when you get around to posting the tele.

by the way, i've been staring at this off and on for the last hour and a half...

https://reverb.com/item/5432246-fender-limited-edition-british-green-bassbreaker-15-guitar-combo-amplifier

Love that amp. The color makes it even sweeter

Good amp, wish they put a real spring reverb tank in it.

ruddyduck said:

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any recommendations on pics? I've got big hands (long fingers) and these .70 classics aren't cutting it.

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I've always been somewhere between 0.38 and 0.50. I've used Clayton Picks for almost 20 years. They don't seem to wear as quick as others to me and the water slide decals stick to my fingers.

https://steveclayton.com/

ruddyduck said:

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by the way, i've been staring at this off and on for the last hour and a half...

https://reverb.com/item/5432246-fender-limited-edition-british-green-bassbreaker-15-guitar-combo-amplifier

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Great amp, but buy used.