How about we start a discussion on the various builders out there in terms of build quality, price, features, options. I'd like to keep separate whether or not one likes a particular brand or not or you think the guitars are fugly or whatever.
I'll kick it off with some that I have some experience with.
Carvin
Pros: affordable, high build quality, quick turn around time, easy to order, plenty of options (even more if you actually speak to someone)
Cons: limited shapes, limited pickup and hardware selection, limited finish options (although they have a lot of them)
GMW
Pros: affordable, high build quality, no limits on body shapes, any finish you want, any hardware and electronic options
Cons: limited headstock choices, build times have been traditionally long (although Lee is working to improve that)
Suhr
Pros: high build quality, lots of hardware and electronic options, lots of finish options,
Cons: expensive, limited body and headstock choices, limited finish options (from what I've seen at least)
Grosh
Pros: high build quality, lots of hardware and electronic options, lots of finish options
Cons: expensive, limited body and headstock choices, build times can be extremely long
PRS
Pros: high build quality
Cons: expensive, limited body and headstock choices, build times can be long
So far, the common theme is high build quality. I'd like to hear more on all of these guys as well as hear from folks with actual personal experience buying a custom ESP, Ibanez, Hamer, Dean, Washburn, Anderson, Fender, Gibson, Tyler, etc. Let's keep this limited to companies that will produce an actual completed guitar - so no Warmoth, USACG, Musikraft, etc.
I'll kick it off with some that I have some experience with.
Carvin
Pros: affordable, high build quality, quick turn around time, easy to order, plenty of options (even more if you actually speak to someone)
Cons: limited shapes, limited pickup and hardware selection, limited finish options (although they have a lot of them)
GMW
Pros: affordable, high build quality, no limits on body shapes, any finish you want, any hardware and electronic options
Cons: limited headstock choices, build times have been traditionally long (although Lee is working to improve that)
Suhr
Pros: high build quality, lots of hardware and electronic options, lots of finish options,
Cons: expensive, limited body and headstock choices, limited finish options (from what I've seen at least)
Grosh
Pros: high build quality, lots of hardware and electronic options, lots of finish options
Cons: expensive, limited body and headstock choices, build times can be extremely long
PRS
Pros: high build quality
Cons: expensive, limited body and headstock choices, build times can be long
So far, the common theme is high build quality. I'd like to hear more on all of these guys as well as hear from folks with actual personal experience buying a custom ESP, Ibanez, Hamer, Dean, Washburn, Anderson, Fender, Gibson, Tyler, etc. Let's keep this limited to companies that will produce an actual completed guitar - so no Warmoth, USACG, Musikraft, etc.
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