a Custom built all Maple Strat

vic

a Custom built Strat by special order from the workshop of Gene vd Meulen.

The raw unfinished Fender flame maple neck and raw all maple body were imported by the customer and given to Gene to make a guitar out of it.
The gold hardware were also imported as were the two CS69 pups and Texas Special pup in the bridge position.
The electronics were shielded using high quality copper foil.
The name of the client is engraved on the goldplated neck plate.

The guitar plays like butter, nice fat neck...sounds amazing !

The colour of the LH pic is too "pink" unfortunately.....the top also looks like the RH pic

VellaJ

Very good looking guitar... I want one now! ?

Yeah I'm glad it's a rosewood f/board, think a maple one may have been a bit over the top ? That guitar must resonate for ever!

MikeM

I like the decal ?

II feel very sorry the owner's back....

vic

MikeM wrote: I like the decal ?

II feel very sorry the owner's back....

the decal... / shuuttt. ?

Amazingly the guitar is not that heavy.....

Keira-WitherKay

MikeM wrote: I like the decal ?

mmmmm i don't ? i'm amazed someone would do that to such an obviously "custom "guitar .........

vic

Keira WitherKay wrote:
MikeM wrote: I like the decal ?

mmmmm i don't ? i'm amazed someone would do that to such an obviously "custom "guitar .........

As ordered by the client.....I can't comment on that.... ?

Keira-WitherKay

Vic wrote:
Keira WitherKay wrote:
MikeM wrote: I like the decal ?

mmmmm i don't ? i'm amazed someone would do that to such an obviously "custom "guitar .........
As ordered by the client, but yes, you're right.

you know i didn't think much of the "illegal logo's" till it came it in that last thread and now again in this one ....and i'm , actually sitting here thinking ........damn i own a usa fender , which i did buy because of the heritage ..ect ect .............and the vibe of it being a "real fender' .........was a selling point .......

and i know it's hard to stop some dude from putting a logo on his partcaster .........BUT i'm slowly taking much, much more offence when established guitar builders like this Gene vd Meulen ...who obviously does incredible work .......but he will still do that for a client .....and stick a fender logo on his work .... surely there's some integrity in the biz of luthiers......that the luthier will say NO ...... . i'm slowly coming round to gibsons position of being "pro" taking legal action to protect their trademarks/logo from being used in this way ........

vic

Keira WitherKay wrote:
Vic wrote:
Keira WitherKay wrote:
MikeM wrote: I like the decal ?

mmmmm i don't ? i'm amazed someone would do that to such an obviously "custom "guitar .........
As ordered by the client, but yes, you're right.
you know i didn't think much of the "illegal logo's" till it came it in that last thread and now again in this one ....and i'm , actually sitting here thinking ........damn i own a usa fender , which i did buy because of the heritage ..ect ect .............and the vibe of it being a "real fender' .........was a selling point .......

and i know it's hard to stop some dude from putting a logo on his partcaster .........BUT i'm slowly taking much, much more offence when established guitar builders like this Gene vd Meulen ...who obviously does incredible work .......but he will still do that for a client .....and stick a fender logo on his work .... surely there's some integrity in the biz of luthiers......that the luthier will say NO ...... . i'm slowly coming round to gibsons position of being "pro" taking legal action to protect their trademarks/logo from being used in this way ........

OK....I know the neck arrived with the Fender logo ...possibly a replacement Fender neck.

giggsy

Keira WitherKay wrote:
Vic wrote:
Keira WitherKay wrote:
MikeM wrote: I like the decal ?

mmmmm i don't ? i'm amazed someone would do that to such an obviously "custom "guitar .........
As ordered by the client, but yes, you're right.
you know i didn't think much of the "illegal logo's" till it came it in that last thread and now again in this one ....and i'm , actually sitting here thinking ........damn i own a usa fender , which i did buy because of the heritage ..ect ect .............and the vibe of it being a "real fender' .........was a selling point .......

and i know it's hard to stop some dude from putting a logo on his partcaster .........BUT i'm slowly taking much, much more offence when established guitar builders like this Gene vd Meulen ...who obviously does incredible work .......but he will still do that for a client .....and stick a fender logo on his work .... surely there's some integrity in the biz of luthiers......that the luthier will say NO ...... . i'm slowly coming round to gibsons position of being "pro" taking legal action to protect their trademarks/logo from being used in this way ........

If I understand correctly from the opening post, it is an original Fender neck? So the logo wasn't 'stuck' on there, it 'was' on there. Right?

EDIT: Yeah, what Vic said above... ?

Keira-WitherKay

yeah well i also reread it ..... and well if it's all outa fender parts ..if i understand even the body was a fender one just not finished....unless i'm wrong then way cool and keep the logo..i was under impression this luthier made the body and neck ..NOT just assembled it ......... so yes much more comfortable with that

MikeM

I'm not totally clued up on this... BUT that looks like a 50's replica decal. There's no patent number (introduced in the 60s) or mention of MIA or similar like modern ones.

Very similar to the one I am going to stick on ym strat ?

vic

Keira WitherKay wrote: yeah well i also reread it ..... and well if it's all outa fender parts ..if i understand even the body was a fender one just not finished....unless i'm wrong then way cool and keep the logo..i was under impression this luthier made the body and neck ..NOT just assembled it ......... so yes much more comfortable with that

From what I understand it's Fender parts all the way...the bridge, electronics, etc. The machine heads are Sperzel.
He of course did all the finishing and setting up...unfortunately the pics do no do the instrument justice.

racman

MikeM wrote: I'm not totally clued up on this... BUT that looks like a 50's replica decal. There's no patent number (introduced in the 60s) or mention of MIA or similar like modern ones.

Very similar to the one I am going to stick on ym strat ?

No Mike!!! ?

If it isn't completely made and assembled by Fender (or Gibson etc) then don't call it a Fender or place decals on either in my opinion...

(Of course this excludes the issue of Fender placing decals on MIJ Tokai's all those years ago ?)

I am not into the brand thing at all - if it is well build, plays and sounds great and suits me then I don't care what decal it has. However, if it says Fender then it should be not only Fender parts but also Fender built. But that's just me ... ?

Zulublues

I'll play devil's advocate here.

What of the '64 MIA Strat that has been modded a couple of times until not much except the neck, with the third refret, remains?? Is this still a Fender? Is EC's Blackie still a Fender? SRV's #1, etc...............

Just a thought.

I do agree that a scratch built guitar should not bear the purported manufacturer's logo, but rather the luthier's logo or name.

Reinhard

I have no problem with someone putting a Fender logo on a partscaster, as long as it is not represented as a MIA when sold. There is so much part, neck accessory swapping on fenders it is a grey area anyway.

[deleted]

Ey never mind the owners back...

All of our ears I feel sorry for.. Dam that must be a bright guitar... I dont see the appeal :sorry:

chris77

+1 Brent. Single coils and Maple....
Which value caps and pots does it have?
Pretty though, it really is.

MikeM

Reinhard wrote: I have no problem with someone putting a Fender logo on a partscaster, as long as it is not represented as a MIA when sold. There is so much part, neck accessory swapping on fenders it is a grey area anyway.

Yup, falsifying a serial is MASSIVELY unethical in my books.

chris77 wrote: Which value caps and pots does it have?

I'll post a thread explaining this later dude.. You have the wrong idea.

chris77

That will be great Mike, thanks. I have always been under the impression that pots and caps have a huge influence on how bright/dark your guitar sounds. :$
Well, you live you learn hey.

MikeM

They do ? But it's a bit complicated how they work, resonant peak + voltage output etc ? I've been wanting to post a thread about it for a while, but I am not smart enough to make the electronic model thing.. Contacted someone that might be able to help me.