I've had my fair share of costom-ordered instruments from some very reputable makers and it was not always a 100% happy experience. But in the end the small details re the fit and finish etc. of the guitars did never overpower the SONIC quality or the playability. Bryant Trenier built me a Jazz Special 5 years ago and there are a few spots where he obviously was a bit careless and/or didn't adhere to the spec sheet we had agreed on BUT the guitar turned out just great re sound and playability and it's going nowhere. I've owned 3 other guitars from Roger Borys , my first one being a B120 custom-ordered in 1992, personally picked up in NYC two years later. The neck carve was way too flat and thin for my tastes but I got over it and played that guitar a LOT over the following 10 years. Then a Jazz Solid crossed my way over here in Germany and while I liked it's sound and performance it was a bit too heavy and SMALL for me, it went after 2 years. The third Borys was a HUGE 18" fully acoustic archtop, made from "master grade" woods and with a superb sound - too unwieldy on stage with a depth of 4" ...! Another lesson learned. Next it was a custom-ordered Lam-top from Victor Baker, a long-scale Byrdland design with a single KA PAF at the neck. Again some cosmetic issues and a neck shape with a bit too much shoulder in it but I adjusted because it performed and I WAS WILLING AND ABLE to adjust. This was eventually replaced with the Trenier and now I also own my 4th Borys, a 16.5" wide B165 which compliments the Trenier nicely with it's more traditional Gibson-like sound. NO issues re cosmetics or neck shape, just a minor mod was done (by myself) with the pickup and now it's perfect for what and how it is.
My latest acquisition was a Collings "SOCO Deluxe" and I must say that re fit & finish it takes the cake, no contest. Amazing , total attention to every detail and it sounds and plays just as good.
But when I compare it to the Ibanez JSM100/Scofield model I owned for a few months this past summer THAT guitar in relation to it's price was unbelievable. It cost me € 1650,- , was in excellent original condition and already almost 20 years old. I sold it when I received the Collings. The Soco cost 3 times as much and that was a GREAT price, too good to pass up. It's a phenomenal guitar and yes, the honeymoon is not over yet but I don't think I will part with it any time soon.
So, long story, final thoughts : we don't live in a perfect world, life is too short for shitty guitars, there is a hair to be found in every soup and if we really mean it, we can justify any new purchase, naggle and haggle about any small detail, obsess with the wrong shade of the finish, the taper of a pot, the size and width of fingerboard binding - we can also try and adjust, get to know and love and understand an instrument if we take the time and effort it sometimes takes and PLAY MUSIC .....
Originally Posted by gitman
I've had my fair share of costom-ordered instruments from some very reputable makers and it was not always a 100% happy experience. But in the end the small details re the fit and finish etc. of the guitars did never overpower the SONIC quality or the playability. Bryant Trenier built me a Jazz Special 5 years ago and there are a few spots where he obviously was a bit careless and/or didn't adhere to the spec sheet we had agreed on BUT the guitar turned out just great re sound and playability and it's going nowhere. I've owned 3 other guitars from Roger Borys , my first one being a B120 custom-ordered in 1992, personally picked up in NYC two years later. The neck carve was way too flat and thin for my tastes but I got over it and played that guitar a LOT over the following 10 years. Then a Jazz Solid crossed my way over here in Germany and while I liked it's sound and performance it was a bit too heavy and SMALL for me, it went after 2 years. The third Borys was a HUGE 18" fully acoustic archtop, made from "master grade" woods and with a superb sound - too unwieldy on stage with a depth of 4" ...! Another lesson learned. Next it was a custom-ordered Lam-top from Victor Baker, a long-scale Byrdland design with a single KA PAF at the neck. Again some cosmetic issues and a neck shape with a bit too much shoulder in it but I adjusted because it performed and I WAS WILLING AND ABLE to adjust. This was eventually replaced with the Trenier and now I also own my 4th Borys, a 16.5" wide B165 which compliments the Trenier nicely with it's more traditional Gibson-like sound. NO issues re cosmetics or neck shape, just a minor mod was done (by myself) with the pickup and now it's perfect for what and how it is.
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