Suhr, Xotic, Fender CS, etc. vs High-End Warmoth

[alexreinhold]

My favorite guitar is a Warmoth strat with a standard thin roasted maple neck (12-16) and Lollar blackface pickups. However, the other day I entered a guitar store and played a Fender CS strat and it just blew me away. Ever since, I've been wondering a) what it was that I loved about this guitar and b) if it was maybe the whole setting (shop, amp, etc.) and that my favorite Warmoth would have felt just as nice in that moment.

Then I wondered, what is it that makes a Suhr, Xotic and Fender CS so special? Why do they sometimes feel and sound so incredibly good?

In short: would/have you spend/t 3-5k €/$ on a Suhr, Xotic, Fender CS, etc. And if yes, why?

 

[TBurst Std]

The answer is yes. The reason is because it just plays and sounds great and fills a need I have. Same reason as why I also have some Squire Classic Vibes (opposite end of the spectrum as being sub 500).

I don’t care what the logo is on the headstock. It’s a tool for a job. I look for a very good tool that fills a purpose and that inspires me to be a better musician.

 

[alexreinhold]

But what is it that makes these guitars sound and feel so special sometimes... I know it's such a basic question. After building 5 guitars I still don't seem to understand where this extra mojo is sometimes coming from...

 

[TBurst Std]

If we figure that out as a science Alex, we will open a co and retire rich. It’s more art than science.

Just finished a set with my CS 57 Strat. Is it my best playing guitar? No not today (haven’t adjusted the truss rod for winter). It totally plays well. Did it yield the tones and touch I wanted to deliver. Totally. I think a lot of it is we are subjective day to day, hour to hour. What I wanted to deliver that Strat fit better last night vs the other day when I had planned on using my PRS 509 10 top.

I say it’s more art than science as what we want to hear, and more so inspire us changes hour to hour.

 

[TBurst Std]

I will say that Strat is very resonant. Being of wood, and wood is not consistent, it’s luck? If if you get a great piece. It’s like buying 2 identical steaks at the store sitting next to each other. One is great, the other is tough like shoe leather.

And I have played crappy high end instruments. My Squire JM for instance blew away a CS Fender JM last week.

 

[stultzies9]

This is strictly from my experience, and is very much my own personal opinion. YMMV.

I have 6 Warmoth guitars here at home. I also own several Ibanezes (including a very nice Prestige AZ model), and I've had the opportunity to play 7-8 different Suhrs, as well as guitars by Nash, Paoletti, Anderson, etc. I will put my Warmoths up against any and all of those. I think the individual parts are every bit as good as any of the aforementioned, and if you have a great setup (which I think is the most important part), a Warmoth parts guitar will absolutely hang.

Having said all that, I love every one of those other guitars I've either put hands on or own. As TBurst pointed out, every one of them does something different, which is why I own the ones I do. For me, the big takeaway was that I didn't HAVE to spend Suhr/Anderson/PRS core money to get a fantastic instrument. And while I'll admit that this has made it difficult for me to want to spend $3-5k on any of those, if I had that kind of money, I'd 100% buy a Suhr Modern, or Anderson's super Strat (can't remember the name of the model), or really nice PRS Core model, just because I love the aesthetics and sounds that they have.

 

[teleme01]

while I'll admit that this has made it difficult for me to want to spend $3-5k on any of those, if I had that kind of money, I'd 100% buy a Suhr Modern, or Anderson's super Strat (can't remember the name of the model), or really nice PRS Core model, just because I love the aesthetics and sounds that they have.

3 to 5k , I would start 3 to 5 new warmoth builds

 

[supertruper1988]

I think its a tinkerers age old question. Why pay for a contractor when I can build it myself? Why pay for a table if I can build it myself? Why buy a guitar if I can build it myself?

There are those that are tinkerers and those that just arent. I love to tinker. I can count on one hand how many electrics I own that are the same as when they left the factory. The rest are parts casters or have been modded by me sometimes just a pickup change or other times more extensive.

I have met plenty of guitar players and other hobbyests that love their respective hobbies like LEGO for example. There are those who collect LEGO sets and those who collect LEGO bricks to build whatever they can imagine. Is one "better" than the other? Nope and thats ok.

I absolutely wouldnt pay for a Suhr or Anderson or Fender CS but thats because I know that even if I ordered exactly what I wanted today, I would still change it up in the next 2-3 years so instead I build guitars I like from parts I can find or make and have exactly what I want.

Each person has a different goal fot their guitar playing journey and no path is better than the other.

 

[TBurst Std]

Well rule 1, buy used. That 5k guitars is now 2.5-3k. And you get to try before you buy. You already know what you’re getting.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

This is strictly from my experience, and is very much my own personal opinion. YMMV.

I have 6 Warmoth guitars here at home. I also own several Ibanezes (including a very nice Prestige AZ model), and I've had the opportunity to play 7-8 different Suhrs, as well as guitars by Nash, Paoletti, Anderson, etc. I will put my Warmoths up against any and all of those. I think the individual parts are every bit as good as any of the aforementioned, and if you have a great setup (which I think is the most important part), a Warmoth parts guitar will absolutely hang.

Having said all that, I love every one of those other guitars I've either put hands on or own. As TBurst pointed out, every one of them does something different, which is why I own the ones I do. For me, the big takeaway was that I didn't HAVE to spend Suhr/Anderson/PRS core money to get a fantastic instrument. And while I'll admit that this has made it difficult for me to want to spend $3-5k on any of those, if I had that kind of money, I'd 100% buy a Suhr Modern, or Anderson's super Strat (can't remember the name of the model), or really nice PRS Core model, just because I love the aesthetics and sounds that they have.

I back Aaron on this, the only exception being my neck through hand made TFS6. With the proper knowledge and skill set, Warmoth bolt on will compete and most often outperform its retail counterparts.

 

[BroccoliRob]

the build quality and parts of a Suhr are roughly equal to the Big W's, so imo the big diff (short for difference) is that the Suhr comes with a industry leading setup (and supprt)

fender and prs are artificially inflated due to brand clout, not that they aren't fine instrumemts you just really are paying a surcharge for the name, whereas there isn't really Suhrcharge (get it? lol) for their name

 

[alexreinhold]

If we figure that out as a science Alex, we will open a co and retire rich. It’s more art than science.

I will say that Strat is very resonant. Being of wood, and wood is not consistent, it’s luck? If if you get a great piece. It’s like buying 2 identical steaks at the store sitting next to each other. One is great, the other is tough like shoe leather.

I think that's the part that's messing with my OCD. We have these in-depth conversations about what factors make up tone and I guess we all agree that it's 99% pickups and amp/effects. How is it then possible that I sometimes pick up an instrument with specs very familiar to me but it just sounds stunning - oh, and vice versa of course. 1+1=2, right?

if you have a great setup (which I think is the most important part), a Warmoth parts guitar will absolutely hang.

I absolutely love my Warmoth guitars. I can say with full confidence that, for my taste, my builds outperform 99% of all shelf guitars in a store. That's why I keep building rather than buying. But as I said, you sometimes get your hands on a CS that suddenly seems to be on another level. And it's not just setup I think.

the build quality and parts of a Suhr are roughly equal to the Big W's, so imo the big diff (short for difference) is that the Suhr comes with a industry leading setup (and supprt)

Gonna try a few Suhrs at Thomann next week. Wanna see how they play - it's crazy how many people are raving on about their quality..

 

[stratamania]

My thoughts are in this post.

What makes a guitar “great”?

I’m curious what this community’s thoughts are on what makes a guitar great? And I’m speaking of bolt-on style guitars, similar to what we would build with Warmoth parts and what some of the other builders over the years have done. Names like Suhr, Anderson, Tyler, Valley Arts, some of the...

unofficialwarmoth.com

 

[alexreinhold]

@stratamania thanks a lot - I recall reading this post a few years ago. Do you own a Suhr? I vaguely remember you talking about owning a Suhr - or was it a Suhr amp?

 

[stratamania]

@stratamania thanks a lot - I recall reading this post a few years ago. Do you own a Suhr? I vaguely remember you talking about owning a Suhr - or was it a Suhr amp?

I own a Suhr Bella Amp head and cab. I would be delighted to own one of their guitars.

In the past, when I was younger, I had two Hamers, which in todays prices would be equivalent to around £3,500. I still own one of them.

Next year I may sell off a lot of my guitars and gear as since my wife passed away, I have had to downsize and need the space. A Suhr might be on my list to get when I have reduced the number of things.

One of my favourite guitars is my Fender YJM Strat.

 

[alexreinhold]

OK - here's my plan. I will go to Thomann's HQ (biggest music store in Europe) on Dec 23rd. I will take my favorite W strat and compare it head-to-head to Suhrs, CS and Xotic. I see three possible outcomes:

1) buy nothing. build nothing afterwards. (1% likelihood)
2) buy nothing but get inspired for a new build (49.5% likelihood)
3) spend 3-5k€ because I fell in love with one of the guitars in the store (49.5% likelihood)

 

[MikeW]

I just had this experience again the other day. I go into Big Box Guitar Shop or Mom and Pop on the corner. Inevitably, there is something in there that catches my eye. Pull it off the wall and play it a bit. "Sure looks nice, but ..." With a rare exception, it usually comes down to being poorly set up, but every now and then there is one that'll really shine. What I find is that, like TBurst said, it's a tool for a job and it really doesn't matter what I spend on it as long as it fills the role. This goes for Shur, Anderson, Fender, Gibson, etc, etc.

That being said, if you're in San Diego, take the time to check out Wildcat Guitars in Escondido. It's a bit of a drive to get there, but everything in the shop is set up well, the staff is excellent and very friendly, and they have some excellent instruments in all price ranges. (I am not affiliated with WC Guitars at all, and am making this recommendation based on experiences I've had there, which have all been excellent.)

 

[TBurst Std]

Alex keep in mind not all Strats sound the same (I know you know this). That’s why I have 4 LP styles, 4 styles of S, 2 styles of T: with a 3rd in process (can’t find the pups after the move), with an eye on a 4th. Each within their own venacliar is unique in what they bring to a performance.