What is the difference between a standard and custom guitar?

Question

I'm thinking about buying a new guitar...but I really have no idea what I'm doing. I've been using my friend's old guitar for a while now. So, does anyone know the difference between a custom guitar and a standard? in the pictures, they all look the same to me...

Answer 1

The important difference is in the care of the luthier.

A major manufacturer cannot spend the time it takes to perfectly adjust every instrument. An individual maker can.

You can buy a high priced guitar from a big maker and still get a crummy guitar. You can buy a cheap guitar from a pawn shop and stumble on a gem.

The secret to buying any musical instrument is to play it in person. Unless you are an experienced expert technician, or are prepared to pay one, do not but any guitar from a mail-order or on line store.

True, most of those on line / mail houses have a decent return policy, but what a nuisance! When buying any tool, personal inspection is the best way to go.

As I re-read your question, I just got the horrifying impression that perhaps you are not talking about custom vs. standard guitars, but rather the Custom or Standard MODELS from a single maker, such as Gibson.

If that is what you mean, then the differences are mainly in the decorative appointments for the two models. The fancy guitar does not sound any better. It just looks fancier.

"Custom" and "Standard" have two meanings here:

Generally, a custom guitar is one made by an individual luthier to a single client's specifications.

Big makers, like Gibson and Fender, have "Standard models" and Custom or "custom shop" models.

It's understandable that those guitars would look similar to a novice. The differences are mostly subtle cosmetic details.

To the degree that the differences have any affect on the sound, you probably wouldn't be able to tell from a photo. Only an up-close personal inspection will reveal those nuances.

Here again, playing the instrument in person is the only way to insure you find what you want and need.

Just a note here about economic realities...
When you buy from a small retailer you support your local community. When you buy from a giant warehouse, you kill small enterprise.

If you buy locally, you can talk to a knowledgeable person face-to-face. You can touch the instrument, play it and hear it. If you ever need to get it adjusted, you can simply drive to the store and get it fixed, usually the same day. You save shipping costs and hassle.

I grew up in a music store and am an extensively experienced professional musician. Perhaps this is extra advice you didn't know you needed but I am honor-bound to deliver it;
Buy locally whenever you can, especially for anything as personal as a musical instrument. You can help the economy, better serve yourself and prevent evil corporate giants from destroying small enterprise. as consumers, we all want a good price. But please think about what the real end-cost is. If the world is served by only a few giants, what choices will you have?

I got the impression that your were shopping by looking at catalogs or on line photos. That's why I included these extra thoughts. I sincerely believe they important in order to properly answer your main question.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

A standard guitar is one that is made in a factory, they make hundreds at a time, nothing special, the pickups are all the same, maybe a difference in style and coloring. Depending on the maker, some have a little different action, some are easy to play others have an action that doesn't handle to well. In other words a standard is one that you would buy in a guitar store, even most Gibsons, Strads, Yamahas, Cordobas and Taylors are made in factorys. A custom would be a Ramirez guitar, a family of luthiers who have been making guitars for three generations, some of your very famous guitarist have them made especially for their style, usually classical guitars.They are especially make for the individual. Some makers follow the directions of the buyer as in a concert performer, like, Segovia, and Parkening.Some standard guitars can be customized by a luthier. Others will take a vintage like lets say a Les Paul and have it customized by a luthier to fit their style of playing. Some people like Narciso Yepes have had guitars made especially for them, I know Mr. Yepes had one made for classical playing that had ten strings, now if that's not a custom I don't know what would be. I've never seen one that had ten strings, but he played one and very well I might add. To buy a guitar for yourself I would advise you to go to a place like the guitar center and tell the clerk what you're looking for, price, style etc. Then play them and see which one fits your style of playing, has good action, and feels right in your hands, they all feel different and it also has to sound good to your ear. They have special little rooms where you can go and play, play them several times to make sure that's the one for you, because it's hard to choose when your in there playing, after a bit they all start sounding the same, so take your time. Their pretty good with returns, I bought one months ago and when I got it home I didn't like the sound so I took it back with no problem, you can have it for as long as a month and still return it if you change your mind. So good luck to you, and happy playing !!!!!!!

Answer 3

Factory made guitars get turned out in cookie cutter fashion. One of these might be considered standard. However, if the guitar is altered from the way they normally get turned out by the factory, this is a customized guitar. Often the customized changes are so minor, that it may be hard to identify the difference. If you buying a first guitar, it really doesn't matter what you get. Have a friend or teacher who knows about guitars advise and guide you in making the first purchase. After you've been playing for a while, you'll know enough to make an educated choice for your next guitar. I personally own 16 guitars. And if I had kept my earliest guitars, I'd own about 26 of them.

Answer 4

A custom guitar has custom pickup and equipment to make the guitar have a sound that is more geared towards a certain genre of music. It does not necessarly change the appearance of a guitar. A standard guitar has standard pickups and equipment, so as in a sense it has more of a common sound, and was not designed for any specific style of music.

Answer 5

you know, that's one of those things you kind of assume you know until you think about it. My opinion is that it only means a smaller amount of customs are produced. In terms of quality, custom guarantees you nothing. The best advice I can give you is to take someone with who knows guitars and then try some out, some are heavier, some have a flatter fingerboard or higher frets. depends what feels comfortable to you. If you must be intrepid and go by yourself, find a smaller place, like a family run business as opposed to a chain, because they value your repeat business more and they don't work on commission. Good luck to you and yers.

Answer 6

ok lemme provide you the straightforward rundown The custom has -nicer fretboard (ebony) -a set neck (longer sustain) -custom-voiced pickups -an unique Floyd Rose trem. the commonly used has -rosewood fretboard -bolt-on neck -inventory pickups (Seymour Duncans are not undesirable tho) -Floyd Rose authorized trem. (a replica of the unique)

Answer 7

For a custom one you can have it be any kind,any color(s),any shape.