Or, as an alternative title... "I just don't get the whole relic thing... But I bought one anyway."
I went to GC because I was pretty sure I wanted to buy one of the new Hot Rod Strats--the same one that TFF member 69strat got except in 'burst. It has just about every single feature I'd want (on paper) on a Strat except a maple board. Okay, I know there's really no difference in "Tone," but I just prefer Strats with maple boards and Teles with rosewood. Sue me.
So I figured since I was there and there was essentially nobody in the store, I'd pretty much run the board on what they had hanging there and at the Sam Ash, which is three blocks from GC. I played, in no particular order:
American Vintage 62 "Hot Rod"
American Vintage 57 "Hot Rod"
50s Classic Player Strat
60's Classic Player Strat
Eric Johnson Strat
Used 1978 Strat Seemed modded with newer electronics.
Used 1981 Strat
Brand new American Deluxe
New "Custom Classic" Strat
7 different Custom Shop Relic/Closet Classic/NOS Strats in the GC "don't come in if you wear a hairnet at work" room. There was the 56 Relic pictured above, a 56 Closet Classic in vintage blonde, two 60s NOS, one 65 Closet Classic, and two of the "limited Dealer Select" 63 Strats (made for GC).
They were all great, but I did feel the CS instruments were a cut above, except for one of the GC select pieces with an oddly photoflame finish. It sounded really thin.
I won't review each individual guitar, although I will say I wanted to hate the EJ but didn't. It was quite nice.
Sound wise, both of the CS 56 Strats were the winners. All of the CS instruments sounded slightly fuller and throatier than their contemporary counterparts, but for my tastes, I just loved the 56s the best.
And yeah, I don't get the whole relic thing, and because of that, I wanted to get the vintage blonde Closet Classic, but the neck on the 56 relic was absolutely to die for. The way they've done that relic thing where they've essentially sanded off the whole back of the neck to this perfectly smooth and 100% non-sticky feel, and that "10/'56 boat neck" that it has---WOW!!!!!!!!! Never knew I'd like something called a "boat neck," but it is just perfect for my hand.
So sure, I ended up spending around twice as much as I planned to, but I'm very happy with what I got, both in the "new gear thrill" sense and also the "quality purchase" sense. I know better than to gush further than this until I gig it and do some recording with it, but after spending a few hours in my studio with it blasting through my gig rig, all I can say is
(Sorry my pics aren't phtotoweborama worthy. I'll take some better ones later).