craigb
What, no red pick guard? 

Red and plastic shouldn't even be used in the same sentence, unless they are 7 words apart. :P
 
FWIW, if the money I get from the treadmill isn't going on the little H&K amp, I'd save it for something else, and the most likely purchase would likely be a new black strat - my 3rd one.
 
Then I'd finally be able to focus on getting a white one - which I'd been wanting for years.

Mine's got a midi pickup. :-)

I can understand Fender not offering custom choices such as Gibson scale length, tilt head, hexaphonic pickups etc., - It's "building" or "assembling" from a selection of choices-not so much a "custom build".
but I think one should have the choice of;
 
The same woods that they offer on their other guitars- It's limited as is- no option for flame maple top for example.
 
The fretboard radius is limited- 7.25, 9.5  ( with options of compound of each to 14") - Why isn't a common 12" radius a choice? - I think one should have a choice of head style and radius. For example; why not offer a "big head" Strat neck with 12" radius for a Tele?  It's not that's something they don't build. ( the only difference is the heel and that's not an issue when one is building the thing- personally I think that was a major design flaw- the Tele and Strat neck should have the same heel shape so they would interchange without body modification.)
 
 
When I compare what is being offered to the price it doesn't make sense. I hope they make the needed improvements as I do think it could and should be much better. Sucks the way it is IMO.
 
 
 
 
 

Pffft. This is no bargain. I built my strat using USA Guitars body components, which included an alder body with a AAA quilted Maple top and finished in a black sunburst. A maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. I then installed Grover tuners, Seymour Duncan Rails pickups, and an original Floyd Rose. All done for less than $1500 and it flat kicks the crap out of any of the 6 Fenders I ever owned.
 
Randy

spacey
I can understand Fender not offering custom choices such as Gibson scale length, tilt head, hexaphonic pickups etc., - It's "building" or "assembling" from a selection of choices-not so much a "custom build".
but I think one should have the choice of;
 
The same woods that they offer on their other guitars- It's limited as is- no option for flame maple top for example.
 
The fretboard radius is limited- 7.25, 9.5  ( with options of compound of each to 14") - Why isn't a common 12" radius a choice? - I think one should have a choice of head style and radius. For example; why not offer a "big head" Strat neck with 12" radius for a Tele?  It's not that's something they don't build. ( the only difference is the heel and that's not an issue when one is building the thing- personally I think that was a major design flaw- the Tele and Strat neck should have the same heel shape so they would interchange without body modification.)
 

 
I would bet it comes down to what they have on hand - they are just taking the stuff they churn out constantly and giving people the option to mix and match for a few hundred additional bucks. So what they offer is likely based on the way their production runs operate.
 
If you want a fully custom Fender, you can pay their Custom Shop an ungodly amount of money for it.
 
This is for the guys who have some money, aren't immersed in world of guitars like we are and want a "real" Fender. It is what it is.

 
Here is what she looked like Ol' Pal. 
 
I traded an Epi LP and $150 for her about 10 years ago, with a small music shop in Mesquite.  I found out later that this Strat was an American Deluxe, with noiseless pickups and a custom shop neck.  It threw me because it didn't have the locking tuners and didn't say anything on the neck or body to indicate that it was an American Deluxe.  I found out later, from the angry store owner (his employee made the sale with me); that the original owner didn't like the original neck and had a custom shop neck installed directly with the factory, while on tour in California.  I bought the guitar, mostly because I just loved the neck.  This is one of those guitars that I probably should have never sold later. 
 
The tortise pick guard was original, still my favorite.  I had a white pick guard on it for a while when I was experimenting with looks.
 
Rain, the neck on this one had that vintage yellowed finish which I love.... but, it had medium jumbo fret wire, which made bending a breeze.
 
 
 
 
 

drewfx1
 
I would bet it comes down to what they have on hand - they are just taking the stuff they churn out constantly and giving people the option to mix and match for a few hundred additional bucks. So what they offer is likely based on the way their production runs operate.
 

That's sure what it seems to be.
 
Maybe it's just a feeler and they have plans to improve it.
They're doing a lot of marketing stuff right now. A lot of it like the future card crap I think is total BS but the on-line design could be very good.
I guess they think since they're making all the marketing moves they may as well jack the price up too. I see they're doing very good with that part.

She's a beaut Makeshift, ol pal!

Sadly, they only offer 2 woods for the bodies. Some of my favorite Fenders were made in the 63 - 64 era and have mahogany bodies. I've seen a strat, tele and duo sonic in mahogany and they all had great tone. The necks they offer and the bodies are all from large run production so it doesn't really let you add any real custom options. Same for the finish. Maybe it's a good thing since I just bought an SG.

spacey... having to settle for
what's offered rather than what I'd want ...

You're kidding,  right?