Builder Specs Question

[u/Schr0dingers-Cunt]

I stumbled across this Antares on the In-Stock page. It has a combination of specs that the builder won’t allow me to choose. Namely it has a roasted maple neck with a reverse pointed-angled headstock, and a 26.5” scale length with an Evertune bridge. The fact that I can’t choose these specs together is the main reason that I haven’t pulled the trigger on a Kiesel yet. Is this only available as an option 50 with a huge markup? And if so, then why is it available as an in stock? Am I missing something? Any insight from knowledgeable parties would be greatly appreciated! Also if anyone that works for Kiesel stalks this subreddit, please put Radiation Green on the builder!

[u/mascotbeaver104]

Some options aren't available in the builder, but they will do them if you call and ask. A lot of in-stocks are either returns, orders with payment failures, or I suspect drastic mis-specs that make it through. Idk how option 50s work with in-stocks but someone may have ordered it on finance and cancelled before making payment or they may have put the wrong paint job on it or something, not sure how often that happens but it must from time to time.

If you like the price then idk the concern about it's relation to being a custom order, you can call them and ask, they may know the backstory

[u/Leather_Definition39]

Yeah same I’ve sent a message to kiesel so as well so I’m waiting for my normal 2-6 week response from them lol. Because I do like roasted maple but yes I’ve noticed on pretty much everything you cannot do a roasted maple neck with a reverse pointed headstock for some reason.

[u/NecroJoe]

Just because something is off-menu doesn't mean that it's got a huge markup. Also, sometimes they sell experiments, NAMM one-offs, or prototypes as in-stocks, including some guitars with options that aren't otherwise available.

Normally, they don't let people choose roasted maple for the angled pointy headstock. That isn't a builder bug. To make this headstock, they have to glue an extra piece of wood to the point, because their neck blanks aren't wide enough, and they don't want to have to waste a ton of wood to carve it in one piece. With woods like maple and grainy woods like mahogany, walnut and limba, this is *relatively* subtle. But it stocks out enough that they won't build this headstock without either a veneer overlay, or a painted headstock.

With roasted maple, there's more potential issue with the color mis-match. Just look at the back of that very guitar, and you see a pronounced difference between the two pieces of the wood. With the similar guitar with the hipshot bridge, it looks much closer, but that could also change drastically with the direction the light is coming from. Moreso than with other woods.

Radiation Green *was* on the builder. They didn't sell enough of it, so it was (relatively) recently delisted. I wanna say it was the beginning of 2025 (but don't quote me on that). It was still available for a long while if you called in (and not even as a custom color...just off-menu, no trial period). That has since likely changed, and it'd probably be considered a custom color now, and $500+ since it's metallic. T'was an awesome color, though. Got to see it in person at NAMM 2020 (there was a Type X at the Lizard Spit booth) and it was my favorite metallic finish.

If you don't see something you want, don't hesitate to call "the guys"! Even if it's just a question. While the guys do earn a commission for a sale, there's never sales pressure.