The $999.00 hand made guitar

[Tim Benware]

A little premature -- but I do (hopefully) plan to have neck and block packages available that will set a new price point standard -- stay tuned, October?

:)

[ken cierp]

Getting back to the low price HMG -- assuming a maker has "street credibility" I guess I'm not getting the idea of taking orders. If a maker thinks their profile, bracing pattern, finish, trim, heel design is the new best thing or as good or better than brand "X" why not build some? What's the worst that can happen? There is no doubt that a well constructed instrument with superior fit and a good finish is going to sell for $1000. I would think the odds of someone coming to your shop, testing and buying the finished product would be successful a 100 to one over a commission sale. To me the dilemma is competing in the $2500 + arena (where one actually gets paid for their time and skills). Now getting to that level requires that you have a bunch of guitars in the hands of the public "feedback" -- its not a catch 22 but rather common marketing procedure. Think back in their start up "KIA" was actually giving away a free car with every regular purchase -- no kidding!

[Tim Benware]

I would think the odds of someone coming to your shop, testing and buying the finished product would be successful a 100 to one over a commission sale.

Probably right about that. I have 2 demo guitars I use (1 hog dred, 1 EIR OM), I have had multiple offers to purchase each of them but wouldn't have any for potential customers to try. So I get commissions off them. Since completing them, I have tried to complete other spec guitars but have not been able to finish one yet before I found a buyer (that's a good thing). With my repair work I can only do about one build a month. I have 2 on order right now. My brother-in-law and I collaborated on the one below (I've posted pics before) and had two offers the first day he showed it to buy "as is" (it was just the body, we wanted it finished so didn't sell it). I do the final finish work this week and show it at a local bluegrass festival this weekend.

[John Parchem]

With almost every new guitar I show I end up with people wanting me to build an instrument. I am surprised that no one blinks an eye at $1500 because I do not think my fit and finish is at the same level as a Taylor. I do have very upgraded wood and that might fool them.

More than that though I run into people that want to own and can afford a custom guitar but are afraid to go to more established luthiers because they are not confident in their own knowledge and playing abilities. Basically fear that they are not worthy. They fear questions: What are you looking for in your sound? Which neck shape do you prefer?, and so on. They just want a custom guitar and the one I showed looked pretty good and sounded like a guitar. I know there is no real bases for their fear as a good luthier will work through their inexperience.

I do get their point. Before I started building I went to a quality classical guitar establishment. I knew very little about classical guitars at that time. I picked out a locally built guitar I liked, but no that was not enough ... Wouldn't you like to play it? So I played one of my go to classical pieces that I can generally get through .. And the sales guy said "Oh whats that piece, I have been looking for a simple piece that sounds good for my beginner students". That experience is one of the reasons why I built my first classical guitars.

[Dave Bagwill]

Speaking of Taylors, but apropos to this thread - my friend/student Steve bought a used Taylor 414CE and brought it over so I could look at it. It was fine - has the Taylor sound if you like that - but what I noticed right off was the finish - the back and sides were somewhere between a matte and a sating, but the top was full gloss. The grain on the b/s just did not pop, but it was a serviceable finish.
If Taylor can sell with that type of finish - which is much easier than a full gloss - I'm encouraged.

[Tim Benware]

Speaking of Taylors, but apropos to this thread - my friend/student Steve bought a used Taylor 414CE and brought it over so I could look at it. It was fine - has the Taylor sound if you like that - but what I noticed right off was the finish - the back and sides were somewhere between a matte and a sating, but the top was full gloss. The grain on the b/s just did not pop, but it was a serviceable finish.
If Taylor can sell with that type of finish - which is much easier than a full gloss - I'm encouraged.

YUP!!!

[ken cierp]

Satin with a gloss sound board is the trend --- gloss being French Polish -- I like it. And the FP makes for a super compelling sales pitch.