Acoustic Guitar Construction

I just got the new Stewmac catalogue.
Are they out of their minds? Their prices are boggling!! They have a number of things I would purchase at maybe 1/3 the price. Not questioning whether they are quality tools or not; just, are they trying to run a brother off??

Oh well, just venting, you all know what I'm talking about. Some good tools there, maybe for a small production shop the tools pay themselves off after a while.

Whatever.

Yeah, most are on the expensive side but I've found them to be just what I needed when I got one. For a couple years now I have been investing all my job money into tool purchases. I will be retiring July 1st and doing my repair work FT and plan to add building as well. I have several commissions already.

Did their prices go up? Or are you just venting about SM's normal old heartstopping prices?

I bought some stuff from them in preparation for my first build, which is still in progress. Knowing what I do now, I might have looked at other options, like a KMG binding jig. I have generally been happy with the quality of their tools and supplies, but I sure like the KMG attitude.

-mark

By the way, Tim B, congrats on your upcoming retirement. Someday I'll follow in 'yer footstomps.

Colestin wrote:By the way, Tim B, congrats on your upcoming retirement. Someday I'll follow in 'yer footstomps.

Thanks, looking forward to it.

Often specialty tools cost more. And sometimes you can get by fine with an alternate tool. Much of what Stewmac sells is for a production repair shop, I think and those expensive tools probably can save valuable time in that situation. I agree though, rich prices.

Kevin

I like to think of each tool as a problem solver. Usually, the problem can be solved without the tool, but only at the cost of time. Or, you might build your own, which also costs time as well as materials. Often, after I have attempted to solve a problem myself, the price of a Stewmac tool begins to look rather reasonable.