Lex Luthier Posted September 7, 2004 Report Share Posted September 7, 2004 Here are some process photos from Northwood Guitars. HTML site version FLASH site version(click the A string tuning key for it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litchfield Posted September 7, 2004 Report Share Posted September 7, 2004 Here is one USACG. That is theirs on site. This is at Frets dot com. I'll get one for ya of what you REALLY wanna see next time I'm over there. I cant go to my in laws without stopping to talk shop with Tommy. He is a very cool guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simo Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 Here's one I found today.... [url="http://alembic.com/family/factory_tour.html"]http://alembic.com/family/factory_tour.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdguitars Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Gibson factory tour.... unreal just look at all the guitar... [url="http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/plant_tour/pt0.html"]http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/plant_tour/pt0.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 [quote name='bigdguitars' date='Feb 11 2005, 07:48 AM']Gibson factory tour.... unreal just look at all the guitar... [url="http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/plant_tour/pt0.html"]http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/plant_tour/pt0.html[/url] [right][snapback]170398[/snapback][/right] [/quote] that's a very interesting tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 What I wonder about, is if they really go through that many QC checks, and everything is final fitted and finished by hand, why do Gibson guitars still suck so bad in the fit and finish department? We have more problems with Gibson than any other brand at the one store in town, and NONE of them have what I consider a great finish, you can feel the binding edges on all of them, I have even seen runs in the finish. They should hire new QC guys I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 the fit and finish on my new studio is fine.much better than any of my other guitars except my sabre 540fm...which is about the same quality of finish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 [url="http://www.olsonguitars.com/shop.html"]http://www.olsonguitars.com/shop.html[/url] Pretty insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdguitars Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 (edited) that dude has to have won the lottery or something? A fadal? a laser cutting system? plus a home built drum sander? give me a break.... even if he was ultra succesful in building guitars his shop is close to 750-500k. how do you come up with that type of cash? from his claim he is in 158 back orders, plus his custom guitars start at 12500? close to 2 mil from a one man outfit? I just could not believe that... ok this is freakin insane... 7 heavy duty porter cable routers... [url="http://www.olsonguitars.com/artisan/routers.jpg"]http://www.olsonguitars.com/artisan/routers.jpg[/url] ___ now that I have read up on the dude I can see it, but a one man shop unreal. Edited March 9, 2005 by bigdguitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Olson is debateably one of the most well known acoustic builders in the country. I read on his site that he makes about 60 guitars a year. I don't think there are prices posted on his site, but you can do that math on that one. That's more than one guitar a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mledbetter Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Yeah.. Olsen is definitely the man. I think at this point there are plenty of other builders that can get you that kind of magic.. but he was the first celebrety luthier.. Having James Taylor, Phil Keaggy, Dave Wilcox, Paul McCartney and a whole slew of others playing your stuff doesn't hurt either. I remember when you could get an olsen for about 3500 bucks. Bargain. Yep, you read it right.. they are 12,500 now with a 2 year wait. Everetts are getting close to that now too.. He's down in atlanta.. I think he's charging over 10Gs now for one of his instruments. www.everettguitars.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 There are a few luthiers who I know personally who's acoustics start at $10,000 and they have a waiting list. Must be nice to only HAVE to build 6 guitars a year and make a decent living Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mledbetter Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 yeah really. and it cracks me up that olsen uses a Fadal. Not that it dimenishes his quality in anyway.. i'm sure it it's what allowed him to jump from 40 a year to 60+ a year having a tool to cut perfect sound holes, rosette channels, etc.. His instruments are absolutely gorgeous though. Everyone has to struggle though for a while. PRSs story is interesting. The first guitars he made in his attic.. having to close his doors a few times.. Once he took off though he hit it bigtime. Carlos Santana was no doubt a big help in that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mledbetter Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 the olsen tour is one of the best i have seen. it's unreal what all he uses the FADAL for. I hadn't thought of in terms of making tools.. Need a dish sander? throw in a 1" thick aluminum billet and program one.. Custom clamping cauls, etc.. Read through all the different branches of olsen's page. it's no wonder he bilds such a great guitar, that guy is a genius. That thickness sander he built.. whoa.. "um.. i took a class down at the vocational school and made this thickness sander.." automatic belt centering with a pneumatic bladder and photo sensors.. I can't get over how innovative this guy is. And with all that money, he'll still scrounge parts. The overarm router on the articulating arm attached with a recycled bicycle fork was the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 I know a retired guy that charges about 10 grand per guitar. He tells me he just builds when he feels like it, and people are willing to wait 5 years to pay that much. The way he's talking, he's probably got enough work lined up to last him the rest of his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdguitars Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 we should start a thread an figure out who builds the most expensive guitars out there... would love too see that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Uh... Alembic! $20K for a custom bass is quite a pretty pricetag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooten2 Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Here's a couple more shop tours: These guys are in my hometown of Houston. I need do take this tour... [url="http://www.robinguitars.com/factory.html"]http://www.robinguitars.com/factory.html[/url] Here's a fun website to explore, and a really good tour. Click on the shop tour link towards the bottom left of the page. Check out the jig for rounding the neck... [url="http://www.jetguitars.com/"]http://www.jetguitars.com/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 [quote name='ooten2' date='Mar 11 2005, 02:19 PM']Here's a couple more shop tours: These guys are in my hometown of Houston. I need do take this tour... [url="http://www.robinguitars.com/factory.html"]http://www.robinguitars.com/factory.html[/url] Here's a fun website to explore, and a really good tour. Click on the shop tour link towards the bottom left of the page. Check out the jig for rounding the neck... [url="http://www.jetguitars.com/"]http://www.jetguitars.com/[/url] [right][snapback]176977[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Gotta love that Jet carriburst. Too bad the only dealer listed is [i]Ed Roman[/i]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mledbetter Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 [quote name='ooten2' date='Mar 11 2005, 03:19 PM']Here's a couple more shop tours: These guys are in my hometown of Houston. I need do take this tour... [url="http://www.robinguitars.com/factory.html"]http://www.robinguitars.com/factory.html[/url] Here's a fun website to explore, and a really good tour. Click on the shop tour link towards the bottom left of the page. Check out the jig for rounding the neck... [url="http://www.jetguitars.com/"]http://www.jetguitars.com/[/url] [right][snapback]176977[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Jet guitars are absolutely beautiful and I can't figure out for the life of me why they chose the def leppard typeface for their headstock emblem.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibreakemineedtobuildem Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Came across this site.Nice pix [url="http://www.truenorthguitars.com/InTheShop/index.htm"]http://www.truenorthguitars.com/InTheShop/index.htm[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Oops... don't click on that Taylor factory tour link from work. It goes to an adult site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlGeeEater Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 [quote name='Rick500' post='305260' date='Dec 18 2006, 10:19 AM'] Oops... don't click on that Taylor factory tour link from work. It goes to an adult site. [/quote] Well there's a pleasant suprise at 3 in the morning. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonsg26 Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 the gibson tour is sick but when they said they wait 4 days till wet sand and buffing i dont believe them isnt that way to quick to buff with laquer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 It is best to wait atleast month. Four days (or a week) is not a good idea at all if you want a high-quality finish, but many people/companies do it. CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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