mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 how much would it cost to get a custom neck made from a luthier? (i already checked warmoth but i wanna know how they compare n stuff) i havnt called my luthier about this yet because i just wanna do some checkin to see if this is realistic the neck would be either maple with black MOP block inlays/ or ebony with white MOP blocks black binding (or white if i chose the ebony board) custom HS and scalloping of the last 6 frets what would something like this typically run me? and if i bought this jackson king v body off ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW would i be able to get him to set the neck to it? or is that a dumb question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digideus Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 I think you have much to learn and need to read some more. Posts like this one do tend to get ignored or create a great deal of negative comments because its obvious from what you have said that you have no idea. If youre learning about guitars and the art of the luthier, then fine, go read some books and learn a bit about the instrument. Typically this place is for those who are attempting to build their own guitars. To answer your questions tho, The cost is very variable. A luthier built neck should cost you far more then a ready made neck from Warmoth. The neck however is only the beginning of the process. You then need to take into account a bridge as the body you specified has no bridge mounting on it. This will have to be added at an additional cost for hardware and then a cost for a luthier to do the work. different types of bridge will incurr differing costs You also have to buy tuning heads, a pickup, the afore mentioned bridge, electronics plus finish the wood so it has some protection against the elements and everyday wear and tear, plus body and neck binding, Fret scalloping and the final setup. This all costs money. Unless you intend to do the work yourself, the cost could be hundreds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 hardware isnt an issue. neither is finishing. this is only concerning the bare-bone neck construction, and its addition to that body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 okay okay, irregardless of price because thats not even an issue: CAN I GET A NECK BUILT, AND SET IT TO THAT BODY? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Try http://www.soulmateguitars.com/. That's doug from the forum. He's the only person I've ever seen on the net making just custom necks. I think he's pretty affordable, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mledbetter Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 That body appears to have an undrilled bolt-on type neck pocket and looks to be standard strat heel shaped.. so yes. You just have to make sure the luth has the dimensions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 okay, cool, thanks guys my luth is good. just didnt wanna bother looking into all the neck options if the body was a no go from the start anyway now im thinkin, why do custom guitars cost 2-4k? if the neck would be max 600, and a body 500ish....not counting hardware, where do all the other fees go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 hardware isnt an issue. neither is finishing. this is only concerning the bare-bone neck construction, and its addition to that body ← Also you have to remember that if you want a TOM bridge, you'll need a neck angle. It's doubtful that the seller has done that, you might want to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Try http://www.soulmateguitars.com/. That's doug from the forum. He's the only person I've ever seen on the net making just custom necks. I think he's pretty affordable, too. ← whoa. whats up with his prices? theyre so....attractive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 hardware isnt an issue. neither is finishing. this is only concerning the bare-bone neck construction, and its addition to that body ← Also you have to remember that if you want a TOM bridge, you'll need a neck angle. It's doubtful that the seller has done that, you might want to ask. ← nah, floyds going in this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_ed Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Why are custom guitars so expensive? Because building a guitar properly is not easy. Because the amount of time involved to do the work is not trivial. Because of the amount of time spend with the customer trying to figure out just what in the blazes they really want and mean. Guitar Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Of course you need a good body and neck, but the difference between a good guitar and a GREAT guitar is in the details. Binding, finish, playing action, fretwork, etc. That's what you're paying for. Plus time drawing up electronic schematics and fitting all the parts together perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 im still not counting over $1500 in parts and labour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stageleft Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 im still not counting over $1500 in parts and labour ← Have you ever built a guitar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digideus Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 A custom shop finish job can cost hundreds on its own! its costs so much because it is more than just slapping wood together. Like i said before, go read some stuff and learn whats involved. If money is no object, then go for it and get the axe you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 You have no concept of time and money apparently. Let's say it takes 100 man hours in a guitar. That's pretty optimistic for a high end guitar without CNC, etc. in my opinion. Add 400 in parts and wood (not at all too much). At $20 an hour (Not exactly an amazing wage) that's 2400 dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 It's sort of obvious that you have never had a job where you built anything for a living. You're paying for shop rent, heat, electricity, the truck to go to the lumber yard, taxes, insurance, taxes, more insurance, tools, the dumpster out back, bandaids, peroxide, sandpaper......... My small shop has about a year's salary in tools in it. Oh, yeah. I have about thirty or so years of experience. They don't sell that online. Einstein proved that time is money. I bill my shop time at $60 an hour and I don't get to keep all that much of it by the time I address all of the above items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks for the plug Devon. You're right, Mailman needs to do some homework. -Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 the reason custom guitars are sooo freakin expensive is it's about the hardest freakin thing you'll ever do. Sure just making a neck aint -all- that hard but when you build the -whole- guitar and you gotta finish it and put it all together than things start getting expensive. But if your wondering this than you obviously haven't played a handmade custom instrement. They sound and feel and look WAY better than anything you'll get in a factory. (with the exception of say a PRS private stock, but those are all hand built anyways you just go through PRS to get them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 But if your wondering this than you obviously haven't played a handmade custom instrement. They sound and feel and look WAY better than anything you'll get in a factory. ← i know this. thats why i buy them and im still not adding up the costs right neck - 450 body - 450 putting it together - 250 (?) paint/finish - 250 hardware/electronics - 240 pickups - 100 = 1740 and thats with me being generous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiggz Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 ok maildude, i may be a newbie to this forum as well, but i think ur missing the point, the other day i spent close to $200 on only half the electronics and hardware, and this is fairly average stuff (not including pickups), pickups for ok ones r about 60-100 each, and a luthier's usually charge a fairly large component for labour, about 350 for a re-fret (correct me if im wrong), if u work it out about 60-80 an hour, they usually use top notch woods, which are not by any means cheap. and parahprasing what godin said there is nothing like guitar that fits you like a glove. i think you should do some more research, and shop around and find a price ur comfotable with. luke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 eh, its pointless, everyones got different prices for their work. i know for one that id be gettin a deal cut cuz id be paying cash with my guy (for example) thanks for the replies, everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug Posted March 23, 2005 Report Share Posted March 23, 2005 Wow. $1640 for everything, then only $100 for pickups? Woof. Why bother with all that expense only to use toy pickups? Yep, finishing, fitting, fine tuning, and setup drive the cost. One reason I primarily concentrate on the necks is economics. It keeps me extremly busy, and I don't have to redirect my efforts to all the time consuming little things that go into a complete unit. Sure I still make them, but not nearly as often as I might have to otherwise. -Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mailman Posted March 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2005 i use bill lawrence pickups, and they are only about $50 a pop best pups ive ever used Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirkentesquire Posted March 23, 2005 Report Share Posted March 23, 2005 It's clear that you've never built a guitar, but that's okay, as most people haven't. You certainly DO have the right to question why anything costs as much as it does, but just realize that when you look at where you're asking the question you need to think "tactful". For the guys that DO build custom guitars for their livelyhood, it is offensive when someone tells them that they are completely out of line with their prices, which is what you are saying, in effect, even if not directly. That's just how it comes off. That said, this is a case where the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. You can't just take every little thing and put a pricetag on it. That's a relatively new concept in modern thinking, and frankly it's seldom accurate or reasonable. If Doug can make a neck for under $200 than kudos to him, as that's awesome! But I'm sure he would tell you, as he alluded to, that when you focus on one thing you can do it more efficiently, which is why he would be able to make necks better and faster than myself or some of the other guys here. But a guitar isn't just a neck or a body or pickups or whatever. Think of it like art. Hmm, a $50 canvas and $5 worth of oil paints don't really add up to the thousands of dollars some pieces of art go for. The value is in the unseen. The builders here who do custom work are CREATING something new, which has innate value in and of itself, something that can't really be broken down into dollars and cents. Now I personally have not been charging very much for the guitars I have been building because I mostly do repair work and only have three instruments under my belt, but the more I get into this the more I realize that I would prefer to never own a guitar BUT a custom built one, if for no other reason than it's an expression of humanity, of how we were created to also create. And personally, I wouldn't expect to pay any less than around $1500 or so, bare minimum. Yeah, it's okay to want to understand costs and pricing and all of that, but it's not just some math equation. I commend EVERY person on this forum who has decided to step out of the boat and attempt to create something unique, something different, and to do it with their own two hands. That's just phenomenal, and I hope we can all keep doing this as long as we live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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