Rick500 Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 I'm gonna guess and say the holes were drilled to what will be the depth of the carve? When the holes are gone, the depth was reached? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 liking the way this si comming together, how are you going to control feedback? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted April 11, 2008 Report Share Posted April 11, 2008 I'm gonna guess and say the holes were drilled to what will be the depth of the carve? When the holes are gone, the depth was reached? Even if that's not it, that's a neat little trick I'll have to remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2008 Yup it's to gauge exact depth, might sound ghetto but I wrap a piece of bright clean tape around the exact depth that I want and carefully drill each hole in an exact distance from the CENTER not the sides since there will still be final side width sanding. I just got back from camp so I haven't had a chance to work on it but I PROMISE you I will have updates within the couple hours to couple days depending on how much time I can find. PS: Theres a decent amount of people asking me to build/prices for models like this current build, and for reference the price will START at around $2000 up to about $2700 (depending on hardware/wood choice) just for the first 10 builds, after that the prices should float around $3500. Take Care Guys, - Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted April 14, 2008 Report Share Posted April 14, 2008 Yup it's to gauge exact depth, might sound ghetto but I wrap a piece of bright clean tape around the exact depth that I want... Then I guess we're both Boyz In Da Hood, because that's what I do too. I figure to eventually get some real depth guages eventually. For now, the tape works fine. I think I read that tip in a book, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 PS: Theres a decent amount of people asking me to build/prices for models like this current build, and for reference the price will START at around $2000 up to about $2700 (depending on hardware/wood choice) just for the first 10 builds, after that the prices should float around $3500. Take Care Guys, - Josh i would be carefull about taking on orders for that kind of money untill you have built more than 1 guitar. obviously its your business and your choice and the work does look great so far.. but be carefull about staking your name and reputation on those 'first' guitars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Hello, Neck angle. good luck .-Vinny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 WezV, I totally agree! I wouldn't think of starting to take orders until a better foundation is built, but it has to be built somehow and I obviously can't afford to build and give away guitars there has to be at least breaking flat in profit, invovled. I mean I've played for a long time, and I've played every popular brand out there including some custom guitars. I know fairly accurate the difference between a custom shop guitar and an inexperienced woodworking project. If I felt that anything I made wasn't up to the standards of some of the best guitars made I wouldn't feel comfortable selling it ya know? And it is the first concept that I've created and made myself minus the initial neck, but again you have to remember I've been stripping/refinishing guitars for years and I've done alot of work repairing just as a side/hobby job over my playing lifetime. I guess my question to you is how would one start out a guitar building business if he didn't start out by making and selling guitars? I would obviously offer a 100% return as well to make sure whoever might be skeptical would have a chance to have it in their hands. I'm not taking offence to anything you've said don't get me wrong i'm just wondering what you're view point is on how one should approach this business if not by making and selling guitars. Vinny, i have no clue what yer talking about =] I had to remake the neck angle because of the underbridge ebony base I made even tho it was only 1/8" thick I like things being mathematically pleasing, it'd bother me to no end if it wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 i'm not really the person to ask since i am not really doing this as my full time job yet... for me it is something i do mainly because i enjoy it so my first guitars were done purely for fun and for the experience and i still try to keep it mainly for fun. Personally i am too slow to make a living doing this at the moment so i am not going to go into business making guitars as my full time job just yet I think you should build the guitars and develop your repair and refinishing business - but i wouldnt decide on a price for the guitars just yet.. so far your work looks excellent and its obvious you have put a lot of time and research into this even if you havnt built a guitar yet, so i am not trying to be patronising.. its obvious you will be able to make guitars for the values you say.... but i do think there will be a learning curve... your 2nd guitar will be substantially better than your 1st and this will carry on with every guitar you make. So if you price your 1st and 10th at $2000 maybe the 10th customer is getting a great deal and the 1st is paying over the odds. my point is simply this... dont focus on how much money you will get making guitars untill you have made a guitar or two and have developed your skills enough to make guitars at a speed where you are getting a decent hourly rate... and dont forget you also have to develop a name for yourself to ask higher prices -that may take more than 10 guitars out of my my first ten guitars 7 were not commisions and i never sold, 3 were. the people that had those 3 had them at cost - my view is that those people shouldnt pay for my learning. Its not actually till my 18th guitar when i started to sell at what i would call a reasonable price... and it was still below what the market value would be for a custom made guitar of that spec.. but thats me not pushing them hard i suppose and most of my customers do tell me i undercharge. Its worth saying that you are already way ahead of the point where i started.. my first guitar wasnt great but yours looks like it will be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 I just looked over your website, nice instruments! I'm really impressed. Ya know it makes alot of sense the way you said it, I should probably charge cost until i have a foundation laid. At this point even though it's my first build I'm doing it just because I think it's awesome and fun to do! Could I ask what you charge for some different models and how many instruments you build per year roughly? To be honest at this point I don't have near the time to make anything even close to fulltime building; a couple per year would be adequate initially. Thanks for your comments as well! I appreciate them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass-Man43 Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Im really liking your work pied, i am aspiring to start my own business in the future, i am only 16 so im getting all my practice ones done now:P im on my third build now, and i have to agree with Wez every instrument is leaps and bounds ahead of the other in quality. There are also lots of different learning curves for building say Extended range instruments, to neck through and all of that sort, but i wish you luck! Bass-man43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 i am currently making about 5-6 a year and the average price is around £1000 ($2000) for commisions but that creeping up slowly at the moment. i do about 2-3 commisions, the rest of the guitars i build are things i really want to do so i try and make them a bit different each time - i usually end up selling these off cheaper than the comissions.. mainly because finding the right buyer is harder i am not a good business man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan D Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Haven't heard from in a while - How's it coming along lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Here's my take (and believe me, I've thought a lot about this topic): WezV is right. Get to 10, and by then your business should start developing naturally. It certainly doesn't hurt to have a plan now, and to aim for it. Think about this: would you pony up 2-3k for a guitar, even if it looked really nice, if you knew the guy had only built that ONE? I'd certainly have reservations, no matter how sweet the work was. And as many have said in here before, it doesn't make sense to have an idea that you can make a lot of money doing this. Of course you COOOUUULD, but that isn't what you should be aiming at right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Yeaup I totally agree, and I'm trying to find someone that has a bandsaw because I have nothing that can cut the neck angle out, so my project is on hold until then, wish me luck! heh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 and in response to your "dont sell at $2000" comment, i gotta start somewhere and if the guitar is worthy of it then eff it, =] I'd offer a 100% return and trial period Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 alright i splurged and bought a bandsaw, i got tired of trying to find someone that has one hehe, progress should be coming daily or bi-daily from now until completion hopefully. I have to start working 7 days a week at my job but Im'a try to do at least a little per day! Happy Building! - Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carousel182 Posted April 28, 2008 Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 nice! this looks great, what kind of bandsaw did you get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 a 10" Hitachi tilt head from lowes hehe it was only $180 but I tested it last night and I could thickness saw a 7X5X.5 piece of maple, cutting a 1/16 layer off the top and it worked absolutely beautiful so it should be fine for cutting most things! Only thing I can't do is like guitar tops and billets. I dont have the money to buy a bandsaw that can cut something that high I think you're looking at $1000 + for ones of that stature. =] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2008 Couple updates for today New TailPiece idea that I came up with last night doodling around Beginning of the truss rod cover where AVIA will most likely be inlayed New band saw Neck angle cut I'm taking the neck to work tonight they gots a belt sander =] =] =] Tis all for now Happy Building! - Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 I got impatient again and bought a beltsander/disksander combo.. neck sanded and ready to be traced routed and fitted into Center Honduras Mohogany insert Take Care - Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anderekel Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 It's lookin' good. That being said, getting impatient is a bad thing in guitar building, don't try and rush anything, belt sanders are nice to have though lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 haha =] well I always just get impatient on replying on other people that have equipment that I need to use, it was it was hehe, thanks tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piedpiperX2000 Posted April 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Neck pocket routed this morning wish i had more time i'd have so many more updates than this =[ seeya take care - Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anderekel Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Nice, looks like a good, tight fit. Gettin' impatient waitin' for other people's equipment is different lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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