Popular Post killemall8 Posted January 13, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 I guess its that time again. I had been using a thread that was 2 years old. I havent updated progress in a while. I had been working on a ton of guitars, but havent finished many. I also vow to do more in progress/ video tutorials this year. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 13, 2021 Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 HOLY CRAP LUIS! Every time I think you've raised the bar (you absolutely did), you come back next time and raise it again. You must have a pretty impressive client list (of impressed clients) by now. Do you have a pretty good number of repeat customers by now? What's the biggest number of guitars you've sold to any one player? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 5 minutes ago, ScottR said: HOLY CRAP LUIS! Every time I think you've raised the bar (you absolutely did), you come back next time and raise it again. You must have a pretty impressive client list (of impressed clients) by now. Do you have a pretty good number of repeat customers by now? What's the biggest number of guitars you've sold to any one player? SR Thanks scotty! Yes, repeat customers make up the majority of my client list. A lot of guys have 4, i think 2 have 5. A lot of 2s as well. Business has been great, thankfully. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 So after prepping my business taxes for last year, i realize i am not as successful as i thought. Not even close. I made 36 guitars. After buying a ton of new tools, wood, supplies... I netted $4500. Insane. I worked 14 hour days all through the summer and worked 6 days a week minimum. What a waste of a year. time to look for a part time job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted January 14, 2021 Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 It's an expensive game! How many of the 36 did you sell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 9 minutes ago, ADFinlayson said: It's an expensive game! How many of the 36 did you sell? 30 of them. I did see that my tax program excluded some of profit. What a relief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted January 14, 2021 Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 3 minutes ago, killemall8 said: 30 of them. I did see that my tax program excluded some of profit. What a relief! Well I've listed my first For sale guitar (instead of usual commissions) on reverb, ebay, my facebook page, handmate page guitar page on fb, and I still haven't sold it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 14, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 Just now, ADFinlayson said: Well I've listed my first For sale guitar (instead of usual commissions) on reverb, ebay, my facebook page, handmate page guitar page on fb, and I still haven't sold it Finding the right audience and buyers is the hardest part. Once you dial that in, then you can sell easier. You have to make things that specific players will like. Trying to appear to a general audience rarely works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted January 14, 2021 Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 That makes a lot of sense, I'm still very new to this and haven't really figured out who my target audience is yet. Just a bit frustrating that I've got nearly 500 followers on my facebook page and not one of them wants to buy my guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKro Posted January 14, 2021 Report Share Posted January 14, 2021 17 minutes ago, ADFinlayson said: That makes a lot of sense, I'm still very new to this and haven't really figured out who my target audience is yet. Just a bit frustrating that I've got nearly 500 followers on my facebook page and not one of them wants to buy my guitar @ADFinlayson May I suggest you check with some of the Doctor/Surgeons in your area. Many like to play as it keeps there hands and fingers nimble. Dentist are another group that applies there hands as well. Just thinking outloud. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2021 Finished up this Traditional explorer. This is what i dub my best overall build to date. Specs: Body: 2 piece black limba top: Figured claro walnut (resawed myself) Neck: 13 piece Bolivian rosewood, paduak, purpleheart and maple veneer Fretboard: Ziricote, 25.5" scale, 24 fret, XJ jescar stainless, Blue luminlay side dots Custom wound pickups with matching black limba covers (made the covers and sent them to the pickup maker) 1 volume, 1 tone, push pull split 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2021 And here are a few bonus pics 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 22, 2021 Report Share Posted January 22, 2021 17 minutes ago, killemall8 said: This is what i dub my best overall build to date. That is stunning......and really really really good too. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted January 22, 2021 Report Share Posted January 22, 2021 You're not just a guitar builder, you're a woodpornstar and a true artist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted January 22, 2021 Report Share Posted January 22, 2021 there's a lot of stuff on your builds that is nice and don't mean to sidestep that... but man, your finishes are just top notch. I'm not even an explorer guy but that red/yellow top is just a 10. vnice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2021 10 hours ago, mistermikev said: there's a lot of stuff on your builds that is nice and don't mean to sidestep that... but man, your finishes are just top notch. I'm not even an explorer guy but that red/yellow top is just a 10. vnice. Thanks man! Very similar to the one you did! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted January 23, 2021 Report Share Posted January 23, 2021 7 hours ago, killemall8 said: Thanks man! Very similar to the one you did! I am but a pimple on the arse of the great killemall. yours just pops so well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted January 23, 2021 Report Share Posted January 23, 2021 Total porn. I'd love to see an over the shoulder of your core-laminate process. I'm kicking around a neck through and trying to wrap my head around milling and glueup of all the veneers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2021 1 hour ago, komodo said: Total porn. I'd love to see an over the shoulder of your core-laminate process. I'm kicking around a neck through and trying to wrap my head around milling and glueup of all the veneers. That is actually something i plan to do a video on. Not nearly as difficult as it sounds 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted February 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Nothing major to share lately. Been spending every day spraying. I have 9 guitars that are in the spraying stages. Also looking for somewhere to outsource my fretwork to. After just one fret job my hands cramp so bad that i cant do anything the rest of the day. I did end up becoming a dealer for gator cases and graphtech nuts. im kind of regretting the gator one. Its a minimum of 2500$ purchases a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted February 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2021 Been so cold, havent been able to spray. Still finishing up projects from months ago. This has been my longest turn around time ever. Also still having fretting issues. I also announced that i wont be taking custom orders anymore. Got way too stressful, got in over my head, and it was too much pressure. I couldnt handle it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted February 17, 2021 Report Share Posted February 17, 2021 33 minutes ago, killemall8 said: I also announced that i wont be taking custom orders anymore. Got way too stressful, got in over my head, and it was too much pressure. I couldnt handle it. Guess that was a good idea. Burnout is not fun and in the worst case it could even make you hate what you love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gogzs Posted February 17, 2021 Report Share Posted February 17, 2021 I still can't believe these works of art have fretting issues. This top looks insane, I'm not even sure it's wood we're looking at. Such a happy sad story man, but yeah. Take care of yourself first, rest will be easy. Burnout is one hell of a state, don't push yourself there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted February 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2021 8 hours ago, Gogzs said: I still can't believe these works of art have fretting issues. This top looks insane, I'm not even sure it's wood we're looking at. Such a happy sad story man, but yeah. Take care of yourself first, rest will be easy. Burnout is one hell of a state, don't push yourself there. Yeah man, super disappointing when i spend hours on leveling and crowning, and the frets are basically mirror reflective and smooth, and yet ever fret still buzzes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted February 18, 2021 Report Share Posted February 18, 2021 Man, I wish I could produce finishes like you! Always been very impressed by them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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