Luthier to build Gibson Les Paul?

[T_Dub]

Its like saying to Boyd Coddington when he was alive "Why would I hire you to build me a car when I can get a regular 56 chev for ten grand?"

 

[gator payne]

Wait.....I thought you luthier guys all sold your guitars for like $200-$300. Are you
telling me that's not the case????? So does this mean I won't be able to build myself
a '59 Replica for around $50.00??

 

[Freddy G]

Perhaps a basic lesson in manufacturing and economics would help you.

 

[sebass]

where are you getting your statistics? gibson buys lumber by the truckload, luthiers buy it basically per guitar.. we pay A LOT more than gibson does for our lumber, and every other part of the instrument.. A LOT more..



uhh, you wouldn't because you obviously cant afford it.




apparently with you it's all about costs, but to many other people, it's not about cost, its about quality. there are a lot of people willing to pay much more for an item of much better quality.



Sounds like the luthier wins because he can spend his time working for people willing to pay for his product, instead of people like you who are completely out of touch with reality.


There's only one loser taking part in the conversation.

No reason for personal attacks. If it can't be done it can't be done. Simple as that. I just wanted to find out. If i can't employee luthier services i won't. Someone else will get my business. You're the one making living out of it, NOT ME. You don't want the $$$. Someone else will get it. And why don't you tell that to all U.S businesses that moved their factories to China!!!

 

[Mike-t]

No reason for personal attacks. If it can't be done it can't be done. Simple as that. I just wanted to find out. If i can't employee luthier services i won't. Someone else will get my business. You're the one making living out of it, NOT ME. You don't want the $$$. Someone else will get it. And why don't you tell that to all U.S businesses that moved their factories to China!!!

And the Chinese Products are generally inferior. If you want a Chinese made Les Paul, go nuts but they will not be exactly the same in many ways.

Like someone said before, your best bet is an older Japanese copy, Tokai, Burny, OBG etc or check out the Agiles on rondomusic.com.

 

[captcoolaid]

Well I guess some one should have looked at threads before posting. This was absolutely hilarious. That was the quickest WTF ever on this board. Wonder if he will return anytime soon.

Buy an Epiphone.

 

[Freddy G]

sebass,
You are comparing factories in China to custom, handmade guitars from a luthier. You must understand that both of these serve completely different markets.

 

[gator payne]

Sebass I Don't feel alone or like you are one of a kind. I send at least 100 prospective clients like you away every year. You see you want my trained skill but you do not want to pay for them. lets say I was willing to build you a Gibson Standard replica for $1K. After materials I would have $600 tied up. Then there are consumables like glue, sand papers, finish supplies and common hardware and utilities cost. That another $150. Then there is the labor I put in. let say for sake of discussion the cost of my labor (not the profit) is $ minimum wage $7.50 per hour and that I have 60 man hours into building finishing, setup of the instrument. That is another $450. That brings the unit cost for the guitar prior to any profit margin to $1200.
So if I contract to sell it at $1k sale price I am 200 short of even covering the cost to produce the guitar.
Now let’s say to be a good and fair retailer I strive for a very low 10% profit margin which is ridiculous and you can’t stay in business at such a low margin but let’s say I do. The cost to produce the guitar is 1200 and I need 10% margin that would bring the sale price to $1320. Then you need a case and I would suspect you would want me to warrantee the guitar as well (that isn’t free the ability to provide a warrantee is and operating expense that has to be add to any bottom line) then you want it shipped and insured while in shipment. That would bring the min sale price to closer to $1500.

Now this explanation is fore your benefit. The process quoted are ridiculously low I and I would not touch such a project for the number shown but I hope it gives you an explanation of why you can’t get a luthier build instrument for near the cost of a factory made.

Now if you want to be realistic there are sever that would be willing to provide you with a quality hand crafted LP. But not at the price you were expecting.

 

[Alex]

This thread is locked.