Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tim on January 16, 2010 at 7:05pm

check ebay and see how much they are selling for and i dont mean how much people are asking but just watch them and see how much similar guitars that sell go for. i have seen asking prices that where as low as 50 bucks and as high as a 1000. now why any one would pay that for a cbg i do not know.

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Permalink Reply by jim on January 16, 2010 at 7:36pm

If your in it to sell , god bless, but cbgs are made to play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by jim on January 16, 2010 at 8:50pm

hey, pooo. poo.poo

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on January 16, 2010 at 10:28pm

Setting the price for your work is the most difficult part of making an instrument. It's almost impossible to price it on a classic 1/3 materials, 1/3 labour, 1/3 profit basis, but you should aim to get a decent return. With most of my guitars, I aim to get a minimum of GBP 100 (say $150) on top of my materials. For the simple ones such as diddley bows that figure could halve, for more complicated ones such a reso CBGs, I look to double or nearly treble that figure.

Even if you aren't doing this for profit, don't under-sell your skills and creativity...giving them away for a few bucks does nobody any favours.

According to Roosterman, the selling price depends on the size of your cojones, and I reckon there's a lot of truth in that. If you reckon the market will stand $500, try it if you've got the b***s!

Where are you selling them - direct word of mouth sales, music shop, ebay? If you sell on eBay at least it allows the market to decide, but it can be a very fickle and unpredictable marketplace: for example sometimes I've sold a $500 CBG straight off within a couple of days for the asking price, other times a $75 one will hang around at auction without moving.

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Permalink Reply by michael greene on January 16, 2010 at 11:34pm

i look at it this way, cover costs, make enough for a more expensive project, may be some pocket money but most importantly it has to be sold to somebody who has passion ,and will play it not hang it on a wall

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on January 17, 2010 at 1:29am

Don't expect a lot. I would say a good [read: good] build will go for about $60 - $150 depending on the market, and where/how you sell. John McNair [RedDog Guitars], and I mean absolutely no offense here, makes boxes that are really expensive to me, but he does make great boxes and he sells them which is all good. He also has a great reputation and can market the crap out of them. I can even tell when I hear one of his being played, so he has a sound quality that adds.

I dunno what John Lowe sell his for but he has a great reputation, following, and quite a unique instrument so his would also be higher priced.

- WY

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on January 17, 2010 at 3:40am

Disregarding the obvious costs of materials and labor, it comes down to the quality of your product. For example, I remember when I first saw tinyguitars ( www.tinyguitars.tk ) on youtube. He purchased an axe handle and an aluminum dog dish from walmart. He made a three string banjo with amazing tone. He produces really great quality sound out of very inexpensive materials. It is quite impressive. My friend Jim Mitchill ( www.cigarcitycbgs.com ) is building instruments that are like higher end regular guitars. Beautiful tone in addition to fine details. He is building old world crafted CBG like they were vintage Martin guitars. They are higher in price, but the product you receive easily justifies the expense. My other friend Darren (www.backporchmojo.com) produces a good working man's CBG. They have really nice tone and are similar to a homemade crafted instrument. He is able to sell them at a very reaonable price. He has his very own little production factory. So, what I am saying is...who do you want to market to? How much in material and labor do you want to invest in an instrument? Are you building entry level instruments or something a professional would play? Best Wishes in your venture. Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by JUJU on January 17, 2010 at 4:12am

A CBG is just like any other object , it's worth as much as someones willing to pay

it all depends on what the build is , materials and time spent building and a small profit like Chickenbon says a good rule is to price in thirds , materials ,Build time , Profit

i've had some good prices for my builds but i always loose out on the profit side of things if i charged for every hour i spent building the build would not be saleable - the main thing for me is knowing that i built a quality instrument that will stand the test of time and provide the buyer with much enjoyment - the same kind of enjoyment i had while building it thats the buzz for me knowing that i made a instrument that someone whats to own

at the end of the day it's down to the individual to say yes i will buy it or no i wont and while some people like basic builds others like Detaild builds just like any other guitar thats what makes us all individual because we have choice
juju :-)

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Permalink Reply by O-DAD on January 17, 2010 at 8:25am

i am definately not trying to start a production company or anything.i love building cbg's,and i love playing them,but after giving a few away to good friends ,it has snowballed into every catdaddy around is wanting one,some to play and some just want them because they are unique and maybe that will get them wanting to play-support the revolution u know,so poo. poo to you too.

jim said:

If your in it to sell , god bless, but cbgs are made to play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by O-DAD on January 17, 2010 at 8:33am

i feel the same as u bud,i get alot of enjoyment out of knowing something i built may end up in the hands of someones great great grandkids years down the road.but i get alot of people requesting cbg's and all my friends say i sell them way too cheap.thanks for the feed back-jim called me poo poo?

JUJU AKA SOUNDSSOGOOD said:

A CBG is just like any other object , it's worth as much as someones willing to pay

it all depends on what the build is , materials and time spent building and a small profit like Chickenbon says a good rule is to price in thirds , materials ,Build time , Profit

i've had some good prices for my builds but i always loose out on the profit side of things if i charged for every hour i spent building the build would not be saleable - the main thing for me is knowing that i built a quality instrument that will stand the test of time and provide the buyer with much enjoyment - the same kind of enjoyment i had while building it thats the buzz for me knowing that i made a instrument that someone whats to own

at the end of the day it's down to the individual to say yes i will buy it or no i wont and while some people like basic builds others like Detaild builds just like any other guitar thats what makes us all individual because we have choice
juju :-)

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Permalink Reply by Greg on January 17, 2010 at 12:43pm

That's the million dollar question to anyone selling a product or service. I own a buisness that involves labor only pricing and my pricing has to work with demand. If every "catdaddy" in town wants one of your CBG's then you have the demand. But you have to be real. What is you cost? Material...$....Labor...$....+20%? +25%? Your choice. The material part is easy. Look at you reciepts. The labor part ? What is you time worth ? $10 hr...$20 hr? More, Less ? Try keeping a log on your time involved in a build. Look at the market and compare what your building with regular sellers. If your product is comparable than "borrow" the numbers and adjust them accordingly. The main thing is to put passion into what you do...no mater if it's for profit or pleasure.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on January 17, 2010 at 1:06pm

Seriously, on a handcrafted item, it is worth what your (your particular) market will pay for it....

I have seen simple three string fretless CBGs sell for $ 40 and I have seen the same sell for $ 150... You gotta know your market... If you're selling to family and friends, take your costs, add $ 2 an hour and be happy... If your at some high end boutique fair, with an average six figure income, take a price that you would be very, very happy with and double it...

There is no formula, use EBay average was the going "wholesale" price. Face to face selling ought to about double that.
OH!... If you want to get "best price"... you better learn how to play and play good. People wanta see what she'll do in that hands of a musician better than they are....

the best,

Wichita Sam

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