Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 5, 2014 at 9:06am

John, so true.  As a "hobby craft" I can work obsessively for a few weeks, then do nothing for a long while.  No harm. But if I had to earn "daily bread" from CBG making I'd starve.  I really respect the effort and discipline the those who are making a living from the craft must exert daily.

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Permalink Reply by c# merle on March 5, 2014 at 10:12am

interesting term that, hobby craft. as a hobby time is of no consideration - but to earn your corn from it you have to treat it as a job - how can i turn out a guitar i'm satisfied with, on an artistic and playability level, but can still earn a profit from?

If you could sell one for $400 then that's a good deal but to earn a living you'd need to sell one a week - every week.

i't may be more realistic to make  a more sell-able $150 to $200 range but sourcing a better deal for your parts (tuners, strings etc) but keeping your  production standards high.

there's a hell of a difference  between making for fun and making for profit, but it can be done

good luck to ya

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Permalink Reply by G.S.Monroe on March 5, 2014 at 10:16am

Like I've said before, I wish I could find another line of work, but you sometimes have to play the hand you've been dealt. I'm just dealing with an emotional low point, and frustration with the current market. At least I'm attempting to be a productive member of society. But holding a "will work for food" sign on the street corner looks like it would be more lucrative and a whole lot easier. I'm trying to learn a few Blues riffs as an option of last resort.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on March 5, 2014 at 7:38pm

I hear you man. Terrible situation to be in. After watching your video (which was very impressive BTW, I couldn't help but think that it seemed a very fancy instrument - a 6 stringer is far more cost and work for you than a 3 or 4, and for a lot of potential customers the 3 or 4 string think adds to the quirkiness which encourages them to splash out... as you may be aware, I have started selling my guitars in a local music store on commission, and even though I feel that my builds with homemade boxes etc are better instruments, they guys in the shop are confident that the cigar box ones are more of a draw for customers. We have settled on 'basic' CBGs at £150 ($250), and homemade box guitars at £180 ($300), as they are a logical step up for the customer. If you play one then the other, that's where you see the difference in quality. I feel a similar way about your high end builds. If you could produce some basic ones, and then be able to say 'this is what an extra $X gets you'... this might make them more attractive.

Best of luck to you.

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Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on March 5, 2014 at 10:55pm

Greg with a nice wood shop like you have maybe try building some furniture, I recently made a carved top foot stool which sold for great money. Very easy build with a high return ! Another idea is maybe trying a themed guit, being in Florida there must be a high amount tourist on hand. You just have to find the right niche. Like I said before it has taken me many years to have the standing I have now. But then again I have " niche "  that I more or less have the market to myself.  I just got my first dealer in Australia to sale my work, his first order was over 2k. Maybe you could look out of your state for a dealer to carry and sale your product. For myself I wouldn`t depend on just the local craft fair to show my work, start going to open mic sessions with some builds, run adds in guitar mags, maybe hook up with local cigar shops, music stores.

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Permalink Reply by G.S.Monroe on March 6, 2014 at 2:10am

Randy, the wood shop that I have has been in the family since before WWII. It was started with my Grandfather and has been building furniture and kitchen cabinets for the last 60 years. If furniture was profitable BELIEVE ME, I would not be turning it into a Dulcimer Works and Luthiery. When I moved back home after losing my job and going through a divorce, I had a long discussion with him about what we could build. We searched and researched for about 3 months for a way to make money in the shop.

By the way... the guitar build that I'm doing the video series on is a commissioned piece ( if only I could get more of them ) for a local band I met at an open mike night. It's being built on their budget and I'm hoping that I get more of these in the future. Still though, the price I can bring for this caliber of workmanship is rather low and competitive with Mass Production guitars, even though I think mine sound far better.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 7, 2014 at 4:28am

I just saw your youtube on building the neck of a guitar.  You obviously know what you're doing and deserve a high dollar for your work.  Keep at it!  Good things come if you don't give up.

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