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fretting or not markup?

I got a couple of friends wanting to buy a CBG and want me to built them one. They really liked mine and want them fretted too. My initial plans was to sell a few frettless CGBs because the are faster to build. I personaly think they look better fretted. I've already decided on a price but what is the markup from frettless to fretted ? It takes about 1 extra nite for me to fret one so I only lose one day of build time. I build these in my spare time working on my kitchen table and going back and forth to an open carport for use of my power tools. I don't have a deadline. I see them from 69-150.00 on ebay and craigslist. I know this is a taboo subject so no answer is ok....lol

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Lee dixon on November 7, 2014 at 11:03am

lol....I bought a used craftsman planner and a bandsaw for 100.00 +new bandsaw blade 10.00. Then I just purchased a router/table combo and bits for 169.00.....so Im in it for 279.00 +-....lol.. and I used the router the most...lol......I have just built and delivered 1 CBG to a coworker for 100.00 lol...(friends discount). I just started another CBG for another coworker probably at a discount also.....so I got to sell 1 more CBG to pay for the tools. I plan on giving a couple to some family for Christmas but I hope to be able to charge more for the general pubic and to build as ordered. I know there is no real money to be made but I cant just keep stock piling them up around the house. The wife might have a problem with that....lol

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Permalink Reply by Hellhound Custom Built Guitars on November 6, 2014 at 4:52am

The way I figure it I charge $30 - $10 of which covers enough frett wire for 3 guitars so Im always ahead of the game there and the other $20 is for my hour of work. with a bit of practice and the right tools an hour is all you should need. Food for thought on CBG fretting, A lesson that I learned is that as the CBG ages and dries a bit more depending on storage conditions your frett work will probaly need to be re dressed in the future,as the wood will shrink a bit and the fretts will begin to stick out so I also offer a re dress at no cost.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on November 6, 2014 at 10:34pm

As regards charging for your time, I remember a long time being quizzed by a client about why my bill for architectural work was so high for a days' work (basically he wanted to chisel me down but I was having none of it, he'd accepted my written quote and terms & conditions). I told him it was day's work, and that included 7 years training and 20 years experience, and that was why the job was done right and only took a day to complete. He shut up and paid up pretty quickly after that. Fretting a guitar isn't just about the time and materials, it's also about how good you are at it, and that takes time and experience to get right, plus the right tools to do a top notch job. I've seen plenty of fret-jobs, some were so bad you could pull the frets out with your fingernails, others with sharp fret edges that would cut your fingers straight away. If you are in any doubt about the monetary worth of experience, get a quote for refretting a guitar from a professional repair shop..and make sure you are sitting down when you ask.