Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by George on February 25, 2014 at 10:24am

Some of us just can't help but take things to an extreme . It is what we are all about. I have found that an educated consumer is your best customer. People who know and are looking for quality are the ones who will buy you product. Many people really don't know the difference. As I said at the beginning if quality is your make up it may be difficult for you to just throw a CBC together. I might add there is nothing wrong with either way.

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Permalink Reply by Richard G Caudill on February 25, 2014 at 10:55am

I agree with George ,,,, I too, am like u ,, put a lot more into it than is necessary ,,,,   but when I sign my name on that bad boy ,, I know it a good un  !!!!!!!!!  I think that is the difference ,, ur are crafting something ,, not just slinging it together .

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Permalink Reply by jawbone on February 25, 2014 at 11:53am

I think that if you are just "making" them, the fun goes out of it - I don't stop to figure out the time put in. I guess it boils down to - would you rather make one real nice interesting git or two "OK, I guess, nothin' special, it works" gits.  

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Permalink Reply by G.S.Monroe on February 25, 2014 at 12:24pm

It's coming down to economics.... do I build 2 x "OK, I guess, nothin' special, it works" CBG's that sell for $80 each, or spend the time building 1 awesome, well made CBG that nobody bids on unless I reduce it to $80.

Not to sound mercenary but at the moment building is my only source of income. But I can't make it on $80 sales.

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Permalink Reply by Gumbo Blues Guitars on February 25, 2014 at 1:07pm

  When I first started making CBGs I was learning as I built and the quality was not what it is today.  However, I was selling everything I was making @ 150.00.  Now, I'm learning and taking more time and the quality is much better, but my sales have dropped, unless I let them go for nothing. I purchased al this exotic woods for necks and fret boards, it's about cost with this type of material. My original thought was to make CBGs like they did in the Ole' days, rasp marks, not so crisp corners and on and on, but somewhere that changes and I was measuring twice then cuttin' sanding fine marks out. lining up everything, lost the original CBG.

  There are luthiers and that is what they are now on this site that can make guitars almost play by themselves, bindings, scarf joints that are perfect and head stocks that rival Blue Ridge guitars, but have they also lost the CBGs ?  I'm also caught in a whirl wind.  One has to make their own decision but it seems by my sales people want what was yesteryears.  They are fun to make so I keep on doing what I do and I'm rolling with it.....But what to do...I have to sell to keep on makin'

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on February 25, 2014 at 1:25pm

You might be kidding yourself that there's a living to be made in it.

Ted Crocker (for example) has been here since the start, his are top quality, he's a fine craftsman with a much more established name than you (nothing personal) and he ain't making a living from it either.

Furthermore, I am of the humble opinion that this argument is self defeating, the more $80 cbgs that eBay has, the harder it will be to ever make any more than that not only for you, but for everyone.

Don't do it for a business, you will fail. Sorry. Do it for a love of doing it. Forget about money and money may come. Do it in pursuit of money if you must, but prepare yourself for consistent failure and disappointment

Ps I'll spend months on one. Cos I always chase something new. And the world (and this place) has plenty generic $80 ones



Ps2. There is another way. Learn to play em. If you can make em sound great, you can make three or four times what you're making off em.

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Permalink Reply by robert jones on February 25, 2014 at 1:43pm

Okay where is the real Phrygian Kid and what have you done with the body?!?

As far as the thread subject goes, "if you wouldn't buy it and be proud to own it don't build it" pretty much covers an ethical view on the matter.

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on February 25, 2014 at 1:29pm

A cbg builder can spend an hour, or two hundred hours on a single guitar...that is passion. What he or she does in those hours of creation are a secret...until it's shared with the peeping masses. If the time spent was for pleasure, then super. Play that guitar till your fingers bleed. But if the motivation is business; to make at least part of a living on selling cbg's, here's two cents: $80 guitars attract $80 shoppers. But even if you build four or five $400 guitars in a month, that is no guarantee someone will buy it before your bills are due. Consumers are a fickle bunch. Ain't that a bitch.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 25, 2014 at 3:06pm

Good advice from all.  Ebay is the worst place to sell cbgs.  Upscale gatherings like fancy car shows, arts fairs, etc might be the best.  I knew a builder that set up a tent at a hot air ballon festival and made a killing.  Go fishing where the big fish live or the minnows will steal your bait...jmho

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Permalink Reply by G.S.Monroe on February 25, 2014 at 4:14pm

Good advice Phrygian, but unless you can think of something more profitable to build out of wood I haven't got much of a choice. It's been nearly 3 years since i last saw a paycheck, and I'm out of options. it's sink or swim time. I'm not treasuring the notion of living under an overpass and eating out of garbage cans. I would happily trade it for a part time job but nobody even wants to interview this old cracker. And getting assistance from the Government has failed me so far. I'm not looking to get rich, I'm simply trying to survive this Depression. Wichita Sam, I know that eBay sucks, but the more upscale venues are beyond my reach. I don't have the $200 vendor's fees and even if I did, most shows here are "exclusives", and already covered by Folk Craft or Music Makers. 

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on February 25, 2014 at 4:41pm

Ah mate I understand, it's difficult times for us all. .. Learn to play like I said. I can go to a railway station and just play til someone buys it and I'll get a lot more than eighty bucks. And it's cash, no shipping, no waiting, no bullshit..

The only guys I know who are making any money at all in this game are mr Gitty (god bless him) and ..... um....

Yep that's it. There's no money to be made here, don't be sucked in by the big guys, anon pick etc. nobody is paying the bills with this, nobody at all...

(Unless you can play the Speals and Lowebowes and guys who can get on a festival tent can do ok in a good week, but then they gotta survive til the next good week)


More profitable things to make out of wood......

Paling fences
Cubby and tree houses
Play equipment and toys
Outdoor furniture, dining etc
Picture framing
Coffins....
Pallets...

Etc, lol

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on February 25, 2014 at 7:01pm

Wow, this thread is a real rollercoaster! Pathos and humour flying around all over the place.

I work full time and have a young daughter, so it takes about 10 hours over 2-3 weeks to finish one. I agree with all the others that eBay is the worst possible place to sell instruments like yours. My experience is that most people think of CBGs as a primitive, 'quirky' instrument. I learned this after spending hours making a lovely homemade box out of quality tonewoods only to have my friends say 'I thought the cigar box ones were cooler' :)

I think your two best avenues for sales are at craft fairs, festivals etc. as Sam said, or in music stores  - somewhere where your customers can see that yours are a cut above. If yours play better than the competition's, that's a winner.

I would possibly also recommend making two 'lines' - basic ones and more premium ones. That way you can 'upsell' across your own range. That said my basic ones still cost me £45/$80 to make...

Best of luck Mr. Monroe!

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