a little help if you can spare the time ....

Hi Guys, As some of you know I'm starting up full time making and repairing guitars pretty soon, and as part of that I'd like to do a bit of market research if it's not too much trouble, and I'm not treading on any toes by doing it. Rest assured I don't intend to make a habit of this. If you can spare a few minutes to answer a few questions I'd be very grateful.

1 - if you were looking to buy a new guitar would you prefer a shape you are familiar with or something completely different ? 2 - is the right price the most important thing ? 3 - do you ever read through the small ads in the back of guitar magazines ? 4 - if you do, do you ever consider having a guitar built to suit you ? 5 - if you could have anything your heart desired built, what would it be ? 6 - would you imagine such a guitar would be beyond what you could afford ? 7 - would you prefer that a custom built guitar came with a fitted case ? 8 - how much would you consider a reasonable price for a guitar such as the Telecaster style guitar at http://www.arrowheadguitars.co.uk/twoteles6.html 9 - if you need some work done on one of your guitars where do you go ? 10 - if you haven't had any work done before where do you find out where to go ?

any other suggestions (or criticisms) you have would be helpful as I'm sure you are a fair cross section of the sort of people I might be able to deal with at sometime and all information will help me build something people want.

cheers,

Hi Paul,

Not too sure how helpful my views would be but here goes anyway, and I really wish youthe best of luck with your venture.

Both, sorta. I like guitars that look like traditional models with a small twist of individuality. For example, I think the Cort Strat shap is really cool and I don't really like the traditional headstock on Strat's and Tele's

Not really, except that I have to be able to afford them. I sometimes consider selling some of my small collection to fund new additions.

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Yes

Certainly do.

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At the moment I'm thinking of a strat style guitar, BUT all white korina (or maybe walnut) through neck construction, and an angled back headstock (like gibson et al). I'd also like the neck constructed like my Hamer (1 piece of wood cut into 3 pieces, then glued back together withe the central section reversed for stability)...

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No, but I do think it would hurt a little!

Yep

Really not too sure

Local luthier

Up to now it has been an absolute nightmare to get work done. The best had been a local shop that does work on the premises, but the last 2 jobs were crap. I found the new guy from a woodwind repairer that worked on my wifes clarinet. He went to college with my current luthier

I really like guitars that are made out of interesting woods (Koa, Walnut, Taz Blackwood, Lacewood...). I'd really like to see more guitars that use these. & I'd really like the ides of a guitar that (successfully) uses European sourced timbers (Oak, Sycamore, Walnut...)

Buying one of the shelf - Familiar. Having one made - Either.

Price is irrelevant. Value is important.

Yes.

Yes.

Don't get me started - This is worth a thread of it's own!

No.

I'd expect it.

The pictures aren't good enough to judge the quality (too dark and too many digital artifacts). I've had quotes for custom Tele's around the 700 quid mark that would be good enough for my needs though. Still haven't bought one as I can never decide exactly what I want (see question 5!)

I go into my workshop. I fix guitars/amps/anything for money

This newsgroup I guess. Small ads in the various guitar mags. Recommendations from friends etc. Ask in the local guitar shop.

HTH,

I think a classic shape. LP or Tele. Nothing pointy.

Hard to say. If it´s right then it´s right! If it´s a bit high, but it´s a must have guitar, then I´d pay it. I do wish there were more excellent quality guitars in the £400-500 range. Gordon & Smith for example are one company, but someone should give them competition!

Occasionally, but not too much.

I do consider having a guitar built for me, but I know who by! Jaydee.

Probably a replica of my Jaydee LP by Jaydee. In General though, just a dead simple guitar with classic looks and TONE.

Not neccesarily, but probably!

Yes, but not at a high price.

If it is built as good as it looks and plays fine, maybe the wrong side of £1000, but by how far, I couldn´t say... Could be £800 if all the hardware were off the shelf etc..

Local shop

I ask the newsgroup.

For me it has to be kept simple. Blackmachine for example have an SG coming out that looks AMAZING and I´m seriously considering doing something silly....The thing is it is so pure. Same as my Jaydee LP. It´s from the mid 70´s and has classic LP looks but in a quality which Gibson rarely achieve. Handwound pick ups by the man himself. These things are important. If I´m going to spend serious money, I want the personal touch! Also, if starting something new, I could understand the idea that doing something off the wall would get attention, but I wouldn´t do that. Just build a guitar that as many people as poss could enjoy and build it well. Press and promotion will come from word of mouth and the internet. A couple of well placed reviews and you´re away! Also, I think you will need a spot of patience. I have a friend who builds the Sherman Filterbank. He is doing VERY well now, but believe me he spent 2-3 years working on that design and wondering wether it was worth it (not counting the years it took to get to the point where he knew at he was doing!)

Good luck!

Okay-dokey...but I'm not really into custom axes.

I'm happy with my Fender Strat, but would have something of similar shape/lines

Sort of. Quaility of build, ability to hold tune, general playability comes into it as well.

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Yes

No. I'm happy with my Strat. However, if I were to customise one, I'd like a snazzy paint job.

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Apart with maybe a few technical mods, I'd prefer an off-the-shelf strat.

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At the moment, it would.

If it came with the case - yes. If I had to pay extra for it - no.

Pass.

My bedroom. However, if things were out of depth, I suppose my local guitar shop.

Yellow pages, Guitar mags, ask a mate...

Can I ask where you've seen pictures of the thing? I've seen it mentioned on the blackmachine website, but can't find any pics. I'd love to see what the beast looks like, if only out of general interest.

Can you enlighten me?

Daniel C.

Probably something at least vaguely like the familiar shapes.

Yes, but within a larger range than when I was younger (and poorer). I still wouldn't pay PRS/Tom Anderson prices, though.

No.

I think I'd end up coming up with a huge mess of contradictory and ill-matched features. A guitar designed by a committee. So I'd far prefer to have just a slightly different take on a tried'n'tested style.

Sod it... I just want an old Fender Jaguar really.

With custom guitars, I imagine it would depend hugely on the builder.

It wouldn't be a major factor for me - I carry all my guitars around in padded gig bags.

Wow - you've got a real talent there, Paul. I haven't got a clue how much something like that would cost, so I won't risk either denigrating your work or revealing my ignorance by guessing a price!

Local guitar repairer, Malcolm Miles.

I'd look in the small ads in guitar magaz... damn you, Creedy - you've caught me out! I used to read the small ads in guitar magazines, but I've given up, I swear...

I asked about it on the website and he sent me a jpg. I´m in love....

Hmm... I'm quite an impulsive buyer but I suspect that something a bit different would be nice... I'm thinking of how Patrick Eggle or PRS became known for being an alternative to the millions of strats/tele/les paul domination/over crowding...

Well I gues it is for most people but not too cheap or there isn't that exclusive quality... I guess with custom made that isn't an issue so yeah go ahead... undercut the opposition

magazines ?

Yep

Yes but invariably get an off the shelf model in a fit of impulsive shopping.

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Les Paul but not so heavy (weight that is)

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I assume it would be...

A good gig bag would be fine by me... the days of big chunky wooden cases are over in this house...

I would be scared to guess without trying/hearing it.

Probably do it myself, unless its a big job then I'd go to a recommend local guy probably.

UKMG or other local players.

Hope that helps.... good luck with your guitars.

Cheers John P.

Wouldn't mind at all. I've been trying to avoid studying ALL day

It would depend. If I wanted a guitar that sounded like a strat, I'd also want it to look like one. If I was shopping for a metal guitar however, I'd want it to look like a Mockingbird.

Yes. But that's down to my financial situation. I will pay slightly over the odds for something that I think is *really* worth it. (e.g. a RMC2 wah - wallet is still in pain).

magazines ?

Yup.

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Yup. Then realise I can't afford it!

be ?

A Mockingbird shaped guitar with HSH pickups, beautiful woods, thru neck.

afford ?

Absolutely.

case ?

Absolutely. I'd be disapointed if it didn't.

WOW! That is gorgeous. Incredible even. I'd rate that as one of the nicest Tele's I've ever seen. If it played and sounded as good as it looks I'd say i'd shell out a lot of cash (if I had the money). I noticed that most other people are shying away from putting a figure on it, but I'll say this: If that guitar were built in the Fender Custom shop or by someone like John Suhr, or Tom Anderson and sitting in shop I'd expect to see a £1.5k MINIMUM price tag on it

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Jimmy Egypt. Glasgow. Local, friendly, and has severed me well and helped me out in the past.

I'd ask around. I know a lot of muscians, some proffesional. I'd go by word of mouth.

The first thing that springs to mind is that you should have pictures on your website of what you are capable of building. As many different variations as possible. People like to see what they can buy, or at least examples of the quality of what a builder can produce, but this is pretty obvious and I'm sure you know this already.

Some more information on the guitars that you have built would be nice. For example - an explanation of the switching system on that tele would be nice, along with what PU are it it... maybe I'm just a geek, but I think it adds a more complete picture to the final article and gives a better impression of what is possible etc etc.

Hope this helps.

Daniel C.

Not bothered, something unusual would be good, but it's hard to come up with original designs that are accepted and look elegant don't you think?

It's a consideration but VFM is the most important criterion.

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I don't buy guitar mags much any more but if I do, then yes.

Never - I'd rather try before I buy. I'd build one myself though (and have done a few)

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I have all the guitars I'll ever need but I'd build one for the fun of it.

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No but I know I'd lose money if I sold it!

Not really.
http://www.arrowheadguitars.co.uk/twoteles6.html

It looks great - a nice variation on the Tele theme. What does it sound and play like? I'd have to know before I could place a valuation. I assume you'd be building to a customer's specifications. I don't need to tell you that second hand value for non-major-brand guitars is generally rock bottom, irrespective of the intrinsic value of the guitar.

I do everything myself, of course!

To find out anything, I Google.

Good luck with your venture. I wish you every success.