I'm considering making my first independent luthier scratch build purchase soon and wanted to hear other people's experiences. The builder is a one man operation, scratch builder down to the pickup plates/magnets.
I'm considering one of two guitars he currently has available. Although neither are the 'perfect' guitar if there is such a thing, they do both speak to me and I will be trying them out again soon.
I do not want to go down the custom route as I prefer to play a built instrument and know the rabbit hole that a custom build can turn into. I know that resale value should be far less of a consideration but I do see small name guitars selling for fair prices so they do tend to retain a big chunk of residual vale or so it seems.
I've heard of experiences from people who have purchased similar builds in the past with one or two raving as the last instrument they will buy. Not sure of any negative experiences.
Would be very interested in hearing general general thoughts before I spend the money I probably won't see again.
Comments
If you can play it, like it, and are happy with the price you have little to lose.
If you are thinking about resale, then its probably not for you.
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These guitars will be the third time I get to play, and first time properly with my amp and paddleboard to make a decision.
What im trying to do is get the 'last' guitar, now that I have a pretty good sense of what I like/don't like in an instrument and have a more defined playing style. I guess the cost/resale mention I made in the original post was more just to cover all bases. I want a guitar I won't want to sell.
I guess a beyter question is, has someone here purchased a guitar, after playing, with this view and eventually fell out of love?
is this all futile?
whats the meaning of life?
One of the criteria is how long one is willing to wait. If you want something immediately then a luthier built instrument might not be for you. When it comes to waiting times as well, I'd always take the ones quoted with a pinch of salt as in the real world it can be very easy for luthiers to run over expected time schedules.
If you do decide to go through the custom route, I'd recommend trying to speak to other customers of theirs and what their experiences are. Another thing which I'd suggest is to really decide what you are after, take as much time as is needed to fully decide on what you after.
I say that to illustrate that I have absolutely nothing against the small independent builders, and have bought their wares rather than ploughing equivalent ££s into the big name brands.
But I think I'd want to at least start out on that journey thinking that whatever I was buying was the "perfect" guitar. You're paying a lot of money, and have to accept that you'll never get it back on resale, so you have to be pretty confident that its going to be a keeper. If neither of those are really what you want, configure what you do really want and have him (or someone else - there's plenty of options around) build it for you.
I've been through a fair few. Lost out heavily on those that I've flipped but that's all part of the experience I think
Regards the playability, if it is a custom made guitar, would you not have the opportunity to play it before it is finished? In other words, the neck carve might have potential for adjustment before the finish is applied, the pickups could be changed, as could the specifics of the electronics. The only thing that would be somewhat difficult to change would be the scale length, wood chosen and bridge.
I have a Brook acoustic guitar with a couple of custom features (mostly aesthetic) and whilst it may not be the perfect guitar, it is damn close and I love it to bits. Plus the chaps at Brook are top blokes too. I am also about to take the plunge on a small-builder electric, and am only apprehensive about the cost (which is still a damn good price).
Resale is never going to be good value, unless some internet mojo suggests otherwise.
Adam
As @TTony says, if you are dropping fairly big bucks on a hand built instrument it should be 'perfect' or as near perfect as it can be made, so as he says, chat to a maker about it, try some of his guitars, and if you can wait for the build process, and are happy that you are going to lose money if you 'flip it' ... go for it.
As an aside, I always chuckle when I see folks (as I did the other day) drop £1500 quid on a games computer that in a few short years will be hopelessly archaic, and worth less than the cardboard box it came in ... then the same person was moaning that UK guitars don't keep their value! I think that actually ... compared to that £600 smart phone, or an Oculus Rift headset ... a hand made guitar is a bloody solid investment!
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
It it took me one full fledged les Paul and one junior to realize that gibsons are not for me.
With respect to depreciation, I agree fully.
Jonathan @FelineGuitars and I have talked at length about my own ideal instrument ... which hopefully I'll be getting him to make for me when funds allow: Huge, railroad track frets in a fairly slim mahogany/rosewood neck, Flying V body and neck with P90s ... as if Gibson had made a 58 'Flying V Junior' ... simple, understated finish single ply black scratchplate. Mmmmmmmm
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
OP's question is difficult - the main reason (I would think) most people choose a guitar from a small builder would be to go the custom route and have some input into the spec.
Buying a completed model takes that input away, but also removes the risk of the unknown.
Tricky decision...do they play better than other volume produced guitars at the same price? Do you like the look of them?