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There are some set-neck kits available, and that might be a reason to have 2 separate challenges.
Option1; a simple bolt-on option, LPJ or Tele style perhaps
Option2; something more adventurous, perhaps a 335 or PRS style.
I'm going to order the samples this week. I'll give a couple of the haven't replied suppliers another nudge, and if I get nothing, I'll have to go with the first one.
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Good to see all the interest!
My efforts to import-your-own-direct-from-the-factory-in-China have not gone well. I am a failure. I am sitting in the corner of the room, wearing a big pointy hat with the letter "F" on it.
Having selected 4 possible suppliers from Alibaba/Aliexpress, I asked for quotes for (a) a bulk order of 20-odd kits, and the cost of a couple of sample kits for QC purposes. Got 2 quotes back. One quoted $400-ish, the other $300, for the sample kits, delivered. (The cost of the kits themselves varied depending on the style, but were around the same sort of range).
So, "thanks, but no thanks" to the $400 option, and went to order a couple of sample kits for QC from the other option, Thought it might be advisable to take a look at a couple of kits before ordering 20 or more - and the price went up to $500.56. Add 25% for VAT and import duty, and that'd be $600, or £400.
Given that I was going to be funding that personally, and that £400 was a lot more than any profit we'd have made for theFB coffers through doing it all, I've decided not to order from them - I could just put £400 straight into our coffers and avoid the hassle of Mr Chinese Factory, the risk of dodgy kits, HMRC's interest, et al.
Which is a bit of a shame.
When I queried why the price had gone up from $300 to $500, they explained that they'd not included the cost of kits on the original quote *by mistake* and that, of course, I'd have to pay the full price for the sample kits, plus the full cost of the express air shipping if I wanted to try them out. If I ordered more kits, the price per kit would fall, and the shipping would be by - errr - ship, so that cost would be lower too, but if I wanted just 2 samples, I'd have to shell out the full cost.
So, as a fall back option, we could use something like these;
http://www.gear4music.com/Electric-Guitars/DIY-Guitars
You've got Strat. Tele, LP and LPJ options there. The downside is that there's no scope for bulk-buy discount (I've asked them), so I can't see a way of making a penny for theFB's coffers (which was part of the original plan). Unless "entrants" feel like voluntarily donating something to our funds (that option's always available folks).
I've been looking at this for weeks now. So, any other ideas .... ???
asimmd (thanks @asimmd) sent me another link to try, so I'm waiting for them to get back to me - but I'm not holding my breath.
The original concept was that the forum would go out and find a suitable supplier, order the kits, get them imported, and then sell them on to the people who wanted to join in the challenge. We'd make a bit of money for the forum (we don't make a lot), and we'd - hopefully - get some decent kits at a reasonable price. Some of our "profit" would have gone into funding a prize for the winner.
Alongside that, we'd hoped to generate some PR for theFB, focusing on the competition and what people managed to make out of the kits.
That's not worked out.
I'm unhappy at ordering a load of kits from a Chinese supplier without seeing at least a sample first. Otherwise we could end up with 20 PoS kits, and be a lot out of pocket. However, I'm not much happier about funding £400 for the samples - I'd rather just put just put another £400 straight into our coffers.
Maybe we just order kits individually from Thomann (kits are cheap, and returns should be easy if they're crap kits) or the G4M option that I linked above, and do the challenge on that basis. The range is more limited (I'd quite fancied a 335-alike or even a Riccy kit that I'd seen from some of the potential suppliers), but it'd maybe still encourage a few people to jump in and try their first build - which would be a good outcome in itself.
We'd make no money for theFB (although donations are always gratefully received!) but it'd be an interesting challenge to see what people made of the kits. Note the photo that I posted earlier on this thread though of one of the Thomann kits - hopefully they've changed supplier now and are selling kits that would actually be viable.
So, it's looking unlikely as something that we would "run", but there's nothing stop those who want to play doing it.
I suggest ...
As I write this, G4M have got in stock
Which should be enough for everyone who wants to play, to play. Costs range from £65 to £95, which is cheaper than we'd have been able to do them anyway. Perhaps all players donate £15 to theFretBoard@outlook.com, just as a gesture of generosity ... (not obligatory btw).
If you do order from G4M, you should add a comment somewhere that says "you should donate something to theFB for choosing your kits for all these orders" - and maybe (if nothing else), they'd give us something to use a prize. I did ask them for a bulk order discount, but nothing doing. They can contact me here, or via TTony@theFB.co.uk.
Who's in??
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GO !!!!