elgreco -> RE: Blackshear/Reyes style (Dec. 16 2010 9:16:20)
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Hi Anders, I totally agree. I was only teasing myself. However here are some of my thoughts: 1. I have immense respect for you guys. In a world where MBAs have made better profit margins the only reason for existence of a company by lowering standards and promoting mass production, guys like you and Tom are striving for quality. I would not only pay 10K but 100K if I could afford it for one of your guitars. If I had to choose between a ferrari and a luthier guitar for 100K, yeah I would choose the guitar no questions asked. 2. Luthiers that are charging 10K/guitar and make 20 guitars a year will never become millionaires. It is simple math. 3. However, I do have a problem with middle men. I live in California where it is impossible to buy a home. The main reason is that investors buy all new real-estate out there, so they can turn it over and make a buck. I know that I would probably do the same if I had capital that I would want to sustain against inflation. But the outcome is that every Joe Shmoe out there cannot afford a house anymore. We are all living the consequences of this greedy culture and system. The same goes with guitar resellers. I do not mind if luthier X charges me 7-9K for a guitar. But I won't like it, if he makes one for a reseller and then the reseller sells it to me 1k higher. This is inconvenient (3 year waiting list, after all, there are many resellers that get 1 guitar/year) and brings the average prices higher for the wrong reason. 4. I do not agree that people should not have a verbal opinion if there are not subject matter experts. Then only politicians should vote and only car-makers should drive. Of course we should be respectful and careful when we verbalize our opinions 5. I also do not believe that there should be discrimination against people that are not self-employed or "looked after by a company" as it was put in words. I am sure that there were no bad intentions but such comments come out the wrong way and may be misunderstood. I have been working for companies all my life and it is an easy bet, I admit. No risk, steady work and paycheck. But I also do consulting jobs on the side in top of my daytime job. And it is not easy. It is hard work, extra hours when I should be resting (or playing my guitar :). Would I like to do just consulting and be my own boss? Of course. But life is hard, I didn't inherit any money, do not have a major talent that can guarantee me a living, so I need a "real" job. I know, I do not have the balls to quit my daytime job and just do consulting (web design btw if anybody interested :) but if somebody tries my lifestyle he will see that it is not easy either. :) Quite the contrary, people like are entitled to an opinion too, because they know that money does not come easy and valuate goods in a mature way. 6. Shouldn't luthiers work instead of posting in forums? Come on you guys. That is why there is a long waiting list. :) 7. This thread was too long for me to read and I may have missed some episodes, hence some of my thoughts expressed may haven been irrelevant or just plain wrong. I apologize if that is the case. Cheers Dino
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