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pjn -> RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (Jan. 29 2013 2:44:27)
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I have not dealt personally with La Sonanta but they're obviously getting good reviews on the forum, so that's good enough for me.
But they're in Belgium -- a lot of us are here in the USA, where the California dealers, such as the ones in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, do a lot of commissioning, as in " . . . the fabulous new guitar [insert luthier] just made for me/us" -- it's fine to promote the work of deserving young makers, but these dealers are interested in raising the asking prices exponentially from month to month, which puts the product out of reach except for dilettantes, speculators, collectors, and other vermin (just kidding).
Doesn't this actually do a great disservice to the serious amateur and journeyman professional alike?
Of course guitar makers should be compensated well for their work-- but isn't it better to establish connections with the players who will play, and show, their instruments wherever they go, asking a fair price which reflects the judgement of the players themselves? Otherwise the luthier is demoted to an employee of the dealer, who pays the maker a "wholesale" price, appoints himself judge of quality and appearance, seems almost to take credit for creating the instrument, inflates the market for his own profit, and most likely will drop a maker like a hot rock if the over-hyped product doesn't sell.
I guess if i were a luthier I'd understand . . .
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