Tom Blackshear -> RE: FINE TUNING A GUITAR (May 18 2013 14:35:25)
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However, I would say that the resale value of the "fine tuned" guitars (outsourced to factories) will be low (and i don't mean the amount but the percentage compared to what they paid) in the future compared to those which he made himself, if the owners should decide to sell them again. but who knows.... Arash, I don't think you really understand life in general. I spent 53 years in this business with a sharing and giving attitude to those who wanted to learn the guitar building trade... usually for free. I've always been open to share my techniques with others, but now, I have to charge for my teaching, as the source of my income is becoming of less value as we speak. The US dollar is practically valueless and getting less everyday. I'm paid under a $1000 for my tuning of the factory guitars, and they actually cost more from the factory than what you suspect, and then the retailer marks them up for his profit, which is an acceptable business for all stores that need to earn a living. And then we have the general populace that buy instruments according to the value they place on any builder's product, which my $15,000 Miguel Rodriguez style guitar is placed significantly below other master builders guitars on the market today. By the time I get through with each instrument, taking approximately 300 hours to build and finish out with the fine-tuning process, most carpet cleaners make more than this per hour....no joke. So, this is the reason I don't think you understand today's business practice with guitar builders. If a builder wants to try and build a guitar in 50 hours, then that's far better than I can do......with my own hands. If the market chooses not to buy my guitars for the price I ask, then the prices would have to be adjusted for the market. It's very simple to understand, one makers art is judged differently from others. Not all guitars are the same. And let's face it, one builder could not handle all the high end business, nor even 10 builders, for that matter. And to make it clear, I don't post here with the thought that any list member will purchase my guitars, I do it because I love the art, and to let people know I'm still alive[:D] And when you say: "Now if i personally had to involve these kind of feelings and issues, i would be more concerned about people like Anders who are so passionate and very concerned about the art, do everything theirselves, have a hard time making a living from it, etc. and also at the same time give a very reasonable price ..... instead of Mr.Blackshear and his 15.000$ guitars and his new idea with the factory or Felipe Conde, Mariano Conde, etc. There are people who have nothing to eat, so if i should care about these things, i would care about those people first. ..................." When you use Anders as a competitive factor here, I think you misuse the terms of better business practice. We all have and are struggling to made a living, some with more responsibility than others, but nonetheless we all struggle. In other words, this should not be about class warfare but genuine caring and concern about all builders who ply their trade with the world. Each one of us shares in responsibilities according to what is given to us.
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