A Few Guitars

[H.A.F.]

Well, someone like myself doing it for kicks can make one in that range. But a decent set of tuners is between $100-200. A lot of effort is in making it flawless, getting a factory finish is an art unto itself. There are builders who send the guitar out to get finished because of the level of expectations. But that adds to it. Generally $2-3k is on the low side. With a somewhat of a reputation you are looking at 5k to 15k. Then there is a handful of $25-30k people.

As an example I pulled up what it costs to refret a guitar, say your Yamaha.

Setup $75 and up.
Fret edge dress $50
Full fret level $150+ Setup
Full refret –unbound neck $380+ Setup
Full refret –bound neck $440+ Setup

A setup is required to ensure proper fit andperformance. Prices do not include finish touch-up;Lacquered-over nuts will be replaced as carefully as possible to leave a clean result. Cosmetic-repair options may be available for an additional charge; ask the technician for an estimate

.Premade 6-String guitar $40+setup
Custom Made $90+setup

Neck Reset (Traditional)Bolt on heel with glued fingerboard extension $360 + setup. Dovetail $540 + setup

So a guitar normally is in the 100 hour range to build. A one man shop can do up to 8-15 a year. These guys are about the most affordable decent guitars being hand built.

http://www.halcyonguitars.com/pricing Base Price $1899 But that is Canadian, so about $1500 US.

Cool - all of it make sense, just never shopped for one - mine all work LOL

 

[printer]

Cool - all of it make sense, just never shopped for one - mine all work LOL

I just took a wander at a popular guitar part supplier and put together two price lists. One with the most inexpensive options and on where price is not a concern. I did not pick a back and side set or tuners that were rare, could have added another $500 or so. Then there are sets that can cost $1000-3000 if you want to go all out. In Canadian funds so knock off 20%. I never put in finishing materials or consumables, add on another $50+

Sitka Spruce Soundboard for Dreadnought Guitar AA $35.87
Black Walnut Back + Side Set $124.28
Sipo Mahogany Neck Blank $45.35
Uncarved Guitar Braces $11.22
Acoustic Guitar Neck Block $27.14
Acoustic Guitar Tail Block $14.27
Bridge Plate Stock $6.29
Unslotted Fingerboard for Guitar Granadillo $20.71
Flattop Guitar Bridge Blank Granadillo $14.44
Kerfed Guitar Linings Basswood 4X $4.53
Peghead Overlay Veneer Granadillo $12.10

Gibson Truss Rod $20.61
Fender Road Worn 6-In-Line Tuning Machines $46.25
Waverly White Bridge Pins $14.49
Micarta Saddle, 1/8" blank $7.75
Micarta Nuts $8.93
White Plastic Binding 2X $7.30
Herringbone Rosette $15.00
StewMac Medium Fretwire $7.88

$419.45


Sitka Spruce Soundboard for Dreadnought Guitar
Sanded Grade AAAA $144.60
Madagascar Rosewood Back + Side Set 612.24
Sipo Mahogany Neck Blank $95.73
Uncarved Guitar Braces, Carpathian Spruce $41.65
Acoustic Guitar Neck Block $27.14
Acoustic Guitar Tail Block $14.27
Bridge Plate Stock $6.29
Unslotted Fingerboard for Guitar Crelicam Ebony $63.24
Flattop Guitar Bridge Blank $15.17
Kerfed Guitar Linings Reverse, Mahogany 4X $5.75
Peghead Overlay Veneer Ebony, Oversize $20.71

Slotted Nut Hot Rod Truss Rod $28.44
Waverly Guitar Tuners with Vintage Oval Knobs $245.13
Waverly Bone Bridge Pins with Abalone Inlay $43.76
TUSQ Saddles $14.57
TUSQ Nuts $14.57
Bindings Curly koa 2X $18.51
Herringbone Rosette $15.00
StewMac Stainless Steel Fretwire $16.72

$1464.68

 

[H.A.F.]

WOW!

Do you have a steamer set-up to form your own curves? or does the side-body piece show up close to there and adjustable?

 

[printer]

WOW!

Do you have a steamer set-up to form your own curves?

Yeah, wow. I never added stuff up. Of course the more you get to raw wood the less expensive it is. But the big costs to me are the tuners, back and sides. I got lucky with some woods, I also have some raw wood to cut down. Mind you there is waste happening there also. I have a few forms that I use, manly bend the sides on a hot pipe beforehand though. Theoretically I don't need a form, I have built a couple of guitars without a form. I may have to post a inexpensive build I did. How about a $50 guitar you can build yourself?

 

[H.A.F.]

How about a $50 guitar you can build yourself?

This goes back to the Home Despot guitar right? LOL

 

[H.A.F.]

As far as price goes, I have paid for scrap wood LOL. Ebony, purple heart, etc. exotic hardwoods for accents on the little cartoon puzzles.
I have also used pieces from old dry-rotted pallets that had a nice grain

 

[printer]

This goes back to the Home Despot guitar right? LOL

So you saw it. I can't remember who saw what on what forum anymore. Yeah, that was a fun one to do. I will do another one some day. I don't get too much in terms of scrap wood around here. We have a wood supplier that charges a good buck for their stuff. But when you are the only game in town and no competition that is the way it goes.

 

[H.A.F.]

So you saw it. I can't remember who saw what on what forum anymore. Yeah, that was a fun one to do. I will do another one some day. I don't get too much in terms of scrap wood around here. We have a wood supplier that charges a good buck for their stuff. But when you are the only game in town and no competition that is the way it goes.

One place I lived there was a guy that had a mill and sold the semi-finished boards. If he cut off the live edge it was scrap. Spent $50 on a few long pieces like that and a few milk crates of rough ends from cutting the boards to length