I've been lurking for awhile now...& I was wondering how many of you folks build guitars to sell vs. as a hobby...& also how many you build per year.
There's a lot of talent on here...!
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| Author: | Parser [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:48 pm ] |
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I've been lurking for awhile now...& I was wondering how many of you folks build guitars to sell vs. as a hobby...& also how many you build per year. There's a lot of talent on here...!
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| Author: | Alain Desforges [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:51 pm ] |
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Welcome to the OLF Parser! You'll love it here, I'm sure... I'm a hobby builder although I sold no.2.... I've completed (well almost, neck to be done for no.3) in about a year now... My first took a long time since I'm but a poor fellow and I had to wait between pays for materials and tools and whatnot... I'm hoping to up that number to about 5-6 a year. |
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| Author: | Hank Mauel [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:54 pm ] |
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Well, even with almost a year away from the shop, I'm still "averaging" 13.5 per year. When I get back into the swing again (shortly) I will be at a much reduced 5 per year rate....I hope! 
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| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:06 pm ] |
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I think after you reach double digits, your not a newbie anymore...... or maybe just to darned modest 
Yes welcome Parser..... I would like to build more, but find that I can only get in about 1 per year. I'm working on #5 & 6 at the moment and all have been for other's but for #5 and #1, some have been for cost, other's for more. |
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| Author: | Andy Zimmerman [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:19 pm ] |
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Hi Welcome to the OLF. This is a great place for the beginner as well as the seasoned veteran. I started as a newbie building my 1st around 18 months ago. Boy am I addicted to lutherie and this forum. I started this just as a hobby if you could call it that. I just wanted to see if I could build one for myself. Well it exploded into more than a hobby. In that time, 13 are done and 14 and 15 are in construction. I have given away 3, kept 4 and 8 were/are commissions. I still have a full time job, so I am just nuts!!!!! |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:23 pm ] |
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Yes Andy, you are nuts....but we love ya just the same 
13 guitars in 18 months wow that's fast....you go man... |
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| Author: | Anthony Z [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:29 pm ] |
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Guitars per year? For me the better question is, Years per Guitar
Don't be deterred or intimidated by the high output of some of the keener hobbiests that hang out here...
Not to rain on anyones parade but not all build them from start to making their own bindings/purfling, hand cutting inlay or lacquering and polishing them to completion. (Trully not meant to sound like sour grapes). |
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| Author: | JBreault [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:03 pm ] |
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Where's the 1/2 a guitar button? |
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| Author: | peterm [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:11 pm ] |
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I'm doing about 15-20 per year to sell. I have a limit of 2 orders pre month but never quite get that many. Average about 1.5 a month plus the occasional build for myself. |
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| Author: | PaulB [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:29 pm ] |
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I started building about four years ago. I just posted some pics of #2. But I've also built the best part of a house, fitted it out, pool, pool deck, bathroom, kitchen, gardens etc etc. I'm not that slow, no really . I won't start #3 until somewhere around the middle of next year if I'm lucky. Still have to build a new extension on the house which will include a new workshop! Starts next monday when the excavators arrive.
I better pick up the pace though, I'm buying tonewood at a far faster rate than I can build guitars. Just wait til the house is finished! |
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| Author: | Scooter B [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:40 pm ] |
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Anthony beat me to it..... I'm in the years per guitar boat and the way my free time disapears I'm estimated two years but kust to be safe I'm writing in my ballot at 0.49 
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| Author: | Andy Zimmerman [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:09 pm ] |
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Anthony said it well. Some use kits, some use parts pre made, some farm out the finish work. Some make every single piece. It doesn't matter. As my skills improved, I did more and more on my own. Also it depends on what equipment you have. Some steps require more tooling/jigs. I still don't slot my fretboards...so what. The bottom Line is we all have a passion for guitars and building them. We all do them at our own pace and NOTHING is a competition. Whether it takes 2 years or 2 weeks doesn't matter. The key is to have fun and be proud of your work. Building guitars is a ton of fun and you learn from each of them. You will improve on each one and you will make many mistakes on each one. I think it was Bob Taylor that said when you make your first, throw it a way and start over. You will make so many mistakes. Personally I am massively amazed at the quality of the work posted here. Especially First guitars. It is mind boggling how well some do on their first guitar. |
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| Author: | John Mayes [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:41 pm ] |
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In the past 6 years of doing this full time I've built as many as 34 and as little as 10....average somewhere around 20-24, and throw in a half dozen other instruments and projects. |
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| Author: | martinedwards [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:26 pm ] |
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in the last year I've finished 10, sold 5, binned one (and a neck). #11 & 12 are commissions under way, #13 & 14 are for me. |
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| Author: | Serge Poirier [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:21 pm ] |
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In the last year and a half, i built 2 and a half! And so far, one is a gift and more gifts are to come!
Hi Parser, welcome to the best group of folks the web has to offer! 
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| Author: | Kevin Gallagher [ Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:58 pm ] |
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I've built as many as 54 in a year, but that included 16 hours a day, six days a week. This year I had completed 21 before I injured my shoulder in july and was put out of commission for the remainder of the year. I'm actually looking to settle in between 26 and 30 guitars per year from here on. That will allow me to pay the bills and to have a life outside of the shop. Regards, Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars |
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| Author: | Marc [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:03 am ] |
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[QUOTE=azimmer1] I started as a newbie building my 1st around 18 months ago. ... In that time, 13 are done and 14 and 15 are in construction. ... I still have a full time job ... [/QUOTE] That's a remarkable accomplishment. We started about the same time, I'm working on #2 and #3, I don't think I could have done that even if I didn't have a full time job. |
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| Author: | Sam Price [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:17 am ] |
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I have completed one and 1/64th of a guitar in the last twelve months.
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| Author: | Don Williams [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:38 am ] |
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1/64 ???? |
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| Author: | Sam Price [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:45 am ] |
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[QUOTE=Don Williams] 1/64 ????[/QUOTE] #2 Planning/zoot ordering/jig making stages |
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| Author: | Parser [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:37 am ] |
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I'm really just getting into building.. I've had a few early attempts that I really wasn't too crazy about so I stopped work on them. Guitars 1 thru 3 - these are sitting in my shed in various stages of completion. For one reason or another I wasn't real hot on them...& may end up using them to heat the house. Guitar #4 - this one is coming out pretty good. It's a singlecut design...body is mahogany with a thick piece of maple set into the middle in the form of a pick guard. I inlayed abalam purfling all around the perimeter of the maple & it looks decent. This might be the first one I actually feel is worth putting pickups in..! I'd really like to build an acoustic...I'm a bit turned off by all the electrical "crap"...acoustics seem to be more like art.. |
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| Author: | Cocephus [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:11 pm ] |
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Welcome, Parser. Hey, don`t heat the house with #1-3. Are you familiar with the wall of shame? I think we all have one at one point or another. That`s the place where we can look back and reflect on our mistakes and who knows, later on maybe be able to correct what we did wrong and end up with a presentable guitar from what was once a miserable failure! BTW, my production rate at the moment stands at 1.6785 guitars per year with 4 in various stages. Pathetic, I know, but hey, I have a good time with it. That`s what counts for me. |
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| Author: | Alain Desforges [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:47 pm ] |
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Coe, 1.6785...
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