Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all, it's been a while for me since I've been able to catch up with everyone here. Hope everybody is still in one piece after experiencing nature at its "best" this fall.
I'm considering building a double neck, half classical, half carved top semi-hollow guitar, as per the request of my neighbor's friend. The top would be a mix of red spruce and flamed maple, the back and sides would be Koa, and one neck would be Mahogany/Rosewood, while the other Birdseye Maple/Ebony. All the wood would be AAA and he wants a minimal amount of inlay (maybe a vine or two).
I'm pricing out the wood now, but wanted to get an idea from all you veteran builders as to what I might charge for this style of guitar... don't want to under or over charge...
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
Craig

A lot of money!!

I'd charge in the neighborhood of $7500+ for that....If I could even build
it.John Mayes38651.4867361111

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I'm a noob, but that sounds like one of those jobs you quote way high in hopes that you don't get the job. :)

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

   Craig.
       I would think twice about this. I agree $7000 ain't enough. You will have alot of study and redo time in it .
   Good luck. If you decide to do it get 2 cases of beer
john

Wow. What was your neighbors friend smoking?

Take your materials price and add 1 meeeeeelllllion dollars to it!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

and get a very large deposit!!!!!!

Larry's suggestion sounds reasonable.    I think I would give a minimum quote and get a hefty deposit. Maybe like the 1 meeeeeelllllion dollars up front.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Having talked to Fred Carlson (no relation), when he first "Dreadnautilus" and "Sympitar" guitars he was living in a commune and built the guitars for time and materials of which his price for the labor was literally $1.00 per hour!!! I would love to have bought one of those far out instruments back then as I am sure that the designs will be in a museum or art gallery some day as highly collectable.

No matter what you charge, it won't be enough for a first one like this. Keep in mind that you will have pretty much NO jigs that will work on this. So you'll be making all new stuff like that for a one off instrument. You'll probably end up spending upwards of $500 on a case as well.
To make any mone at all I'd say you should be in the $8000-$8500 range.

My advice would be to pass on this -- unless of course you are just drawn to these type of intellectual challenges and don't care about the money.

Any mistakes you make (that will need to be redone) will most likely occur on your nickel -- not the customers. If the top explodes when you string it up, it will be on your nickel. It looks like a tremendous amount of risk to your pocketbook as well as your reputation.

I suppose if you pull it off it will be a real feather in your cap, but this seems like an awful lot to try to bite off.

Furthermore.... no matter how nicely built a guitar like this is, I would bet $$ that it will not sound as good as 2 independant instruments. It sort of seems like a wheelbarrow with a snowplow mounted on it.      (no offense intended).Brock Poling38651.7114236111

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I agree with Brock, this is untested water and you client must accept that it may be a dissapointment. Proceed at your own risk. It may be a fun project but it may not as well.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

like others a big job. think of jigs and cauls, bracing alot of work and probably take apart and do agains. Lots of money unless you want to do this as a friend, but your talking a bunch of time and experments in the building. Trying to see half carved guess archtop with half classical bracing scheme or did I get that part wrong if so sorry. 7000 to 8700, but wouldn't do it.

So, what you all are saying is I should take the money and run?!!
Brock, you just want the fret slotting done. Seriously though, you nailed it in your comment about being drawn to the challenge...it's in my nature.

But, since you all seem to be siding with my wife and I have no one to support me, I guess I may have to forego this one. Now I know why it's taken me so long to get back to the forum.

Anyone interested, I can pass on the info!
Good night!
Craig

Craig,

I will side against your wife (well, I guess I better watch what I say!!) Hey, if you have been thinking about doing it, then you can probably do it! I built lots of wooden bits that I had not attempted before, curved front credenza's bent laminated all kinds of things, boats. Just charge lots to cover off all that you can think of and then double it and be prepared to just break even, if you make money cause everything went well, GREAT! Don't give him a completion date and just work on it around any other 'paying the bills' commitments. If he agrees to these 'stacked in your favour' terms then do it, if not, you are still OK. I bet he goes for it! You'll have a great time! If you do it and you need a specially cut piece of spruce for the top, let me know and we'll get you going. The very best of luck, it sounds like a great adventure to me! Exploit the net and email for the bracing issues.

Those are my thoughts!

Shane

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Canada

I'm not necessarily against the idea. As an "artistic" piece, I think it would be fun. But I wanted you to think twice before you jump into it as a money maker, 'cause you probably won't make much.

I don't understand how the guitar could even work. Half of the guitar is classical, the other half is carved archtop. So how would you join the plates, and what are you going to do about the fact that either the classical body is going to be extremely thin, or the carved top extremely deep (compared to what they should be for proper tone)? And why would you use red spruce for classical? Not to mention ... well, you get the idea.

Craig--I'm with you, the challenge sounds fun. I played, a couple of years ago, an "archtop" that Tom Ribbecke had built. One half was arched, the other side--bass side--was flat. I wish I had studied how he had pulled that off, but you realize that Tom is gifted that way. So, the sound was simply amazing. It had that archtop punch, but the most profound bottom end I have ever heard. Now add another neck to that, and perhaps all bets are off. (But I'm tempted to bet it could be done.)
You might try contacting Tom and discuss the "how's" of such a beast. Then think if you want to have that much fun, and probably lose that much money.

If you do it, let us in on your process.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I guess where I was coming from was the original question of how much to charge. I would think that question would have to do with making a profit. If that is case then a whole bunch of money, because of the stated possible and probable problems in the build. If profit not an issue and want to do it as an adventure and not expecting to have it done in short order, lots of research work and most probably monetary loss, then go for it. I like new ideas and I and others may be way off base and this would be one great ax and a future to make alot of money off the idea. I would never stiffel the arena of ideas, but I would question the profit of this adventure in the case. If I had more expetise, ability of some of you, I might try it as an experiment for myself if the thought had come and use lower grades of woods or extra stuff (whatever that is) and go for it. Look on Glen Morgan Guitar site a double stacked electric. Was a pain to do, but Mike and I (very little from me as I did some of the routing and vocal input of advice) go it done

"I'm considering building a double neck, half classical, half carved top
semi-hollow guitar, as per the request of my neighbor's friend. The top
would be a mix of red spruce and flamed maple, the back and sides
would be Koa, and one neck would be Mahogany/Rosewood, while the
other Birdseye Maple/Ebony. All the wood would be AAA and he wants a
minimal amount of inlay (maybe a vine or two). "

This is pretty clearly a put-on. The rest of you guys went for it! Howard Klepper38652.5988310185

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I don't know about a put on but it is surly a project that is either way overly ambisious or way under pre-engineered. in either case I agree that it is probably a joke

Nope, it's not a joke...someone really wants it. So hey, there's a first time for everything, right? Unfortunately, I can't get it out of my head, so I may end up attempting it if the guy agrees to my steep price (I've taken all of your advice into consideration). He's already said he has no particular time frame.

I know some may question my sanity, but so does my psychiatrist.

Thanks for the input.
Craig