|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 6, 2006 12:05:49 GMT -5
For those experienced in working in Music Instrument stores, or who have sold a number of guitars:
Which colors of electric guitars have the greatest demand and sell the most as a color preference?
Not sure if this part of the board will get much traffic, but I am polling to shape some builds towards the highest demand segment to facilitate sales.
RW
|
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on May 6, 2006 17:09:11 GMT -5
Rune,
I thought you were just a 'Nut, not a seller too. Hmmmm.....
I'm a member of a few other forums, and this issue recently came up on one of them. Seems that Olympic White has a fair lead over all other solid colors. However, sunburst in any flavor gets a slight nod over even that.
There are the usual caveats about the pickguard color though, things have to match an established pattern of expectancy. White with black, in either direction, is an extreme no-no. Either color with a tortoise-shell pickguard is a good combination. Sunburst with white is gauche, but with tortoise-shell, that's the ultimate. Things like that should enter into your calculations.
Are you taking orders yet? I have this design in mind...... ;D
sumgai
|
|
|
|
Post by dunkelfalke on May 7, 2006 6:27:43 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by mlrpa on May 7, 2006 13:35:39 GMT -5
Me, myself, and I? Natural finishes all the way! Tung oiled satin....ummmm! And Dunk? While I respect your opinion, I think you're insane! It's beautiful!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 7, 2006 15:39:11 GMT -5
Me, myself, and I? Natural finishes all the way! Tung oiled satin....ummmm! And Dunk? While I respect your opinion, I think you're insane! It's beautiful!! I am focusing on the middle part of the bell curve where there is the most cummulative demand. The Tung oil natural finish crowd I suspect, are in one of the tails opposed to the bulge of the bell curve. In fact, I suspect most of the members here are in the austere tails. So this question is about where the greatest demand is to enhanse the possiblitlies of selling, opposed to personal preference. This crew is too sophisicated to make any $ off of. Besides, you don't do business with family. SG. Sellling. I am just trying to offset the expenses of this hobby. If I get a little ahead, all the better. I also need some $ to follow up on the ideas you and others discussed about modding the Twin Brain. Stereo Bassmans on one chassis.... all right! I think that if a name mfg. were putting out the products we customize, many of these guitars lovingly assembled by the membrers of this board would go for $2-3K. However, since none of us are name brands, our price points are considerably lower. Therefore really making some cash at this would take a concerted effort to build referral support and "boutique" level branding. That alone is probably more expenditure of time and resources than we put into the builds. Along the way I have purchased too many bods and necks. Now I have serveral that can be built to sell, because the ever evolving ideas from these discussion make some of the original decision out of date, and abandoned. Time to clear some abandoned-idea inventory, and I want to do so at maximum $ ---- doesn't everyone? Thus the color demand question. |
|
|
|
Post by ChrisK on May 7, 2006 20:10:33 GMT -5
Well, I gots to chime in.
Bell curve, yeah, like applicable to most things (including quality as in SixSigma).
I've thought of building, but there's NO money in it (for me). I can make far more money telling folks "which screw to turn" in technology.
Anything that I build would have far less resale value than it should. I've shown players that appreciate (sort-of) what I can do and have fallen in love w/ some of my guitars. They want to buy them, but scoff at anything over a few hundred dollars. Yet, they get gear'gasmic over Fender's application of Koa veneer to an otherwise pedestrian guitar.
I've helped folk shop for guitars, not because I get anything out of it, but because I care. They almost always go for the Fender or other name brand, because they've been told that this is what they should get (consumer, educated, not), and lack the confidence to think for themselves. I've been told directly that they have to buy a Fender in order to be believed capable.
"Nobody ever got fired for specifying IBM." If it doesn't work, it's IBM's fault. If it's an off-brand and it doesn't work, it's your fault.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Apparently, certain factory made guitars/brands are magic (to most).
A Warmoth finished body costs around $400. A Warmoth finished neck costs around $300. When someone looks at a Warmoth-based self-build, they see the USED value of the components as the cost basis.
Oh yeah, the bell curve. The diminishing number of those interested in taking a risk on a self-built is, well, greatly diminished. When I look at a self-built, I'm much more critical than I would be of a name brand (OK, what did they screw up), BECAUSE IT HAS NO RESALE VALUE.
I suspect that you would be lucky to break even. I'd work to support the theme of a custom guitar, and let the customer choose their "custom finish". Most pre-built guitars are built wrong (for me, at least).
Sooo, show us yer unloved toys......
|
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on May 7, 2006 23:08:27 GMT -5
Rune, Got anything that might be made into a Jazzmaster-sized body shape? I'm looking at Warmoth, and finding that Chris pegged me perfectly in his description about perceptions of values.  Sunburst and Tortoise-shell, please. ;D sumgai |
|
|
|
Post by UnklMickey on May 8, 2006 12:35:02 GMT -5
...i actually like the looks of the backside better because it looks more natural than the bookmatched top well of course you do Falke! book-matching is symmetrical to the center axis, so it makes it all too obvious that a Strat is asymmetrical. (c'mon guys, you knew i would go there!) bookmatching should be reserved for 'Pauls and Melody Makers and other more symmetrical shapes. unk |
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 8, 2006 12:46:54 GMT -5
.. .i actually like the looks of the backside better because it looks more natural than the bookmatched topwell of course you do Falke! book-matching is symmetrical to the center axis, so it makes it all too obvious that a Strat is asymmetrical. (c'mon guys, you knew i would go there!).... unk [/size][/quote] Really? From you Unk, I was expecting a comment on another word used by Falke. |
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 8, 2006 12:49:04 GMT -5
Rune, Got anything that might be made into a Jazzmaster-sized body shape? I'm looking at Warmoth, and finding that Chris pegged me perfectly in his description about perceptions of values.
Sunburst and Tortoise-shell, please. ;D
sumgaiNo JMaster, that is another reason to discharge some of the "I changed my mind" inventory, to obtain one of those bods. However, I can't see going for the 24" scale. Maybe a conversion to a 24.75" though. |
|
|
|
Post by UnklMickey on May 8, 2006 13:01:08 GMT -5
...Really? From you Unk, I was expecting a comment on another word used by Falke. wow, i missed that one completely. i guess i didn't expect Falke would be baiting me. i'd expect that from you Rune, 'cause you're a master at it. LSH.... |
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 8, 2006 13:23:21 GMT -5
Sooo, show us yer unloved toys......Guess I need contact Random to follow your request for a gallery board, with a request for an "Unfinished Projects Gallary" board. Actually I wish Random would weigh in on this color question, since he works at a retailer. I would like to hear his experience, and those of his seasoned collegues' experience on which colors sell the most. Never really thought of lining them up to take a pix. Probably because it would overwhelm me to see how much I have to do. Let me ponder that. A partial inventory of bods thought is: - Strat Style, Alder back routed, SSH, 5-way blade, flat black (this is one that promugates the "most in demand color question" .... I am almost certain that flat black is not on the list.)
- Jackson Soloist style, bolt-on though, Alder, Tobacco tri-color burst, HH, 3-way switchcraft, 2 pot holes, but large cavity, Have a shark's tooth 24 fret neck for it (24 fret neck body rout).
- SG style, Gloss Black,bolt on, HH, 3-way, 4-5 pot holes depending on position of jack. Have the matching Neck, but this is intended for a pure Running With Scissors Metal guitar, with a Jackson Style Sharks tooth neck, on of Wolf's favorite X2Ns and another high power neck pup. This is one I will most likely keep.
- 2 PRS style bods, bolt-ons, HHs, one cream white (already has a buyer) and the other is gun-metal metalic grey. HH, holes for 3-way, 2 pots. This is the one that promulgated the thread in E&Wiring on "constrained wiring design." The white one gets a shark tooth neck, which is fun because it crashes the PRS esthetic (have to convert it to 25.5" scale though, which may be tricky). The gun metal grey gets a BC Rich Metal style headstock, but do inlay rosewood, that is also 24.75" scale. This also confronts the PRS esthtic but gives the guitar an agressive but balanced look. I wanted this one pretty bad, but realistically have too many guitars, so it is going.
- A solid Brazilian Mahagony, unfinished, SSH, Strat style. This will probably get that tung oil style purist finish referenced by mirpa and preferred by many on this board, but not so sure about the bulge in the bell curve.
- Strat Style, tobacco burst, HSH, being built to order for a current customer (sold). Will get SSS with some switching options.
- One more strat style destined for a 3 P-90 build, that I plan on keeping.
- Set neck, modified PRS Style, black translucent flame top. Very nice player. A beefier neck, which I like, solid and sustaining guitar. But... its got to go.
I am trying to move more towards set neck chassis'. So the latest inventory pieces: - Cherry burst 335 style
- Cherry Burst LP Style
- Double Cutaway LP style, with sharp opposed to muted horns.
I hope I don't fall in love with any of these. I probably could get the most for the LP and 335, but I set up a Goldtop version of the same LP and it turned out incredible. I made the customer take it from me because I was getting too attached. And look Unk, a 335. It's nearly an acoustic, just one for males. Now having to stare at the list I am both chagrinned and even more motivate to re-coup these costs. I will probably at best come out a little ahead. Temping to get some water slide Fender, etc., decals, install and up the prices by $1000. Oh well. |
|
|
|
Post by dunkelfalke on May 8, 2006 14:55:27 GMT -5
i guess i didn't expect Falke would be baiting me. it wasn't intentional i just not only like asymmetrical body shapes (except of that bc ritch crap or so) but also asymmetrical body wood grain |
|
|
|
Post by UnklMickey on May 8, 2006 16:21:13 GMT -5
...And look Unk, a 335. It's nearly an acoustic, just one for males.... Rune, eventually i'll convince you that there ain't nuthin broke-back about an acoustic. sure girls play 'em. but it takes a real man, to make 'em sing. unk |
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on May 8, 2006 17:37:27 GMT -5
unk, Make who sing, the guitar or the ......  sumgai |
|
|
|
Post by sumgai on May 8, 2006 17:43:45 GMT -5
Rune, Errr, that neck scale would be a Jaguar. The Jazzmaster has always used the 25.5" scale, no options allowed. However, just to throw kerosene on the fire, many of the Fender-made knockoffs, like the Jagmaster, came with very odd scale length necks. I had one a couple of years ago that was 23.625" or thereabouts. Got rid of that in a hot hurry, youbetcha.  Sigh, still looking. That Warmoth body comes pre-routed with a nice large control cavity, just begging for a Side-Slam switch setup, don't you think? ;D sumgai |
|
|
|
Post by Ripper on May 9, 2006 13:21:13 GMT -5
I must admit...I play electric most of the time. When I do take down the 12 string or even my 6 six string accoustic....I feel slightly girly.  I feel bloated now I have to lay down! |
|
|
|
Post by mlrpa on May 9, 2006 21:32:36 GMT -5
And now for something completely different..... A response to the original question!
If, Rune, you're going to shoot for the $400-$800 range, follow the standard. The whites. reds, blacks, and the see thru primary colors. Look at Ibanez. How many Black or red RG's are out there?
Higher price bracket? Natual finishes, or see thrus. Sunburst are always popular, but mainly to that certain, ummm, more vintage type person.
Then you have the wild custom finishes, that cost almost as much a the guitar itself! Asinine in my humble opinion, but that's just me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 10, 2006 0:06:36 GMT -5
Thanks mirpa for refocusing the adolescents in us. It is bad enough when I get off topic on other people's post, but my own? Geeze. Oh, well, growing up is over-rated.
If anyone runs accross Random Hero, I would be interested in his input here. Also, ask your local purveyor when you are picking up strings and kicking tires.
I am most interested in high demand opaque colors for a Jackson bod, and a top routed strat style.
No one has mentioned the metalics -- gold top, silver, some metalic solids - black, red etc.
And red guitars are in high demand? Sammy Hager is practically retired.
Thanks
RW
|
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 12, 2006 18:26:39 GMT -5
Anyone seen that pearlescent white on a guitar like in the current model Escalades.?
|
|
|
|
Post by Runewalker on May 13, 2006 19:26:19 GMT -5
Just got back from one of the local GCs, picked up a set of EBall's strings (which one's you ask? Why the Texas series of course --- BEEFY Slinkies). After the guitar section lead hit on me to buy some new Fender combo for $1100 I returned the favor and cornered him on which colors sell the most.
Strats. Not White. In the Mexican's Mostly Black, then red, then metallic burgandy? Rosewood necks dominate the sales. Up to the Americans --- bursts.
Maybe I'll just gloss coat that flat black alder bod, and do a muted red metallic on the Jackson bod.
|
|
