Luthier Made Les Paul
- Thread starter muttznmongrelz
- Start date
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
I find $1000 for a handbuild guitar to be a bit insulting. Just because a luthier is small doesn't mean his work can be outstanding? But since this guitar is second hand I gather that indeed, 1k is a decent price. Keep in mind though that there are two kinds of small luthiers: On one side you've got the builders who build anything they can without a grand design, other luthiers try to maintain a lineup of sorts. Instruments by the former tend to cost less on the secondhand market than made by the latter because the former is just a guitar build by a dude, the latter is a 'brand', regardless of how small his production seems to be.
I find $1000 for a handbuild guitar to be a bit insulting. Just because a luthier is small doesn't mean his work can be outstanding? But since this guitar is second hand I gather that indeed, 1k is a decent price. Keep in mind though that there are two kinds of small luthiers: On one side you've got the builders who build anything they can without a grand design, other luthiers try to maintain a lineup of sorts. Instruments by the former tend to cost less on the secondhand market than made by the latter because the former is just a guitar build by a dude, the latter is a 'brand', regardless of how small his production seems to be.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
Looks pretty damn good to me!
edit:
+ another for Top-Wrap!
Looks pretty damn good to me!
edit:
+ another for Top-Wrap!
Last edited:
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
You all let me know the final verdict on the bridge break angle and all. Let me know how it sounds while you're at it too. I'll just enjoy playing it in the meantime.
I've no idea what it costs to have one built because I've never considered that financial investment. Pricewise; I felt it was without doubt worth the price I paid. Trust me - I'm cheap so I felt it a good deal.
Sum total; it's quality wood/components and a nice quality build. Plus it plays nicely and the sounds truly incredible.
You all let me know the final verdict on the bridge break angle and all. Let me know how it sounds while you're at it too. I'll just enjoy playing it in the meantime.
I've no idea what it costs to have one built because I've never considered that financial investment. Pricewise; I felt it was without doubt worth the price I paid. Trust me - I'm cheap so I felt it a good deal.
Sum total; it's quality wood/components and a nice quality build. Plus it plays nicely and the sounds truly incredible.
Last edited:
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
As to the Top Wrap of the strings...does it change something tonally or tuning wise or what is the rationale behind it?
As to the Top Wrap of the strings...does it change something tonally or tuning wise or what is the rationale behind it?
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
just read the blog?
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/string-theory-what-is-top-wrapping
just read the blog?
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/tips-and-tricks/string-theory-what-is-top-wrapping
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
Thanks! I may just try it. The tension on the strings is very comfortable so no worry's about the slinky feel and sustain is no problem but if a top wrap increases it then that's worth exploring.
Thanks! I may just try it. The tension on the strings is very comfortable so no worry's about the slinky feel and sustain is no problem but if a top wrap increases it then that's worth exploring.
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
in terms of finances, it goes approximately like this.
decent chunk of mahogany for the back: 80$
decent maple top with decent figure and right dimensions: 120$
decent neck blank (can be a laminated piece or just single): 75$ and up (this goes up RAPIDLY!)
ebony fretboard: 40$
pickups: 150$
bridge+tuners: 100$
electronics: 75$ and up (depending on how extraordinary you want it but I'm giving LP kinda specs)
sanding materials, lacquer, various: close to $200
Total: 840 if my math is correct
That's just basic materials.
Now, labor. If all goes well, it takes one luthier approximately 30 hours to build a les paul-style guitar with a bookmatched laminated top (i.e.: separate top on a back). That's very, very fast by the way and that assumes that all goes well the first time around. If the luthier charges 20$ an hour (which is ridiculously low), labor would cost the buyer 600$. Plus the 840 for materials = 1440$. Add in VAT (which is 21% where I come from), so you're going close to 1800 bucks already!
Can you do it cheaper? Of course you can. You COULD slash the costs down to 1/3 and voila, you're into epiphone territory. But a handmade LP style guitar for less than 2k is just theft, imho. New price, of course. Oh, and that's with a satin finish. High gloss? add another 15 hours to the equation.
Strangely enough, costs of electronics, wiring the stuff, doing the color dye: that isn't really that expensive. The little details, that's where the costs come in. Making the timber cover plates to match and fit perfectly: PITA! (and no, you can't use a router and template for those little things: this is all manual labor). Doing fretwork till its perfect: manual labor, and meticulous at that, too!
As a luthier, I can say that it will go faster the more you do: it took me over 120 hours to make my first guitar because carving a top took me 8 hours. Carving a neck: 8 hours. Bookmatching? 5 hours. Final sanding? 15 hours. Fretwork? almost 17 hours. That adds up! Now, I carve a top under an hour. Carve a neck in 45 minutes. Final sanding? 2 hours. Fretwork? 4 hours from start to finish. But make one mistake and BAM you're back to square one.
perhaps that's why I think that expecting a handmade guitar to be less than 1 grand is an insult. And maybe this lowdown will give y'all an idea of how a luthier works and prices his goods
in terms of finances, it goes approximately like this.
decent chunk of mahogany for the back: 80$
decent maple top with decent figure and right dimensions: 120$
decent neck blank (can be a laminated piece or just single): 75$ and up (this goes up RAPIDLY!)
ebony fretboard: 40$
pickups: 150$
bridge+tuners: 100$
electronics: 75$ and up (depending on how extraordinary you want it but I'm giving LP kinda specs)
sanding materials, lacquer, various: close to $200
Total: 840 if my math is correct
That's just basic materials.
Now, labor. If all goes well, it takes one luthier approximately 30 hours to build a les paul-style guitar with a bookmatched laminated top (i.e.: separate top on a back). That's very, very fast by the way and that assumes that all goes well the first time around. If the luthier charges 20$ an hour (which is ridiculously low), labor would cost the buyer 600$. Plus the 840 for materials = 1440$. Add in VAT (which is 21% where I come from), so you're going close to 1800 bucks already!
Can you do it cheaper? Of course you can. You COULD slash the costs down to 1/3 and voila, you're into epiphone territory. But a handmade LP style guitar for less than 2k is just theft, imho. New price, of course. Oh, and that's with a satin finish. High gloss? add another 15 hours to the equation.
Strangely enough, costs of electronics, wiring the stuff, doing the color dye: that isn't really that expensive. The little details, that's where the costs come in. Making the timber cover plates to match and fit perfectly: PITA! (and no, you can't use a router and template for those little things: this is all manual labor). Doing fretwork till its perfect: manual labor, and meticulous at that, too!
As a luthier, I can say that it will go faster the more you do: it took me over 120 hours to make my first guitar because carving a top took me 8 hours. Carving a neck: 8 hours. Bookmatching? 5 hours. Final sanding? 15 hours. Fretwork? almost 17 hours. That adds up! Now, I carve a top under an hour. Carve a neck in 45 minutes. Final sanding? 2 hours. Fretwork? 4 hours from start to finish. But make one mistake and BAM you're back to square one.
perhaps that's why I think that expecting a handmade guitar to be less than 1 grand is an insult. And maybe this lowdown will give y'all an idea of how a luthier works and prices his goods
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
Not just that: the string shaves over the edge of the bridge and that may cause tuning problems in the long run at worst or more broken strings than usual at best. Doesn't HAVE to be this way, but it might.
A simple remedy? raise the tailpiece.
Not just that: the string shaves over the edge of the bridge and that may cause tuning problems in the long run at worst or more broken strings than usual at best. Doesn't HAVE to be this way, but it might.
A simple remedy? raise the tailpiece.
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
I've got a Gibson TP6 lying around that might find it's way onto it if the spacing is the same.
I've got a Gibson TP6 lying around that might find it's way onto it if the spacing is the same.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
Time to edit teh sig!!!
Time to edit teh sig!!!
Brandenburg
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
i think it looks nice and if he paid 800-1200.. i think thats a fair price.. seriously.. ive heard of some of ya pay stupid money for a guitar and even though they are from more well known makers, that doesnt mean that it is perfect and wont have any issues
i think it looks nice and if he paid 800-1200.. i think thats a fair price.. seriously.. ive heard of some of ya pay stupid money for a guitar and even though they are from more well known makers, that doesnt mean that it is perfect and wont have any issues
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
tell me about it. I tried a singlecut guitar last week, build by a wellknown brand from Nashville: rubbish. The action was 2.5mm at the high E, 3.5mm at the low E. bridge pickup was piercing. neck pickup was mud. And they asked 5500 euro's for it.
tell me about it. I tried a singlecut guitar last week, build by a wellknown brand from Nashville: rubbish. The action was 2.5mm at the high E, 3.5mm at the low E. bridge pickup was piercing. neck pickup was mud. And they asked 5500 euro's for it.
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
I'm just going to divulge...$500.00 plus tax with a soft shell hard case...(gotta love Music Go Round)...well worth the price IMHO.
I'm just going to divulge...$500.00 plus tax with a soft shell hard case...(gotta love Music Go Round)...well worth the price IMHO.
Brandenburg
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
WTF 5500.. not to mention it might cost you 500+ to get the issues taken care by a skilled luthier,if the work is too advanced for ya.. that is, if it can even be fixed to have lower action... 3.5mm on the low E.. just damn my lowly DK-2 has like 1.5 -1.75mm on the low E and costed 5,750 USD less
5500 euro=6201.39 USD lol
WTF 5500.. not to mention it might cost you 500+ to get the issues taken care by a skilled luthier,if the work is too advanced for ya.. that is, if it can even be fixed to have lower action... 3.5mm on the low E.. just damn my lowly DK-2 has like 1.5 -1.75mm on the low E and costed 5,750 USD less
5500 euro=6201.39 USD lol
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
yup that's the problem right there for yah. a proper fret level&fret dress is around 200, right pickups+pots would be also around 300 bucks. can't even make a decent guitar anymore (just kidding, their entry level guitars are fine, really!).
yup that's the problem right there for yah. a proper fret level&fret dress is around 200, right pickups+pots would be also around 300 bucks. can't even make a decent guitar anymore
(just kidding, their entry level guitars are fine, really!).Leon Of Late
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
That is a steal for what you paid. Wow, what a super deal. I would have jumped on that too. It's a beautiful guitar; the shape is well recognized yet the components are unusual enough to make it something most have never seen.
Cheers.
That is a steal for what you paid. Wow, what a super deal. I would have jumped on that too. It's a beautiful guitar; the shape is well recognized yet the components are unusual enough to make it something most have never seen.
Cheers.
Brandenburg
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
what company are you referring too?
yup that's the problem right there for yah. a proper fret level&fret dress is around 200, right pickups+pots would be also around 300 bucks. can't even make a decent guitar anymore
what company are you referring too?
darthphineas
New member
Re: Luthier Made Les Paul
By blanks, are you talking about raw lumber that you go get from the lumber yard and then joint and plane and cut to size?...or the already-made pre-planed ones from Warmoth or Stewmac or LMI?
By blanks, are you talking about raw lumber that you go get from the lumber yard and then joint and plane and cut to size?...or the already-made pre-planed ones from Warmoth or Stewmac or LMI?
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