Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

[Gone_Shootin]

I realize it probably wouldn't be the biggest seller, but if your like me and tend to like pickups that aren't commonly offered from the factory, a guitar without electronics would be a blessing. I'm talking about guitars that are built, not parts or a kit.

Just a thought........

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Not gonna happen.

Bill

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Warmoth. If you can buy an empty shell, you can put together the pieces. It would destroy brand equity for Gibson/Fender though, if they let amateurs slap them together with their name on them. Not that that doesn't occur, but I'm sure they don't want to encourage it either.

Anyway, I actually don't know why Duncan doesn't offer separate coils and magnets; build quality is limited to four screws and a few solder points, and it seems like there's a big market for people who think they know better.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Might have to include them under acoustic section then, sanselectric.

 

[dave74]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

I voted YES!

Always have wished that myself for guitar brands that don't offer near limitless main-brand pickup choices. ,,,,,(basically everything other than full-blown custom-shop)



Carvin (yeah kiesel now whatever lol) comes real close in that they build some very "precise" high-quality guitars and offer you the option of sending in your own and/or having the house-pups installed for next-to-nothing. (sure it's built-into the price, but it's very little)

Most other brands are giving you the electronics on low-end product-lines (cuz they worthless), and charging you the cost for good pups in mid-level guitars.
With upper-mid range it's the same as mid-level again, and then of course after that you can have your limitless choices in a several-grand custom-shop bank-breaker.


Wishful thinking obviously. Not going to happen and doesn't really need to anyways. A true first-world problem lol.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

I wanna buy my next car without wheels.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

..

Carvin (yeah kiesel now whatever lol):lmao::fing2:

Most other brands are giving you the electronics on low-end product-lines (cuz they worthless):arms::haha: , and charging you the cost for good pups in mid-level guitars.:laugh::smack:

With upper-mid range it's the same as mid-level again,:argue: and then of course after that you can have your limitless choices in a several-grand custom-shop bank-breaker.:smack::rant:

Wishful thinking obviously. Not going to happen and doesn't really need to anyways. A true first-world problem lol.:fing2::rambo:


Haha so true. utahere:

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

I wanna buy my next car without wheels.

My thoughts exactly. I'd venture a guess that like 96% of guitarists use their stock pickups and only swap out others when / if they want to tweak their tone.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

How big a chore is it to remove a set of pickups before putting new ones in? And how much money do you think guitar manufacturers would save by leaving them out? The logistical challenges alone of every guitar line instantly doubling its SKU count would be significant, not to mention that most dealers probably wouldn't stock or display them and would offer them as special-order only.

I wanna buy my next car without wheels.

You said it all.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

I know it would never happen, but hypothetically if Squier would make thier basswood bullet and alder affinity full thickness with steel hardware instead of putting in the worthless electronics, that would be the best deal ever.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

If Epiphone would just make their Les Pauls with quartersawn mahogany necks, a thick maple cap, and leave off the terrible hardware and nut they use...

 

[JeffB]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Consumers are not in the habit of making purchases of brand new, non-functional products.

Strange, huh?

 

[Securb]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Warmoth. If you can buy an empty shell, you can put together the pieces. It would destroy brand equity for Gibson/Fender though, if they let amateurs slap them together with their name on them

Fender now offers OEM American and Mexican bodies, necks and hardware on their website. That is where I got the parts for my Strat.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

If Jackson could leave the trem off and sell me the guitar for 40% off. That should cover the cost of a German Floyd.

Or if Fender could leave the bodies unfinished. I don't like that many of their colors anyway.

Acoustic guitar manufacturers: Leave the strings off. I'm going to put on better ones anyway.

In fact, why don't they just make every inexpensive production guitar a custom order, where they leave off everything that you don't want to pay for?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

My thoughts exactly. I'd venture a guess that like 96% of guitarists use their stock pickups and only swap out others when / if they want to tweak their tone.

Seriously.... Of all the guitar players I know, I think two have replaced pickups and I was the one that suggested it to both. I show people my guitars (especially the ones with Seymour Duncan logos) and everyone says "I bet that sounds awesome!"

Not to mention, unless you are talking American Fender/Gibson/etc. the cost of the electronics is so low you'd save maybe $50.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

I know it would never happen, but hypothetically if Squier would make thier bassbood bullet and alder affinity full thickness with steel hardware instead of putting in the worthless electronics, that would be the best deal ever.

Sounds like a cross between a classic vibe and an upscale MIM/MIA.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

90% don't give a hoot about it...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

That's right. No real market for it.

Plus how do you warranty such an offering?

Generally, you void the warranty on anything you alter or customize.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Plus, play-testing a guitar with no pickups would most certainly be extremely limiting...

 

[rgand]

Re: Why don't guitar manufacturers offer guitars without electronics?

Many are hung up on brand name recognition but for the rest of us...

This.

Warmoth.

Or buy a lower line guitar and strip all the junk out and put in what you want. Then give it a good action job and you have a real player. I've done both and ended up with amazing guitars.