I want to buy a quality built CBG and I noticed Lace now has their own line of CBGs. Anyone own one and can comment on build quality and sound?
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I want to buy a quality built CBG and I noticed Lace now has their own line of CBGs. Anyone own one and can comment on build quality and sound?
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
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As I recall Lace had some 6 string guitars built that didn't do so well in the market years ago.,. I bought a import P90 pickup from China on Ebay, and when it arrived the cover and base-plate were branded "Lace".,$8 w/free shipping from China.,a mini humbucker I bought from the same place came with a base plate stamped "Seymour Duncan".,I think it was $12 w/free shipping.,,.Gibson had Epiphones built in China, now there is rampant counterfeiting of both Epiphone and Gibson coming from China.,.before long these Lace CBG's will show up on Alibaba for $99 w/free shipping.,.,in the end the pickups will get counterfeited as well.,.,history repeats itself.,,. "rant of the day".,
I've build several guitars with the Lace Alumitone matchbook pickup, I really like them and carry a fair sized stock of the pickups, BUT still haven't seen one of their guitars. Other than buying and importing pickups from Lace into the UK, I've got no relation with them. I was shocked at how many "cigar box" guitars they are making - 16 designs with a "limited edition" of 1000 each, if I recall! The price is ambitious for a mass made guitar, and even for me to buy one as market research it is still too high - I'd really love to see an independent review, not one of their own advertising pieces.
To be fair a builder doesn't have much control to what happens over time to a neck. 99% of all wood used is from big box stores. Like Lowe's and Home Depot.
The last CBG I bought had all kinds of build quality issues. I actually took it to a custom guitar maker's shop and he expressed how the builder didn't know much of anything on how to properly build a guitar. That has made me cautious about where to buy another CBG. I saw the ads for the Lace CBGs and thought maybe they would be quality made with consistency. So I've been curious. Any other shops I can look at?
Chinese.,.? The pickup is the most expensive part of the whole thing.,.,lots of profit built into the price tag.,.,If a chinese knock off Les Paul sells for $80 from China, the factory is getting $40 or less for one of these.,.,most likely less.,.,to build these.,.,they love the profit.,.,it is a very simple design.,.,
Well , it depends on “when” and whose Lace “cbgs” .
Originally, Rob Wrobel had a relationship with Lace , Rob built cbgs for them to showcase their cbg pickup at the NAMM show . if you have one of these guitars , you have a quality built guitar indeed.
Not to mention , other builders / have / do/ use lace pickups , so if you want a quality build and a Lace pickup . find a great builder and ask to include a lace pup, .. and boom .. Bob’s yer uncle.
(none of which would be branded a “Lace” cbg per-say)
But . since the Namm show , Rob and Lace broke ties . Rob citing “I can not support their new business model that includes, doing away with all distributors, and all sponsored artist and the move to import made in China CBGs , “.
And Lace’s reply : “we have more builders that want to be promoted by Lace which we will do. We will continue to promote custom cigar box builders that use our matchbook pickup. Nothing sounds better than our Alumitone matchbook pickup and we will educate all consumers who are considering a custom built cigar box guitar to be sure it has a Lace pickup. We wish you much success.”
Obviously a business move to cut out the middle man , and pocket more profit. “ Overseas production is a highly used cost productive business move “. But ... . is not always the most wise. Mostly due to quality control issues .
That being said , there are "some" great quality mass produced items made it china . even guitars .
but there are some not so great ones also.
In your choice , just know you are buying a mass produced , made in china product . ( unless they have changed that decision since) .
your really smart!...you should branch out into add writing , copy and marketing!...you would do well in advertising pick!...your a wise person for sure!
and yes as for the topic at hand, it strictly business, make thing oversees, it is probably about a 15 dollar investment each instrument with a high profit return as they already make pickups in Asia and it was just a no brainier for Lace to do full guitars to but have an extra revel stream, yet a banner on every guitar cent wall to display there pickup branding, it is what will get them more exposure in a actual store because the home craftsman can't put guitars on Guitar center walls.
Smart ? .. The only thing i learned in science class .... was the boiling point of ....
the teacher ;-)
lol, thanx man .
"Boiling point of the teacher!" Holy crap! That was so true with many of them. LOL never heard it put that way OMG, love it!
On sale for $350! For Real? I felt like I robbed a guy charging a buck fifty for an electric CBG. God almighty, wow! Does it come with an amp too! I know I'm a newbie here, but really that much for a name?
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