I listen to CBG on YouTube and CBN at work. It appears others Eaves Drop on my music. A co-worker comes into my office to "Chill" occassionally and he really likes the music. I like the old delta blues and just CBG blues in general. He likes the music where the notes are crisp and sharp.
I'd mentioned I had built two CBGs. He asked me one day if I build "those guitars". I replied "Yes".
He asked what did I get out of them. I said $75.00 unfretted and $100.00 fretted. Of course I was pulling numbers from you know where. He said he definetely wanted one. So I said I'd build one and let him see and hear it and them see if he wanted it.
So. I dropped by Lowes. It has to be a cold day you know where to go by Home Depot. Don't ask - its a philosophical stance. I spent close to $30.00, my profit margin dwindled. The box I'm using cost me $10.00. That's colse to $40.00 right there. So not counting labor a $35.99 profit. Not very good.
So, I went to a very well known supplier's site and looked up materials and cost. Fretted neck, Strings, Hinges, Latch, Handle, Corners, Bridge, Sound Hole Covers, Jack, Pot, Knob, Piezo & wire, Single coil pickip, Tuners, Frets, Cigar Box, Misc. Total Coat of Materials = $145.55.
So, I'll never quote a CBG build again for less than $199.95. That will allow me $50.00 in profit, not including labor.
The prospect of building one to actually sell puts a whole new perspective on the whole idea. It is no longer a hobby, it is a source of expense vs income. and usually at first more expense in our ignorance.
It is one thing to spend money and give the things away, that is giving away gifts. It is another thing to lose money on a transaction. I know we all understand that concept though it is hard to put into words. It is an ego thing, it insults our intellegence, makes us loose face, makes us feel like dupes.
However, it is a good lesson. And once we figure out we have cornered our self we start looking for ways to recoupe, making us come up with ways and alternative ideas and techniques to cut cost, not corners. We want the quality product, the pride of craftmanship, but we want to say we made a profit to boot - bragging rights.
Life goes through a paradime shift. We start looking in the building pages, on Google, looking for ideas, networking, looking at everything in Lowes, doing Bling searches and hitting images to see what others have donel.
Oh, if we could only take it back! "No I'm not doing any more builds at this time. See me in about a month and I'll let you know then what I'll do one for". and then check with everyonne selling CBG on CBN! But NO, we open mouth and insert foot, speak first and think later, let allegator mouth override bunny butt.
Sigh, well, that's the CBG life folks, better get use to it.
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Went, herucking.ard, liked three out of fove. Keep t
Dadgummit....new guitar, not "nre" guitar. Left hand was too far over...
This is why I change the subject when family members start telling me I should be trying to sell these things. They've never seen a CBG before, let alone a top-notch build, so they think I'm creating these masterpieces when in reality I'm building wonky guitars that hold together just well enough for me to play them.
I have a long history with low-end instruments (my favorite guitar is a 12 year old Danelectro Innuendo), and I'd rather get a nre guitar done quick and start bashing away and learning its idiosyncracies ("gotta angle the slide to'rds yah a little so's it'll be in tune...") than spend a month massaging a hunk of wood into a fretboard that could have come from a Martin factory. I'm beyond impressed with builders who can do that, because I don't have that skill set, and they deserve every dollar they make selling their work (and probably more). But I know that my builds are on the janky side, and I wouldn't feel right selling them. It feels dishonest to me. They're not totally junk, but they're a little bit junk.
In my case it's also because they don't "get" the music I'm making on these suckers (Shameless Plug Time: If y'ain't done it yet, hit up www.reverbnation.com/unclegus and download weirdo blues song absolutely freeeee. Git'em all! Four new ones on 10/16/12.), so selling the actual instruments is the only thing they really understand. They can't imagine how anyone could like the music (which, ironically, has brought me a more positive response than any other music I've ever made, and we're talking 30 years of involvement in this twisted, degenerate, music lifestyle), so they think, "Maybe he could sell those...those things."
Love this! We do live in a world where we measure things by hourly wages, and most of us make more than minimum wages - even though we don't haave much extra for fancy "wish list" tools.
Actually even if I loose my derier on it just making one someone else will play and show others is a high! The thought of having turned someone else on is a rush. Reminds me of a misspent youth in the 70s. CBG artist and the music and thinking of a Jambree is like contemplating Woodstock all over again - without the drugs and naked chicks. Sturgess supplies the second (and first if that is your bag, Man). Me I'm way to old for that, I live better chemically - but is is heart medication, blood pressure pills, allergy meds, and a list of other prescriptions.
I ramble. What is it worth to build for a friend, or stranger fot that matter? I mean if we consider this a hobby? It ain't a business or we'd have a sign and/or web site. If It were a business $1,500.00 would not come close to covering start up costs. So what if materials cost is what I get from my "customer", that and a big smile, a excitement no one can explaine?
Yeah, Love what you said and agree, but somethmes it has to soak in the wash and sink in to get the spot out if you know what I mean - that initial shock can be a mite overwhelming.
Next time someone asks "What do you get out of them?," just wink and say, "A lot of pleasure." ;-)
Well said Frank. Hobbies that turn to business can ruin everything. I used to build custom pens just for the fun and artistry. People wanted to by them, ok great. then I HAD to do 50, then a 100 and so on. It lost its fun and worse I lost the joy of artistry. It has been 5 years now and I can't stand the idea of building another pen. I started building CBG 's for fun and them thought I could sell a few to make a little money to cover some of my other builds. Just in a short time the scenario you describe started to happen and the same feelings started to emerge. As for me and my house we are sticking to building for fun.
"""alternative ideas and techniques to cut cost, not corners"""
you said it yourself .. and once you figure it out .. you''ll be back ;-)
and it don't hurt to build for yourself in the meantime . a great way to discover said ideas and techniques.