I
try to keep my pricing as far away from the automobile buying
experience as possible. You won't have to buy Option Pack 2b
(the one that includes the executive cup holder and the monogrammed
steering pod) just to get air conditioning.
Resonator
guitars have a little advantage over standard acoustic instruments.
They can be made from just about any gorgeous wood, provided that
it can be worked into the necessary shapes. I use only premium grade
non-endangered woods. When I cook, I use the best and freshest ingredients.
I know that my guitars will turn out to be exceptional only if I
adopt the same attitude when choosing wood.
Wood prices
vary a good deal based upon availability, the phase of the moon,
and the size of my roof rack. I get my wood from various sources: Luthier's
Mercantile International (LMI), local hardwood lumber yards (Downes & Reader or Anderson & McQuaid), or bartering with other luthiers. You can get
a pretty good idea about how a certain wood will increase the price
of the guitar by looking at the LMI catalog or Web site. Some woods
are nearly impossible to get - like the rope grained cherry on my
12-string prototype. If you already own wood you would like me to
use and I think it is large enough and can be formed properly, the
price of the instrument can be reduced accordingly. Of course, you
would be responsible for the shipping cost.
Basic 6-String Resonator $2800
Basic 12-String Resonator
$4600
My basic 12 and 6-string resonator instruments
have East Indian rosewood (palisander) or wenge (a chocolate brown
African wood with straight grain and black striping) backs, and sides,
and tops. Neck material can be either mahogany or walnut.
Binding on the body is made of solid wood complementary to the woods
used on the sides, back, and top. There is no binding on the neck
or headstock. The neck is 12 frets to the body.
I use he new National™ Hotrod 9 1/2" cones.
The price includes a hard case, gold Schaller Vintage
open back tuners, solid brass tailpiece, ebony fingerboard, and carbon
fiber biscuit bridge. Mother of pearl positions are inlaid at the 5th, 7th, 9th
and 12th frets (side dots for 5, 7, and 9). I spray various finishes myself, but I have to send out the guitar if you require a nitro finish. Brain cells are expensive these days.
Partial Options List
Cutaway |
$400 |
Bound
fingerboard and head |
$350 |
Snake
(or other real or imaginary animal) marquetry / inlay on body |
$1500 - $2500 |
V-joined
head |
$200 |
Gold Waverly
tuners with gold buttons (6-string) |
$150 |
Gold Waverly
tuners with gold buttons (12-string) |
$300 |
Calton
case |
$600 |
Nitro-cellulose finish |
$400 |
I'm sure you are wondering about the price I would
put on my the custom 12-stings shown on this site. The Snake is $6,000.00 while the Bat can be purchased for $5,500.
Necessary
Legal Stuff
I
cribbed most of this from my good friend Aaron
Green, who is an extremely gifted classical guitar maker. I designed
his Web site and learned a lot about the practical side of the lutherie
business in the process.
All guitars
sold in Massachusetts are subject to 5% sales tax. Cost of shipping
is the responsibility of the customer.
Commissions require a deposit of 1/3 of the total
cost. A second payment of 1/3 of the total cost is due when the instrument
is halfway complete and the remaining payment is due when the instrument is complete.
I can ship instruments in stock for approval upon
receiving a cashier's or bank check for the total price of the instrument.
The customer will have 48 hours after receiving shipment to decide whether they
wish to keep the instrument. If the guitar is returned within this 48 hour period,
I will refund payment. If the instrument is not returned within 48 hours, it
will be considered sold. All costs for shipping and insurance are the responsibility
of the customer.
Prices are subject to change. The price of a commissioned
guitar will be locked in once the initial deposit is received. Various
things such as the aesthetics can raise the price significantly.