Official Luthiers Forum!

Welcome to the OLF AJ.

Don't Take any of these comments the wrong way. This is a great group of guy and a few gals. Stick around and let us see others you have built.

Kelby is exactly right. Sadly I know this because I have to explain it to my wife evreytime I finish a guitar and tell her I'm keeping it...

Welcome to the OLF Aj!

Glad you joined us - we ARE a friendly bunch, as long as you have GAS and not gas

I am certain this tread did give you an idea of the range of thoughts, perceptions, and ideas that people have when one presents themselves in an "over-the-top manner. Your enthusiasm and price were certainly over the top!

Mistake? - no, but perhaps a valuable learning experience can be drawn from this.

You have every right to be very proud of your first build...it may be better than someone else's first build, heck even their 10th build but you presented it in a spirit and passion for which you should be commended.

I have just recently taken receipt of my first kit - I should be so fortunate to have a first build as nice as yours. And I am certain I will have a laundry list as well, but mistakes happen and you move on and hope you keep the lesson not the bitterness.

As for self-respect, you got it going on! Just don't ever let it get clouded by any other emotions or be influenced by those with ill-intentions.

So, here is my question for you....ya got 5 years before you go to CA.....are you going to build some guitars between now and then and if so - what?

Aj, if you are as determined as you sound, you will do fine, I think. But Kelby makes his point very well, too. While there are many forums for Luthiers and many fine craftsmen making fine guitars, this is still a very small family, and I have found especially that, as in many walks of life, respect starts with good work and ends with good deeds.

Sorry if I sound preachy, that ain't too typical for me. But I invite you to hang around a while and you will see what I mean.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Aj,
welcome to the forum....
yup, you made us all laugh and we all been there making our firsts...some better than others but ALL with their share of flaws and mistakes!

Like I said before, I commend you for your efforts on guitar building and by all means keep at it, it will only get better and better.
Don't give up.

I did not mean anything negative about your efforts...just the Ebay auction was "reaching" a little too much for me!
peterm38962.5288310185

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Ah, bunch of soreheads 'cause you aren't selling in that price range.

Looks like Aj successfully yanked a whole bunch of chains...well done.

'specially mine...

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

My son informs me, Don, that this person may just be, and in the lexicon of the internet saavy, a "troll." That is, someone just being provocative and wanting to stir up a little trouble, so don't feel bad. Maybe we all got sucked in.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Steve, I had that thought today too!

Also, college has started...all sorts of fun events come to life, including possible papers that will be due for sociology, folklore (yep, we are that!), communications, and marketing just to name a few! IMVHO

I personally must say that if I had 30,000 bills laying around I would purchase this fine craft. I think it is an excellent peice of work that has a story behind it. I think it is petty to tear someone apart over something they poured their heart and soul into - you all are supposed to be experienced/accomplished luthiers - why do you act as if this is some sort of threat to your trade? Last time I checked this wasn't the first stupid item to catch a pretty penny - anyone recall the grilled cheese sandwhich that dipicted Mary? or how about the grain of cereal that looked like ET? Ring a bell? I have a better idea - let's forget about the sandwhich and rip the talented kid a new ****** - great, supporting community you guys got going! You should be real proud!LanceK38967.8799884259

Yep, definitely a troll...

I guess the reputation speech didn't quite sink in.

I think it's brilliant. I think it's a parody of the the group think that talks
nearly every bit of building up. Amazing frontpage looking website.
Precision this, precision that. A little blister makes something a piece of
amazingly figured wood.

It's absolutely OK not to be breaking barriers with every move. That
doesn't downplay the accomplishment or the amount of enjoyment we
might receive from seeing someone's accomplishment. I don't believe
that's being said in the ebay thing, but it's what I'd add were it me.James Orr38967.7846180556

Hi Aj,
Welcome to the forum. I must be the odd man out here as I don't see
anything morally wrong with what you have done. Although, I do agree
that Kelby's opinion on reputation has much merit. Personally, I thought
your eBay description was very honest and straightforward and you
should have no remorse whatsoever.

This is the first time I have been dissapointed with this forum - I think
"unkind" is an understatement. The above remarks are not typical of the
OLF and I hope you stick around long enough to find out what these folks
have to offer.

I think you efforts were very nice for a first guitar. Keep up the good
work.

--
Simon
(By the way, I am a different Simon than the eBay guy)

Thank you Mr. Orr! The time and effort that these guys put into their guitars is insane only to be told that it won't go for more than a grand. Actual luthiers shouldn't be worried about me! They should be worried that cheaply made mass produced guitars that are being sold in WALMART, other convienience stores, and almost every major music store across the U.S. A perfect example of "selling out to the economy" is Gibson guitars! Gibson USED to be a profound guitar. Now any shmoe who has $800 can get a Gibson. I respect the guys that left Gibson and formed Heritage probably leaving a big paycheck behind too! This is a whole other topic anyways...I'd have more respect for people that kept their opinions and their wallets in different pockets.

Thanks Simon and I have already learned quiet a bit from this forum in the past week. I'll be around...

[QUOTE=ajshafi] The time and effort that these guys put into their guitars is insane only to be told that it won't go for more than a grand.[/QUOTE]
AJ, I think that that's what initially prompted the head-shaking here. Sounds like you understand.

As others have written, you are more than welcome to hang around here at the OLF. I think that you'll find it to be a very friendly, informative (and addictive) place. Trust me, your experience and opinions will be valued.

ANEWSHADE
You might notice I edited out a word in your post.
Just a friendly reminder, this forum is G rated.

Thanks
LanceK

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Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

hmmm, I'm still not convinced...
sorry to be so blatant but that's the way I feel...

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Ajshafi,
I like the purple heart/oak neck. I would never think to use that combination, but it does looks good.

Are you going to make another guitar soon?

Why do you want to move to California? I'm here and I'd like to get out.   

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I can get a job anywhere as an aircraft mechanic but I want to try to match my income building/repairing guitars (LA or NY and LA has the beach close by). If that means setups only then so be it. Thats all i've been doing for the past 4 years on the side. Getting my own place to work on guitars is going to be difficult until i get settled. Why do you want to leave CA?

AJ,
I'd look into San Diego instead of LA. It is so much nicer IMO.

Why leave So Cal? - No rivers, very few lakes, over crowding, illegal alien issues, water supply problems, high taxes, high energy costs, over regulation - you can't get a business licence to build guitars at home, property prices to name a few.

There are a lot of good reasons to stay too - good jobs, property prices, beach, mountains, desert, low humidity, cool summers, mild winters, no rain, great weather, property prices, weather, beaches, property prices and weather.

Did I mention that the climate is great?

_________________
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Yeah the whole "double income" sounds really good for me. One of my other ideas is actually live in a commercial area like a warehouse loft using the warehouse as a shop. Don't know the laws on that though...

[QUOTE=SteveS] Why leave So Cal? [/QUOTE]

Don't forget Steve, No "FREAK'IN" Bar-B-Q!

I'm in Hell! AAAAGGGHHH !
[QUOTE]you can't get a business licence to build guitars at home[/QUOTE]

     You can build as a hobby at home! The hobby definition is based on income over a few years as I recall!

     Besides, I've known of 4 people who work out of their garages and only one had problems, and that was with the zoning commission, and that was only after he PO'd my mother! Don't ever cross my mother, she'll get ya!

Billy Dean

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)