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LanceK38454.4938194444

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

looking good guys, I'll be signing up.
Thanks Brock, Lance & whoever else might be involved, for your hard work .

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Send me some info on how to sign up fellas :)

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Lance and Brock,

Looks great!

Is there room for rookie builders there?

Jeff

This is wonderful concept and expertly laid out!!
Wishing everyone sucess with this endeavor.
Great job Lance and Brock...Congrats!!
Walter

[QUOTE=Jeff Doty] Lance and Brock,

Looks great!

Is there room for rookie builders there?

Jeff[/QUOTE]

Absolutely!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I will be in, that is a sure thing. Great prce Brock for a gret value. Now I got to finish a guitar and get pro photos to but on the showcase. I kinda been sluffing off or bomb barded by day job this winter. Time to get to work.

In time signing up will be as simple as going to the site and filling out an order page of what you are interested in.

For now, we are offering a discount to pre-subscribers and that will be a little less formal. All you need to do is 1) email me and let me know you want to take advantage of the offer. 2) Paypal me the $$ (USPS is ok too if you don't want to use pay pal.)

After that I will send you an email telling you what I will need in terms of bio info, contact info, images, etc.

If you don't have all of your images in place right now that is fine. Since this will be launching in the summer there will be time to get those before launch.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Wow that looks great so far. Very nice concept and very reasonable pricing too.

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The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Can beginners post. I hear you can do wonders with a photoshop program. Can make my kindling look like a worldbeater

Brock/Lance,

Just a quick question...

Since I have been a bit (ok...VERY!) lazy about having professional photos of guitars made, I was wondering if it would be possible to pre-pay the subscription now to take advantage of the charter rate, and actually begin the subscription year when photos can be provided (or does the subscription run over a calendar year?)

Great idea and good-looking layout!

I will join and do it for sure. Although a very different market for what I do (and I do it fulltime and for me has turned to fulltime, unpaid job). I need to get some made and sold in some venue so I can do the rest. This may be ideal for me

I am very intrested.
Brock and Lance,keep me in mind please.
I will have some guitars available in the next few weeks

[QUOTE=russ] Brock/Lance,

Just a quick question...

Since I have been a bit (ok...VERY!) lazy about having professional photos of guitars made, I was wondering if it would be possible to pre-pay the subscription now to take advantage of the charter rate, and actually begin the subscription year when photos can be provided (or does the subscription run over a calendar year?)

Great idea and good-looking layout![/QUOTE]


Yes. For sure. Or you can replace the home brew images with professional shots as you get them.

Once the system is up you will have a log in area where you can change your pictures, edit your profile, etc.

That will be easy to accomplish.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=bob J] Can beginners post. I hear you can do wonders with a photoshop program. Can make my kindling look like a worldbeater [/QUOTE]


I know you are joking... but I would offer this as a word of caution....

I would be careful not to "over-hype" your product. As the saying goes... you only get once chance to make a first impression.

I think as long as you set expectations appropriately that is fine.

For this to work universally, I think we need guitars from all price points.... I would just keep the economics in check.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If you are interested in signing up, Matt, Stan, etc. Just email me to let me know (bpoling AT atomic-mail DOT com).

And shoot me your discounted sub fees via pay pal (same address - for now)

After that I will contact you and tell you what bio info you can start pulling together.

It doesn't matter if you don't have your content / images at the tip of your fingers yet. This is due to launch in the summer... so there is plenty of time.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Wow, Brock it really looks nice. You can at least eventually count me in. However, as I'm new at building, I probably need to hold off until I've gotten more builds under my belt and favorable critique's. It would only take a few folks selling guitars that weren't up to par to damage the reputation of the entire site. I don't want to be the one responsible.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

[QUOTE=Bobc] Wow that looks great so far. Very nice concept and very reasonable pricing too.[/QUOTE]


Thanks Bob... We are trying to make this affordable.

The key is to get a large pool of luthiers participating. This does 2 (good) things. 1) It gives the buyers lots of people to look at and choose from -- which makes the site more of a destination, and 2) the more subscribers we have, the more $$ we have, and the more $$ we have the bigger and better we can advertise it.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I think one of the real assets of this site in time will be the ability to finance custom built instruments. (This isn't going to be available at launch.. but I am hoping by the end of the year.)

I am talking with a finance company now about this and they seem very excited about the potential.

I think this offers people a good alternative to using a credit card at 18% if they want to buy a high-end guitar. I know there are bank alternatives, but from what I am finding any unsecured loan carries a high rate of interest.

The finance company is considering at least a portion of the value of the instrument as an enduring asset. They have done some work in the classic car market and seem to understand the thought process.

I think that with financing options we can bring higher priced guitars into more player's reaches.Brock Poling38454.5851736111

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[/QUOTE]

For this to work universally, I think we need guitars from all price points.... I would just keep the economics in check.[/QUOTE]

Glad to here you have this point of view. As I have stated on the forum before I got my self off the ground..Well an inch or two anyway..by keeping my prices down to the bare min. on basic guitars. I have always felt there is a larger market for hand crafted guitars for the student and struggling musician, than has really been tapped into. Out of the 25 guitars I have sold a good 20 of them have been to students or local performers that can't justify spending $2500 plus on a guitar at this point in their studies of career. That leaves them with only the option of upper mid-range manufacturers like Alvarez, Alvarez Yari, Yamaha, Gibson and such. This has been my niche and I do believe that there is a lot of room for other luthiers like myself that want to get out there but don’t feel that their talent level is on Par with a guitar priced at $4000. This may sound like I have drought in my ability and skill. Not the case at all. I just have not paid the dues or built enough guitars to call my self a journeyman yet. I believe you are right Brock I think having luthiers at all competent levels will be a huge plus in making the showcase really thrive.MichaelP38454.5917592593

Lance and Brock,

How will things be handled if there is a problem? The buyer gets the guitar and is not happy, or the bridge pops off or? Will the Luthiers Showcase be somehow separated from the builder and buyer dealings? Do the builder and buyer enter into an agreement separate from the Showcase, with the showcase just being a place to bring them together?

Thanks.

Jeff

They way I am sort of thinking about it is akin to the luxury car market.

Look at home many "baby benz's" are on the road -- at least here there are tons of them -- you can't throw a rock in this town without hitting a benz, bmw, etc.

I think the idea behind that is to get people accustomed to owning one of these, and stepping them up in the future will be easier.

I think the same goes for custom guitars. Once you are used to owning them, buying your next should be a no brainer.

I just think we need to set people's expectations accordingly. I would hate to see someone kill their brand by overhyping their guitars early on.

Whatever your pricing strategy is, I think it needs to be considered carefully.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=Jeff Doty] Lance and Brock,

How will things be handled if there is a problem? The buyer gets the guitar and is not happy, or the bridge pops off or? Will the Luthiers Showcase be somehow separated from the builder and buyer dealings? Do the builder and buyer enter into an agreement separate from the Showcase, with the showcase just being a place to bring them together?

Thanks.

Jeff[/QUOTE]


Yes, we are just a match maker -- bringing buyers and builders together....

However with that said. I have considered options such as escrow services, insurance, and other products. But we need to walk before we run.

Essentially the idea is to try to bring down every barrier a customer may have in puchasing a luthier built guitar.


Brock Poling38454.6040856481

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

The presentation brought up all the points I've also considered, and or experienced. Very well done I think and thought out I think. keep us informed.