Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a friend who is looking to spend around $3,000 for a new guitar from one of the big companies. I told him for that kind of money he could probably get a nice hand-made guitar built to his specs and preferences. I don't sell any of my guitars yet, but I'm wondering how many of you builders out there build a SS fingerstyle guitar in that price range. I've tried browsing some of the webpages, but many don't have prices. Who are the <$3,000 builders out there?

Thanks!

John

My base is $3,150.

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

I'm significantly less than $3000, but I am less experienced (17), and build the basic dread. Most of my customers have been bluegrass players, and some that play a mix of different styles. I'm still trying to get some out there.

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Brad Tucker

I can do one for that price. Not much bling or anything though. Usually though, even with some extras mine are not much more than 3k.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

A Rector guitar under $3,000 is a bargain.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Peter Marreiros of Cornerstone Guitars has a base price of $2950, and builds some amazing guitars. He makes a fingerstyle model, and another high-end fingerstyle model is forthcoming, so the guitar will definitely be what you buddy's looking for.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Hey John,
I am right at $3000 but will be raising prices at the tail end of this year or at the beginning of '09. My website is http://www.fayguitars.com - I still have about 3 "spots" left for this year.

I was lurking in the LMI site last year for the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and found a link to "Autumn Guitars" with a luthier named Mark Deering. I haven't met or even spoken to him, but a base of $2150 caught my attention.....

Laurie

John,

My base price is $3500 and pretty much includes everything except cutaway, shell and expensive woods. Check out my website, my prices are listed there.

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Randy Muth
RS Muth Guitars Website
RS Muth Guitars Blog
Facebook Fan Page

Hi John.

My models start at under 3k.

Anthony

http://www.Lemboguitars.com

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Anthony J. Lembo
Lembo Custom Guitars - www.Lemboguitars.com

My baseprice is $3150 for all models.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

I'll throw my hat in the ring. A bit more than $3K, but we could talk.
I have an OM on my Available Guitars web page and I have a customer that may be thinking of trading up a 2003 McCloud (nee Grand OM) of Ziricote/Italian that is a fingerstyle beauty...at less than your price point.
Track record: I've built over 150 instruments.


Hank Mauel
http://www.mauelguitars.com

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Hank Mauel

I have not seen the work of the hand builders who are in that range; perhaps they are making great guitars for a low price. But my usual advice for someone trying to keep it under $3K is to go to a shop that carries a selection of Collings, Martin, and Santa Cruz (or Huss& Dalton, goodall, etc.) and pick the one they like best.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

My basic guitar is $2,750 but the average guitar is around $3,500. I will be showing some of my guitars at the Newport-Miami guitar festival in April if he can wait that long.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Thanks for the endorsement Dave! Long time no see, how's things up in Kansaw?

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I sent you a PM John. It says it is still in my outbox though.

My base models sell for $55,995.00 and that includes an extra set of slightly used strings. Cases are extra and the purchaser has no choice as to model, woods, tuners, etc. - they take what I give them. Terms are 100% payment in advance, delivery expected in the next 20 years, warranty - forget it......

I also sell sub prime mortgages and will happily cash your government rebate check for $600 in June when you receive it - there is a processing fee of $599.99.

My best customer so far has been Evelyn Thomson located somewhere in Asia. And currently I am offering a special where if you send me $10,000 (cashiers check only) I will send you a check for $20,000 from a former royal prince from Nigeria........

Such a deal!

Hesh,count me in.
SKIN

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Cousin Evelyn. Boy she loves guitars.
But, Hesh, doesn't she have a "p" in her name?

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Who doesn't have a guitar for about 3K?

Mark Swanson builds a nice guitar around that price too!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Like Brad T., my guitars start at well under $3000 and my experience level is not up there with many of the other people who have posted here. My email is blegeyt@pratt.edu. I have plenty of photos and info, but no website.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

That's my base price. As you can see there are a lot of guitarmakers that have something to compete in that price range with the factories.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

But are your purflings adequately mismatched, and do your tuner screws stick through the headstock into the slots?

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

My starting is less but my typical high in order is below what your friend is looking to spend and my turn around is typically less than 6 months

For more info pm me or go to my web-site http://www.mp-hand-crafted-guitars.com

[quote Thanks for the endorsement Dave! Long time no see, how's things up in Kansaw?[/quote]
I just call them the way I see it.
Life is good, have another grandbaby on the way, that will make 3.
If this keeps up I may have to grow up

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Say what you do, Do what you say.