Official Luthiers Forum!

As I posted the thread about intonating a guitar, and started reading the responses, I couldn't help but think somehow my approach, or maybe my client-base, web-site, the way I advertise, or something has me kind of stuck in a niche, if you will, of unique or specialized builds?
When I started building I wanted to have 3 to 4 models in my arsenal. my dread, 000, parlor and uke, these were MY favorites and the ones I owned a couple of each and enjoyed. When I got my first commission about 2 years ago, it was for an "OM" cutaway, slotted head, a bit of inlay, and the design specs were , let's say different. 1-5/8" nut, 2-1/8" string spacing, 12 fret, 24.9" scale. 3" body depth and an emphasis on bass and projection, I know what your thinking already, yeah bass. Well I spent a couple weeks testing the tone and responsiveness of different tops and bracing patterns/sizes and eventually decided to go with a lightly braced top and my first tail-piece, mahogany with engleman and spanish cedar neck, R/W board, bridge and TP. The result was very nice, it sounded great, looked stunning and fit the bill according to the lady that ordered it.
Since that instrument, I have not had the time to build or set-up for my selected models I originally intended to offer. I have had requests that keep me busy, are rather detailed toward odd and have in some way kept me from settling in to what I wanted to offer.
I have visited most of the sites belonging to you here, and I see a stable of consistency , models of tradition and a flair that is exemplified by the builder in the instrument. So often I have one-off designs that reflect the customers specific taste in style, they don't resemble anything in my own collection, and chances are , no one else is going to want one of the same either.So I have about a dozen different molds and body jigs for various designs and configurations, which, don't get me wrong, to a creative person, this is very fun and exciting, but i have to wonder what this holds in the long term , will I be known for unique creations, or can I become established as many of you here, with the comfort so to speak of a signature line. Hesh's post about what constitutes success is what makes me wonder if I am on the right road. Currently I don't feel as successful as most of you here, with what I have illustrated. My strengths are incorporated into my guitars, my weaknesses maybe are keeping me from
achieving what I wanted.
Since this forum has been a good educator to me, I will let my guard down and welcome any and all criticism.

_________________
Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

I think you may actually be in a good situation. If you can have moderate to good success at creating the one-off, highly custom instruments than when it comes time to start making and selling your base models you will have a reputation for being able to build to a high level of competency and artistry (does that make sense?).

Eventually you will slow down on the custom orders and you will find some time to start making those base models and getting those out there. Your client base will grow more because of this and you will have a larger portion of the market because you can do both, which is make good base model guitars like 95% of the rest of the guitar makers out there as well as be able to make good one-off custom instruments like only a handful tend to do.

I think it's a win win situation for you. Take advantage of these early commissions which allow you to spread your wings more, or to look at it a different way, these unique builds which you've been commissioned to do have given you an education which is not offered in the guitar making schools, on the net or in a book. You're cutting your teeth the way the older more experienced of the craft had to do, just by doing it and learning from the experience.

The base models will come don't worry. There may also be a time when you are so busy building base models that you long for the unique custom orders you're getting now.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks for that insight Rod;

I have to admit, I never thought of it in that way. But it does make sense, well stated too.

I find building very relaxing, so as long as they keep coming, I'll just focus on the enjoyment of getting to do what I love.
The recent theft I suffered kind'a has me re-thinking my strategies and
ability to succeed I guess. Maybe that's it.

This is a one-off,

_________________
Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

I absolutely love being able to create guitars that do not go along with the standards, but there are other issues to consider. First of all, cases are hard to find in most instances, and custom cases can add to the overall costs of the guitar. Second, people have a general idea of what an OM or Dread, or J-200, etc sounds like even though you can add your own signature tone and sound to each of these standards. On a one off, they have no preconcieved ideas of what it should sound like so it would be harder to sell the odd shaped guitar over the more well known shapes.

In a way, I envy you for being able to sell people on the idea of a unique shape and wish it were as easy for me to do the same. It would probably be a good thing to produce at least a couple of "standard" sized guitars just to prove that you can and then place pictures and sound clips on your web site as well.

_________________
Reguards,

Ken H

I certainly could be wrong here, but I think Nehemiah isn't promoting himself this way Ken but rather from the sounds of it, it's his customers who are somewhat dictating what he is building.

Again, from what it sounds like Nehemiah would like to be building some of the more standard sizes and styles but he's to busy building the odd stuff that he's becoming known for. It's sort of odd really, most start off with the standards and some get to build one-off stuff. Nehemiah's first commision was a one-off customer based design and the rest have followed suite from the sounds of it.

So I don't think he's the one doing the "selling" but rather "they" are coming to him with the odd requests.

Very cool Nehemiah

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Nehemiah,
from what I have seen on your site, from a customer's point of view, looks to me that you are a builder that makes mostly one of a kind instruments. A lot of the guitars I have seen were not your traditional shape or design and while there is nothing wrong with it, that will attract customers that like those "one-of" time of guitars. Unfortunately that is not the bulk of the market. You need to have more pictures and examples of your more "traditional" guitars on your website so people know what you do for the traditional customers. Also, high quality pictures would be recommended.

Best of luck,

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