Official Luthiers Forum!

In other words, if I post at MIMF asking for a link to any archived threads discussing the pricing of hammered dulcimers, I can expect the response to be no so good.

Thanks Todd. Very helpful.

Steve

Why do I have such a strong inclination to go make my first, and last post at MIMF?

It was one of the first of its kind. Has always been a great place with excellent information and some talented people in the ten or so years that I've been there. The usual bits of drama that you'll find most anywhere and more strictly moderated than many. Very little of the intentional mean spirited posts you can find on other forums that seem to perpetuate. Very little of what seems like "schadenfrude" at times on other forums, or at least stopped very quickly. The pros migrated from there to other forums including this one with most of them leaving these forums for the same reasons. Thankfully there are still a number of skilled luthiers that hang around these forums who offer insightful rather than inciteful [sic] input. Still a lot of value which more than balances out the occasional annoyance. You'll find many detractors of the MIMF, the OLF and others, but many more supporters whether admitted or not.

Sure, just a little fodder for some OLF fun.

In fact, I do recall occasionally reading (only) at MIMF a very long time ago. The content was indeed respectable, but I found the website layout unappealing, and negotiating the topics and finding key information particularly ungainly, so I stopped reading.

For anyone who's interested, I carry the complete line of Big Boy Pants. At $300 a pair, these will pay for themselves with your first finish job. (I recommend the optional Tyvek coveralls to keep your Big Boys looking spiff.)

Of course, there's a lot more to guitar building than a pair of pants. For the complete A to Z, you'll need the outfit Todd and I wear: a full lycra body suit, and matching "Luthier Man" cape. With these, you'll be able to fly jets, extrude frets, and wind your own strings. (Call for pricing.)

Eric,
Is your avatar wearing big boy pants? If so, please PM me your Paypal info, I'm in for a pair. Are the gloves included?
Thanks

This thread has confused me.... lets just say, I am not sure the spirit of this forum (which is generally so helpful, if sometimes a little lacking in humour ) is being lived up to.

It seems a simple case of two valid opinions, yet perhaps expressed in slightly more vigorours and assertive tone? And maybe that's the problem. No one is right or wrong here, just going a litttle OTT with the response IMHO.

The OP asked what is a genuine fair question. Reasons are given why it can be impractical to give actuals figures, which makes sense, as does providing a range which provides the OP with information, without maybe compromising some of the commercial issues discussed.... so what is the problem?

Finisher X who may or may not be a sponsor, obviously does fantastic work - I have not seen a bad thing said on here about any finish by any finisher - and the amount of FREE advertising they get will no doubt put a deserved smile on their faces, great work deserves praise even in a commercial setting - look after your customers with quality service at good value and the benefits are clear (and deserved) so I doubt the regular finishers on here would object to a quoted range with a list of variables... The OP was not after specifics...

PS. Todd, if only I had the space/equip/extraction to try it myself - but its also a scary moment given the time invested in the build...

I think people like Eric are just having some fun with the phrase "big boy pants". I come from the Jack of All Trades School myself. Finishing guitars has taught me a lot about building. Working on boats, welding bicycles, and blacksmithing have turned out to be useful backgrounds too. On the other hand, the luthier I've learned the most from is a man who has built 3,000 guitars, and never done finish work on any.

Seems like an innocent enough question to me and though I'd never pay to have some one else finish one of my guitars I am also just curious to know what the going rate is. And of course there is no cookie cutter approach to anything. I'd pay more to the guy that has finished 5,000 guitars then the one who is on his 50th but it's interesting to know what the range is none the less.

My finish guy takes my guitars in the white with filling staining and buffing $350 bursts are $100. I get Nitro gloss body headplate and satin necks . Necks are finished separate from the body .

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Guys,

The question that was originally asked was not a big deal, and like Todd mentioned, could be answered fairly satisfactorily: Most finishes cost between $375 and $425 (dated 2011) for a basic clear, with a general $100 for a sunburst on the top of the guitar. Additional items like B&S bursts, necks, pinstriping, PRS faux binding - all will cost extra - as well as requesting a custom finish other than what that sprayer uses.

Many people on this forum have loyalty to both Tony Ferguson and Joe White, though this is not all-encompassing. Contacting either of them directly can help supplement a great deal of information. Joe White for example worked a beautiful sheet of what he expects of a guitar that is sent to him. After all, time is money and most finishers require a certain level of "fit" prior to conducting their finish. Because is it a service applied to your instrument, and not just an off-the-shelf product, nothing can replace talking with the service provider.

_________________
www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Originally, because I'd been thinking I'm paying maybe too much for the finish I get, with the guy
I use (and like)..I thought I'd try to get a sense of the range out there. And what better place. I don't want to contact, and waste the time of the Gentlemen here, because I won't be working with them. We talk about the price of things all the time, so I meant no harm.

I appreciate the sensible replys I received.

Michael


....and I am paying too much. Thank you.

Filippo; Good point. But that's all he does...finish guitars. And....He's very good at it. I will probably not say anything, and continue as is.
But some excellent points were raised.

Best; Michael

When I was doing outside finishes my price was higher than the prices mentioned it this thread. At that time I was using Nitro only. Shipping is expensive, if your guy is local his price might not be that high if you consider shipping costs.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Exactly Woody...Exactly. Also...another finisher friend of mine , looked at his finish, and declared it better than his. So...at the end of it all, I'm probably doing just fine.

Michael

Hi Micheal

Think the problem may have been that its easy to state a price, but far more difficult to convey the 'Value' ... If happy with the results, have a trusted relationship with your finisher, I suspect its really 'worth' what you pay - afterall I have never seen any millionnaire finishers!

Can I get an AMEN?!

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jw ( o)===:::

AMEN.

thank-you-very-much

_________________
jw ( o)===:::

Love it Filippo!

_________________
jw ( o)===:::

Im just looking for a village of spanish women to do my french polishing for my classical and flamenco guitars.

That is the way that it used to be done and in some guitar centers like Granada, there are still small shops that do nothing but finishing but nowadays they do lacquer for all but the finest guitars which are still french polished.

If I were better at finishing I would probably be okay with lacquer with just the top left for french polish. Because I am not good with a spray gun, I stick to french polish as while it takes longer is hard to mess up and is still seen in classical circles as preferred.

Paracho still has plenty of guitar finishing specialists. For a French polish finish, I can particularly recommend Manuel Hernandez Huipe. Here in the former Spanish colony of California, just up the hill from the Mission Santa Cruz, we have Senora Haiying Jiang. I'm pretty sure she could give Granada a run for its money.