The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #46  
Old 01-16-2015, 01:28 PM
djg djg is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,819
Default

Travis, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you'd done a good deal of wood working before you tried building a guitar. I cannot hear a picture, but those look really good.
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old 01-16-2015, 02:33 PM
mrkpower mrkpower is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 773
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Craig View Post
...Do they exist?

Are there any small-time outfits that sell hand-built, decent quality acoustics for under $500 or so?
Yes, but not in the US!

Last edited by mrkpower; 01-16-2015 at 02:41 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old 01-16-2015, 03:38 PM
TEK TEK is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Missouri
Posts: 616
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by djg View Post
Travis, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you'd done a good deal of wood working before you tried building a guitar. I cannot hear a picture, but those look really good.
djg,
Thanks ,
Not much previous experience, just a quick learner.
Travis
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old 01-16-2015, 04:08 PM
Green Craig Green Craig is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 197
Default

..........

Last edited by Green Craig; 02-19-2017 at 11:26 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old 01-16-2015, 06:34 PM
Tony Burns Tony Burns is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: middle of no where
Posts: 8,030
Default

I would say you would have to be more than lucky , if you could a quality
used guitar by a small decent American builder in the under 2,000 range .

Ive heard the brand PONO a few times -? they look nice ( thou im not sure of their prices )
__________________
---------------------------------
Wood things with Strings !
Reply With Quote
  #51  
Old 01-16-2015, 06:42 PM
Coffeeaddict Coffeeaddict is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 1,212
Default

Halcyon was mentioned earlier in this thread. Ed makes great guitars, and though his prices went up this years, for those in the U.S., that favours you as since the Canadian dollar was valued at just under 84 cents U.S. at market close today.
__________________
___________________
Colin


Ensor ES (Sycamore/Lutz)
Halcyon (Flamed walnut/Engelmann)
Taylor 324ce
Taylor Baritone 6
Warwick Streamer
Eastman MD505

"I only drink coffee on days ending in 'y' "
Reply With Quote
  #52  
Old 01-16-2015, 07:45 PM
Backpocketnj Backpocketnj is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 573
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coffeeaddict View Post
Halcyon was mentioned earlier in this thread. Ed makes great guitars, and though his prices went up this years, for those in the U.S., that favours you as since the Canadian dollar was valued at just under 84 cents U.S. at market close today.
Halcyon seem like the best option on budget handbuilt. I"ve never played one but I would not be afraid to order one if he built what I was looking for honestly.
Reply With Quote
  #53  
Old 01-16-2015, 07:52 PM
robj144 robj144 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 10,430
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Burns View Post
I would say you would have to be more than lucky , if you could a quality
used guitar by a small decent American builder in the under 2,000 range .

Ive heard the brand PONO a few times -? they look nice ( thou im not sure of their prices )
Isn't Kronbauer under $2000 or around there? Also, someone mentioned Halcyon for around $1000.

There are a usually lesser knowns on eBay. There was a guy called Pizzeciti or something similar that used to build his own and sell them in eBay for under $1000.
__________________
Guild CO-2
Guild JF30-12
Guild D55
Goodall Grand Concert Cutaway Walnut/Italian Spruce
Santa Cruz Brazilian VJ
Taylor 8 String Baritone
Blueberry - Grand Concert
Magnum Opus J450
Eastman AJ815
Parker PA-24
Babicz Jumbo Identity
Walden G730
Silvercreek T170
Charvell 150 SC
Takimine G406s
Reply With Quote
  #54  
Old 01-16-2015, 07:57 PM
robj144 robj144 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 10,430
Default

Here they are:

http://www.pizzecciguitars.com/index_files/Page361.htm
__________________
Guild CO-2
Guild JF30-12
Guild D55
Goodall Grand Concert Cutaway Walnut/Italian Spruce
Santa Cruz Brazilian VJ
Taylor 8 String Baritone
Blueberry - Grand Concert
Magnum Opus J450
Eastman AJ815
Parker PA-24
Babicz Jumbo Identity
Walden G730
Silvercreek T170
Charvell 150 SC
Takimine G406s
Reply With Quote
  #55  
Old 01-16-2015, 08:06 PM
jseth jseth is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Oregon... "Heart of the Valley"...
Posts: 10,831
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Craig View Post
...Do they exist?

Are there any small-time outfits that sell hand-built, decent quality acoustics for under $500 or so?
I think you are a bit low, but maybe not all that much.

I had Mark Angus build me my F-40 in 1979; it's #35 and has been a gem since the day it came off the bench! I still own it, play it a lot; currently, it's my "stage" 6 string, but for 30+ years it was my ONE AND ONLY 6 string acoustic... and I perform, write, play and record with that guitar.

Because he was just starting out and I was a friend of a friend (not to mention a working musician! Read = broke!), Mark made me that guitar for $800, including a nice Guild hardshell case. After 36 years, I'd say I got my money's worth, and am still getting it!

You might be able to find a fledgling luthier who is still getting traction, and have one made for you for $1,000 or so... when I bought my Angus, a new D-28 would have been in the neighborhood of $2000...

Keep your eyes open and on the lookout... you just never know!

Here's #35...





Still beautiful after all these years, even with all the battle scars!!!
__________________
"He's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith.
Spread your arms and hold your breath,
always trust your cape..."

"The Cape" (Guy Clark/Jim Janowsky/Susanna Clark)
Reply With Quote
  #56  
Old 01-16-2015, 08:41 PM
44Runner 44Runner is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,003
Default

Starting at just under $1100US, Halcyon is one of the best deals you will find. The price on these will be going no where but up. Ed stays wicked busy selling these great guitars for a great price.

Mine is nearing completion. Here are a few pics.

Wood set I picked out:


Sides taking shape:


Back cut and braced:


Rosette:


Body together with wenge binding:


Mine is a bit over the base price, but even his upgrade pricing is very reasonable.
__________________
Taylor 810ce, 416ce LTD (sitka/granadillo), 456ce FLTD (sitka/EIR), 314ce, 324e, HV GS Mini
Gretsch Honey Dipper Special
Halcyon Lutz/Black Limba Dread
Reply With Quote
  #57  
Old 01-16-2015, 08:58 PM
Captain Jim Captain Jim is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Arizona (from island boy to desert dweller)
Posts: 6,970
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TEK View Post
Guilty as charged,
In January 2014 I decided to give building a acoustic guitar a try. With each build I was learning something more about the process. I had no one to teach me and was relying a lot on the internet.
I built a couple for myself and one each for my daughters. I felt I was still learning so I found a couple of friends who were interested in guitars and made them a deal. They would pay for all the materials and I would build them a guitar.
The first one was a OM with Macassar Ebony back and sides with a Sitka top.

It sounded incredible and cost him $750 for supplies.

The second was a slightly larger body all Mahogany with cocobolo binding. It turned out beautiful and also sounds incredible. Cost that guy $450



I justified donating my time building for these guys as lessons learned to get better at building. They knew that I was new to building and were able to see and play some of my earlier builds to be comfortable in doing it.

Would I do it now?? No, I have spent in the neighborhood of $3000 on tools and supplies to make all the forms and jigs necessary. I don't keep track of time but would guess I have 60 to 75 hours in a build including time to French Polish them.
Now that I have built some, I am amazed that any company or builder can sell a all solid wood guitar for under $1000
Travis
VERY informative post! The guitars pictured look gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your insight!

Jim
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=