Boutique guitar prices: small vs. larger bodies

[TDavis]

I guess I just recently noticed that, looking around Reverb at least, that the smaller models of boutique guitar makers...at least preowned, are generally more expensive than the larger or dreadnought models? That doesn't seem to be the case with Martin, Gibson or Taylor...but does seem the case with builders like Collings, Bourgeois or Huss & Dalton, for example.

Why is this? Are the smaller guitars harder to build? Or, is it just that there is suddenly a huge popularity with smaller body guitars, and it's simply a "supply & demand" effect on the market?

[AMW]

Most of the boutique builders' base price for the small guitars are the same as the comparably equipped large guitars. A Collings Baby 2h and a Collings D2h both start life as a $4,750 guitar when new.

Any tone wood or cosmetic upgrades, though, will be reflected later on the used market. So a Baby 2h that was ordered with a German or Adirondack spruce top will (presumably) be worth more on the used market than a stock (Sitka) D2h. Perhaps you're seeing some of this?

[s2y]

Probably has a lot more to do with the build specs and luthier than actual body size. It would also seem that a good percentage of boutique buyers want a smaller guitar. A well made small bodied boutique build will generally sound fuller and more responsive than a store brand smaller acoustic.

[Malcolm Kindnes]

It's really just supply and demand. More people buying boutique guitars want a small body so the price goes up and the reverse is true for Martin, Gibson etc.