Boutique Guitars - Page 2

JohnW400 · #31 03-12-2009, 03:29 PM

Very nice indeed!

Banksia · #32 03-12-2009, 07:49 PM

Wow!....wow!

Len Laviolette · #33 03-13-2009, 01:34 PM

I think the best guitars in the world are being built in private garages. I am a luthier, small time. (Retired land surveyor). I have been building since 1985 and have built 34 instruments. All nylon string classical and cutaway, some with onboard electronics. Certainly not all of my guitars have been worthy of a master musician, but some have. Lately I have had success in my local area of San Diego, but that doesn't mean guys are kicking the door down to buy my guitars. Jaime Valle, Peter Sprague and George Svoboda all play my guitars.

The point of this harangue is that there are really good guitars out there wanting good players to pick them up. Guys are paying up to $2000 for factory made instruments that are advertised in the shiny paper mags. If you look around a bit you can get a hand made guitar for that much or maybe a bit more.

It's not all about the money. At the convention of the Guild of American Luthiers, a seasoned luthier was asked "What would you do if you won the lottery?" He replied "... probably keep building guitars until the money runs out."

The guys who build them are like the guys who play them. We just love them.

Best of luck to all you players and keep making music.

Regards
Len

lavioletteguitars.com

derek · #34 03-13-2009, 01:39 PM

Those Kolls are just lovely.

Squint · #35 03-13-2009, 04:07 PM

Len, your work is incredible. And they SOUND good, too!
I would love to be able to make a whole guitar, but I am quite happy with the Dremel and fingerrests living in an apartment... LOL!

We're down in SD visiting family and such all the time. I'll give you a heads up so I can try one of your works of art someday!

If you build it, we will play!

Len Laviolette · #36 03-13-2009, 04:32 PM

Thanks Squint.

Kind words. Please do look me up. I'd love to let you try one of my guitars. It is especially rewarding to hear one of my guitars in the hands of a good player. I am such a lousy guitarist, but I still love to play. Whenever anybody is within earshot, I put it down. I am taking classical at a local JC and private lessons as well. It is a difficult instrument to conquer but it is so much fun. I have loved guitar since I was a kid and it never let go of its grip on my psyche.

Thanks again, look me up in San Diego

len@lavioletteguitars.com

TieDyedDevil · #37 03-13-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Len Laviolette

Guys are paying up to $2000 for factory made instruments that are advertised in the shiny paper mags. If you look around a bit you can get a hand made guitar for that much or maybe a bit more.

That's a really good point, Len.

When you buy from one of the big manufacturers, only a fraction of your money goes into the guitar. The rest goes to advertising, lawyers, executives, salesmen, real-estate leases, debt, etc. Also, the relationship between buyer and manufacturer is at arms-length.

Len Laviolette · #38 03-13-2009, 11:30 PM

Thanks for the reply David. All of those factors are huge in accounting for costs of doing business. To say nothing of the cost of the materials these days. Ebony is sold by the pound now. And it is heavy stuff. Some of it sinks in water.

The Chinese are buying virtually everything as fast as it becomes available. They can put a playable guitar on a music store shelf-strung up and ready to play for less money than I can buy the material for. As little as 2 years ago I could buy a really nice set of straight grained, quarter-sawn Indian rosewood for about 40 bucks. Anything decent is about 3 times that now and you have to hunt for it. We have to compete with the Chinese for every scrap of material out there. Not just lutherie materials. All industries are pressed by Asian markets now.

Sorry to get off point here. Anyhow, there are lots of guys like me making truly good guitars who will always make them no matter what. They are more than merchandise. We need to keep making them as much as you need to keep playing them.

Thanks again and keep making music.

Len

len@lavioletteguitars.com

Squint · #39 03-16-2009, 07:47 PM

Say, have any of you guys tried the Chinese Gretsches? Likes? Dislikes?

Also...I have it on good authority that when Gibson says "American made" these days, they really mean "American assembled" as the bodies and necks are crafted in China and other countries and shipped over here...

The boutique guitars sound more like a better value the more research I do!

Bertrand tB · #40 03-18-2009, 07:18 AM

I've a Chinese Gretsch Pro Jet (solidbody). For the little amount of money I think it's a fine guitar. I like the looks and the feel (it's a bit heavy though) and for me the pick ups are good enough. The tuners are a bit weak but that's easily to change for GFS tuners which for this guitar is good enough. I've also a Korean made Gretsch synchromatic jr, of which i've changed the stock pick up for a Bartolini 5J. This guitar is my favourite for jazz.

abelljo · #41 03-18-2009, 08:44 PM

Check out Jaen guitars in Barcelona Spain, great guy and an excellent luthier. Found him while looking up how to fix an issue with some Benedetto pickups. I was on my way to ordering one when I got laid off. I will resume as soon as I get another gig. Damn economy!

Guitarras Jaén I think it is.

Gabe2099 · #42 03-18-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abelljo

Check out Jaen guitars in Barcelona Spain, great guy and an excellent luthier. Found him while looking up how to fix an issue with some Benedetto pickups. I was on my way to ordering one when I got laid off. I will resume as soon as I get another gig. Damn economy!

Guitarras Jaén I think it is.

that's great site you found there. i got curious and "designed" a guitar to see the estimate, i was thinking "oh well, it'll say 20k euros and i'll say heh" but, surprisingly, it was a pretty modest price tag for what i wanted. if he's still doing business 2-3 years from now, i might go ahead and purchase a zanzibar... i think they look great from the pictures on the site.

abelljo · #43 03-19-2009, 08:21 AM

He quoted me about 4,800 us for a 17" cadillac. Very close to an L-5 type guitar with all the fixins! Barcelona Spain is very different from the US as far as I know. The average income is like 1,500.00 a month. Cost of living is cheaper too. I hear it has a killer Jazz scene.

Paul Jerome · #44 05-13-2009, 02:18 AM

My favorite guitar is a Benedetto...it gives me chills in the proper hands....It's also very pricey but having seen how they are made personally , at their shop...I know why they are so incredible and why they cost so much. They are really handmade. Ultimately it's WHO is playing , not what they play....