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Oh, one other thing, Targuit,
The one caveat as shared with me by a couple of fellow forum members is that one should consider the "landed cost" somewhere between $250-300 because the electronics should likely be replaced and fretwork/setup should be done by your favorite tech.
So, more like a $1300-1500... but where are you getting a custom handmade guitar for that???
-C
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02-16-2016 08:51 AM
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I appreciate your post because I have had a number of people contact me offline asking me what my latest project is costing me, also what I thought they could counteroffer Ms Lora on instruments they have in stock that were refused for one reason or another. I did find these questions a little indelicate even though I understand the intentions of the askers. Remember 2B and I both have extended business history with Ms Lora and Mr Wu. In most cultures an extended business history does have some benefits compared to say someone just out of nowhere asking for discounts.
Originally Posted by targuit
Not to be crass or indelicate or too forward, but could you give us a broad range for what this beautiful guitar will cost? If that is too personal, feel free to decline. I am curious because if that guitar sounds as great as it looks, I may have to jump on the bandwagon, at the risk of being locked out of the house by my wife.
I have no extensive experience in wood working or luthiery specifically, but in my next reincarnation I would like to try. Certainly Mr. Wu's craftsmanship and artistry appear to speak for themselves. How did you get on this track with him again? I confess that I'm getting excited watching the progress of this instrument myself - crazy! Must be contagious.
But h1pst3r88's points are well taken: consider some "landed costs" such as a little touchup on the fretwork, a decent setup with the strings of your choice (a given with ANY guitar purchase) and if it has electronics an upgrade to your favorite pickup and new pots and output jack. And as h1pst3r88 said you still come in at a pretty jaw dropping (my adjectives) price point for a custom built instrument of exemplary quality. Remember when looking at photos of my current Mr Wu stash: these were made some time ago and as my current project and 2B's would infer his level of skill and craftsmanship has made great strides...
All the best
Big
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 02-16-2016 at 09:41 AM.
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Thanks for the info, guys, which I know is asking for rather personal stuff. But the answer is "jaw-dropping"!!
Truth be told, I thought it would be in a range of $2K to $3K plus. Apart from their apparently lovely craftsmanship and artistry visually, are the necks very playable? I understand the thing about set-up and electronics upgrade, but still that seems a fine deal given a custom made guitar. If they sound as good as they look, I would like to look into this.
Especially as I would like something more along the idea of a 16 in body with a 620mm or so scale. Could you guys who actually own and play these guitars comment on the playability issue, because in the end I feel that is the most significant criteria. I can see the man is a fine craftsman. I am impressed.
Please accept my apology if I should not have raised the issue publicly or even in a private EMail. I will take the posts down if it is over the line. If there is an upside, this should generate even more business for Mr. Wu, who must be some character.Last edited by targuit; 02-16-2016 at 10:07 AM.
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Jay,
You could figure that any guy off the street who asked for the best woods possible for the entire guitar (like I specified) would pay a slight up charge - their standard wood selection is very, very nice. But I wanted a REAL SPECIAL guitar so did ask and paid the up charge, which would be say $100.00 to $200.00 - which is pretty low priced considering. I would think with very fancy inlays, best possible woods and custom bound pick guard and fancy tailpiece you still would come in around (AND I STRESS AROUND) $1500.00 - and that is with all the fancy options. BUT you need to ask Ms. Lora, that is where all these questions should be going...
And again for those of you that have not read the myriad of threads here and at ICW, stick to standard options available. This business of odd scale lengths will not translate. If you need a special scale length then go with an American builder and expect to pay. As for my guitars already here: my Eastman Prototype is very very playable - I'm used to Eastman necks (pretty fast) and being a lifelong Ibanez guy the necks are a tad fatter than a fast Ibby neck but very playable. My Yunzhi copy and the Red Guitar that caused such a stir last month both have fatter necks. The guy that owns the Red Guitar took it all around Long Island and NYC and luthiers did inspect with X-ray to find where the truss rod is and deemed the neck was quite playable as is. My buddy decided to tough it out and now says he's quite used to it.
Me, as part of my "landed cost" I eventually had the Pisano copy worked on, Bartolini 5J floating pickup, new pick guard with Schatten hidden controls (parts cost a total of $200.00 including the ebony guard) and had the tech carve the shoulders of the back of the neck just a little. Total cost out the door was $600.00 - but it transformed it into a gorgeous playing and sounding guitar. Total "landed cost" $1700.00... Still very, very low priced. That Bartolini 5J and Schattens provide a clean fat tone...
Big
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Targuit,
I think the general advise is to stick, more or less, to their in-house dimensions. With regard to scale length, 25" is their wheelhouse. I have looked at a handful of different guitars from Mr. Wu (in pics that is) and while different widths (lower bout) and depths, the scale lengths is always 25".
As far as pricing is concerned, I don't think it's a delicate question at all. This is the market, Yunzhi and Yolanda both sell on Ebay, and finding out pricing is simple and straightforward -- go look or ask -- as it should be. There's nothing to hide here, these are commodity goods being made and sold by a manufacturer in the international market trying to sell product and scale. The builders/sellers are making money and the buyers are loving the quality to price ratio. Yolanda certainly has nothing to hide!
I own and run a business, I would love it if people were chatting in online forums about how awesome my pricing was and exactly what my company's pricing was, relative to the quality of product/service.
I feel China today is like Japan in 1977 in guitar terms. Skilled talent and emerging entrepreneurship is rapidly growing in a developing economy where prices haven't caught up to the accelerating skill/product sophistication... nor the cost of western manufacturing.
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Hipster, seems like we just got to know each other better. Like I said I'll be praying for your Mom and have all my prayer warrior friends praying too...
Fellas, in the end stick with fairly stock models (changing sound hole shapes and trim is a no brainer, but stay stock), I've seen guys try to translate what they wanted and Lora tries her damnest to get it translated to the builders. Not just jazz guitars but copies of Langeudoc and Equator designs (think Trey of Phish). If you stick with a fairly stock model you'll be very happy.
And all exact pricing should be directed to Ms Lora...
Big
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 02-17-2016 at 09:32 AM.
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Okay, somewhere in China someone just said, that's a wrap!
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Oh My Goodness 2B, it is so remarkably pretty. I know you won't sleep worth a doggone for a while. I know I wake 3-4 times a night and can't resist grabbing my iPad to see if I have mail from Lora and check your thread here for updates.
This is the really exciting part of the process. I don't know anyone who didn't end up with big bags under their eyes in the last week or two of the build/ship process. LOL
Congratulations on a very, very nice NGD to be...
BigMikeLast edited by BigMikeinNJ; 02-16-2016 at 11:36 AM.
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Hmm, didn't know there was a minimum post limit required in order to share knowledge...
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Re pricing, at the risk of misquoting, and out of respect for Mr Wu and Lora, I'd refer any questions to exact costs to Lora.
At the end of the day, including potential fretwork upon arrival, I'll have less into this guitar than the first used Heritage Sweet 16 I acquired - 1650
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Exactly.. Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
NOTHING beats this feeling...
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Thanks everyone for the informative replies. I could certainly live just fine with a 25 in. scale.
Congratulations on that gorgeous guitar, 2bornot2bop! That looks stunning! And complements to its creator.
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What is the customs duty people have been paying on $1,000 - $1,500 guitars from China?
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Max,
I can't speak for anyone else, especially in other countries where VAT and stuff like that really bite. I don't remember what I paid 6 plus years ago to be honest... That topic would surely get the haters all frothing at the mouth.
Big
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2B, great accomplishment.
The beauty of this process was to witness two cultures sharing knowledge and skill to end in an amazingly unique instrument at competitive price.
Did your ever thought about ordering an additional bound fingerrest?
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gcb,
If I remember reading it correctly, see pics above, he was offered the bound finger rest first. It's what motivated me to ask for a bound finger rest on my current build...
Pretty amazing work huh ???
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Thank you gcb! Originally Posted by gcb
Yes, my first choice was a 5 ply bound ebony pickguard. The binding color didn't quite match the guitar binding so I opted to go for an additional PG without binding which in some way matches the tailpiece a bit better. I may order a 3rd pickguard and try to get a better match for the rim binding.
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6% Originally Posted by MaxTwang
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Hammertone,
In the States, heck that's nothing. Thanks for the info...
Big
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Big Mike, 2Bornot2bop, Anyone, About these taxes. Do you get a separate bill after you've received the guitar or is it included in the shipped bill that Ms Lora sends you?
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Customs on these purchases for the US are so small they're irrelevant. The guitar is so affordable its equivalent to a built in customs tax. Come on guys. Focus.
A small and inconsequential point RE the making of bound pick guards. For bound pick guards apparently Mr Wu does not understand the importance of the final outer layer of binding being thicker than the inner layers. It's the final thicker outer layer that makes the binding *pop on the pick guard.
Despite submitting photo examples I was unsuccessful in driving the point home. Rather than beat a dead horse I've decided to handle the binding on my end. In the grand scheme, like customs tax, it's trivial, but for anyone who begins a build request now you've been informed. Nice to have this thread become an example of more possibilities of what's available from Asia.
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That tax reminds me of ordering cigars from a trusted vendor in Cyprus. I'd get the parcel (UPS) and later a bill from UPS in the mail. As 2B stated, it's inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, sort of part of the "landed cost" someone referred to the other day.
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Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
Customs on these purchases for the US are so small they're irrelevant. The guitar is so affordable its equivalent to a built in customs tax. Come on guys. Focus.
A small and inconsequential point RE the making of bound pick guards. For bound pick guards apparently Mr Wu does not understand the importance of the final outer layer of binding being thicker than the inner layers. It's the final thicker outer layer that makes the binding *pop on the pick guard.
Despite submitting photo examples I was unsuccessful in driving the point home. Rather than beat a dead horse I've decided to handle the binding on my end. In the grand scheme, like customs tax, it's trivial, but for anyone who begins a build request now you've been informed. Nice to have this thread become an example of more possibilities of what's available from Asia.
Keep that unbound finger rest, though, you might be surprised how it looks in person.
To me, the unbound is a very classy look.
This guitar you've commissioned is the best looking Yunzhi/Wu/yolandateam guitar I've seen.
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I was wondering if you could tell me more about the tailpiece in the photo. Does it have a hinge? Did you supply a specification or dwg? (or does the manufacturer have one) Have you had this style before?
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And somewhere in the East Coast of the USA, someone is trying to figure out how to redirect the shipment of this guitar to his home in New Jersey without getting caught!
2B, that is spectacular. Perfection. I am in total awe when I look at the pictures. I absolutely LOVE it.
Joe D
Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
Okay, somewhere in China someone just said, that's a wrap!
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