Found this through my recommends (am a metal and guitar fan). Other builders have articulated similar costs and expenses behind guitar production, but this is probably the most candid one I've seen with real numbers. Thank you for this and will follow your channel too!
I found this conversation to be very interesting and informative. I understand Rob's point that raw numbers are "boring" but it is very informative to hear from a luthiers perspective. Great interview as always Ryan. The only criticism I could have is the video abruptly ended, yeah I'm a nerd and wanted to see more.Thanks.
The skilled labor and cost of education to be a professional goes into it too. Just like any proper skilled labor profession. This is a really good information video. Running a business is definitely calculated risk. It’s beyond materials, time, and value of education/skill to be a professional.
My take is that someone could pay out of pocket and go over the top with wood, frets, pickups, hardware, and strings, but it isn't cost effective. I think quality parts won't break a budget, and you still get an awesome guitar or two. Thank you for some awesome guitars.
He is right, fret jobs do tear your arms up. The neck would being stable and the fret job is the most important part of a guitar. If you dont have those the entire guitar is a paper weight in my opinion. Like ya, youve got a nice bridge and pickup, the paint looks good, ect, bu tif it doesnt play good none of those things matter.
Completely agree - I have nice guitars with unstable necks, and I simply don't reach for them during certain seasons. Sometimes you just want to sit down and play.
Blah blah blah just tell me what conditioner to use to get my hair like that! 😂 seriously though, Rob is the coolest and down to earth dude, this is such a great informative video. Thank you guys for this.
I've often thought about building a parts-caster of sorts...but itll most likely cost twice as much and be half the quality...and definitely zero resale value.
While there are many "solid" cheaper import guitars, with many things in life, you generally get what you pay for with higher end guitars. If you're not serious about guitars, don't pay serious money. They are tools as much as they can be luxury items. What price tag do you put on the inspiration a guitar can give you?
That’s a great question! With the level Rob is at I imagine that’s somewhat limited outside of the occasional collab like Ryan Waste. One of these days I’ll definitely have to find someone with more expertise on that specific subject. Thank you!
In short: ANY business has overhead costs. That's adult life. These are niche products. Love your channel, man, but this kind of content of someone talking/complaining about their bills and how everything is expensive is not it. I say this with the utmost respect. No hate or trolling.
Appreciate the love and input, but that’s not the point of this video whatsoever. As we stated in the video, this is just to inform people that have no idea, what kind of things go into the cost of making guitars. Some people, mainly younger consumers, don’t have that full of a grasp, or some people take for granted what larger companies put out, and don’t understand why so and so charges this much. Some of it seems obvious to buyers like you and I, but some people don’t have that insight.
I respectively disagree... as someone who has a few custom shop instruments and has run a couple businesses it was really interesting to hear the breakdown. Kudos to Rob for being so transparent. Many times owners don't want to do so for fear of exposing the inner workings of their business to criticism from people who don't get how business works. I feel a video such as this is a great way to impart to younger generations of guitarists an appreciation for craftsmanship and why people such as Rob can and should charge what they do in comparison to some cheap guitar off of Amazon.
