New Selmer branded guitars incoming..?

ethanwm · April 20

Isn't there a precedent of Selmer only going after Selmer branded stuff (but never the homage logo, even Rino and others putting the word "selmer" in there)?

This is getting off the Selmer topic, but I'm constantly floored every time I see a classical guitar price or jazz box price. Plenty of stuff $8k-20k. Violins? My goodness. To be able to get an instrument that is professional-level for $2500 (Henry Acker's Stringphonic, say) is incredible. A used luthier instrument for that or a little more? A new top-of-the-line luthier instrument from the mid to high figures?

These are big numbers, of course. But I guess I'm just glad I don't play cello!

flaco · April 20

Sssshhhh! Don’t make them think they can charge more money and get away with it!!

paulmcevoy75 · April 21

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/120982#Comment_120982

Tbh I don't know how anyone is actually making instruments for the prices we are selling them for. Of the builders I know pretty well, I think two are retirees with retirement income. One guy lives very frugally. I have a 2 day a week job that barely pays my expenses.

But if I made 7 guitars a year at $4k a guitar, that's $28k. The rent on my very cheap shop is $450 a month. Insurance is like $480 a year. I probably spend $150 a month on expendibles. I imagine I have about 40k in equipment but it might be more than that.

Ultimately it's dumb math. I would be psyched (!!!!) if I could pay my expenses instead of losing $600 or so every month.

The other thing is that 4k is the bleeding edge of what I could maybe charge but it's a stretch. At $2k a guitar it's even more bleak.

TheGarethJones · April 22

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/120990#Comment_120990

What if you wrote “Selmer” on the top bit? Could get a couple extra bucks, I bet.

Sincerely, Selmer Marketing Dept.

marcelodamon · April 22

As to who is making them, it is ALD. I heard this from a reliable source.

Buco · April 22

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/120999#Comment_120999

I think it should say Selmerish.

Buco · April 22

I heard that too (ALD), but that doesn't explain much about what their business model is going to be. That's what I'm curious about. That and the pricing.