Jem Project

RG462 · #1 01-10-2008, 01:00 AM

Just thought I'd share my next project. I've always wanted a jem but as you all know the are expensive! I have decided to build my own jem. I ordered a Jem body from Chris Woods, and am looking at vine/maple necks. going to swirl it and put quality parts in. I may be selling it in the near future, can i make a profit?

rastachild · #2 01-10-2008, 01:08 PM

nope. trying to sell a custom is a losing equation because they really have no resale value at all since it was built to your specs. and as good as christopher woods (or any luthier) is, they haven't made enough of a name for themselves, especially for their work to appreciate. think of it this way; it's hard enough to make a profit on standard prestige models, let alone something that is completely custom.

Zoot · #3 01-10-2008, 04:40 PM

Expect a loss of about £300 to 500 depending on what style it is and how well its made .

Jaden · #4 01-10-2008, 05:52 PM

Zoot is right, DO NOT create a custom to make a profit... only for personal use..
which defines a custom really

albee1952 · #5 01-11-2008, 10:44 AM

Ditto, as I have built and sold several, I can attest to the fact that you will do well to break even on your parts investment. Kiss your labor goodbye.

richard1973 · #6 01-11-2008, 10:57 AM

buy a hondo, swirl it, put it on esshbay and sell it as 'pretty guitar' may make a tenner on it

screamndemon69 · #7 01-11-2008, 01:31 PM

If you always wanted one then why would you go thru all the trouble to get one built and then sell it?

Very few custom Jems bring alot of $ on the aftermarket from what I've seen.

ScottB · #8 01-11-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by screamndemon69

Very few custom Jems bring alot of $ on the aftermarket from what I've seen.

The exception being "Neville".

RG462 · #9 01-12-2008, 03:13 AM

Thank you for the replies. I am still going to build the custom if I can get ahold of the neck. I will use parts from my 1990 rg550 to save $$. bridge: Green Dimarzio evo. mid: black s1 Neck: purple air norton. I have been working on ideas with color schemes and am going looking forward to get started! I will most likely keep for myself

TequilaKing · #10 01-12-2008, 05:06 AM

I don't think I'd sell any of my projects, but if I were to I'd just try and cover what my original outlay was. Like the other posters said it'd be very unlikely that you could flip a profit.

I had a RG body swirled by a forum regular on here and I was offered $150 more than what I paid in total for it (it was the Orange one, Avi) by another member of this forum - so I guess you could be *lucky* if you did try to sell your project. But it'd be more luck than design!

But like I said, I just couldn't sell any of my stuff - you do grow attached to them, well Idid / have.

@Jaden... have you ever built a guitar and thought 'thats too good to sell I'm keeping it'? Just curious if you pro builders ever become attached to your work!

Jaden · #11 01-12-2008, 06:42 AM

yes and no, some people have some really excellent ideas that I would like to own but it would feel like intellectual theft and the guitar would never feel like mine....
Ibanez have a spiderweb guitar in their new catalogue and I have drawn ne ready to make about 6 months ago

and never got round to it...
but there is some stuff I have in the pipeline that Ibanez certainly wont have done... Ill have to wait for a slump in work before I get those done though..

in answer, no - certainly feel proud of some of it though

BTW - not that im a "pro" - I still have a day job

screamndemon69 · #12 01-12-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottB

The exception being "Neville".

I knew someone would bring up Steve's guitars

Some of the customs that have brought the most $ have been LGM customs and Herc creations from what I've seen.

I always wanted the original Diablo Jem and the Tribute 911 Jem. I think those two are two of the most well known aftermarket Jems besides the ones the Steve owns.

RG462 · #13 01-23-2008, 12:46 AM

Well thanks for the input, but i decided to build this custom anyway! got the body, neck is on its way, and got an edge trem for $61! the purple and green dimarzios will be taken off my 90' 550 (originals will be put but back in)