Perfect Custom Shop

ADA · #1 09-18-2008, 08:29 PM

I think a lot of people also order some product from "some" custom shop .
But they have many many problem , seems like Delay , Seller diving , Wrong Spec ....... etc

So I want to know your exp , Do you know which custom shop is the best in your mind .
I just try the "Cwood" and "L One Guitars" Custom shop already .
They make me crazy . Delay , Wrong Spec , Diving ...................................
I dun know why they can do the advertising at here !
Maybe I dun understand your excuse , But I just know if you get the money , you have to finish the work in time what you said .
I try to find the "Chris" of "L one Guitars" a lot of time , But have not any reply , Anyway I hope you still a life . If you dead already , Please find me and let me know >.<

So , Can any mate tell me which custom shop is better ?

MFB · #2 09-18-2008, 08:33 PM

From what I've seen on his sight and the reception he gets around here try Jaden Rose at the top or just follow this link :

www.guitarworkshop-uk.com

LonePhantom · #3 09-18-2008, 09:08 PM

ET Guitars seem to have a great rep too. I've emailed Ernie with an idea and he was very prompt and detailed with his email.

Lefty Robb · #4 09-19-2008, 06:11 AM

The problem with customs shops is that they get inundated with too much work too quickly then fold under the pressure. This has been the downfall of a lot of custom shops and I hope that these new guys don't fall prey to this mistake. I have very high hopes for Jaden because he doesn't have a day job like a lot of custom shop owners, which will allow him to focus 100% on his work, of course this still doesn't mean he cant fall victim to this as well, he just needs to know his limits.

Clonetool · #5 09-19-2008, 09:43 AM

I don think Woods has a day job.

Lefty Robb · #6 09-19-2008, 11:46 AM

But Woods took on way to much work at the beginning and he's been behind ever since. I was just using it as an example, I know other shops don't have day jobs, but some do. If your not prepared to do the work in a timely manner don't take the order, its as simple as that. I think Blackmachine has all of 2009 all ready booked with orders, thats how you gotta do it, know your limits.

NickCormier · #7 09-21-2008, 11:05 AM

So far, Ive really enjoyed working with ET Guitars. Ernie is great so far, but its only been afew months into my build, so who knows.

I know another other few small builders which are great, but I dont know if they are looking for tons of work so I wont mention. There are great builders out there though.

Clonetool · #8 09-21-2008, 12:30 PM

Just checked out ET's necks. They look great. If they can just figure out the right compression for their banner at the top of Jemsite they would be perfect.

jb4674 · #9 09-21-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADA

I think a lot of people also order some product from "some" custom shop .
But they have many many problem , seems like Delay , Seller diving , Wrong Spec ....... etc

So I want to know your exp , Do you know which custom shop is the best in your mind .
I just try the "Cwood" and "L One Guitars" Custom shop already .
They make me crazy . Delay , Wrong Spec , Diving ...................................
I dun know why they can do the advertising at here !
Maybe I dun understand your excuse , But I just know if you get the money , you have to finish the work in time what you said .
I try to find the "Chris" of "L one Guitars" a lot of time , But have not any reply , Anyway I hope you still a life . If you dead already , Please find me and let me know >.<

So , Can any mate tell me which custom shop is better ?

Not until you can properly express what you're trying to convey. I'm recouping from the headache after attempting to read what you typed because it simply made no sense whatsoever.

Jimmy

ryanb · #10 09-21-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

But Woods took on way to much work at the beginning and he's been behind ever since. I was just using it as an example, I know other shops don't have day jobs, but some do. If your not prepared to do the work in a timely manner don't take the order, its as simple as that. I think Blackmachine has all of 2009 all ready booked with orders, thats how you gotta do it, know your limits.

Exactly right. If you're going to be in the business, you have to have the balls to not accept more work than you can handle. Either add the capacity you need or let the overflow customers wait until you are ready to handle them. (Woods was on the right track before with the waiting lists ... but those lists don't seem to have any meaning at all anymore.) Taking someone's money and gear years before you can get to it is completely unethical, among other things. But such business prcatices tend to be self-regulating in the long run.

carloslogg · #11 10-27-2008, 12:43 AM

post some pics in here

JShred · #12 04-22-2009, 07:06 PM

I've been looking for the "perfect" one for a while, but I'm starting to be fairly sure there is no such animal.

For some reason it seems like there is some equation, or at least a hypothesis, wherein:

For every dollar of gross margin written by a guitar company in a year, there is an inverse amount of concern for what can be made specially for the needs of a particular consumer or even a group of consumers.

Thus, it can also probably hold true in reverse:

The more skilled, specialized and focused on custom work the shop is, the less fundamental business savvy, and consequently less likely to offer reliable quotes, turnaround time, support or communication.

I think it was a guy named Moebius (maybe?) who on another thread said, Just because you're a great luthier doesn't make you a great business man. Hope that was him, because I totally agree with him.

So I guess for now, the best course is some compromise in the middle. A larger shop, maybe, with some measure of "gravitas" and credibility, yet not so large that you're Dave Mustaine being told by the great and mighty Gibson that you can't have a signature 24 fret guitar made, because that would be un-Gibson. And thus, wrong. No soup for you. One year.

I will say I've had a guitar built by the late master Bernie Rico, and from what I've seen and heard, his son does some kick a55 work as well. He built a screaming awesome green 27 fret for a good friend of mine, seems to be a serious shred weapon.

Oh, and for the love of god (for real, not the song) don't give Woods an order. You might as well go on a dating site, find a nice someone, get married, conceive a child on the honeymoon, and put it through grade school while you wait for your project to be done. And your kid will be able to read just in time to read the first email update you get on the progress.

shreddersymphony · #13 04-23-2009, 01:22 PM

I think the lesson to be learned here is that you ALWAYS take a risk when you deal with someone hundreds or even thousands of miles away and pay them all the money up front. The horror stories I hear all the time have led me in a certain direction - LOCAL luthiers. I am aware this may not be possible for everyone, but if you scour the net there are local luthiers around in many US states and probably overseas as well. The guy who does all my custom builds lives an hour away from me. He doesn't have as many orders (because for him its more of a side job/hobby than a career), emails me pics of his progress every weekend, and is absolutely committed to doing the job perfectly. He was once FOUR DAYS late on a "completion date" he quoted me, and since I was already up at college he drove 300 miles to deliver the completed guitar to me. For a four day lateness. Once you find a person like this, you stick with em for life. Don't assume that just because someone doesnt have a polished website with pretty graphics that they can't build a fantastic guitar.

The bottom line is, when you deal with a local luthier you gain a good amount of security versus someone 5 states away or even an ocean away. That said, I've heard nothing but GREAT things about both Jaden and ET Guitars. So if you're lookin' at options on this board I would certainly say they are both good bets from what I've read.

pfrischmann · #14 04-23-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb4674

Not until you can properly express what you're trying to convey. I'm recouping from the headache after attempting to read what you typed because it simply made no sense whatsoever.

Jimmy

To be fair,
I'm sure English is a second language to the OP.
His English is certainly better than my Cantonese, how about you?

toneboy · #15 04-23-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shreddersymphony

I think the lesson to be learned here is that you ALWAYS take a risk when you deal with someone hundreds or even thousands of miles away and pay them all the money up front.

Rule #1 when dealing with a custom guitar builder or painter - never give them more than half up front and only pay the rest upon shipment. If they ask for more money during the build process, for any reason other than changes you've requested, don't give it. I refuse to business with any builder/painted who wants all the money up front. Parts or paint should not make up more than half the cost of the job.