#16
|
|||
|
|||
I don't know that it's that easy to become a "large guitar maker," (if we need one or not).
Santa Cruz makes 500-700 guitars a year, Olsen makes about 30. Martin is like three (or more) makers in one: they address the serious player with a tight budget, make a ton of really nice instruments in the $3000 range (+ or - ), and have a group of custom builders who make instruments that rival the other smaller builders in what most of us would consider the higher end market. Then we get into serious dollars. I'll probably never have an Olsen, but I like the fact that it's out there and available (you never know). Now there are lots of good guitars at nearly every price range from a plethora of companies, as well as some wonderful guitars coming out of very small shops. Let's celebrate our good fortune at the number of choices. And on virtually every question here: no - whatever the number it is definitely NOT enough.
__________________
Keith Martin 000-42 Marquis Taylor Classical Alvarez 12 String Gibson ES345s Fender P-Bass Gibson tenor banjo |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I think that you're right about Collings -- I've read something along those lines but don't have a link handy -- I have a pretty clear recollection (hardly definitive) that Collings has significantly higher output than SCGC, at least these days, if well short of Martin and Gibson. Breedlove, I would think would be bigger still, given the range of guitars they offer, including both US and Asian-built models, and the fact that I see them in Guitar Centers, although I don't know their production numbers. There are European-centered brands/marques with significant production numbers, as others have mentioned. And surely more Asian guitar makers, and not just Yamaha (who, I'd guess, probably crank out way more guitars than Martin or Gibson, although that's an empirical issue and I don't know the actual numbers). I'd look to China for big numbers. How many is enough at some scale or other? How many will the market support at any one time? I'm guessing that the definitive answer is this: it depends. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
McCollum Grand Auditorum Euro Spruce/Brazilian PRS Hollowbody Spruce PRS SC58 Giffin Vikta Gibson Custom Shop ES 335 '59 Historic RI ‘91 Les Paul Standard ‘52 AVRI Tele - Richie Baxt build Fender American Deluxe Tele Fender Fat Strat |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
I plan to if I ever see them in the local shops. They're just harder to come across. At this point I have no opinion on those four brands other than what I heard of them on youtube videos, which may or may not be accurate due to recording techniques.
|
#20
|
|||
|
|||
The OP is simply wondering if there are others on this forum who think there is room for another reputable guitar maker the size of Taylor or Martin. Not saying that is possible and those two plus many others have paid their dues to become the success they are today. I was not trying to make this about who is the biggest or best and certainly one could research that to give scientific evidence as to who is the biggest and on down. And who says that bigger is better. Not me. Not in this thread. My fav guitar is my Lowden, still a small builder.
__________________
Martin D-28 '67 Cole Clark Fat Lady 2 Taylor Doyle Dykes Custom Alvarez Fender Strat '69 Gibson 1942 Banner LG-2 Vintage Sunburst Gibson SJ-200 Taylor Myrtlewood 12 string Emerald X20 Godin Montreal w/piezo |