Waterloo Current Production

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by blindboyjimi

$4,250 is a bit steep for a ladder braced cherry guitar. You could buy a player 1930s L-00 for that money.

Yeah, that's over $1,000 more than I paid for mine less than 2 yrs ago. Supply and demand.

[A.Wilder1]

Originally Posted by blindboyjimi

$4,250 is a bit steep for a ladder braced cherry guitar. You could buy a player 1930s L-00 for that money.

I count myself lucky that I was able to grab a WL-S for $1950 USD up here in Canada! Not yet have I seen another for sale this side of the border.

But I guess it’s all relative… I sold my Martin 000-18NB to fund it and quite frankly think it’s a superior guitar, or rather, is more enjoyable to play!

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

OMG! I still can't work out how come it costs so much to copy old cheap factory made guitars that sold for $15 to $45.

They are substantially better made than their catalog sale counterparts.

We should be thankful that Taylor didn't suffer the same fate, as the garden variety Taylors would be selling for $10,000 now.

The Waterloos do have somewhat of a cult following, not without good reason. Once their popularity started to increase then the price on pre-owned Waterloos followed, more so when the supply of new and used instruments started to dwindle.

I had the same thing happen with my purchase of a new Lowden O23C. I didn't really bond with it, kept it for several years and it sold for twice what I paid for it.

[Br1ck]

I did not appreciate a friend's Waterloo until I heard him play an unamplified show with a five piece band. The thing cut through bigtime.

[BluesKing777]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

They are substantially better made than their catalog sale counterparts.

I have a few vintage Gibsons, including a 1937 L-0 that cost me a mint to get working, and my counterpart Waterloo WL-14 X braced is a far superior guitar in many ways - fretwork, intonation and playability being superb.

Too many people have mucked around with my old Gibsons, simple as that. I still play and own them but as soon as I bought my Waterloos, some things became very clear!

BluesKing777.

[Mr. Jelly]

Originally Posted by A.Wilder1

is more enjoyable to play!

That is what Waterloos excel at. They are all very responsive. More so than the large majority of guitars available at any price. That makes them more enjoyable to play and makes it easier to accomplish things on them that a player can't do as well on other guitars.

[BluesKing777]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

That is what Waterloos excel at. They are all very responsive. More so than the large majority of guitars available at any price. That makes them more enjoyable to play and makes it easier to accomplish things on them that a player can't do as well on other guitars.

When it comes down to it - simple as that!

BluesKing777.

[A.Wilder1]

For those that are still following, production of the Waterloo line continues into 2023 with another price increase, about $250.00-$500.00 per model.

• WL-AT: $5,525 MSRP
• WL-S DELUXE: $4,760 MSRP
• WL-JK DELUXE: $3,920 MSRP
• WL-K: $3,580 MSRP
• WL-14 SCISSORTAIL: $3,470 MSRP
• WL-14 "BOOT BURST" EDITION: $3,470 MSRP
• WL-12 MH: $3,435 MSRP
• WL-S: $3,415 MSRP
• WL-14 MH: $3,320 MSRP
• WL-JK: $3,245 MSRP
• WL-12: $3,135 MSRP
• WL-14: $3,020 MSRP

Notably, no more hand-rubbed varnish finishes on the Waterloo WL-S Deluxe.

[Monty Christo]

While $3135 is a lot more than I paid for my WL-12 several years ago, I'd happily pay that much to replace it if I ever had to. It's seriously that good.

[Br1ck]

I played a few very nice IRIS guitars that Waterloo lusters should try. Same vibe, great sound.

[Nctom]

Why "should" we, we already own the best . I'm sure the folks at Iris looked over Waterloo before they started building.

[A.Wilder1]

I agree, mine has cured my GAS!

[bsman]

I paid $2600 for my WL-12MH in 2020 and it has never disappointed. It just feels, plays, and sounds right.

[JPCary]

Originally Posted by Br1ck

I played a few very nice IRIS guitars that Waterloo lusters should try. Same vibe, great sound.

Playing an Iris and Waterloo on Friday. One of them will come home with me. Maybe both 🤷*♂️

[sinistral]

While the guitars of the two companies share a certain vibe,* they are fundamentally different. The Waterloo models are meant to be fairly accurate recreations of iconic, depression-era guitars (Stella, Kalamazoo, etc.), albeit better made than those guitars. They sound very much like the guitars that inspired them.

On the other hand, although several Iris models are inspired by iconic, vintage designs (mostly Gibson), they are more freely interpreted and have a distinctly Iris tone (I would describe my DF as a cross between a Martin and a Gibson). Some models, such as the CH, are completely modern designs (a member here had a hand in the design of the CH, which borrows from the shape of Adam Buchwald's baritone guitar).

(I own a Waterloo WL-S Deluxe and WL-14 LTR, and an Iris DF and CH, so I am a fan of both companies.)



* And the lower-priced Waterloos are priced similarly to comparably appointed Iris guitars.