Is this a $10,000 guitar?

[TBman]

For me it needs to be a bit larger, with a cutaway, and a moon spruce top. Then it'll be worth $10,300.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by fitness1

Whatever the market will bear....

For starters (in my world and mind) a 10k guitar with ivoroid binding all over it is a non starter.

As stated above, it might as well be 10 million - not going to happen on my budget.

I agree you would think for 10k a nice wood binding would be the least standard .... But then Reverb like e-bay is kind of a pricing free for all

[donlyn]

this a $10,000 guitar?

Unless I hit the lottery, there is no such thing as a guitar worth $10K in my world. And even then, Naaah.

Been playing since the 60s, and I've watched the inevitable price climb over the years, none so much as what's happened in the last 5 years.

Considering I'm semi-retired now, even 1K seems like too much, but I did cobble together enough to get my new Guild R-1512 12 string (no electronics) for just under that. Maybe my last guitar? To go with my new purchases, I've managed to purchase a lot of used instruments along the way to amortize the average cost of them to a manageable expense, especially on a per annum basis. Most of my Taylors were bought used (one sight unseen, sound unheard, and hands unplayed; did some homework), and all in great shape.

Be well and play well,

Don
.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by donlyn

this a $10,000 guitar?

Unless I hit the lottery, there is no such thing as a guitar worth $10K in my world. And even then, Naaah.

Been playing since the 60s, and I've watched the inevitable price climb over the years, none so much as what's happened in the last 5 years.

Considering I'm semi-retired now, even 1K seems like too much, but I did cobble together enough to get my new Guild R-1512 12 string (no electronics) for just under that. Maybe my last guitar? To go with my new purchases, I've managed to purchase a lot of used instruments along the way to amortize the average cost of them to a manageable expense, especially on a per annum basis.

Be well and play well,

Don
.

I'm closing in on retirement too. I'm ready to get off the hamster wheel,

The days of dropping a few $k on a guitar will be a pipe dream

Hence, I've planned my exit and have a well stocked stable.

I can't wait to put the "Working days" behind me.

[cliff_the_stiff]

Originally Posted by Sadie-f

SCGC goes $2700 upcharge for koa, and that's a gorgeous piece. As it's offered by Sylvan and new, it's pretty clearly the rate they're getting. Herringbone purfling is standard.

They're order books seem to be full, demand has remained strong across the industry since pandemic, and yeah, I think we all want to seew them do well.

Yup. This is on par with any of the contemporary builders at the moment.
It’s also on Reverb, my bet is that it will cost a little less in person.
Sylvan is a great shop too.

[Peter Z]

I think the biggest risk is the Koa, which can be a good or really bad sounding wood. Without playing before I wouldn’t take the risk.

[donlyn]

this a $10,000 guitar?

Originally Posted by rmp

I'm closing in on retirement too. I'm ready to get off the hamster wheel,

The days of dropping a few $k on a guitar will be a pipe dream

Hence, I've planned my exit and have a well stocked stable.

I can't wait to put the "Working days" behind me.

Hey Ray,

I work part-time by choice, but given the current 'state' of things, I am very happy to have a little extra income. It seems that the cumulative costs of food over the last few years have even gone up to approach or exceed the 50% range, which no cost-of-living adjustment will come close to covering.

But it also is a source of getting out of the house and getting some exercise, and I find it improves my mental state a lot too. If there is a local part-time job you can fill, I highly recommend it. Can also be fulfilling and (quality of) life extending.

Good luck on your pending 'golden years'.

Don
.

[Dwight]

It's a nice looking guitar, someone will pay 10k for it, I'm ok with that.

[gr81dorn]

Taylor sells laminated Koa guitars exceptionally well built but still "assembly line" built for $2000. With that in mind, its not so ridiculous relative to that.

[zoopeda]

Their factory is on high dollar real estate that must be incredibly expensive to run. I assume they sell a bunch to high-rolling Californians. Me, I’ve never been blown away by their tone at any price. High quality, but not my cup of tea. At $10k, seems silly.

[Newbflat]

Creep… even a run of the mill Collings OM2 with an adi top is pushing $8k with no fancy back and sides and no custom inlay. Not sure if California is the right place to place blame.

[Shishigashira]

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

Taylor sells laminated Koa guitars exceptionally well built but still "assembly line" built for $2000. With that in mind, its not so ridiculous relative to that.

Meanwhile Eastman will sell you a hand built all solid Koa guitar with the works (pickup, sound-port, chamfered armrest) for about $2000 as well. Is the Santa Cruz worth 5 times what the Eastman costs? That's up to the individual to decide.

https://reverb.com/item/62355581-eas...gs-pickup-9368

[H165]

I'm an old native Californian whose teenage hobby was wandering into guitar shops.

This question is directly equivalent to "Is this a $500 guitar"? in about 1965.

Also directly equivalent to "Is this a $75,000 house"? in about 1965.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by egordon99

My two cents - SCGC prices have been creeping (inching?) up quite a bit over the years (certainly since I've purchased my OM/PW in ~2003 for around $3k if I recall correctly)

+1.

Glad I bought in about 15 years ago. Current prices are getting a bit out of hand. And it's pulling used boutiques along with them.

[383roller]

It’s like the other thread: you don’t have to get it. It’s not marketed at you or the others that couldn’t grasp the idea of dropping 10k.
Brand loyalty goes quite far, and you can’t take it with you.