While the boss is away #2...(your votes needed)

[Gitarre]

Hey man, I'll help clean up the shop. Nothing better than a organized and cleaned up shop at the end of the day. Well, there are better things but it's still good. I'll be over as soon as I can get there. It just got really cold, windy and snowy here.

[nacluth]

Thanks John. It just got really sunny and beautiful here. Of course that blizzard I had today helped to cool things down.

Here's a shot of me enjoying the fruit of my labor.



Ok, now for brass tacks managers. I have a friend who may be one of the most successful guys in my field. He once said that you should ask your best customers what your prices should be. What do they think is a fair price. Now I know only some of you are actual customers, but as an experiment, I would like to hear from you what you think this guitar is reasonably worth.

Our customs from our shop start at $5200. This is not a shop guitar per se; it's just from me. You know because you voted on the elements what's all in it. Don't lowball looking for a good deal, and don't blow smoke by pricing it like a Somoygi apprentice. You know the market. Where's the reasonable price for this unique AGF instrument?

Please PM me instead of posting outright. I don't think we would violate the rules, but it will help to keep from swaying others. And thanks in advance if you take the time to.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by nacluth

Ok. We've built a handful (actually 4, so not quite a handful) of these basic models. Up until now, we've been calling them our F1 model. They were named after long time AGF member fitness1. He had asked us if we could build a more economical guitar stripped of extra adornment. A couple of years later we did, and in recognition we called it our F1 model.

Last year about time we delivered the last one, we got a phone call from a plectrum maker that he had trademarked the name F-1. He asked us to cease and desist our nomenclature, or for a small fee per instrument, we could obtain a license. Since then, we've been taking to calling it all kinds of stupid names - though C&D for cease and desist has been the front runner. Steve's favorite, I think, is EPH WON as the homonym of the original name. What it will be called from here hence may be something this thread can determine. Any ideas?

I don't think a maker of a different product, with a different spelling (no hypen in yours), can make you cease and desist. Especially if you were using the name first. Maybe a lawyer can prove me wrong.

I'd tell the pick maker to cease and desist contacting you.

[TomB'sox]

You know Ryan, you can choose to ignore my professed bromance, but it is out there for the world to see now...no going back...

[nacluth]

I've known since you said you were moving to Texas. Come on over. Let's hang.

[Zandit75]

Originally Posted by nacluth

Self Portrait of the Artist

It freaks me out seeing my initials everytime I see you with one of these tubs!!

[SJ VanSandt]

We kind of need to see the finished neck before we decide on price, don't we? Seems like bound fretboards and headstocks are pretty serious upgrades for a basic model, plus there's the unique custom inlay on the headstock. Purfling, miters, a unique backward wedge - this is a special guitar.

[nacluth]

That's true Stan. The neck and peghead will be unbound, but while a custom inlay, it's not too complicated. Really I'm not wanting people to overthink their ideas on price. Since you've followed the thread, just give your feelings on worth. It's a social experiment.

Thanks to those who have already answered. I'll compile the gist of the results to give others the feel of what everyone has said. But more responses the better.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Just got back from our travels last night, and stepped out to the shop a while ago. And saw the new whatever-it's-called awaiting a neck. This guitar is going to make someone very happy. Well done, Ryan, it's beautiful. Prettier in person than in the pics!

Steve

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Just got back from our travels last night, and stepped out to the shop a while ago. And saw the new whatever-it's-called awaiting a neck. This guitar is going to make someone very happy. Well done, Ryan, it's beautiful. Prettier in person than in the pics!

Steve

Hey, there are a lot of names inside that top, don't give Ryan all the credit, most of his time was spent with his feet up and a DQ in his hands waiting for the rest of us to tell him what to do!!!!

[lizzard]

Low 4s until you build your name, which you've begun to do. Just my thought from buying and selling hundreds of guitars and monitoring the market for 30 years.

I'm happy to pay less 😱👹😝

[TomB'sox]

SO now that the boss is not away, what is happening with this build?

[Gitarre]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

SO now that the boss is not away, what is happening with this build?

It appears that nothing is happening.

The paying boss may have different ideas on how Ryan should spend his time while at work. Our gaggle of AGF bosses seem to have fallen to the wayside.

[nacluth]

I have to return to working on paying customers' guitars...sigh. We've got a guitar that's probably going out next week, Tom's guitar, a 00, and cigarfan's OM that all need some love. In my in-between time, I'll do a little here and a little there. Actually team, we got a lot done, so this one is almost ready for the finisher. There will be a last vote or two - like on fretboard inlay, so just keep watch for that.

Thanks to everyone that was willing to talk price recommendations on this guitar. It was nice to hear what you had to say, and hopefully it wasn't to awkward for you going that deep into management. I felt like the results were intriguing. No one priced it as a junker and no one tried to stroke my ego with visions of instant wealth. The suggested range was from $3500 to $6200 with a fairly dispersed quoting of prices throughout. The consensus fell around the $4500 point, but there were good rationales for going higher and lower. You were all very thoughtful in considerations about profit, branding, consumer targets, and all the things we try to think of. Most of you mentioned the relatively soft market for high end guitars and how one should deal with it. Thanks for all of this. Steve and I haven't set a firm price yet (though to you that have asked for a quote, I'll honor what I said). Best case scenario I believe is that someone who helped build it take it home as a personalized treasure, and I would like to make that happen, but your generosity in terms of design and advice will make this a great guitar for whoever ends up with it.

I'll be updating everyone as the build continues.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[lizzard]

Can I pay in g&h greenstamps?