Conference napalm::guitar

    
    	I'm just going to guess at the answer to "what features" and
    arrange them in decending order of importance.
    
    	1. Looks. No matter how it plays or what hardware it's made
    of, if it looks like a real dog, NO ONE will want to be seen on
    stage with it. 
    
    	2. Feel. Well, it can look great and have the best of hardware,
    but if it doesnt "feel" right to the player, s/he wont be interested.
    This is a subjective balance between several physical attributes
    that are percieved in certain ways by most players. Really good
    "luthiers" are that way beceause they know what the players like.
    
    	3. Quality of workmanship and hardware. So, now it looks great,
    super paint, the weight distribution, neck scale length and width
    are right, but *why* did they use these bullsh*t tuning machines?
    And the cord keeps popping out the jack hole, cause they used this
    cheap 1/4" jack instead of a "Switchcraft" 1/4" jack. If I buy it,
    it's more work for me to make it "right"...Hmmmmmm, maybe not? 
                                                                  
    	4. Sound. The above "three" might be right on, but if you cant
    get at least three distinct "sounds" from paramater changes on the axe
    itself, most players will believe that this could limit their
    flexability. For example, it MUST produce the fat, humbucker sound
    of a Les Paul, it also MUST product the thin, single coil center
    position sound of a Strat, it MUST produce the out of phase, lead
    rythm single coil pickup sound of a Strat, etc et al to be competitive.
    Ideally, you should present every possible phasing for every possible
    combination of split coil pickups for each of three pickup positions.
    But dont over do it, as other manufacturere have taken a fall trying
    to put "too much" electronics into the guitar itself. It's well
    known that most players would prefer not to even deal with a battery
    requirement for their axe. Good Luck!
    
    	Joe Jas
    

    I would suggest the guy reading up a bit on the physics on sound before
    he starts this venture.  Its just not enough to be a great wood
    craftsman to make a good guitar.  You gotta take into account things
    like scale, density, mass, and the harmonic structure before it will
    sound right. 

    Andy,
    
    	I have never bought a "custom" built guitar myself, but here
    is my brief opinion...
    
    Why home made ?  I see two markets
    
    1. High end, specials, wierds, built to the customers precise
       requirements. 
       Attention to detail, and quality well above the average Fender.
       There are no ground rules or magic "must haves".
       For this range of customer you must be very experienced, and
       build based on reputation. A new name in this area will only
       get repeat orders based on recommendations from previous customers.
       Custom built is often harder to re-sell, so you have got to be
       twice as good as the off-the-shelves, to sell at half the price!
    
    2. Low end.  Probably where your friend should start. Try for best
       quality at low price. The challenge is competing with the well
       built taiwan  120 pound Fender copies. Since he is into Art and
       styling, perhaps your friend could find his first customer among
       the "just starting out Heavy Metalist guitarists". These guys
       are not known for subtle styling, and will give your friend the
       opportunity to stretch his creative talents!!
    
    I can't help on the UK kits, but I have a book currently loaned
    to a friend, called something like " BUILD YOUR OWN GUITAR". It
    gives two examples in detail and is a good guide on what skills
    and experience are required. Are there any mindreaders out there
    who know which one I am talking about ? Get in touch with me Andy,
    and I will get the details.  I have a schematic on Gibson active
    guitar electronics which may give your friend some ideas ( it is
    probably copyrighted so careful how you go...)
    
    If I had to put a No.1 part of the guitar that you have got to get
    100% right, its the guitar neck ( and we all know how many 
    options/variations there are of them ).
    
    Sorry I can't be more helpful, don't discourage your friend, If
    he keeps his mind-set of "I can build a better guitar than that"
    it will only be a matter of time before he refines his knowledge
    and skills, and hits the right "formula".
    
    Regards/ Dave
                       
    
    

    All of the luthiers I know are dedicated craftsmen who have devoted
    their whole lives to building guitars. It is a vocation that pays
    little, requires long hours, and takes much more than just good woodworking
    and electronics skills.
    
    They all build high end guitars, because it is impossible for a
    small shop to compete at the low end with factory made guitars.
    Take hardware for example--good hardware to build a strat, costs
    $75-100 retail, and the case another $35. Wood will run another
    fifty for nothing special. Factories pay much less, and are more
    efficient in labor use, as well as have a large investment in capital
    equipment.
    
    Unless you offer something special, no one wants an off-brand guitar.
    The makers I know have established reputations for top-quality work,
    and have customers who are willing to pay for it. Despite that,
    they aren't making much money.
              
    re:-1  Sounds like Donald Brosnac's book. Roger Siminoff also has
    one with a similar title.
    
    Danny W.

    I build custom guitars & I don't charge an arm & a leg for them. I
    mostly build things that are very hard to find, such as left handed
    instruments (you can get Left handed necks from Stuart MacDonalds),
    and double necked guitars. There is substantially less competition
    in these areas, especially if the person who ends up with the guitar
    doesn't have to go broke buying it. I'll admit, I've not built anything
    in the last year and a half. Not because the demand isnt there, but
    because I've been trying to build & utilize a MIDI oriented studio &
    been playing a lot with my Duo.

    If your friend wants to get into the business, I'd suggest that he
    wander around to the music shops & find out what people are asking
    for & the dealers can't seem to get (left handed Strat style guitars
    seem to fit this description). Then your freind should try to actually
    build a sample. If he has no guitar experiance, it is unlikely that
    the guitar will come out right, or saleable.

    I build average cost guitars because I don't  like to work with very
    expensive wood (Nothing worse than damageing a $200.00 piece of
    Brazilian rosewood), and I don't care to put too much exotic stuff into
    my work. I build them more as a hobby & want to keep it that way.

    Send me some  Email is you have any other direct questions.
    
						Jens

    Another person to talk to is Steve Rowley, who had his own guitar
    business for several years. He would be able to give a clearer picture
    of the U.K. (well, maybe more localized) situation. I've found him
    to be very approachable. He's in Solent Business Park, near Fareham.

    It would help if you made the body of the ax shaped like something out
    of Penthouse Magazine. I think alot of people would buy that.