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Have you bought a custom made guitar overseas(asia)


johnkline

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Posted

I don't know about the inlay work but some of them have solid rosewoods back and sides and all of them use bone saddle/nut/pins. I contacted someone who bought one so I'm trying to find out how they sound, etc...

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I found another guy from Taiwan with similar looking products too, I wonder if they are the same instruments...Well let me know how they play if that person ever contacts you, I may be interested too. $700 for a guitar with nice inlay work, solid top, bone nut/saddle is a good deal if the guitar plays well.

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Posted

he mentioned that the guitars are made in his workshop i.e. factory, and this does not necessarily means that the instruments are made by his hands. considering the fact that labour cost is very low in the ROC (probably cheaper with imported labourers from across the ditch) i wouldnt knock the seller just yet.

 

and paying for an instrument of that price, without paying middlemen costs in the states, i think its fairly in-value.

 

edit: to each his own, but i think the inlay work is nice but overdone!

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I'd also be interested to see how they play. I will admit that the inlay work might be a little overdone, but it sure is pretty.

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Ive had this same question on another site , ive seen some of his guitars go for around 3-4 hundred bucks on Ebay , they are beautifull instruments ( to much inlay on the backs ) but ive wondered about their sound also, and is the quality great or mediore - Rose wood back and sides -- I might be interested if they ever had Ebony on the fingerboard- and I had a good referal on its construction and Sound ! thanks !

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I just wanted to post the message I got back from a buyer, in case anyone was interested about this particular hand made maker in asia.

 

 

Hi John, To answer your question I've been playing 35 years. Have had a lot of 12 string guitars. from Humming Bird to Fender. I'm in the studio right now and my fender is accoustic and wasn't giving me the sound I was after. I was looking for an accoustic/electric and was looking at Ovation.I happened to be looking at ebay and saw the eagle 12 string and liked it, so I bid on it and won.Got it cheaper than buying new with case. I was kind of worried about what could happen if I didn't get it and the sound.So I tracked it every day. Took 10 days from time of purchase till the mailman rang my doorbell.The picture's on ebay don't do them justice and the harmonics are excellent. I also bought An eagle pickguard, because I noticed they didn't have one,and I didnt want to scuff up the finish.Bruce put that into the locking guitar case that you get with the guitar(Heavy Duty Nice) and saved 10 dollers for that. If all his guitars are like what I recived ,it's top quality. Hope I answered your question. Later, Steve

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Posted

Yes.

 

Read about it and see it here.

 

But:

 

(1). I went to the luthier's shop and talked to the luthier.

 

(2). I played other guitars he's made. I saw the quality of the other guitars he's made. His Indian Rosewood guitars are amazing.

 

(3). This particular luthier was recommended to me by an Aussie Rock guitar player who has bought several from him.

 

(4) A friend of mine who owns at least $10,000 worth of acoustic guitars, Collings, Taylor, Guild, Gibson and who takes very good care of all of them is ordering an Indian Rosewood D-45 cutaway from this luthier. He charges $250 for a hand-made guitar, minus any extras.

 

(5). (a). I don't know anything about this EBay seller. I know a lot about the luthier who made my guitar. He doesn't sell on EBay.

 

(b). The quality of his export guitars isn't really up to the level of his custom-ordered hand-made guitars.

 

©. But he may sell to others who turn around and sell them on EBay. I don't know.

 

(6). Best case scenario, you've got Taiwanese tuners or Korean tuners on those guitars. You'll want them replaced.

 

(7). Best case scenario, you'll need a stateside setup & new tuners.

  • 2 weeks later...
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Posted

There are also some very fine and reliable luthiers in Asia. E.g. Gintar in Bandung / Indonesia produces Faith guitars for the U.K. market (www.faithguitars.com) and Jeff Babicz for the US market. He made for me a beautiful Faith Saturn Cutaway, Sitka Spruce top, back & sides Mahogany (no laminates) and fretboard the best Ebony I

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Posted

I highly recommend anyone considering buying one of these buy a plane ticket and visit the luthier.

 

You'll get a great vacation, a great guitar and you'll still save a lot of money over what you'd pay for a Stateside handmade acoustic.

 

As far as buying on EBay, if you've got $500 to blow, take a chance. You'll need better tuners and a stateside setup. But you just might get a fabulous guitar. Or you might be out $500. I don't know.

 

Buy a plane ticket. Take a set of Grovers or Schallers with you. Have a good time in Asia. The future is here.

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