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Post by avengers63 on Feb 11, 2010 11:29:26 GMT -6
I almost have it all sorted out how to consistently make wood mounting rings for humbuckers. So.... I have a couple of questions.
1) Would anyone be interested in them?
2) What would you consider a fair price for the labor?
3) Should they be priced differently for the more expensive woods? IE: Zebra goes for about $18/BF, while walnut is $8-$12, and maple is $6-$8.
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Post by donovan on Feb 11, 2010 11:43:36 GMT -6
I saw prices online for like $25 for bubinga and some exotic woods but personally, I would not pay that. Do you have an estimated price for supplies for each ring? And how many hours does it take? I probably would pay more like $15 right now. I'm not trying to knock you or anything but, if I get a free pickup ring with GFS pickups, I wouldn't pay that much.
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Post by avengers63 on Feb 11, 2010 12:57:32 GMT -6
I've seen them on eBay for $20/set flat, with about 4 different woods.
I haven't worked out all the kinks yet, so I'm not sure how long each one would take.
For the raw wood, I have to take whatever stock will be used and make a blank that's about 10" long, 3" wide, and 3/16" thick. The final blank is +/- 0.04BF, but factor in the waste to resaw & plane to size and you're really starting at about 0.06BF.
BUT... we're talking about delivery of a product ready for a light sanding & some finish. A poplar body blank really only costs about $12-$15, but the shaped & routed body is worth over ten times that.
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Post by avengers63 on Feb 11, 2010 13:01:17 GMT -6
......and $15 for a set +S&H sound pretty reasonable.
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Post by donovan on Feb 11, 2010 16:38:32 GMT -6
Yeah S&H is a huge factor too. It sounds like your materials are pretty cheap but I can understand that your time is well worth it. I'm not trying to knock that at all Avenger! I'm just saying, I would probably we interested though in some wood pickup rings though for the LP I am working on... It might add an awesome unique feature!
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Post by avengers63 on Feb 11, 2010 16:59:29 GMT -6
I don't know what a padded envelope and the cardboard would cost, but actual postage shouldn't be that much. Probably only $2-$3 total. The packaging would weigh more than the rings!
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Post by avengers63 on Feb 12, 2010 9:00:05 GMT -6
 I'm 99% sure I have it all worked out now. These are sapele, and took me about 15 minutes. This isn't taking into account the time to mill the wood, but from blank to rings was +/- 15 minutes. I'll be doing a number of them today to prove to myself that I really DO have it all worked out. |
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Post by donovan on Feb 12, 2010 10:41:48 GMT -6
I really think these are a great idea AV! I like the way these came out and you did a professional job with the countersinks and everything on them!
Like you say, just some fine grade sandpaper and maybe a coat od sanding sealer for some shine and these would be ready to roll!
Awesome job Avenger! Maybe send a set of these to Eddie for that parts guitar build!
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Post by niels on Feb 15, 2010 2:51:56 GMT -6
CK also made wooden pickup rings for his saga kit, I think they are in the saga sagas you should check it out!
BUt I am sorry to say but I don't much people will buy these rings. I think most of the people will make it theirselfs if they are already into the building stuff. But there will also be people like Don that just upgrade guitars, I think that will be your target for this kind of things, I am not too sure if those are many people.
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Post by donovan on Feb 15, 2010 7:40:52 GMT -6
Yeah Niels, I think with what Avenger is doing here, it is much easier said than done! I don't think I would spend the time to work on something this intricate and like you say, right now I am really into refinishing guitars! It's actually cheaper to buy something that has been beat up cosmetically a bit and repaint and rewire it and these are an inexpensive way to make it unique!
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