Hobby or Business?

[Robert Canfield]

Thank you for the warning. I would be gifting to the FEW people I have in mind. Past these few I intend to require full material costs as a down payment then go from there.

 

[scottyd]

The first bass I built I built for myself. Still have it today, I hardly ever play it because its uncomfortable the neck is too thick and its heavy. I keep it as a reminder of where I was and where I am as a builder, In my mind, NO way would anyone be happy with this bass if they paid for it. It's pretty, a 1 off and unique, fiber optic side markers, has sustain for days but the play-ability is just awful... well compared to what I crank out now anyways.

My second build I gifted to a friend who leads praise and worship, he always got nice compliments (again it looked unique) but I knew its flaws and play-ability, I hated it. I built him another (#4) and exchanged it for the flawed one. Number 4 was as close to perfect as I could achieve that early into this, It also has a set of the first pickups I wound. He still has it today, it's held up well.

Number 3 I kept and was a Alembic influenced bass... Laminates galore, hideous but played well. I gigged with it quite a bit and it was rock solid. I later sold it as a parts bass on Ebay less pickups.. and was SURPRISED on what it sold for. The new owner claims to like it.. BUT IDK lol. I built a few more with no branding, sold them, got good reviews, got feedback on what needed to be better and just progressed from there and eventually branded them Redeemer. I've never sold one for what I would consider out of a working mans budget and in doing so have managed to still pull in about 50% profit. Sounds better than what it is trust me. As my quality of work continues to rise, so will my costs.

My first few builds were all very experimental I drew the bodys on large pieces of cardboard, the neck construction was all multi laminates, most were neck through with solid tops, fiber optic side markers ect. Since then I have relied very heavily on CAD programs and WOW what a huge difference that has made.

I guess my point is, I see a lot of guys on here building basses from parts, and decide that they are a Luthier, ready to make money.... Nah.. you're not not even close.

I see a few guys build from scratch what are nice looking basses in pictures. The flaws still shine through to a well seasoned builder or player.. Again, they consider themselves a Luthier ready to make the big bucks.. and again.. nah.. you're not..

Building a bass doesn't mean putting together a pretty package that shines in pictures.. Slapping a pre-made neck on a body or buying a kit. It means putting together something that plays as well if not better than it looks, it means every joint and is gap less, every fret is comfortable, the finish is perfect and it's something that the owner is proud of and LOVES. It means communication with the player, building it how they want it which is a huge challenge in itself. Just because it feels good to you, does not mean it will feel good to them.

I thought I was a luthier after build 2... quickly found out that I have a LONG ways to go.. and I still do.. out of the 4 basses below only ONE fits that bill.

bass 1

Bass 2

Bass 3

Bass 4

 

[BTL]

I run my operation as a business-like hobby.

I'm a designer and builder, not a luthier.

There was a time when I aspired to luthier status, but allergies cut that short.

That said, I've been lucky in that everything I have built has sold for a fair price, but I am only now beginning to see a tiny profit on each unit sold.

Overall, the business is a money loser before even factoring in the value of my time.

Still, I find the work satisfying in other ways...nostalgia, ego, vanity, legacy.

It pleases me to have my name on an instrument, a tool that creates music in the hands of another artist.

As for why, the last line from The Great Gatsby comes to mind:

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Seeing one of my instruments on stage is pretty cool, though...

 

[BassHappy]

I run my operation as a business-like hobby.

I'm a designer and builder, not a luthier.

There was a time when I aspired to luthier status, but allergies cut that short.

That said, I've been lucky in that everything I have built has sold for a fair price, but I am only now beginning to see a tiny profit on each unit sold.

Overall, the business is a money loser before even factoring in the value of my time.

Still, I find the work satisfying in other ways...nostalgia, ego, vanity, legacy.

It pleases me to have my name on an instrument, a tool that creates music in the hands of another artist.

As for why, the last line from The Great Gatsby comes to mind:

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Seeing one of my instruments on stage is pretty cool, though...

Hey Brad

Thanks for weighing in on this. It's interesting to read what Bruce had to say, and what you are saying and of course, what many of the others are saying here in this thread.

The theme seems to be the love of the process. It's about dedication, hard work and the satisfaction of seeing something you conceived, designed and/or created come to life before your very eyes.

Folks here do it for dozens of reasons - but mostly out of love and not for money. That is inspiring to me.

Thanks for that.