How do you sell your work?

I think we all asked ourself that question...

First of all, to avoid being stuck with an unsold bass, I only build basses that are ordered. I made a prototype once and I tried to sell it on eBay. It was not sold there but it did gave me a lot of visibility.

An other thing is the price tag of a bass. I think it's the worst part in bass making: evaluate your own work. This is only my opinion, but if you set a really low price people will compare your bass with cheap production made bass. If you set your price as high as top luthier, your instrument must be perfect. Finally, what's influence the price is reputation. If nobody knows you, why would they pay money for something they don't know. Once you start selling a few basses, your name will spread as a "good builder" and people will be ready to pay the price because you have a good reputation. This will come over time...

If you have a website, I think you should put it in your signature on TalkBass, this way more people will see your work... Don't rely only on search engine.

Good luck!

 

I build mine with the intention of keeping them for myself. When someone offers me too much money for one then its gone and I am back to the shop to build something different.

As word gets out you will find that the time in the shop increases and the time enjoying your creations decreases.

 

Could you give us a link to your website?

 

JWB - welcome to the Luthiers Forum here at TB!

Since you have a website and intend to sell your basses, you're classified as a commercial user here at TB ... and that brings with it a couple responsibilities. First and foremost, take the time now to become familiar with the Commercial User Policy (CUP) found here:

http://talkbass.com/forum/faq.php?faq=commuserpolicy#faq_cup

You'll see there that you are required to update your profile to identify yourself as a builder for your company. You also see that there's limitations to how you can 'promote' your basses here on TB


As for selling your instruments, I'd recommend finding a couple pro level players in your area and loan them a bass for a couple weeks worth of live/studio gigs. Get their feedback on what they like/dislike about the bass(es) you loaned them, and incorporate that into a new build. When you have a model worked to perfection, you'll also most likely have a new future customer ... and if they're like most bassists, they'll talk-up their new bass and you'll gain additional customers

Sure it's grassroots, but it beats the alternative of selling a bass off your website and finding out there's still some perfecting to do before your instruments are valued at your asking price ... and, unfortunately, word about this kind of work spreads faster than word about a killer high quality instrument


My other advice would be to start working bass repairs in your area. if you're a killer repair person, word will get out. your reputation as a repairman will eventually turn into sales of new instruments ... eventualy

all the best,

R

 

JWB - I am about to begin building some instruments, including basses so I found this thread helpful. After looking at your basses, I have to comment on the fact that you logo is completely obscured by the strings

 

Do you mind sharing what you are heard that you will be incorporating into your work?