Double Bass Is this unreasonable?

[arnoldschnitzer]

I gave up selling strings in my shop a few years ago, for two reasons: 1) I pay the same amount the discounters charge the public. Players know these prices and resent paying me a markup, so why bother with ordering, warehousing, bill-paying, etc...2) When I sell a bad string (which happens more often that you'd think) I have to deal with replacing it, returning the bad one, etc. Now I've lost money and I'm not a happy camper.

So I refer people to Lemur or Ideal and let them make the few pennies. And now my shop life runs sooo much smoother.

 

[John Sprague]

Well Cliff, I'll admit that I wax a bit militant about supporting your local shop. I understand you don't want to get reamed, and you shouldn't. Letting your luthier make some money ( a reasonable amount) insures that S/he'll be there to help you on a Sunday, an hour before a performance after your post falls. I don't think any 100% online stores have been there for anyone in an emergency, but they can sure sell bulk.
Anyways, you've probably heard my rant on the topic before, and I promise that I will change my tune as soon as the shop owners start driving Mercedes. In the meantime, I'll continue to watch stores close due to this kind of thing.

Best,
John

 

[KeyserSoze]

I seriously question whether this forum should be used as a means of comparing (and therefore affecting) prices luthiers charge for particular jobs.... IMHO, TB members should leave these pricing comparisons for private conversations and referrals. Moderators?

Arnold, I hope this was written in haste, on a bad hair day.

First off, it doesn't necessarily follow that comparing prices for luthiery affects the price. You can charge what you see fit. Customers can choose to pay your price for *your* work or pay someone else's price for their work. Luthier work is not like buying a box of nails or a set ot Spirocores. One can price-shop the same nails of the same set of Spirocores, they're a commodity, but the quality of luthiers' work varies greatly. Someone like yourself, with a "pedigree" and a good reputation would be expected to charge more than the guy who just hung out his shingle six months ago, with a scant track record, or a guy with an uneven track record. Most savvy consumers would feel that they'd get better work from you, a known entity with a sterling reputation, than from a newbie or a "marginal" guy. How can it hurt for someone to share the information, "top luthiers usually charge from $100 -$150 for this work, others charge less."?

Secondly, your attempt to stifle the sharing of information on this list is wrongheaded, IMHO. That being said, I'm grateful for the information you (and the other luthiers) have shared on this board. You enhance your reputation by doing so. If you within a few hours from me, I'd definitely take my bass work to you.

Keyser

 

[Joe Taylor]

You get what you pay for. If you go to the local bass butcher you get the $50 job then you get the $500 repair job from a real pro.

Why would someone pay to have strings put on their bass. Cranking the pegs is just part of being a bass player. You can use your engineering skills and make an attachemt to use with your hand drill too speed things up.

Which reminds me I need new strings.

Joe

 

[esvsteamship]

Back to the original stuff of this thread, of 'is this a rip-off', and how to get a good ballpark figure.

Probably not, is the answer to the first one, as long as when you get it back the job is worth each and every dollar.

As for some advice on the second subject I ask "How much would it cost to do this on something that is a complete mess when you get it?" So they give you what they precieve to be a fairly high quote, you hold that in mind, and when it's a whole lot cheaper because what you brought in isn't a 'complete disaster', you both are happy. This method works for mechanics, hair salons, any sort of repair/fix-it stuff. In other words, a pesstimist is never dissapointed, becaue it is always better than he thinks it is going to be. Or, at least, this works for me on great me things.

Beth's 2 pennies.

 

[Gufenov]

Why would someone pay to have strings put on their bass? Cranking the pegs is just part of being a bass player. You can use your engineering skills and make an attachment to use with your hand drill to speed things up.

SOMEONE might have taken the bass in for some other work, like a new bridge, some nut-work, and soundpost adjustment, and had new strings installed at the same time. Sort of like - "while you're rebuilding the engine, go ahead and change the oil." That allowed me to hear the luthier's improvements without the old, worn out strings. BTW, I've been known to pay a professional to change my oil, too. That doesn't mean I'm willing to pay $12 a quart.

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

Arnold, I hope this was written in haste, on a bad hair day.

First off, it doesn't necessarily follow that comparing prices for luthiery affects the price. You can charge what you see fit. Customers can choose to pay your price for *your* work or pay someone else's price for their work. Luthier work is not like buying a box of nails or a set ot Spirocores. One can price-shop the same nails of the same set of Spirocores, they're a commodity, but the quality of luthiers' work varies greatly. Someone like yourself, with a "pedigree" and a good reputation would be expected to charge more than the guy who just hung out his shingle six months ago, with a scant track record, or a guy with an uneven track record. Most savvy consumers would feel that they'd get better work from you, a known entity with a sterling reputation, than from a newbie or a "marginal" guy. How can it hurt for someone to share the information, "top luthiers usually charge from $100 -$150 for this work, others charge less."?

Secondly, your attempt to stifle the sharing of information on this list is wrongheaded, IMHO. That being said, I'm grateful for the information you (and the other luthiers) have shared on this board. You enhance your reputation by doing so. If you within a few hours from me, I'd definitely take my bass work to you.

Keyser

Excellent argument, except for the hair comment. Since I don't have much hair left, I rarely have a bad hair day! I agree with you that players need to consider a lot of factors when pricing out repairs and modifications. Certainly a luthier's skill and reputation is foremost. Most important is that the player has a trusting relationship with the person who takes care of his/her prize music making tool...

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Since I don't have much hair left, I rarely have a bad hair day!

When every day is a bad hair day, the term becomes extremely relative.