Lefty Rants

April 2009

Here in the Great White North of northern Michigan I hope it’s safe to say that the endless winter of ‘08/’09 is behind us. While the calendar date of spring may be March 21 I’ve grown accustomed to thinking of April 21 as our true first day of spring. Our economy in Michigan is about the worst in the nation but really, everyone is feeling the effects of this severe downturn with the exceptions of the utility industries and apparently the major guitar manufacturers.

In January I received my copy of Musician’s Friend annual comprehensive catalog. Naturally I didn’t expect to find any nice lefty guitars within their massive selections but as a habitual glutton for frustration I thought I’d see what fine new guitars are hitting the market for righties. Checking Gibson’s new retail prices first I wasn’t at all surprised to see that they raised their prices yet again for 2009. This new price hike comes on the heels of at least two price increases for Gibson in 2008, if I’m not mistaken.

When I came to Fender’s new list pricing, specifically the Eric Clapton Signature Strat at around $3599, I flung the catalog against my bedroom wall! Honestly, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought we were in a depression?

On average it appears that Fender has raised prices by at least 33% across the board. Give or take 5%. It looks like Gibson has a policy of raising prices substantially every year, at least once.

When was the last time the average wage has been increased at all? I seem to recall them flatlining or even being reduced for quite some time now.

I’m well aware that in times of economic sluggishness music retailers tend to fare better than many other sectors of the marketplace as people have more time to play. Call it ‘food for the soul’. When money’s tight many of us feel the need for music and entertainment even more acutely. It doesn’t cost anything to dust off the case stashed under the bed and entertain ourselves, family, and friends. When the question is asked about what would be the first item to save from a house fire(after family and pets I presume) how many of us mention a prized musical instrument. In all practicality I hope your favorite instrument isn’t a Steinway baby grand! Furthermore, while discretionary spending gets curtailed severely for most of us in times like these it isn’t all that unusual for music lovers to buy that new guitar, amp, keyboard etc. that they’ve been wanting and saving for. Those of us afflicted with GAS are stalwart contributors to renewed economic health so feel good about having done your part to bring back the financial good times. Go spend a few bucks and feel good about it!

How in good conscience can the major manufacturers be so totally profit minded and, I have to say it, greedy? I guess part of the answer would be the ‘good conscience’ part of that question. The idea of conscience in business historically isn’t a well respected concept for the most part. We would hope that these price hikes are necessary for improving employee wages, salaries, and benefits but that is pretty naïve in today’s workplace. The majors are corporations with the attendant shareholders and their proxy demands for a bigger bottom line. Granted, the fine tonewoods in musical instruments are in ever decreasing supply and are going up in price dramatically. But how much does that REALLY add to the cost of your average solid wood instrument? With the economies of scale at work for such large manufacturers the actual added expense for these tonewoods is no reason to constantly jack up the cost just because another calendar year has gone by. To be fair, some of the smaller big concerns have indeed held off on price hikes as long as realistically possible. Ebay sellers stand to receive a better price for their gear since these new price increases send more and more of us to the used instrument market where prices for used, mint condition pieces are cheap by comparison.

There is an unexpected (to me) upside to this. With mass produced guitars at these lofty new price levels it now reflects very positively on the independent Luthiers and boutique builders. Many of the best of the indies like Warren, Suhr, Anderson etc. now have their retail prices for truly custom creations seem more within reach and affordable when something like a Fender Custom Shop Strat is considerably more expensive. Many of these individual builders’ prices start in the 3K neighborhood. For this sum you are getting a true custom guitar that is built to your preferences with far less frustration when it comes to requesting certain special features, hardware, or finishes.

Tonemeister Don Warren is one such independent Luthier that will also build lefty models at no lefty surcharge whatsoever.

The majors like Gibson and Fender don’t even offer all of their product line in lefty mode and whatever they do offer has that stupid upchuck, I mean, upcharge added on for the privilege of such a limited selection. Hopefully the new strata of prices from the established corporations will result in the golden era of the indie builder.


In 2008 I took delivery on my first custom order from an indie – a Don Warren Arlen Roth Signature Tele. It was Don’s first lefty ever and he hit a grand slam in his first at bat! I paid $3100 in 3 installments. No added charge for lefthanded – just $100 additional for providing my request of tortoise binding to create a ‘custom’ model from his AR Signature platform. Please read more about Don and this fabulous axe in my very first entry at Pancho’s Gear Porn this week. I had close to 65 electric axes in my collection before the Warren arrived. Suffice to say for now that the Arlen Roth Signature Custom became one of my top 2 electrics of them all immediately. More quality tones are found in this beauty than a half dozen others combined.

Don Warren Arlen Roth Signature Tele

 

This is NOT hype. You may already have that next custom order in mind but take a moment to check out Don’s work at: www.warrenguitars.com A true master whose time has come.

New at Pancho’s this month is the first listing at Pancho’s Gear Porn. I will use this section to feature the latest and greatest in guitar eye candy. I’ve also updated the galleries for guitars for sale with at least 5 new kick ass axes and included several more as my personal keepers (for now).

I’d like to thank all of my newest customers for your business and kind words of support and encouragement. I’ve been kept happily busy speaking and e-mailing with you as well as packing up guitars you’ve purchased from me. I never expected this little endeavor to take off so fast. I’m also happy to say that with my overseas sales there have been no negative reports of anything whatsoever other than the occasional extended wait while the axe gets custom clearance. So, for overseas guitarists that are curious – YES I will ship to you wherever you may be.

Peace
Phil aka Pancho

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