New IBG Epiphones - Get them before Eagle does

[laxu]

The Strandberg is at least as good on the details here.

I really should have taken pics of the one I had.

• Can't set it up for even medium action without buzzing because the fretwork is so bad? Ship it!
• Tried to route a nut slot in the wrong place so there's a chunk missing behind the nut? Ship it!
• Limited edition quilt top? Let's pick the top with the least amount of figuring!
• Should we worry that the finish is flaking off that bridge, boss? Nah, ship it!

 

[Eagle]

I really should have taken pics of the one I had.

• Can't set it up for even medium action without buzzing because the fretwork is so bad? Ship it!
• Tried to route a nut slot in the wrong place so there's a chunk missing behind the nut? Ship it!
• Limited edition quilt top? Let's pick the top with the least amount of figuring!
• Should we worry that the finish is flaking off that bridge, boss? Nah, ship it!

I don’t dispute anyone’s bad experience but I just go by the ones I see. The vast majority are absolutely fine ime. I see Friday afternoon shit from almost every major manufacturer right up to and including some pretty expensive brands.
I think it’s more about how they deal with you to put it right. If they do and if they care.
The point I was making is the material specs are high ( yes they were higher )and all you are down to is the cost of labour. Strandberg guitars also have expensive third party components and bespoke hardware. This and relatively low volume production volume so putting a guitar out at a profit at all at £2K isn’t as easy as you might think.
Unless you totally scrape the barrel and do something like the Sire which is a pos dressed up to be something special. It’s a difficult industry.
I’m not defending Strandberg but they mostly get criticism for the country of origin and the price of other products from the same factory which is actually irrelevant.

 

[laxu]

I don’t dispute anyone’s bad experience but I just go by the ones I see. The vast majority are absolutely fine ime. I see Friday afternoon shit from almost every major manufacturer right up to and including some pretty expensive brands.
I think it’s more about how they deal with you to put it right. If they do and if they care.
The point I was making is the material specs are high ( yes they were higher )and all you are down to is the cost of labour. Strandberg guitars also have expensive third party components and bespoke hardware. This and relatively low volume production volume so putting a guitar out at a profit at all at £2K isn’t as easy as you might think.
Unless you totally scrape the barrel and do something like the Sire which is a pos dressed up to be something special. It’s a difficult industry.
I’m not defending Strandberg but they mostly get criticism for the country of origin and the price of other products from the same factory which is actually irrelevant.

Yeah I can agree with your points.

To me the offensive part is that the guitar I got went past a number of people who should have caught the problems:

1. The QA at the factory okay'd it.
2. They didn't check it in Sweden before shipping it to me. I think for over 2000 euro guitars that is not an unreasonable expectation.
3. After I returned it, they put it back on sale at full price. I know this because it was the only one of that model/color, and a few days after my return there was just one of them on sale when previously it was sold out.

So Strandberg can go fuck themselves as far as I'm concerned.

As for the custom hardware..I'd agree if it was any good. But it has stupid imprecise action adjustment that is a huge pain in the ass. The ABM saddles on my Skervesen are a far superior design.

 

[Eagle]

Yeah I can agree with your points.

To me the offensive part is that the guitar I got went past a number of people who should have caught the problems:

1. The QA at the factory okay'd it.
2. They didn't check it in Sweden before shipping it to me. I think for over 2000 euro guitars that is not an unreasonable expectation.
3. After I returned it, they put it back on sale at full price. I know this because it was the only one of that model/color, and a few days after my return there was just one of them on sale when previously it was sold out.

So Strandberg can go fuck themselves as far as I'm concerned.

As for the custom hardware..I'd agree if it was any good. But it has stupid imprecise action adjustment that is a huge pain in the ass. The ABM saddles on my Skervesen are a far superior design.

I totally agree.

 

[paisleywookiee]

The point I was making is the material specs are high ( yes they were higher )and all you are down to is the cost of labour. Strandberg guitars also have expensive third party components and bespoke hardware. This and relatively low volume production volume so putting a guitar out at a profit at all at £2K isn’t as easy as you might think.

I get that, but you'll never get me agreeing with you that it's an additional $1000 retail for that. They're pocketing the extra money, big time.

 

[Eagle]

I get that, but you'll never get me agreeing with you that it's an additional $1000 retail for that. They're pocketing the extra money, big time.

$1000 retail is $250 at the factory so that is what I'm saying.

 

[Devin]

I had Gary’s Hamer the other week;
View attachment 42861

Was it awesome?

 

[Eagle]

Was it awesome?

No.

 

[Eagle]

It’s the players that makes an instrument . I’ve played many famous guitars and none have been anything special.

 

[Devin]

It's weird they'd choose to play bad guitars

 

[la szum]

It’s the players that makes an instrument . I’ve played many famous guitars and none have been anything special.

Let that be a lesson to us all as we search for those fine, fine instruments that suddenly
turn us into a world-class musician.

 

[la szum]

Andy's even telling Legends their guitars are utter shite!

Andy doesn't play favourites or mince words.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Fender custom shop;
View attachment 43008
View attachment 43007
View attachment 43009
And Strandberg;
View attachment 43010
View attachment 43011View attachment 43012
The Strandberg is at least as good on the details here.

That's dedication from Fender. They really are trying to copy an old guitar down to even the questionable fretwork?!! Details!

 

[Eagle]

It's weird they'd choose to play bad guitars

They don’t get to play anything like the number of instruments I do. Often they are not that well versed in how it could be.

 

[T Gobbs]

I think they have some model anounced at NAMM thats going to be US built by Acacia Guitars?

What the fuck is it with Ola and janky little American shops? Strictly 7 was bad enough.

 

[Warmart]

It’s the players that makes an instrument . I’ve played many famous guitars and none have been anything special.

It ain't just the "pro" players! Every used guitar that's passed through my hands has had a setup equating to a mind bogglin' smorgasbord of shit.

Learn at least basic setup people.

 

[paisleywookiee]

It’s the players that makes an instrument . I’ve played many famous guitars and none have been anything special.

I remember that time Vai played a Sire…

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I remember that time Vai played a Sire…

If he keeps working at it one day he might be a good enough player to deserve that Sire.

 

[Chocol8]

$1000 retail is $250 at the factory so that is what I'm saying.

People quote things like that all the time, but as someone who looks at other companies financials for a living, I can assure you that 99% of the time a 4:1 ratio like that is a complete load of horse crap.

 

[Eagle]

People quote things like that all the time, but as someone who looks at other companies financials for a living, I can assure you that 99% of the time a 4:1 ratio like that is a complete load of horse crap.

Well I see the factory gate price of quite a few things and in this industry that is typically the cost.
There is a lot of levels between this and when it gets to you. It’s not usually one big piss take its more like 10 people getting a modest cut.