A 2015 mod a Harley Benton guitar challenge?

entee

themeinside said:

That would be rather nice... how about an inhouse GAK range, where we order all the prototypes for models through you, eh @MarkGAK? ;D

I've recently bought two guitars from GAK, so would hope (expect) some discount!  lol

themeinside

^Actually, I was joking, but that's not the worst idea in the world... if we could identify the best OEM factory in China, and then broker a bulk deal through a supplier, we could all custom order the instruments we would like, or order them with the spec that they would like to mod from... It would be much easier to do, and to co-ordinate, and to negotiate prices with a name like GAK behind us...

ToneControl

that's like what Chappers did innit?

themeinside

entee said:

themeinside said:

That would be rather nice... how about an inhouse GAK range, where we order all the prototypes for models through you, eh @MarkGAK? ;D

I've recently bought two guitars from GAK, so would hope (expect) some discount!  lol

Yeah, i've bought two guitars and a load of random gear from them in the past, so I would hope the same! ;D

themeinside

ToneControl said:

that's like what Chappers did innit?

Not quite, I don't mean a single democratically voted guitar model we all buy. I mean, we all spec out our own, which are ordered as single, separate, 'prototype' models, but through GAK's mediation and organisation. ie. people may be more confident of payment going through a large shop like GAK, and factories may be more amenable to discounts, if a large number of models are purchased, especially from an big name in the business.

Would it be too cheeky to go to Saein, who apparently manufacture Thomann's guitars for them? :P

TTony

themeinside said:

^Actually, I was joking, but that's not the worst idea in the world... if we could identify the best OEM factory in China, and then broker a bulk deal through a supplier, we could all custom order the instruments we would like, or order them with the spec that they would like to mod from... It would be much easier to do, and to co-ordinate, and to negotiate prices with a name like GAK behind us...

It's not a bad idea, but I'm not sure how practical it would be either, unfortunately.

I'm guessing that Thomann order each HarleyB model in volume.  Probably 50+ units of the each model, with an identical spec, to get the prices down to those levels.  50+ units of 30ish models (I've not counted them!) = 1,500 units.  Guesstimate average landed cost of £60/unit, and that's a capital investment of c£100k.  Allow for the inevitable b-stock and "only fit for decoration" units, and you probably need to sell 75% of those units to break even.  And that's "break-even" purely in terms of the gross margin on the units - before you add in all the costs of running the Thomann empire.

So, plenty of risk, and fairly low ROI for the retailer, but OK for Thomann as I'm also guessing that they've got quite a high turnover given their massive market (Europe) and profile.

From looking at this thread, we'd probably generate 1 or 2 sales of each of c15-20 different models.  It's the number of different models and instruments available that makes the HB range so attractive for this challenge - there's something in there that generates a "must have that" or "no-brainer at that price" response from everyone who looks.

That's not a lot of business to get the factory interested, nor would it be a great incentive for a retailer to get involved, unless they were very confident that they'd be able to get a Thomann-style deal, and be able to shift the remainder of the units quickly (into a much smaller market, and in head-to-head competition with Thomann).

themeinside

Alas, 'tis but a pipe dream. Hopefully we'll get more info from Thomann.

JudasVigilante

I went ahead yesterday and bought my tele for the HB mod challenge. Am i screwed if you guys then go ahead and buy from Gak or otherwise? As long as I still can start a build thread and enter the mod challenge.

BTW what's the ethical problems with dv247? I use them quite a bit, but don't know anything about them? Should I be giving my hard earned money to some other company. I also use Gear4Music. Any ethical probs there?

Regards

Paul

TTony

JudasVigilante said:

I went ahead yesterday and bought my tele for the HB mod challenge. Am i screwed if you guys then go ahead and buy from Gak or otherwise? 

Impatient!!

No, you're not screwed, we'll still let you enter.  Or we might say that you'll just have to buy another one from GAK

entee

TTony said:

JudasVigilante said:

I went ahead yesterday and bought my tele for the HB mod challenge. Am i screwed if you guys then go ahead and buy from Gak or otherwise? 

Impatient!!

No, you're not screwed, we'll still let you enter.  Or we might say that you'll just have to buy another one from GAK

 

Don't worry @JudasVigilante, I bought mine too - we'll have our own challenge shall we?  lol  Not sure I can fund ANOTHER from GAK @TTony... ; pmsl

WezV

Mine have just arrived.

Grand unboxing and initial thoughts after dinner

monquixote

JudasVigilante said:

I went ahead yesterday and bought my tele for the HB mod challenge. Am i screwed if you guys then go ahead and buy from Gak or otherwise? As long as I still can start a build thread and enter the mod challenge.

BTW what's the ethical problems with dv247? I use them quite a bit, but don't know anything about them? Should I be giving my hard earned money to some other company. I also use Gear4Music. Any ethical probs there?

Regards

Paul

http://theeccentricblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/digital-village.html

stimpsonslostson

Another option is Alan George Guitars. He imports Aeirsi brand guitars and has a good reputation amongst a few other groups.

his Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AlanGeorgeGuitars/info?tab=page_info

website

http://aggmusic.co.uk/

the range.

http://www.aiersiguitar.com/

I'm another who may well end up with a HB- I SHOULD have vouchers to spend (& with a baby due next month it's the only way I'll get it past the wife!). I want a telecaster!!

JudasVigilante

Phew! thanks guys. I'm not doing it to win anything, just to do a mod diary and maybe gain some more expertise as it'll only be my third mod/build. Have no aspirations of winning whatever the prize is, if any! 

TTony

stimpsonslostson said:

Another option is Alan George Guitars.

I might have to drop him an email too.

stimpsonslostson

WezV said:

Mine have just arrived.

Grand unboxing and initial thoughts after dinner

Get eating!!! 

TTony said:

stimpsonslostson said:

Another option is Alan George Guitars.

I might have to drop him an email too.

I wondered if the relative small scale of his business might mean that the 20ish orders we're potentially bringing would make more of a difference to him than to a larger retailer... and thus mean we get a better deal. (Of course it could mean that his margins are lower and is unable to do a "deal". 

Worth a try hopefully.

I wasn't actually going to join in- I held off on last years challenge due to lack of funds... I'm actually planning what I want to achieve- THAT'S a bad sign!

dindude

Not wishing to be party pooper, but why don't we just buy the damn Thomann guitars. The Euro's shit at the moment and their standard Tele can be had for under £50, or an easy under £60 with shipping. Why tye obsession for recognition?

themeinside

dindude said:

Not wishing to be party pooper, but why don't we just buy the damn Thomann guitars. The Euro's shit at the moment and their standard Tele can be had for under £50, or an easy under £60 with shipping. Why tye obsession for recognition?

Lots of free publicity for them. That simple. 

Hertz32

Alan George do a 10 string classical guitar! and a gorgeous blue PRS copy  )

it's the promise of a Flying guitar that really has me hooked though!

Nomad

dindude said:

Not wishing to be party pooper, but why don't we just buy the damn Thomann guitars. The Euro's shit at the moment and their standard Tele can be had for under £50, or an easy under £60 with shipping. Why tye obsession for recognition?

Agreed. If they had been quick to respond, and maybe offered a small discount or prize, then fine. Since they haven't, I don't see the point in trawling around trying to find another retailer to do it. Unless I'm missing something (and I could be), getting some sort of deal with a retailer wasn't the point of it in the first place.