"Peoples Axe"-mechanical cannibals, & junkyard

[Drac]

Aye up, mates!

 Need some feedback on developing this concept for cheap, excellent guitars-please reply with any ideas!

"The Peoples AXE"

I have had this concept called the 'peoples axe' for a while, now.
The guitar equivelant of the T-34, or the StenGun from WWII...
a musical pipebomb that sonic terrorists could fabricate at home by black candlelight

I'm hoping to knock the price down to about half of what my axes go for now- approx. £500-750-That is if I was to build it finished, with BK's, ready to rock...I think my prices are bloody low to start with, considering the time involved, but alot of people just don't have that much dough at any given time.

This will mean simplifying the way I do things, and being pennywise in regard to matierials/hardware/components-everything.I don't worry about what things cost when I build guitars.

Had this idea for the peoples axe as a way to wage war on the factories, music stores, etc. , as well as the notion that custom guitars have to cost an arm and a leg-consider that the standard BK bridge/neck set , with pots, and switches would cost as much as half of that price I'm shooting for-well worth it, too- but add this to my axebuilding cost, and you're already 3/4's the way to my average prices-Why  hold back at that point?

So would have to cut corners, or lose my ass trying!

I've always had a cannibal concept-  use everything, reuse everything,  and put the emphasis on sound/playability, and let the eyecandy factor come second to that-Hotrod style- Use primer-skip the fancy paint,  provide the meat & potatos, and let people finish them off as they see fit.
Another route would be to make kits, but other companies already do that.
 
 I had another idea-more of a surefire recipe for making a guitar, than even a kit- simplify the whole process, using as much matierial and parts that most people already have lying around the house- Prove the recipe by making several asskicking axes by the formula-Give the recipe away for FREE-then could also build them for others, crazy paint and features as the customers budget sees fit...

this is my 'junkyard guitar' concept- simplest path to making  good  instruments, no pedigree- kitchen countertop,cutting board body, table leg neck,  etc.

Would like to juxtapose the best of sound, with resourcefulness-

Almost anyone can spend a fortune on parts & matierials, and come up with something interesting-This would be a study of the shortest route to an inexpensive, but no compromise players axe that anyone could/would want to build.

I like the idea of making the best guitar, for the least amount of money-
Even keep a budget/accounting of time & matierials throughout the building of the axe, to present upon completion.

I don't even know how it would tally up, but see this project as a personal challenge-would it/could it pay off?

Any ideas?

Cheers for yer interest, mates!
 Drac

[Ratrod]

I like the concept. Junkyard parts and a primer finish, that's pure old skool hot rodding.

[lulusg]

There is a company in the US call Mcintosh that  started by making amps for home use with WWII materials, and went on to make some of the best  pre-amp , amps for audiophiles.  The right combination of materials, and electronics can make for an oustanding instrument. Cheers Drac.

[Afghan Dave]

Sounds like a great idea Drac and it's a better idea because you're passionate about the project / concept. I love the StenGun analogy

You've got the skills and the desire so whatever you do, don't make the fatal mistake that even massive companies make - Failure to fully understand the consumer - even their unarticulated desires are critical in the exploratory stages of a new product launch.  

Keep up the process you've started here - Ask everyone for their opinion - sometimes hide your relationship to the concept to gain more accurate feedback.

This idea is very interesting, because the dynamics of your market are somewhat contradictory. Both Niche AND volume (by that I mean volume by comparison to your custom jobs).

The sense of satisfaction that could come out of getting this right could be huge.

Good luck mate!