New Guitar Day (Small UK luthier content) big pics

[Frank_C]

yeah it is a maple cap!

[GuiTony]

it's kinda like a short, fat telecaster headstock. i liked the older NSG head, but this one is, i think, better.

I preferred his original headstock - it was different (unique) and distinctive.  But it was also a little impractical because it added so much length to the guitar - mine won't fit in some standard cases. 

He changed the design because of feedback from some of the reviewers/magazines.  The guitaring world is so conservative!

[Gooby]

I also loved his original headstock design.

All the strings were pull straight back over the nut. The Machine heads were all in line on a diagonal and yet they were three a side.

I think he should have said Rollox to the Guitar Mags

Martin

[Nolly]

I like the headstock on mine, I feel it matches up with the more PRS-y vibe of this particular guitar.
I think on his more natural looking instruments, the old style headstock fitted the rawer aesthetics.
Either way, it's win/win in my books.

[Gooby]

I would really like to have owned the one he used to make that looked like it survived a Nuclear War. Had Nail Bombs on it I believe. Made to a high standard and then distressed with subtle things like a blow torch.

(Sigh) So many cool guitars in the world, so little money.

I would like a top of the range Parker Fly and a....  and a... :D


Martin

[GuiTony]

What confuses me is ...

The comments on this thread have been completely positive - from both viewers and owners of Nathan's guitars.  The design, the materials, the workmanship, the appearance and (I believe) the sound and playability of the instruments - all comments have been positive, pretty much without reservation.

So why is the man not maxed-out with orders?  Why do we think that he's withdrawn from the business?  For what you get, the prices are hardly OTT.  His guitars are expensive in pure £ terms, but not really expensive when compared against other boutique manufacturers when you consider what you get.

 :?

[Gooby]

I could be wrong.

However from what I know, if you produce original instruments that are in demand. You have to deal with a constant flood of emails and people pestering you for their dream instrument, deals and all sorts. Sometimes creative skilled people decide, sod it I really don't need the aggro any more.

I don't think he had a problem shifting instruments. A particular one of his models was always top of my list instead of a Gibson or PRS so I am very sad to see him stop.

Martin

[MDV]

Word. Good luthiers get a reputation (like NS did) and get hammered with emails. And demanding and fussy buggers like me (if youre readng, bob, I do apoligise!); the work builds up, the real-world pay rate (not just money per instrument, consider the time when each new guitar is a new design) goes down and I can easily see how it ceases to look appealing anymore.

[Nolly]

It's an interesting one, and I'm sure Martin(Gooby)'s answer is very relevant.
It is difficult, because for the amount of profit you need to make to live a comfortably, raise a family etc, you'd need to be making guitars very quickly - something which simply isn't possible with genuine handmade custom instruments.

There is still a chance that I had it wrong, and that he is still building and selling guitars. I hope that is the case, because his instruments are unique and forward-thinking - a rare thing among the plethora of strictly traditionalist builders/companies that have a stranglehold around the "boutique" market.

[Philly Q]

It is difficult, because for the amount of profit you need to make to live a comfortably, raise a family etc, you'd need to be making guitars very quickly - something which simply isn't possible with genuine handmade custom instruments.

I think that's probably the key point - profit margins are relatively small, so you need to shift big numbers to make enough total profit to (a) cover your costs and (b) live on what's left. 

For a small builder, there may just not be enough hours in the day... unless you think you can justify taking on more staff, bigger premises, more equipment.  Which adds a whole load of extra risks.

[Frank_C]

he is still doing it but as a hobby and not as a full time occupation, and he has just started another batch of 10 but he will only be working on them on saturdays so they wont be done until later on in the year!

[Nolly]

It is difficult, because for the amount of profit you need to make to live a comfortably, raise a family etc, you'd need to be making guitars very quickly - something which simply isn't possible with genuine handmade custom instruments.

I think that's probably the key point - profit margins are relatively small, so you need to shift big numbers to make enough total profit to (a) cover your costs and (b) live on what's left. 

For a small builder, there may just not be enough hours in the day... unless you think you can justify taking on more staff, bigger premises, more equipment.  Which adds a whole load of extra risks.

Exactly, glad you agree.
The guys at this level that are making a living through it seem to either run a repair/mod workshop to keep things ticking over (something that a single builder can't realistically run alongside building and do both effectively enough to build the kind of reputation they need), or live like monks.

he is still doing it but as a hobby and not as a full time occupation, and he has just started another batch of 10 but he will only be working on them on saturdays so they wont be done until later on in the year!

That is reassuring to hear, though it is a shame he doesn't have a functioning website etc, if only to serve as a vessel for a gallery of his work.

[Frank_C]

www.nsguitars.co.uk
this is his website,
although it hasnt been updated for a while i dont think.

[Nolly]

Holy cr@p, how have I missed that site for the last 2 years?!

Additional holy cr@p: My guitar is on there. Apparently it has Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and neck laminates!

[WezV]

ah yes, i remember seeing the harp guitar some months back

trying to make a living from it severly limits the type of work you can do and still eat at the end of the month... anything experimental or much different and you would have to charge silly money.  the amount of hours that go into a new shape or something a bit different soon add up

this is why i am teetering on the edge as far as pushing it further goes.  atm i am quite happy with a full time job and the chance to make some damn nice and different guitars on the side.  not sure if full time guitar building is viable untill i can ask £5k+ a guitar ;) - well off that yet