Official Luthiers Forum!

I got it, or did I?????

Answer was so long winded he grew a beard?

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I think it was the scratchy as opposed to smooth.

+1

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Ian K.

Ha! Once again, I stirred the pot....

I'm not OCD at all. I simply have a over-sensitive/acute sense of feel. No different than some individuals who have over-sensitive/acute senses of smell, or taste, or....

The long diatribe was to try to explain --why-- some of us --have-- to have this or that, and sooner or later, if you're selling your instruments, you -will- run across someone who insists on something that you think is moot, but it surely isn't for your client. For example, the first time I had a client who insisted on an ebony fretboard because, in his words "a rosewood fretboard feels like I'm driving my fingers into pins and needles", I accommodated his wishes and did use a ebony fretboard, but I dismissed him as being a bit over the top.... But when a second, then a third, client mentioned the same, I thought there might be more to it, and thinking of my own quirks, I realized that for them, it may very well be a real issue.

In short, if/when you run across a client who insists he/she can feel or hear or see or smell things that you can't, listen to them, and do your best to accommodate their needs and wishes; they may not be as crazy or OCD as you think....

As for the cost of Waverlies? If you're building instruments for yourself, and maybe selling them at about your costs to friends and/or family, then yes, if you're comfortable with the more inexpensive choices and you and everyone is happy with them, then the extra cost of the Waves(or any other higher-end, higher-cost machines) is hard to justify. BUT! If you're selling your guitars, for anything above, say, $2500, you can't really afford to NOT use Waverlies(if open-back machines are your choice). Why? While you are explaining to your potential client how you saved $50 by choosing a less expensive set of tuners, he/she may well begin to ask themselves "where else did he cut a corner to save a dollar?". And in the odd scenario that someone balks at your asking price and points to the "expensive" Waverly machines and says something like "you're spending too much for nonsense items like those, then driving-up the price of your guitar", well, look 'em in the eye, and explain that the extra $50 that those machines cost is only $2 per year, or less than 4 cents per week, for the next 25 years that they'll enjoy their guitar. And after that first 25 years, they'll still be as good as new...

Perspective....

As for the beard, it is a lot smoother than a shaved face. At least, my shaved face! If I wanted to maintain a decently smooth face, I'd have to shave twice a day! No thanks....

And I pity to poor fools who must endure minus 30/minus 40 temps, and wind chills in the minus 60-80 range, with a freshly shaved face and neck!