Used market of boutique guitars

[ryman150]

I watch ebay and harmony central and various places quite a bit just to see what used Andersons are out there. I also noticed other brands - specifically Tyler in this case. I notice that quite a few Andersons really have a soft used market right now. Now the Crowdsters hold their value well still, and certain andersons will bring a great price. Compared to Tylers, however, the Tyler guitars are always going for like $2200 to $2400.

I am curious if anybody has any ideas as to why this would be? Just curious.

Thanks ;)

[tom]

jim makes quite a bit fewer guitars than we do and has been doing it for less years. we have made a little over 11,000 guitars all together.

[dpeterson]

jim makes quite a bit fewer guitars than we do and has been doing it for less years. we have made a little over 11,000 guitars all together.

i'll go with tom... i've never personaly played or seen a tyler guitar. I have 5 andersons... market saturation, accesability, all play a role. Look at it as good for the used buyer :) I dont personally see why someone would plunk down 2800-3000 wait 4 months, and turn around and take a beating, i'd rather light it on fire then to take that much of a hit.

dave

[Sixx]

Tyler's are also quite a bit more new than something like a Suhr or an Anderson. In most cases I have found that a similarly equipped Tyler can be $700 to $1,000 more.

[BoraBora]

Tyler's are also quite a bit more new than something like a Suhr or an Anderson. In most cases I have found that a similarly equipped Tyler can be $700 to $1,000 more.

Tylers can certainly run upwards of $1,000 more new than an Anderson or a Suhr.

However, I wouldn't say Tylers are new compared to Suhr. When I bought my second Anderson in 1994, one of my buddies bought his first Tyler at the same time. I believe John Suhr has been building the "Suhr" branded guitars since 1998. :)

[ryman150]

Thanks for the info guys. Just was looking at the situation from an economic standpoint. Those answers all make sense ;) Thanks y'all.

[Sixx]

Tylers can certainly run upwards of $1,000 more new than an Anderson or a Suhr.

However, I wouldn't say Tylers are new compared to Suhr. When I bought my second Anderson in 1994, one of my buddies bought his first Tyler at the same time. I believe John Suhr has been building the "Suhr" branded guitars since 1998. :)


I didn't mean new as in new to market. I was referring to the cost to purchase a brand new one today. I found that if you call your Suhr or Anderson dealer you will typically be quoted a price that is considerably less than a price quote on a new Tyler.

[BoraBora]

I didn't mean new as in new to market. I was referring to the cost to purchase a brand new one today. I found that if you call your Suhr or Anderson dealer you will typically be quoted a price that is considerably less than a price quote on a new Tyler.

That's cool Sixx, I wasn't trying to create any waves. Sorry for the misunderstanding. :)

[Duotones]

The first studio elite guitar was exhibited at the NAMM show at 1987. The reason why Tyler's are more expensive than Andy's or Suhr's may be due to hand-made processes by Tyler.

Because most of processes are performed by hand, Tyler can't build more guitars than Anderson or Suhr.

Although tyler is one of great guitars which we can play nowadays, I favor Andy's. If both of them are of same price, I will choose Anderson. IMHO, Tyler guitars usually sounds darker than Andersons and I like guitars with bright and clear sound.

And some guys including some Japanese or Koreans have too much fantasy about hand-made guitars and some of them think that Tyler's are better and more well-made than Andy's. I can't understand why they think that hand-made is the best. Hand-made guitars are usually inconsistent and unreliable if all luthiers participating in the production are not extremely skilled.

Jinwon Seo

[tom]

fyi, we all have the same cnc machine, suhr just has a different brand. what the heck is hand made these days? can't make a guitar without tools. i'd be curious to know what y'all think hand made means? i know how many hours we have in a guitar, and how many hand/hours we pay for.

[brian b]

If a guitar was truley hand built meaning nothing but handtools, chiesel, sandpaper and such. But this would also mean no electric saws or sander's. Could you imagine the price, if you had at least 30 hours in it, but probably more like 60 to 70 and you figured labor at a fair rate considering overhead and such. Also consdier ing it is a business and I would like to pay my bills like everyone else. You would have to get $4000 or better. I know the figures are all off but to point is give me cnc machine and a TAG anyday.

[Duotones]

fyi, we all have the same cnc machine, suhr just has a different brand. what the heck is hand made these days? can't make a guitar without tools. i'd be curious to know what y'all think hand made means? i know how many hours we have in a guitar, and how many hand/hours we pay for.

Sorry, Tom. Forgive my poor English... :(

I totally agree with you. Guitars cannot be made without any tools.

Many guys may use "hand-made" or "hand-built" as a antonym of "CNC-made". After I read your description, I also think that "hand-made" or "hand-built" is not appropriate in modern guitar industry. Most of Companies without CNC-machine may have pin-router and other tools. And many companies with CNC-machine will have many processes performed by luthiers' hands. So, Both CNC-made or hand-made may not be an appropriate words.

As you know, I'm a big fan of TAGs and I agree that no one can make more accurate neck pocket than CNC-machine.

Some guys who don't like CNC-machine may have too much nostalgia of vintage guitars made in '50s or '60s. And some builders or businessmen like Ed Roman (I don't like him) and some Japanese company utilize this point of view. And this point of view prevails in some customers.

Thanks, and I'm really sorry...

Jinwon Seo

[tom]

no need to be sorry, i didn't mean to sound defensive. it's just that the term seems meaningless these days. even the smallest builders i know use cnc. using a pin router would be like buying a cheesy amp and guitar. you can still make good music with it, but it's a lot harder.

[enr1co]

Although tyler is one of great guitars which we can play nowadays, I favor Andy's. If both of them are of same price, I will choose Anderson.


Never had an opportunity to play a Tyler but Im sure they are of quality in build and tone.

For my aesthetic tastes, the finishes are "creative" but not desireable.
And the headstock...UUHHGH ;) again, just not for me ;)

e

[Suriel Zayas]

what the heck is hand made these days?
well back when we started.....the old, old days my son....we made guitars by foot, then we started the hand-made ones. :D :D :D :D

[Suriel Zayas]

the tyler headstock is a little hard to my eyes. :eek:

[dannopelli]

the tyler headstock is a little hard to my eyes. :eek:

I do a LOT of selling for friends on Ebay. Tylers do command a bit more money but I seem to only sell them to EU and Asian buyers.

Got to agree with the headstock and logo thing. UGH!

IMHO, after having MANY Suhr, Tyler, and Andy's in my hands the Andy is the best playing and best sounding and smoothest looking! That is why I have four. I could EASILY have sold off a few and replaced them with the Suhrs and Tylers I have sold for others. But I just like the Anderson product better.

PLUS WHO ELSE HAS SUCH A COOL MESSAGE BOARD? :D

[brian b]

the tyler headstock is a little hard to my eyes. :eek:
+1 not bad if you wear shades, really dark ones.

[tom]

gotta thank super jack and stan for that, the board that is.

[Son of Anderson]

yeah, not trying to hijack, but this board is great. i have met some seriously cool cats here.

many thanks to stan and jack at magdon

[edwarddavis]

Maybe the big ugly headstocks give them more resale value. I have never played or seen a Tyler in person but I have seem lots of pictures with finishs like vomit and burning tree. I personally don`t see the attraction. The may pay and sound great but they really don`t look like anything speacial to me. And as far as Hand made, quality is quality and if one legged Monkeys made it who cares as long as the final product is good and has a decent price. Andersons are great I have 7 unfortunatly I bought mine before they started using one legged Monkeys but I still like them .
have a nice thanks giving. :D

[tom]

but we have the best one legged monkeys around.

[billyguitar]

I wouldn't have a Tyler. Ugliest headstock and logo out there.

[BoraBora]

Tyler builds approximately 30 to 35 guitars a month. Tyler dealers typically only allow a 5-6% discount off the retail price.

[korinabill]

I'm a little late seeing this thread, I've been way tied up at work lately. I can't help but remark that I saw the Ed Roman comments earlier, and I know that his shop is making a bunch of different models with CNC's and charging high dollars for them I was there once in L.V. and tried out a brand new pearlcaster with a 3 piece korina body that weighed a ton & had some "ding"-y-ness to it. It was CNC made and they would not come off $2,900. He was (or his salesman was) contradicting his own "machine made guitars at hand-made prices" argument. Even if it mattered to someone, you don't always know for sure whether one of his was cnc made or not.