Scott Walker 6-string: at $791 per string, hope it's good

[David Mason]

http://scottwalkerguitars.com/guitars/lap-steel/

He's cot a carbon fiber plate running through it, the guys at "Premier Guitar" find that amazing. I'm sure it's really nice, but $4750?

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... uitar.aspx

[Mike Anderson]

If I had that kind of coin to spend on a steel - Clinesmith triple. No-brainer.

Apologies to Scott Walker, and it's darn pretty (though no prettier than the new black/tort Speak Easy in another thread), but that's a bit steep.

[Jeff Au Hoy]

Is that a hole to insert one's music stand?

[Greg Cutshaw]

Many more details here:

http://scottwalkerguitars.com/guitars/lap-steel/


It has an "organic" finish! How much would a it cost to put a carbon fiber rod in my $100 lap steel?


Greg

[Mike D]

High quality, custom-made parts, top-notch Lollar 'Supro' and impeccable built. Sounds like a bargain.

PS, nitro is 'organic'.

[Mike Neer]

That guitar is a work of art.

[HowardR]

The price is a work of fantasy.......

[Mike Neer]

On his web site it says the price $3500 and up.

[Iestyn Lewis]

It's too bad there are no other manufacturers willing to sell you a steel at a lower price, right?

Here is a Strat for $130:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier-Bull ... 1385540.gc

Here is a Strat for $5280:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Store-Pl ... 2203751.gc

If you pick Fiesta Red on the Squier, they even look pretty much identical. Only you and your guitar playing buddies are going to know the difference. At least the Walker provides some serious eye candy and workmanship. I do think it crosses over to the level of art (of course, art being impossible to define, we'll get no agreement on that).

Things are worth what people are willing to pay for them. For non-essential items like guitars, people have a certain amount they CAN pay, and another amount that they WANT to pay, to ensure to themselves that they will value the instrument appropriately and that it will confer upon them the status that they believe they deserve.

Let's say I've saved up for six months to get $1000 to buy a steel. I can probably manage a StringMaster or Deluxe, or commission a SpeakEasy, or get a GeorgeBoards. All quality options, all will do the job. My $1000 represents to me a real investment, I will have pride in that guitar and value it highly.

Let's say $1000 is what I spend on a nice dinner on the weekend. Even though I could buy any of the $1000 guitars and save money for another bottle of wine, am I going to? No. If I only spend $1000 on a guitar, I'll feel like I bought a Honda when I know I can afford a BMW. I won't have the same pride of ownership and comfortable feeling of status as I would have if I spent the $5000 on the boutique steel.

Finally, let's say I consider myself to be an accomplished player, and at least part of my self-worth is wrapped up in this. Even though $5000 is a lot of money for me, I feel like I put in the hours and the time, and I deserve this. I drive an old beater so I can afford to pay for the instrument that I feel lets me express my art in the best way possible. If it costs $5000, is that going to stop me? No, because my very identity is wrapped up in the music I play. If I buy a less expensive instrument, I'm going to be second-guessing myself as I play - "This would sound so much better on X guitar, rather than this thing I settled for."

(Same applies to mountain bikes, road bikes, fly rods, cars, guns, boats, cigars, wine, countertops, furniture...)

OK, armchair psychology time is over!

[Scott Walker]

Hey All!
I appreciate the inquiries and feedback on the new steel. Im writing this reply with all good intentions and hope they dont come across as to defensive. I REALLY understand the concerns here of a steel guitar with a $4750 price tag.

I have changed the price to Direct Sales only pricing, this dropped the price by %30. See my website for pricing.

Heres the breakdown on what I pay for some of what goes into this (rounded numbers):
Custom machined aluminum bridge with plating - $400
Lollar Pickup - $250
Tuners - $150
Case - $500
Custom machined sockets and legs - $200
Finish - $425
Misc Celluloid - $100
Dust cover and leg pouch - $100

= $2125

There are still, wood, pots, switches, strings, logo badge, nut,etc... to add to the list. Not to mention shipping parts.

Then there is my own labor that hasnt been added into it.

Im a small one man shop, so my production is a bit smaller than the big guys, that get parts in quantity from overseas.

When you buy one of my guitars, you are supporting several american made companies - Lollar, Don from BSG, Sharp covers, My finish guy, My machinist, the local upholstery company that makes my trimming for the cases, etc...

I just want to put it out there, money isnt my goal. My goal is to make an incredible steel guitar, unique and that is built to last.

Right on!

Also - a link to a vid showing a little more about my shop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOX-9MzkTuw

Also a link to the New Product area - http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 95#2075195

[Jack Aldrich]

I thought at first that this was an April Fool's gag. I was wrong! - Jack

[Steve Branscom]

Before we all go caveman here, a custom dobro from Meredith, Fishook, Beard or Scheerhorn will run minimum $3700 to over $10,000 for a Scheerhorn. Same wood, same skill in bldg, slightly different sounds.

Custom Weissenborns will go from $2750 to $5400 depending on styles.

And for your $1000 meal or guitar, fwiw a 1957 Fender Champ, yes a champ, just went for $1200+ on ebay.

[Peter Jacobs]

For perspective, there's the Asher Ben Harper model http://www.asherguitars.com/index.php?p ... rper-model at $3400. And don't get me started on the cost of PRS guitars.

FWIW, I think Scott's made a beautiful piece of functional art. Can I afford it? No, but there are certainly people out there who can.

[Bill McCloskey]

Scott, I loved the video and it is clear you create special instruments. At the end of the video, there is a steel sound. Is that this instrument? It sounded great.

I personally love the idea of getting the individual notes to have more separation. I look forward to hearing some demos.

[Scott Walker]

Thanks Bill, The steel at the end is me on my Emmons SD-10 with the Revelation and some JBL E130's. I am working on the clips of the new Araya model, probably a couple weeks, but ill get links up when ready.
RIght on!

[James Nottage]

Well, I didn't really notice the price so much as the beauty of Scott's work. You can buy cheap from China, you can pay a lot more for exceptional quality Amerian instruments like Clinesmith. If you have the mad money you can buy one of Mr. Walker's works of art. I hope his business flourishes. That is one tasty lap steel!

James

[Bob Fraser]

I have to admit I would love to know where I could get "tortoise shell" like that pickguard in the photos.

[Mike D]

I already asked and he ain't tellin'.
Not that I blame him.

[Bill Leff]

Scott, I'm just down the road from you. Would love to stop by the shop some time!

[David Mason]

I have to admit I would love to know where I could get "tortoise shell" like that pickguard in the photos.

Italy, but there's lots of importers:

http://www.lmii.com/products/mostly-not ... heet-stock

http://www.lmii.com/products/mostly-not ... ard-sheets

http://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/ColorMaterials.aspx

[Dennis Burling]

Are there any sound clips of the Walker Lap Steel?

[JW Adams]

If it has a $4,000 sound no problem if not a $4,000 piece of Art for your wall

[Gregg McKenna]

There's probably not too many guys getting rich building guitars.

[Mike D]

[HowardR]

There's probably not too many guys getting rich building guitars.

Even John Monteleone will never make a buck building guitars.......selling them however,.....is a different story.......