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Chillybeef
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Post subject: Might start making Frank bodies
 Posted: Aug 25, 2011 - 07:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 17, 2010
Posts: 568
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My goal is going to be to make the routes as accurate as I possibly can.
We all know none of the big brands can deliver the right routes; we always have to make adjustments to make it settle well with our eye.
My question to you, is would you buy one of my bodies for $220? I'm going to work on getting a reasonable price, and this is my first figure.
The bodies will be make to KNE's specs, with my routing.
Here is a photoshop template of what will be the routing.
NOTE: the attachment feature doesn't seem to be working for me at the moment, so I'll use an imageshack link until I can get it to work
http://imageshack.us/f/714/routing.jpg/ |
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Chillybeef
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 25, 2011 - 08:18 PM
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Joined: Oct 17, 2010
Posts: 568
Status: Offline
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| Here's the template posted through the site, since the imageshack link will be broken soon |
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routing.jpg |
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ECruz
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 10:23 PM
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Joined: Mar 28, 2010
Posts: 388
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To be honest? thats pretty high.
you could nail the routing, and since youre comparing to KNE, is paying $70 more (Ash Azusa Frank body $149.95) worth an "accurate" route vs something that's 95% accurate?
I realize you wont mass produce these so keeping cost down will be your challenge, but me personally, I'd probably look for a better bargain, sorry. |
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Chillybeef
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 10:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 17, 2010
Posts: 568
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I agree, I set the bar kind of high . . . it's mainly to fund for the tools and such required for starting. I'm sure I could lower the price, especially in the beginning.
Actually, the better question would be, what would you be willing to pay for a perfectly routed franky?
It really bugged me that I payed $215 for a musikraft body, and they got the routes wrong, and I thought maybe some others felt the same way, but maybe not. |
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ECruz
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 11:04 PM
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Joined: Mar 28, 2010
Posts: 388
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What would i pay for a perfectly routed franky?
well, that depends on the wood youre using. Ash, Alder, other? is it a 1 piece? 2 piece, 3...?
If you can guarantee a perfect route, and Warmoth charges $215 and KnE $150, meet them halfway, $180-185. Would i pay that? maybe.
And, if your big selling point is an accurate routing, which KnE, Warmoth and others also claim, how can we be sure you'll nail it? We saw the template you'll work from, but they probably work off some template from a picture as well. By comparison Divebomb has his at $155 and is based on the Fender Replica, who's template is also based on pictures.
And, lets not forget, its not just the routing, its th ebody shape as whole that needs to be accurate. Once the masking process starts thats where Franky's shape come into play.
Lots to consider there Chillybeef. |
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ECruz
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 11:15 PM
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Joined: Mar 28, 2010
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And hey, how about this, go further than any of them, offer something they havent, a striping/masking template based on your body.
We all scour the net for reference pics (or this very forum), and while most might feel hessitant trusting someone elses template, IF you can assure everyone your route will be the most accurate, then go the extra step, provide a masking template with, and for, your Franky body.
Then you could justify the extra $30-40, $70 or whatever youre charging. |
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Chillybeef
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 11:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 17, 2010
Posts: 568
Status: Offline
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I suppose, but the only situation I would sell the bodies in is if they have perfect qualities
I'm taking my time to make 100% accurate templates to ensure the precision router bit glides flawlessly along the edge of the template, in turn making a flawless route.
Here's a quick comparison, very slightly exagerated for sake of comparison, showing the differences between the real route, and MK's
Red represents Musikraft's (most expensive body that I've seen), and compared to my template, it is very different.
Some may argue that this isn't too big of a deal, and isn't worth the money, but it can really throw off taping, in my experience, especially when trying to achieve high accuracy.'
EDIT: I missed your second post before I replied, and I think that's a wonderful idea. I was actually considering that, and maybe offer the grain filling/black sometimes, for an upcharge. But yeah, you seem to understand my stance . . . I'm trying to offer something that other big brands can't.
It would actually be very reasonable for me to include full scale carboard templates with the body |
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route comparison.jpg |
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AtomicPunk91
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 03:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 02, 2011
Posts: 549
Location: Wichita, Kansas
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Chilly- I'm going to say $220 is too high of a price to start out with. If your only selling point is accurate routes then the cost is too high. Maybe you got a lemon with your Musikraft body routes, but I was very happy with mine and I only needed to make minor adjustments to get the tiny details right.
Not that I think your idea is bad, I actually applaud you for thinking about offering your own version of Frank. However, to start with, I would try and get your price to $150 or preferably below that. I know this might seem much too low and will not cover your costs, but until you build up a reputation, I would keep the cost low and just eat your losses at the start.
Personally, I would want a body that nails the body shape, pickup routes, and wood grain. Pay special attention to the upper horn, forearm cut and around the output jack. If you can nail the shape with your take on the pickup routes, make it out of some nice quality Northern Ash and offer it initially for $150 or cheaper, I would think about trying it out.
Cheers! And best of luck! |
_________________
Atomic Punk Guitars*
*Coming soon!
Trans Am+Cruising+Rock N Roll+Beautiful Girl=Heaven
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Steve_U1S
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 03:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 13, 2009
Posts: 942
Location: Toronto, Canada
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It's going to be the diameter of the template follower bits that will be your enemy on this - smallest around is 3/8", and that radius just won't do the 'corners' of the various features quite right... (I posted about this in my build thread, in fact).
Unless you're using something other than top-bearing bits... |
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Chillybeef
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 03:42 AM
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Joined: Oct 17, 2010
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I agree 100%. I probably worded my initial question wrong. I wasn't REALLY expecting to sell them for that much off the bat, but in the even that I work up a reputation for having the most accurate franky, if that's too much even then. I don't actually make all too much money off this, as all of the required materials and time learning the trade is very costly, but in time it will save me a lot on my own bodies, and get me some money by selling them as well.
But yeah, I think $150 is reasonable, and as ECruz suggested, I could offer other services such as ultra accurate templates tailored to my body, and things like that to at least jump me a little further along the line as far as funding goes.
EDIT: Steve, trust me, there will be a LOT of practice and experimenting before I let myself anywhere near ash,  . I don't want to ruin a nice, expensive peice of wood before I know the proper technique. I will be doing a number of tests on scrap bodies I have, one actually being a destroyed swamp ash body. |
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Steve_U1S
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 07:31 AM
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Joined: Jul 13, 2009
Posts: 942
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
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Understood - just pondering the methods I'm forseeing, and that bearing-bit issue keeps leaping to mind.
I'll be curious to see what you come up with =] |
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wolfenstine
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 30, 2011 - 09:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 13, 2011
Posts: 90
Location: Seattle
Status: Offline
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Chilly I have to chime in Im seeing Musikcraft bodies in the bay now for $189 + ship ($23) total $212 but in not gonna bite
I have a nice ash body blank and I'm not gonna hand route it just yet....I'm looking for someone to CNC route it to Fender S-S H specs
first I'm looking localy but if I dont find someone I will look outside the Seattle Area.....I want this to be rightand in the meantime the body sits in my study here just aging graefully till I find someone to route it.....
I will say this I would pay for quality vs quantity any day most of the bodies out there are swamp ash as opposed to northern ash and until someone can get newer accurate photos of the REAL frank and its dimensions we all are just going to be in a guessing game as to whats right and what is not but one can only try my friend......
I hope you best of luck in this.......oh btw my project will be bumped back a bit as in Mid Sept I start a new job with a major aircraft mfg firm in the Seattle Area but I haven't given up hope yet just got to find what I want...... |
_________________
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My homework was never quite like this!
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ECruz
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 09:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 28, 2010
Posts: 388
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| And something else to ponder, dont limit yourself to just Franky, try 5150's, the Charvel VHII. You know, besides Mean Street Guitars and Divebomb I dont know of anyone else doing Wolfgang replicas. I would love to get my hands on an unfinished Wolfgang body. |
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Chillybeef
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 09:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 17, 2010
Posts: 568
Status: Offline
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As in bolt on, or set neck? Cause I could certainly do wolfgang bodies; I've always wanted one as well
thanks for the ideas |
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ECruz
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 10:24 PM
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Joined: Mar 28, 2010
Posts: 388
Status: Offline
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Chillybeef wrote:
As in bolt on, or set neck? Cause I could certainly do wolfgang bodies; I've always wanted one as well
thanks for the ideas
Personally i'd prefer bolt on; i want to save up cause i was thinking of getting a mean street wolfgang body via Axcessories.com, but i want unfinished bodies vs painted blemished which is what they have. And i want to put a banana/hockey stick neck on it. |
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