lothy's music gear

Handsome! I'm not familiar with Maybach. How's the playability?

@pkennethk The playability is great. All guitars are pleked from the factory.

@lothy I'm so glad to hear that. I don't know why all guitars and basses above US$800 or so aren't pleked at the factory. I guess it would hurt retailers who want to offer pleking as an add-on service?

@pkennethk Well, it's all about money. Every additional step in production will add up cost, which will decrease profit. The big brands only care about profit. They don't care about perfect setup. It has only to be almost good enough.

@lothy I year you, and I agree... but I feel like beyond a certain price point, it's unacceptable to have anything less than perfectly-leveled frets. For a fully-handmade instrument where the luthier just wants to get it playing beautifully with an old-fashioned manual fret dressing, that's great, and that's the expectation -- but why not plek the assembly-line stuff that's in the middle-tier price-point that isn't going to get the hands-on love and attention? E.g. if pleking a Fender American Performer series instrument at the factory raises the retails price by $100, that's better than me having to pay a shop or a major MI retailer like Sweetwater $300 to do it post-purchase. The major brands raised prices so much already in the last 3 years, at least ship me a perfect instrument for all that $$$$.

@pkennethk prices are not calculated that way. They are calculated on the assumption of the highest price, a customer would like to pay. The average customer wouldn't even realize, if it is pleked or not. Sure, they can charge 100 bucks more, but not to plek it, but to get some extra juice in the pocket. With Maybach it is a selling argument, because they have to compete with the famous brand we all love so much :-). That's the way, to get a foot in the door. When this is done, be sure it will take the same route, guitars will have an average setup as every on one one the planet and the CEO another big car in his garage.

@lothy I hear you. I'm just glad you found a manufacturer you like. Enjoy that Telecaster!