the gear nobody else seems to "get"

[GermanCdn]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous.  I think I built the most expensive CS6 possible (korina body, quilt top, flame maple neck and board, etc, etc) on their builder, and I think it only came out to like $2200, which would have been about 1700 EUR at the time.  Even with VAT and shipping, there's no way that should come to more than 2000 EUR.  One of the reasons I'm glad I don't live in the EU anymore, gear prices were ridiculous.

[muddyfox]

nothing left to do but to save up for a feline, then!

[Rockhorst]

Muddyfox, just PM'd you.

I was looking around the local guitarshop the other day and got a craving for a second hand Les Paul Standard they had there. Sadly it was way to expensive so I let it go. But for some reason the Gibson BFG popped into my head, looked in the classifieds, found one from 2007 and bought it (€650). I'm not really sure why or why I started GAS-ing for it, but it's probably the P90-humbucker combo. I know that when they came out I thought it was the ugliest thing ever. Now it's sitting here on the couch, with it's electronics gutted (rewiring tomorrow). It's weird, crude beast...perfect candidate to become my open G guitar. It has that vibe.

[Tremster]

and I think it only came out to like $2200, which would have been about 1700 EUR at the time.  Even with VAT and shipping, there's no way that should come to more than 2000 EUR.  One of the reasons I'm glad I don't live in the EU anymore, gear prices were ridiculous.

It's the same with any north American gear. Importers/dealers have to make a living, too, and there's tax, but still.
The worst example, I think, is Mesa amps. They're about twice your price.

[muddyfox]

which is why i'm looking for a decently priced eu luthier. us based luthiers can apparently work wonders and still not break 3k-ish usd price that a gibby lp standard goes for around here when all is said and done. why must all eu based luthiers price their stuff in the ridiculous custom shop range (feline guitars being at tbe bottom of that range)? im sure there must be other independents out there who do stellar work but dont have the exposure that warrants a nosebleed pricelist.

[Tremster]

There are just way too many. And many of them don't do "series" but custom work, so you might have to write to a lot of them and ask for a price quote.

Here's a list of some, but they are the top of the line, probably not the most affordable:
http://holygrailguitarshow.com/exhibitors/
http://www.europeanguitarbuilders.com/members/

[juansolo]

which is why i'm looking for a decently priced eu luthier. us based luthiers can apparently work wonders and still not break 3k-ish usd price that a gibby lp standard goes for around here when all is said and done. why must all eu based luthiers price their stuff in the ridiculous custom shop range (feline guitars being at tbe bottom of that range)? im sure there must be other independents out there who do stellar work but dont have the exposure that warrants a nosebleed pricelist.

Stuff just costs a lot more here across the board. For example, I make a reasonably popular (well I've sold 3) four effect multi-pedal for for £250. It costs me approx £125 in parts and the rest is what I charge to build it which I don't think is unreasonable. Then again it works both ways, if I wanted to sell that in the states for £250, instantly the exchange rate buggers you to the tune of $400+ which people simply aren't prepared to pay.

Guitars and amps are no different. I've a friend who makes amps (MJW Amps) who charges sensible money for them given the work involved and barely scrapes a living doing so. Indeed he admits that if his wife didn't have a 'proper' job, he couldn't do it.

I also believe Jon at Feline is never going to be a rich man even though his prices seem steep. Staff, a shop in London, and the low volume custom nature of his work all count against him.

It's why personally I like to support these guys when I can rather than going for the Chinese or mass produced option. Everyone has to make a living and I know from my last couple of years making effects that I'd love to be able to do the same. The UK market is just so harsh that I can't see how.

[flanagan0718]

Here is one of mine.

These things sound great. the controls kind of remind me of the DC2 by boss.

[muddyfox]

i'd love to support one of the independent builders and will seriously consider feline and any other outfit that you folk have any sort of positive feeling towards, even if its only a word of mouth from a buddy of a buddy.
i dont like being taken for a ride when im spending the money that i need to skip meals to save up. buying a gibson, with their iffy qc practices and buying online sight unseen, well that just spells trouble.
id like to believe that small builders take their time to do things right, and thats important to me more than the resale value. even for a gibby, theres really no resale value locally so whatever i do get better be a keeper. and somehow i get the feeling that a custom build is more likely to end up being a keeper than a gibby lp standard of questionable production background.

[jubal81]

DOD 280 Compressor. There are a lot of good compressors, but this one excels in all three areas I look for: Silence, transparency and high compression ratios on tap.

[Leevibe]

DOD 280 Compressor. There are a lot of good compressors, but this one excels in all three areas I look for: Silence, transparency and high compression ratios on tap.

I have a DOD Milkbox that I really liked until I got the TC. I haven't sold it yet but I probably will if/when I build an optical.

[pickdropper]

For a long time, I would've said G&L guitars, but it seems they are carving out a bit bigger spot for themselves these days.

[muddyfox]

i did look at a g&l recently (the fallout model, actually) but once you factor in the shipping and the customs duties it just loses any sense of reality.

[culturejam]

DOD 280 Compressor. There are a lot of good compressors, but this one excels in all three areas I look for: Silence, transparency and high compression ratios on tap.

I built a 280A for Nikky Talley, and it sounded pretty good to me. Very quiet, as you say, and like a ruthless clamp.

[RobA]

I did a quick very unoptimized layout of the DOD280A compressor a while back and etched it. It still sounds really good and is very quite. Of the compressors I've got or tried, I have it in second place only behind the Blackfinger.

My first amp was an old Ampeg Gemini VI. I loved that amp. The Baxandall (James) tone controls really are great and I wish others would use that design.

I'll second Godin guitars too. I've got two of them and they are great for the money. They've got a variety of somewhat different from the norm guitars.