HANGAR18 Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 For those of you you have ever special ordered a guitar from Heritage according to your own specs, are you familiar with what up-charges the following features would cost? (Up charge over the cost of a baseline model which wouldn't normally come with that particular feature.) The cost of trap or block inlay as opposed to dots? The cost of an Ebony fretboard as opposed to a Rosewood fretboard? The cost of a Grade AAA or AAAAA flame maple top? The cost of a quilted maple top? The cost of head neck and body binding? The cost of a translucent finish as opposed to a solid color?
Guest HRB853370 Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Don't you think that would be determined by each dealer, not by Heritage?
HANGAR18 Posted September 17, 2013 Author Posted September 17, 2013 I figured it would be a rather standardized amount for each feature. But if different people experienced different up charges (from various dealers) for identical items, that might be nice to know too.
tulk1 Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Got to agree with Will for the most part. The up charges are probably standardized. But whether or not the dealer passes them in toto on to the consumer is left up to them. So, a $100 upgrade may only cost you $50 from one dealer, maybe $150 from another. Only your dealer knows for sure.
Spectrum13 Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 Got to agree with Will for the most part. The up charges are probably standardized. But whether or not the dealer passes them in toto on to the consumer is left up to them. So, a $100 upgrade may only cost you $50 from one dealer, maybe $150 from another. Only your dealer knows for sure. Got to agree with the man that agrees with Will. By the third custom order you kind of know the how and who to ask.
Kuz Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 There probably is a standard charge for each upgrade, but the dealer will determine the final quote..... Which then I would probably offer a counter offer.
pressure Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Dig. If you are building a Heritage to your specs, your dream guitar, do you really want to pinch pennies? Just go for it and deal with the cost later.Remember the guitar that Heritage makes for you will wind up in the hands of future guitar players. Don't you want it to be awesome and unique? I know I do.
CJTopes Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Wolfe quoted mr $200 for a block inlay upgrade on a 140. He rattled the price off the top of his head so it must be a pre set charge.
Kuz Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Wolfe quoted mr $200 for a block inlay upgrade on a 140. He rattled the price off the top of his head so it must be a pre set charge. They definitely are pre-set and used to be posted in Heritage's hard-copy catalogs. But unfortunately, custom orders give dealers a chance to artificially raise costs. This is why it is never a bad idea to get a second quote, even if you want to use that second quote as a bargaining chip to use with the first dealer's quote.
HANGAR18 Posted September 18, 2013 Author Posted September 18, 2013 Once upon a time I was talking to Ren Wall about a special order from the factory (...an H150). I don't remember the exact play by play but I remember asking something like... "Would a quilted maple top double the price of the guitar?" And then I remember him saying something like "yeah" and something about it adding a year to the wait time for the guitar to be finished. So, if I'm going to think through some details for a special order from the factory, I'm going to need to get an idea of what certain features cost before I can get to the place where I am ready to go to a dealer. A dealer will just get ticked off if I keep randomly changing the specs for the price quote in order to hopefully get the build into a price range I am capable of paying for. That's how my brain works.
Kuz Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 So, if I'm going to think through some details for a special order from the factory, I'm going to need to get an idea of what certain features cost before I can get to the place where I am ready to go to a dealer. A dealer will just get ticked off if I keep randomly changing the specs for the price quote in order to hopefully get the build into a price range I am capable of paying for. That's how my brain works. No, I don't think they should get upset at all.... it is part of the customer service if they want the sale.
tulk1 Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Any of the better known, more frequent ordering dealers will probably be able to give you a good idea when you talk to them. I think on my Prospect we changed the specs about 4 times. That is with input from several members here; both Marv and Ren the shop; and then with my dealer making suggestions. It's a process, for sure.
SouthpawGuy Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Last I heard it was about $300 or so upcharge for a lefty guitar. That was a few years ago though.
tulk1 Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Last I heard it was about $300 or so upcharge for a lefty guitar. That was a few years ago though. Yeah, that sounds right!! .........
SouthpawGuy Posted September 18, 2013 Posted September 18, 2013 Yeah, that sounds right!! ......... Don't you mean left ?
tulk1 Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 Custom carved = Tap tuned ? There's a line item for Tap Tuned. Maybe it's something else. Odd body styles they didn't have jigs for? Different carve dimensions? Could be a good question to ask the boys.
SouthpawGuy Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 There's a line item for Tap Tuned. Maybe it's something else. Odd body styles they didn't have jigs for? Different carve dimensions? Could be a good question to ask the boys. I see that now, thanks. Maybe custom carved might be a solid carved top on a normally laminated guitar ?
bolero Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 I wonder how much an ultra top upgrade is?
koula901 Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 Last I heard it was about $300 or so upcharge for a lefty guitar. That was a few years ago though. Yes, I called J. Wolfe and there IS upcharge for lefty - $300 - but J. Wolfe takes about $90 off of that. I agree with others, that you should check with your dealer on up-charges.
SouthpawGuy Posted September 19, 2013 Posted September 19, 2013 Yes, I called J. Wolfe and there IS upcharge for lefty - $300 - but J. Wolfe takes about $90 off of that. I agree with others, that you should check with your dealer on up-charges. Good to know my grey matter is in working order, must be 2008 since I checked.
Buckyrock Posted September 20, 2013 Posted September 20, 2013 Here are some prices I got from my Dealer last year: Here are the option prices you requested. These are retail prices from which you will deduct 30%. H150CM Inlaid logo w/bound headstock $300 Ebony fretboard $170 Sweet 16 inlays $300 5 piece neck $500 Multi-layer body binding $500 Binding color change $200 H157CM Sweet 16 inlays $300 5 piece neck $500 5 ply headstock binding $300 5 ply headstock and neck binding $600 (They say the 5 ply neck binding would require narrower nut spacing and as such don't recommend it) Your prices might vary, of course. Take this for what it's worth (most likely nothing).
HANGAR18 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Posted September 20, 2013 Thanks for the input everyone. Very helpful!
holyroller Posted October 20, 2013 Posted October 20, 2013 Seems high. Go with a 150 Wolfe quoted mr $200 for a block inlay upgrade on a 140. He rattled the price off the top of his head so it must be a pre set charge.
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