Why You Won't Tend To See "Small Build" Guitars In "Big" Shops

Yes, this video was before I found DOWINA guitars :) which demonstrate my point so well once again!
Please visit www.rguitars.co.uk for lovely hand made guitars that are sold for less than most high profile mass produced guitars!
If you are looking for those wonderful guitars made by smaller builders - its unlikely you will find them in the larger stores so be prepared to do some digging... the difficulty is knowing where to dig!!!
Eastman guitars, Auden guitars, Dowina guitars, Furch guitars, Gordon Smith guitars - are all incredibly special and true benchmark - award winning brands yet you'll never see them in the "main" shops. In this video I try and explain why.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Ok... no more posts telling me my flys are undone. As I said to the first commentator on my zippage or lack of it... “I always do my videos on the fly”. 😂 ahemmm... now please... my zips undone... it’s too late... I have no cgi skills to magic it back up. It’s done..... I promise I will check it in future. 😳

[@davidharvey8812]

Richards Guitars 😬

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

David Harvey 😂

[@davidharvey8812]

Richards Guitars 😂 bless you ! That’s made me chuckle tonight ! So love your videos , your rambling and your passion ... priceless 😁

[@robertmacmoneagle6917]

Hahaha.

[@robertmacmoneagle6917]

Don't get another shop owner involved else these wonderful brands will possibly end up having to be messed produced Richard. Just a thought.

[@PJ-ff5jy]

I’ve purchased guitars from PMT and Andertons, mistake, lovely people but never again. I want to buy from someone who is passionate, knowledgeable and doesn’t want to just shift boxes. I’m with you 100%.

[@shaunw9270]

Always ask for a discount over a free set up at PMT . Never seen such shoddy uneducated work in my life. Big disappointment.

[@PJ-ff5jy]

Shaun W I’ve asked for a reduction for a set up at PMT Portsmouth and they tell me it’s not needed, they’re set up at the factory. The fact that guitars travel thousands of miles through heat and humidity seems lost on their sales people.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Keep posting its great to see these

[@JSL177]

I Enjoyed this video Richard, You explained the subject well and it has made the issue more understandable to me.

[@richardcapps4908]

Your series of posts on guitars and retailing has been a fascinating insight into the industry. It has revealed some real truths about the 'wizard behind the curtain' that is guitar retail! With several trips and purchases at my local big brand store over the years, they have never provided the honesty and knowledge that your are offering. When funds and covid allow i plan to make the trip to your shop. Also learning a lot from your theory posts too - big thanks.

[@Nikoo033]

The idea of forming a bigger purchasing group of particular “small” brands with other individual shops is a good idea.

[@John-hi2yi]

Coming up there soon to get a few of my guitars set up. Love the Eastman lp style

[@henryhartley9993]

Love what you do Richard..

[@jasfiona]

These videos are very useful, yes. Thanks Richard

[@deanpesci2880]

Great chat! Yea, my little guitar store carries maybe 50 acoustics, and most are Martin and Yamaha, with some fairly high end Martins included. If they have a make like you would carry, it would be a used trade-in. Wish I could buy my next guitar through you in person, but that ain't going to happen with me in Colorado!

[@jontypiper9881]

Can't wait to get my first one from you, it won't be an acoustic but I'll definitely be getting it from you 👍👍👍

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Ahh thats so kind - gordon smith gordon smith gordon smith gordon smith. HAHA!! Seriously - thanks again and any time just shout. My live chat is on most hours although just in the tiny moment in time its not on soooo often purely as I am in the middle the showroom moving but generally... you will find me there!

[@jontypiper9881]

@@RichardsGuitarshop thanks, it's actually the Vintage V6 MNAT I'm after 👍

[@wamgoc3637]

I have a John Birch pickup which is made sort of like a Carvin with a lot of pole pieces. Are these still made? No idea whether or not it is any good.

[@wamgoc3637]

If I ever get to the U.K., I will visit certainly.

[@richardfromcornwall5492]

Apologies, and I mean it, that I've only just become aware of this channel! I'm a silver haired fairly nubee to the guitar (been playing for about three years) and play an Aria acoustic guitar. Now, I don't think you usually find these guitars in most 'high street' stores but I think it would generally/just about fit into the subject matter of this video? When I watched another video a few minutes ago, my first reaction was that you only sell high end, expensive guitars but a quick look at your website told me I was wrong! I'm now a subscriber to your channel and look forward to seeing more. I will definitely look you up if I happen to be anywhere close to your shop.

[@ajlmirrormist]

"They can only make so much"...you have answered your own question :) as to why big stores don't stock the makers you mention... they'd quickly go out of busuness or be as niche as you are if they relied only on stock from low volume companies. That wave guitar is beautiful btw so you have encouraged me to ensure my next guitar is from a small builder. Regards

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Exactly

[@GarrisMusic]

Music retail, yeah it's tough, I worked in a great small store that got sold into a bigger chain, I couldn't do it anymore so moved back into normal industry. Regrets? Nah not really, that's life, would have loved the chance to work at a place like yours. I get to domy own thing these days so no worries, but I do miss working in a music shop.

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

My issue is they are hard to get in the US without paying $100+ for shipping. That makes it not worth.

[@khimaros]

It absolutely is worth it. The two best guitars I've ever played were a Taylor 714 and a Furch GC-23CR (now called the Yellow). They were both absolutely magical to play but the Taylor is £3000. The Furch is £1800. Even factoring in shipping charges you are saving a grand by opting for one of these smaller brand guitars.

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

khimaros Let’s say I buy one and hate it. Most companies charge a restock fee and you have to pay for return shipping. Unfortunately most stores in my area don’t carry Furch or Dowina or Lowden or other overseas brands.

[@riddlergorshin]

I’d sum it up as art v business. Normally these 2 realms don’t collide too happily. You’re an exception to this rule Richard. You sell the ‘art’ side and the bigger retailers the ‘business’ side in regards volume and turnover.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

The story, the passion, the beauty, the creativity, the quality.... yep.... Somehow you have to squeeze the business out of those!

[@darrenrobbins8356]

I know this is a difficult question to answer Richard, but is the mark up ...ie the bit you make, different on low production guitars than the big three dealerships would take on the “stack em high sell them low” philosophy. Aside from the better quality set up you provide?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Naturallly I wouldnt ever be able to discuss how much money I make on a sale but I can certainly use the question to discuss the natural ecosystem that exists in retail. When there is a massive demand for a brand you tend to find dealers who have no interest in providing additional service (such as the setup and quality control - additional costs incurred are specialist staff, returns processes, additional customer service resources) selling on price, driving the price down. Now then... In the old days (the bad old days) I can remember selling Fender and Ibanez which were running at 10% margin. So... So this means AFTER tax you are making £10 in every £100. So a £700 retail sale would generate approx. £60. Put this into context.... I could advertise setup service and generate the same profit without even selling a guitar!!! This is exactly why businesses around the country have been going out of businesses, chasing an ever decreasing margin with nothing else to say other than they are cheaper than the guy down the road - who also happens to sell all the exact same products as he does. There will ALWAYS be someone BIGGER and CHEAPER so its a road to ruin as many have found. Service like mine is simply something they cannot afford to offer. Now then... So its an incredible phenomina. You have small build workshops who nobody knows about, producing incredible guitars with a wonderful story - that someone like me just RELISHES - Its a godsend to me - and to my customers. These products CANNOT be found in big shops due to the issues I mention in the video - this in turn means they are not discounted heavily but the caviat is the margins arent huge because they are small builds and need to make their money - but its ok - because the price isn't driven through the floor. Enabling me to live in my own wonderful world of enjoying the product, the process, the people behind the scenes making the guitars and of course my customers who love what they find. So.... Why don't all smaller guitar shops get behind smaller builds? It takes passion, considerable effort and the abiliity to deliver your message to a wide enough audience. Most smaller shops rely purely on the marketing of the brands they sell (so that immediately throws them to the lions - focusing on big brands with big advertising that create the demand for them) . The small build workshops often dont have the marketing power to promote themselves and if they did the guitars would cost even more too - making them less advantageous. For this reason smaller shops are not interested in high quality options that nobody asks about. I have been using the internet for 24 years - I learned early on how to do create my own news page (Will do a video on it maybe?). I think I was the first shop to ever sell a guitar online. I knew from the moment I got into the industry at the rip old age of 22 that the internet was key to informing my customers on what is going on. I can only make ends meet because I use my live help from early in the morning until literally midnight most nights. I LOVE IT. If someone talks to me late at night they may apologise for disturbing me but I just thank them and am grateful as its what pays for my familys dinner the next day. Not everybody wants to live their life like I do. The guitar industry is a tough old world. One thing you can be assured is I NEVER sell guitars pureley because of the good margin. That is another angle shops use which is also road to ruin - as great margins normally mean someone is making too much money and it always shows in the product - People are not stupid. Hope that all makes sense!!!!!!!! FINAL EDIT.... The REALLY exciting thing is these small builds are no longer relying on the middle man distributor or marketing their businesses in traditional forms - so people learn about their products quicker than ever before at a lower cost to the builder. This means more and more "smaller" shops can get involved in high quality options that the small builder wants SPECIFICALLY in smaller shops so they can cope with the supply - and are more likely to build a trusting relationship long term. Interesting times.... very interesting times. Are the big stores becoming the dinasours of a time where branding was king?

[@darrenrobbins8356]

Thanks Richard, that’s a very comprehensive reply and very helpful in understanding how small select shops operate in comparison to the big dealers. So you purchase your stock in advance rather than paying the supplier once the guitar is sold, or is it a mix of sale or return and purchased stock?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

@@darrenrobbins8356 haha - you opening a shop?! I always want to be transparent but my relationships with my suppliers is very personal and private. Hope thats ok.

[@darrenrobbins8356]

Ha ha! No just nosey! It takes a lot of guts determination and money to do what you do and it’s the passion for the product that I admire. Thanks for being so open and I realise my prying questions were close to the mark. If you ever want to quiz me about the state of social work in the U.K. feel free!

[@hellomynameislynne3585]

hi good video my mate hand builds guitars in the UK sells them for 800 quid AAA European spruce walnut back and sides amazing guitar yet folk would buy a crappy cheap Taylor 110 before that it's madness

[@shaunw9270]

I reckon Eastman must be good because it can't be easy convincing anyone that China actually produces anything of quality & with pride. The T58V is to die for !

[@yamahamusicians]

I think you pretty much nailed that one Richard :) I know some people will not thank me for saying this but I would take an Auden, Furch, Dowina (of course) or Eastman over a Yamaha any day. And that is not because Yamaha don't make really nice guitars, they do but these days they just don't excite as much as they once might have? Same with Taylor, Martin, Gibson etc even though they sometimes play the "boutique" card they never really live up to it. Certainly the asking price doesn't always match the quality. So my money will always go to a smaller independent dealer who is passionate about what they do and lives for the instruments and customer service...much like you really ;)

[@PJ-ff5jy]

yamahamusicians I’ve just part ex’ed my Taylor 314ce v brace, against an Auden Chester Artist, the sound and dynamics of the latter are far superior to my ear over the Taylor which left me disinterested in playing and uninspired. Plus I’d rather support Richard than the likes of PMT or Andertons etc.

[@petermartinaitis8166]

People buy into mainstream brands, always have done and always will, but there will always be a market for the alternative.

[@LegsON]

Richard, so is CITES nightmare REALLY over?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Lexonn yep as of end November. Been wanting to do a video on it but soooo much I want to speak about !’ Ahhhhhhhh

[@LegsON]

​@@RichardsGuitarshop I can't believe I see the bureaucratic change that would BENEFIT normal people. So glad I didn't sell my kidney in a race to buy another rosewood acoustic while I still can. BTW, I recently got an all-solid mahogany-spruce guitar. I also have an all-solid-sapele and spruce-rosewood-solid. All dreads. It seems to me the mahogany-spruce lacks in bass register. I'd describe bass as lacking "defitinition". I know all guitars are different, pieces of wood differ yada-yada-yada. :D Still, is it a common mahogany feature - bass not as defined as in rosewood?

[@Jabbaerwocky]

Simple explanation: Brand recognition enables RESALE. A little known brand, no matter how great the guitar, is difficult to sell on the secondhand market. Resale is always in the back of a customer's mind.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Oscar Grouch I don’t think that applies to quality small builds. If you save money... often a lot of money... for a better product you save money all the way... regardless of what you ‘lose’ on sale. You still save money. Not sure if I did a video on this? If I haven’t I will do and the maths clearly add up

[@Am6-9]

As always there are exceptions. musicstore cologne, one of the biggest shops and online dealers in Germany, do Feature Dowina guitars since a few years, there’s always ten to twelve to test and they even get two full pages in their catalogue, same as Martin and Taylor. They also feature some Furch guitars. It’s not a shop where I like to buy, though...

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

I am so sorry but I dont want to get toooooo into mentioning store names because it could open a can of worms - especially where Dowina are concerned as Dowina is a perfect example of a small builder who has been totally abused by big store pressure over volume and prices. Like you say - its a generalisation and always exceptions. It doesn't mean you CAN'T find small builds but you generally wont.

[@toronaga3086]

Iv'e talked to several of the manufacturers, or U.K. distributors for manufacturers you sell. The comments I got to questions about the big retailers is that they generally do a very poor job of representing small brands. Gordon Smith were available from PMT for a while a couple of years ago, they did nothing to push the brand, and when they didn't sell, most of the returned guitars needed repair work before being sold as 'b' stock.

[@dennisjohnson2519]

its down to the name on the headstock, guitar snobbery, Ive learn the hard way when you come to trade an high end Gibson Fender, or Martin the big shops offer you nothing for them, I have a mint 2015 National Resophonic style O a new one is £2999 + I was offered £1000 if I trade it or £999 for cash in my eye its worth £2000, guitar buying in a mine field,

[@TheMightyBluPepper]

I'd rather spend money on a guitar where I know that firstly the dealer (aka you), and secondly the guitar company (Eastman in my case) actually give a damn about selling and making quality guitars.

[@gr328]

Your fly's undone my friend ;-)

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

G R well I do always do my videos on the fly

[@gr328]

@@RichardsGuitarshop Love your philosophy, couldn't agree more

[@davidharvey8812]

Richards Guitars 😂😂

[@davidharvey8812]

G R 😂

[@davidharvey8812]

Richards Guitars it’s all about the humour right ! :)

[@davidharvey8812]

Unfortunately Richard, advertising still sells these very well branded guitars . In my opinion whilst the famous players are using them nothing will change. Until the artist speak up , nothing will change

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

David Harvey it’s definitely changing. Definitely. Exciting times

[@flashtuinmanman]

Think you missed a word in the video title.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

mike o'neill yes rather frustratingly I did the video... flew out the door and am now at my mother in laws with my mobile and cannot update it until I get home!!’ It should say Tend To find !!!

[@flashtuinmanman]

I see you managed to fix it, all good now :-). I'm curious to know how you think Eastmans new partnership with Bourgeois Guitars will affect production of their own brand?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

@@flashtuinmanman Hi there. Yes back home! Its massively significant and a major example of how well appreciated Eastman guitars are within the guitar building world. It wont affect there production - only in as much as demand is on such an upward curve for Eastman its hard for them to keep up.

[@derekjohnson5720]

People get brain washed by gibson and fender because when music exploded onto the scene all those years ago, the great axe men played them, clapton, hendrix, SRV, Slash etc. If back in the day these men were playing, eastman/Gordon Smith single cuts, FGN/Godin strats, Teles and then Gibson and fender came after. How many people would buy them, how many big retailers would stock them in mass amounts, not many as we would all want a jimi Hendrix signature fgn strat or a slash signature eastman. All this it needs to be American made is a load of nonsense. Doesn't matter if your American, Chinese, British, Japanese, Swedish, Australian etc a soldering iron and a piece of wire will always be a soldering iron and a piece of wire whatever hands it is in. January next year I have a large sum of cash coming my way and will be buying my first and only high end guitar. I could buy a fender American or a Gibson custom from Andertons or Guitar Guitar but I wont, as I'm not deluded and spending thousands extra more for a name on a headstock. I will be purchasing a guitar from Richard's Guitars, an Eastman sb59 and either a Godin or FGN strat. Just waiting on Richard putting up a video review and waffle on the FGN J standard strats. Another lovely vid Richard, keep them coming bud.

[@meandmyvelo6380]

I'm trying to resist buying a GS 1.5 and you pull out a gorgeous GS 1.5. STOP IT! This is not good for my bank account.