Sometimes buying your first microphone can be a very daunting task and many people will end up with a microphone that is completely unsuitable for their needs.
Many a time, probably you would’ve wondered why some of the guitars in the market are so expensive than the basic models. The price, aesthetics, playability and tone of a guitar is hugely dependent upon a variety of factors. But let’s look at the 7 major factors that decide the price of a guitar, namely The Wood, The Hardware, The Country, The Luthier (Maker), The Build Process, The Tone & The Playability.
THE WOOD
The most suitable woods for making various parts of a guitar are called “Tone Woods’ that should have very specific scores for its scientific properties such as Density, Hardness, Modulus of Flexure, Poisson’s Ratio, Bend Strength, Compressive Strength, Shrink Volume, Sound Radiation Coefficient & Rigidity. Woods that scores perfectly in all these criteria are very rare and the most sought after. They are also high-priced for manufacturers to source from different parts of the world because preserved species like Brazilian Rosewood or Ebony are only available in very small quantities. It is also to be noted that all woods are not ‘musical’ and the woods that do not meet any of the above criteria cannot be used for making a guitar. Manufacturing companies source them by paying hefty sums, therefore only use it to build superior guitars. Their less expensive models are made from lower grade woods that are more easily available.
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
The second factor that determines the price of a guitar is its hardware components. For most budget guitars, hardware parts such as tuners, the bridge, pickups and controls are built by the parental guitar company themselves. This helps to keep the price down because they need not buy any parts from outside. But in the case of an expensive high-end guitar, all these components should be obtained from other specialist 3rd party companies who are legendary for their proficiency in creating superior hardware. This makes such a superior guitar costing more.
THE COUNTRY
The country of manufacture is also affecting the cost factor. Guitars that are designed and made in US, UK, Japan, Western Europe etc. are generally considered to be very dependable. China, South Korea and Indonesia are also well known for having similar big guitar factories. The luthiers from these parts of the world are revered.
THE LUTHIER (THE GUITAR MAKER)
A luthier is the actual person who makes a guitar, not the brand owner. Every guitar is a conglomeration of Precise Science & Admirable Art. So, the luthier has to be an exemplary Master Craftsman & Strict Perfectionist. These qualities are acquired over decades of hard workmanship, which makes them most venerable and well respected, thus making their products priced higher. Sometimes a custom built guitar from them needs a year to be made by hand. So, those custom guitars will be priced accordingly.
THE BUILDING PROCESS
On the other end, some companies install a ‘Production-Line Method’ for mass production of guitars using a conveyor belt system so that they can produce more guitars in a day than a specialized luthier can. Less dexterity and time are invested to build these guitars, making them available for a lesser price. But they will undeniably serve some players’ needs. This does not mean that such guitars are of deprived quality and in fact, some of them are worth more than the price.
THE TONE/SOUND
The direct relationship between the Price and the Tone is more prevalent in the ‘acoustic guitar segment’ than in the ‘electric guitar segment’. It is because an acoustic guitar can only generate the desired tone based on the ‘Tone Woods’ used, whereas an electric guitar sound is deeply shaped by the electro-magnetic signals from the installed pickups.
So, in other words, an acoustic guitar with a better tone/sound quality is going to cost more, primarily because of the careful selection of its expensive ‘Tone Woods’.
THE PLAYABILITY
The ‘Playability’ or the ‘Feel’ of a guitar is how smooth and comfortable it is felt at the hands of a player. On any expensive guitar, the way your hand plays at the bridge or your hand moves along the neck should be smooth & natural. If you feel that your playing is very laborious & uncomfortable, chances are that its a cheaper instrument. The playability of a guitar directly reflects its luthier’s proficiency.
So, in conclusion, the more expensive guitars benefit from the above decisive factors, making them worthy of the extra cash you spend on them.