sah5150":1ixywd2t said:
RJF":1ixywd2t said:
Tone Monster":1ixywd2t said:
RJF":1ixywd2t said:
While I would love to own a KL explorer, and will likely buy one eventually, I think a 3 year wait is pretty ridiculous. Even a 1 year wait seems uncalled for.
Take the order, build it, ship it! It does not take a year, especially not 3, to actually "build" a guitar.
When I buy a KL explorer eventually, it will be 2nd hand.
I used to feel the same way until I learned how Ken works. He makes the guitars in batches. This means he sets up his equipment/tooling like an assembly line.
1. Body stage
2. Neck stage
3. Fingerboard stage
4. Inlay stage
5. Electronics stage
Etc. you get the idea. (Not sure of the order, just an example)
Look at the background in some of his workshop pictures. The whole area looks
immaculate. You could do surgery in that place! I'm in on this run BTW. I was told late spring. I got in last July. So for me it won't even be a 12 month wait...
So tool up and make the darned things.
I've seen where companies offer a "preorder" for something. But with that pre order you get a discount on the finished product. The idea is to help a company "guarantee" so many of something built.
I don't understand why KL can't just do a set number of production run explorers on a quarterly, or even just a 6 month stretch between runs. Make "X" number of guitars that are more of a "standard" model ( we know they would sell) and then add custom orders on top of that run. That way the max someone would have to wait would be 6 months, if they placed a custom order, literally right after a run was completed.
I'm not trying to run someone's business, but I think things could be managed in a different way where someone wouldn't have to wait up to 3 years for something.
You're not trying to run someone's business? That sounds exactly like what you're trying to do. Maybe he doesn't want to do it that way. Maybe he likes how he is currently doing things. Doesn't seem like he's having problems getting orders and perhaps he's happy with what he's making money-wise...
Steve
I'm not trying to run anyone's business except my businesses that I have. I have not made one call or sent one letter to KL on how I think he should run his. It's just internet chatter.
James Hetfield took KL explorers over the top. We all know this. The "KL explorer" has reached that infamous level that every company aspires to reach. Cork sniffer status. It's not a bad thing obviously. No matter what hardly, people will be lined up to get your product, and will basically put up with nearly anything to get their hands on the product.
If he won't do anything until he has 25-30 orders, then maybe it does take 3 years to get a list that long, I don't know. If that is the way he likes to do it, more power to him. He's got the brand name status, people will knock his door down for the product, 3 years or not. Heck I want one too, and would love to snatch one up here in the member classifieds.