Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: jewishjay on November 18, 2021, 05:20:43 pm
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You guys who sell your amps, what factors do you consider when deciding price? It's a tough market. Everybody's lookin for a bargain, and nobody understands how much parts cost. I mean, I dont want to sell too cheap, undervalue myself like a chump.....but I dont want to scare customers away either. And I know a guy in his garage cant compete with mass produced factory built stuff. But ultimately I want to sell an amp so I can build another one, right?
Where do you sell? How do you set your prices? and what if it doesnt sell?
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I haven't sold that many given I am a hobbyist only. I figure out what the parts cost were for the amp I'm selling. I figure out what the parts will cost for the amp I am wanting to build next.
And then use those factors to guide my decision. When I've sold amps, it's only to finance another build and I've never really made a profit.
with respect, Tubenit
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Just my $.02, but I don't think I would be marketing to bargain hunters. In order to go beyond that, you have to be making a pretty polished product.
Design and aesthetic are going to be important, and it should be novel in some way at the least. You could make a small fortune, but you'll probably have to spend a large one to do that. :icon_biggrin:
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25-50% above parts and labor
Individually handbuilt goods = expensive
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Pricing is tricky. A lot of talented people building amps with the knowledge to back it up. Therefore My top priority is to get insurance incase anyone opens up an amp i’ve built and hurts themselves. Then i’ll figure out pricing.
Since it’s a hobby for me, I do build a few for friends and acquaintances though. I charge for parts and $50-100 on top for chassis assembly and expendables (wire, solder, shrink, etc.) or $200 for a full cosmetics on a head cabinet from the ground up, or $250 for a combo. (Tolex is a pain, and so are grilles. the woodwork is easy.)
after building 6 amps now, I get why the good builders charge what they do and why it’s completely worth it.
I agree on the aesthetics and design. A solid, good sounding amp will stand out a lot more with some unique design sense.
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And then, you might need to decide whether or not you also want to enter into the business of warranty repairs and technical support for the amps you sell, and for how long. I wouldn't want to buy a brand new amp "as is" with no warranty. :icon_biggrin:
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knowing your market is important
draw a 20 mile circle around my house and you'll find ~10 tube amplifiers
inside that circle are 3 guys that can n do fix tube equipment
one specializes in Juke boxes only, one is known a a Modder, specifically Marshall, and me, I only take on owners that know what they have and what specifics they are looking for. gone are the days of trying to help a staving musician make it big in 5 table bars :icon_biggrin:
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You guys who sell your amps, what factors do you consider when deciding price? It's a tough market. Everybody's lookin for a bargain, and nobody understands how much parts cost. I mean, I dont want to sell too cheap, undervalue myself like a chump.....but I dont want to scare customers away either. And I know a guy in his garage cant compete with mass produced factory built stuff. But ultimately I want to sell an amp so I can build another one, right?
Where do you sell? How do you set your prices? and what if it doesn't sell?
How confident are you that what you have to offer is wanted and/or needed by the market? If you think you have something groundbreaking, and you can get a patent on it, you can pretty much charge whatever you like.
On the other hand, if there is no real demand, and it is not groundbreaking or patent-able, then you are likely going to barely cover your costs for parts and labor as people can get amps made in China for cheap and as you say yourself everyone is looking for a bargain. You have to have something that sets you apart, or a big name endorsement for your product.
Most people start small and let market demand take care of the rest. If you are super confident, you can go to the bank, get a business loan, build some amps, rent a booth at the NAMM show, pay a big name to endorse your product and see how it all pans out.
If you are not that confident/daring, resort to craigslist or FB marketplace ads, put some amps on consignment at a local guitar shop, etc.
I have the opposite problem. I don't want to get rid of anything I have/build, despite the wife's pleas and threats. The pile grows as the space gets smaller.
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I have the opposite problem. I don't want to get rid of anything I have/build, despite the wife's pleas and threats. The pile grows as the space gets smaller.
Hear, hear! :help:
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...get a patent on it, ... .... .... go to the bank, get a business loan, build some amps, rent a booth at the NAMM show, pay a big name to endorse your product ....
Patent is not remotely worthwhile until you have done all of the above.
There's thousands of patents nobody would buy.
Most won't be interested until you are selling thousands.
Musical instruments are more about "flavor balance" than "radical new way!"