How to a Make More Affordable Bob Wei...

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Author Message   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 11:51 am:    If you could buy a Bob Weir Cowboy model for under $2k, what features would you expect it to have? How could it be made into a more affordable production guitar, yet still retain it's "mojo"?   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 12:10 pm:    It would be nice to know Ibanez's actual/literal costs to make it. Then, I'd give my input. Know what I mean? maybe materials and labor cost them.... what... $350-$400? The rest is profit for them. So... maybe... that's the answer... maybe they could live with a little less profit on each guitar but because they lowered the selling price, they sell a greater quantity thus making more of an actual profit on the model in the long run.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 1:10 pm:    I would be happy with the same guitar w/out the vines....assuming it didn't change the sound too much, I'd opt for a thinner body like the newer AR3000. mk   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 01-2002 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 1:41 pm:    I think Michael's idea is in keeping with tradition..ie the lower priced models have less of the "bells and whistles" . A more affordable cowboy guitar would have, for instance, a dot neck-pehaps just two PUPs, scaled down EQ unit, perhaps a glued neck construction etc. All in all a still a nice guitar, but very differentiated from the LE version.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 2:01 pm:    How's this: pickups (uncovered) and electronics like an AR500, top made of swamp ash wings and maple/walnut attached to an ash body, setneck, MOP/abalone blocks, applique body inlays (like the old days). What about the bridge. Is that AccuCast worth it? Stick with the AR3000 vintage or go for one of the thru-body numbers on the current models?   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 2:17 pm:    I would definitely want the 3rd pickup. As far as I'm concerned, without the 3rd pickup, the guitar is essentially an AR-500. Please understand that the only reason I would want this guitar would be to achieve Weir's late 70's / early 80's sound of which the single coil (from the middle pickup, not from splitting the doubles) was an important part. If there's a chance that this can happen, please lobby heavily for the same pickups configuration, including the volume controls in the rear. In terms of a compromise, I would be willing to do without the eq.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 2:19 pm:    One more thing...I'm not sure I'd want ash....I'd stay with the same wood as the real Cowboy. Again....reproducing the original Cowboy's sound is key. I care much less about looks. All that being said, I'm a player, not a collector and I'm sure others would disagree. mk   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 4:54 pm:    Michael: The original Cowboy is ash with maple/walnut laminate for the neckthru portion. OK, let's keep the single coil in the middle position.   Michaelkaufman Username: Michaelkaufman Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Monday, October 31, 2005 - 5:03 pm:    ok   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 8:29 am:    I personally don't think issuing a lower priced version is fair to the collectors who just bought the limited issue. Bob having it made in Japan cost a little more then you think.   Johns Username: Johns Registered: 02-2001 Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 9:44 am:    Freak: Maybe I'd feel differently if I owned a "real Cowboy", but I doubt it. I feel that as long as there are substantial differences, a Prestige level production model of the Cowboy would offer the rest of us a chance to get close to the unobtainable. It's a pretty tried and true marketing plan. Take for example the vine version of the Professionals vs. the block and dots versions of them. In fact, the escalating prices of the lower end models pushes the higher ones up...so, it would probably help the owners of the BW1BS.   Sixvsix Username: Sixvsix Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 6:20 pm:    Look, why not just reissue the original Wier ....again? six

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