Lowe Shop Notes

BTL · October 23, 2023, 08:15:11 PM

I was having trouble logging in to my site earlier, but it seems to be resolved. Are the photos loading for you now?

As an update, it's an honor and a source of great joy to see my 8-string bridges being used by other builders. This Serek Lincoln 8 is a real beauty.

BTL · October 24, 2023, 07:53:18 PM

Next up, my custom rings and plates as they arrive to me...laser-cut from 0.059" mild steel.

BTL · November 03, 2023, 06:50:23 PM

Adding a 10-string baseplate using the existing saddles and intonation screws is an easy path forward. I'm adding 10 of these to the existing 8-string order and it sounds like they might sell pretty quickly.

This was so much simpler than I imagined.

BTL · November 16, 2023, 04:37:59 PM

Everything in the Reverb.com shop is 10% off from now until the end of the year. If you reach out to me directly, I'll offer 15% off.

godofthunder · November 22, 2023, 06:25:40 AM

Just amazing work Brad!

BTL · November 23, 2023, 09:25:58 AM

Quote from: godofthunder on November 22, 2023, 06:25:40 AM
Just amazing work Brad!

Thanks, Scott! I'm still working to find the most ideal path forward to make this enterprise more of a business than a hobby. Necks and bridges seem to be what's most popular (and profitable), so that's where I'm focusing my energy.

Complete builds will always be part of the portfolio, but I'm going focus more narrowly on what I want to keep for myself over the next year or two (graphic finishes). When finished, I'll price those to sell at a profit, and if they don't move, I'll just hang onto them.

The last of the traditional finishes will go up for sale over the next few months and they will be priced to move, with price reductions occurring the longer they stay in inventory.

BTL · November 28, 2023, 10:11:02 AM

Proof of life: 8-string & 10-string base plates.

BTL · January 24, 2024, 07:14:04 PM

The 9-to-5 has kept me beyond busy since I started my new role, but I have a few things cooking in the background.

One little update is that I have decided to offer what I'll call a "standard" symmetrical shape on the new necks coming through the pipeline. These will be based on the 3+2 shape, but without the bottle-opener. I'm curious to see if these sell quicker as replacement necks vs. the bottle-opener.

I think they will, but only time will tell.

gearHed289 · January 25, 2024, 10:00:25 AM

I do like the bottle opener, but I think you may be right about sales potential. The standard looks good.

BTL · January 25, 2024, 02:54:44 PM

Thank you! People seem to LIKE the bottle-opener, but they don't seem so inclined to BUY the bottle-opener.

BTL · January 25, 2024, 07:20:10 PM

This little Weldon countersink bit is the right tool for the job. These pickup rings will be chrome-plated along with my 8-string bridge parts by Advanced Plating in TN.

BTL · February 05, 2024, 07:21:33 PM

After tinkering in MS paint with photos of my existing X+X headstock shapes, I realized there will be a lot of extra space past the tuning machines after the bottle-opener is eliminated, more than what will be filled by the logo. With that in mind, I believe the existing 3+2 shape (minus the bottle-opener) will be perfect for the 4+4, and slightly shorter versions will work for the 3+2 and 2+2.

BTL · February 07, 2024, 07:27:34 PM

Here's another one of those things that I've been thinking about for a while, and it's finally happening: a lightweight chrome-plated aluminum Strat-style knob. The sample is nickel, but the production item will be shiny chrome.

morrow · February 08, 2024, 05:54:49 AM

Those will be good looking knobs!

BTL · February 08, 2024, 06:28:06 AM

Thanks, I'm pretty excited to have these in the pipeline.