Current Happenings

[Nelson Instruments]

I love the updates, incredibly excited for my guitar. I wouldn't have known about your stuff if it wasn't for ILF!
I don't think you could ever turn anyone off by having a lot of updates. I mean if someone didn't care they could just stop reading! I find your enthusiasm appealing and I wish more people who made guitars and pedals had it. There's a lot of mystery around a lot of gear makers, but I kinda like being able to put a personality and a face to a name.

I appreciate that and am looking forward to getting you whichever guitar you decide to go with!

[Tristan]

I love the designs you do man, but yeah, I'm in Europe so there's no way to try before I buy, which definitely is a reason that keeps me from buying one of your guitars.
One thing I think you could do to attract more people to Nelson guitars is offer options for other manufacturers pickups in your guitars.
Then there's the Gibson scale necks only thing offcourse, for some people (I'm one of those) a Gibson scale neck just doesn't feel right so they won't buy a guitar that has that, besides that all your guitars seem to be neck through, which might not be what most people favour (I'm really a bolt-on neck type of guy myself).
I think what you're offering, while beautiful as it is, maybe is a bit limited to appeal to a broad range of people, even here on ILF, that might be what you're noticing.
I love your passion and enthusiasm and the video you did for the Kickstarter was great, you do deserve more recognition for bringing out the beautiful out of the ordinary designs you do and creating lots of parts yourself and all of that in my opinion.

[ChetMagongalo]

I love the updates, incredibly excited for my guitar. I wouldn't have known about your stuff if it wasn't for ILF!
I don't think you could ever turn anyone off by having a lot of updates. I mean if someone didn't care they could just stop reading! I find your enthusiasm appealing and I wish more people who made guitars and pedals had it. There's a lot of mystery around a lot of gear makers, but I kinda like being able to put a personality and a face to a name.

I appreciate that and am looking forward to getting you whichever guitar you decide to go with!

I sent you an email the other day, with where I'm leaning currently

[Nelson Instruments]

Certainly appreciated! I certainly understand all of those points!
Just for fun (since this is a FORUM after all) I'll address your valid points!
Regarding the scale length: the 24.75" scale came about because the Coquette model was originally designed with that scale and since I was buying pre-fabbed pickguards I couldn't change that aspect.

I have toyed with the idea of additional scale lengths but the problem with doing so is that it would double the number of templates fland fixtures for every guitar. Not economically feasible by any means.
Also the age-old problem comes in where you'll never please everyone! The 25.5" scale folks don't like the 24 3/4" scale and vice versa.
Regarding the pickups thing, I have had a few people ask about putting other makers' pickups in the guitars but again that means more routing templates, added cost (because I can make pickups cheaper than buying them) plus I kind of like the fact that everything about a Nelson is unique and you can't compare it to anything else.
But I understand that while that is exciting it is also a point of apprehension because people have no frame of reference! (That's why this year I am going to start getting some demo videos made!)

OH and regarding the neck-through point, I am working on new models that are set neck, and am going to be starting a new model soon that will be a bolt neck AND hopefully I'll be able to offer it at under $1k

Hopefully more folks are able to chip in on the fundraiser so that these new instruments can become a reality!

[Nelson Instruments]

GAH yes I forgot to reply to your email! I will send you a reply in a bit!

[Tristan]

Wow, a bolt-on under 1k, that sure gets my attention.
Still no 25,5" scale though, I guess?
I can understand your point of view as well man, what you say definitely makes sense.
The way I see it is that you're building towards something, getting more video's online so people have a better frame of reference, getting a bolt-on in your line, etc, etc.
Everything takes time, in that sense being a builder is not that different from being a musician really, there are similarities.

[Nelson Instruments]

Oh there are definitely areas of overlap! Trying to strike the balance between commerce and art, trying to stand out from the countless others doing the same thing, trying to convince people to spend their hard earned dollars on the work you have created....yeah lots of overlap in those areas!!!!
I hadn't thought of doing the 25.5" scale on the bolt on electric......I'll give it some thought!
My acoustics have a super odd scale length (something like 25.438") but that would probably be close enough!
Lemme think about that!

[Tristan]

Cool!

[Bellyheart]

I like what you do and read this everyday. Just went through the guitar line yesterday debating if my tax return would love to land me some Nelson. Your stuff is great please keep on.

[Nelson Instruments]

Thanks! This is helping! Hahaha!
In addition to the forthcoming bolt-on model there are a few more things I'm looking at getting into before I dive into hollowbody electrics.
I'm looking at adding one more neck-through to the line just because I think the neck through is a great guitar but I understand that many folks aren't drawn tothe tulip-y shape.
Plus more stuff but we'll get to that later!

[Tristan]

Hey Bobby, I'm just wondering, are all the guitars you make made from Basswood or do you offer different type of body woods for them as well and what about the wood options for the necks?
Man, a hollowbody with a 25,5" scale would be great too (I know, I know, sorry, I'm rambling)…

[bigchiefbc]

Hey Bobby, question for you: are you open to making a standard 4-string bass in the Dilettante shape, or is Bass VI only?

[Nelson Instruments]

Re: use of basswood and alternate woods. Basswood was chosen because it is light weight and relatively inexpensive. I can use pretty much whatever is desired though there could be a slight upcharge depending on what wood is required.
I have an order on the books for a Coquette bass with soft maple body wings and a Morado fingerboard as an example. Also the Coquette and Socialite that are for Matt (here on ILF) and his father in law have ebony fingerboards as per their request.
As for neck wood I am experimenting with mahogany on a few necks for the new/forthcoming Allusion model. If I like the results I am going to offer it as an option though there is a slight upcharge for it since there is more labor involved in the finishing process.

Re: making a 4-string Dilettante bass. Yes that is doable.

[Bellyheart]

Maple necks are my jam. Maybe that option? If not I'll settle for the rosewood as I have but maple is sexier to me for some simple reason.

[Tristan]

Yeah, I like a full maple neck too, preferably without a glued on board, with rosewood you never know how it's going to sound, it can be muddy or nasal and middy, maple usually sounds good to me.
There's a picture of a Dilettante Bass with a maple neck on the site so I guess it's an option?