I am contemplating a Balaguer Select Custom build, most likely either Thicket or Growler based….
But, would love to hear others experiences here. How was the end result? How was the sound? Lively or dead wood?
Someone here used to be a luthier for them. Forgot who. They make them at World Music in Korea. Which historically has been top notch, but my last few 2024 guitars from them (World, not limited to balaguer) have had some minor finish issues. I believe they had gotten overwhelmed with the return of other brands taking up factory time. May or may not clear up.Anybody else?
Do you know where at? Cort?Unless something changes they’re NOT made at WMI.
The guitars are built quite well. I’ve owned a couple. I’d own another.
Joe has been pretty vocal about it being a small independent shop since day 1. They’ve always been SK though for the Semi Customs. The standard line is Indonesian / China.Do you know where at? Cort?
The Select Customs say South Korea and look like WMI serial waterslides to me, but I would be open to more info.
So, what shop?Joe has been pretty vocal about it being a small independent shop since day 1. They’ve always been SK though for the Semi Customs. The standard line is Indonesian / China.
Kiesel off the top of my head. You're probably pretty limited if you're after an "old school" radius.Well damn. Balaguer will only do a 16” radius which is a bit of a deal breaker for me. Real damn shame as I love just about everything else out of what I had specced out (including an ebony neck). 27” thicket baritone, ash body, ebony neck and board
Any other suggested places for something similar?
That he has not mentioned.So, what shop?
And honestly both will be tough to recoup if you want to sell it, especially if you get wild with the specs.Kiesel off the top of my head. You're probably pretty limited if you're after an "old school" radius.
And honestly both will be tough to recoup if you want to sell it, especially if you get wild with the specs.
So, what shop?
Can you name his current employees? I thought he let go of like all of his QC people, luthiers, and customer support people a few months back? I'm pretty sure it's just like two people besides Joe right now desperately trying to keep the doors open. Not really sure I'd trust a company that recently gutted their staff.Jeremy is correct... it's a small shop of 8 or so luthiers and 2 master luthiers. they are not affiliated in any way with WMI or Cort. They are a smaller shop, but make some great stuff.
Can you name his current employees? I thought he let go of like all of his QC people, luthiers, and customer support people a few months back? I'm pretty sure it's just like two people besides Joe right now desperately trying to keep the doors open. Not really sure I'd trust a company that recently gutted their staff.
Also, can anybody pinpoint exactly where these are being ghost built? Both on the S. Korean side and the USA side? There's that pic floating around of them being right next to Agile guitars, so at the very least, someone who works on Agile stuff is working on these.
My opinion - if you want one, buy used so you'll get one back when they actually had a QC team. Guitars themselves are okay. What made them decent was the QC, and I'm pretty sure that's gone now. But some have serious design flaws that make me question how they approved of the designs.
That’s news to me. I haven’t been up on myCan you name his current employees? I thought he let go of like all of his QC people, luthiers, and customer support people a few months back? I'm pretty sure it's just like two people besides Joe right now desperately trying to keep the doors open. Not really sure I'd trust a company that recently gutted their staff.
Also, can anybody pinpoint exactly where these are being ghost built? Both on the S. Korean side and the USA side? There's that pic floating around of them being right next to Agile guitars, so at the very least, someone who works on Agile stuff is working on these.
My opinion - if you want one, buy used so you'll get one back when they actually had a QC team. Guitars themselves are okay. What made them decent was the QC, and I'm pretty sure that's gone now. But some have serious design flaws that make me question how they approved of the designs.