|
|
Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | http://stores.ebay.com/Blueberry-Guitars
If you wanna check out some seriously nice inlay work. Have a look at this company!!
They had a double-neck for sale a while back and when I saw it, my jaw dropped. There must have been MONTHS of inlaying on it.
Apparently they build them in Canada and ship them over to Indonesia for the inlay work. Mastercraftsmen... no word of a lie!!
Ooooooh, that acoustic bass has got me jones-ing, lol
Check 'em out!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | TJ and I checked out several BBs at the 2010 Newport Guitar Festival and yes, the inlays and woods are gorgeous! But I was not impressed at all with the overall construction workmanship nor the tonal qualities.
TJ once had a 'bat' motiff BB. Maybe he can give ya his impressions.
They sure are pretty though... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2010
Posts: 73
Location: Littleton, CO | Those are pretty wild looking guitars. I listened to several of the sample recordings. They seem to have a very bright chimey sound to them. Not sure what I think of them, would like to play one. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Beautiful sound, but as Iffy said, the fit and finish is not top shelf. The one I had was a very nice sounding guitar, just didn't look the part. There's a couple more pics on page 22 and 23 of my link below.
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Didn't somebody post a video of the factory where they were doing all the carvings? Very impressive if I recall correctly. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| War Eagle was a distributor for these, no? Interesting concept, just not my cupppa. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 430
Location: WNC-God's Country | Ah yes...They are built and handcarved in Bali and then sent to Canada for tuners and strings. They have some cool construction videos on their website. I got rid of my last 12 at the Spartanburg guitar show. They do sound great plugged in. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I saw a video of these guitar being worked on and it made me vomit. a group of men working on the floor on a blue tarp barefoot no workbenches no safety nothing just exploitation of labor.
I wish I could find the video I would post it. absolutely disgusting. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | http://www.acousticguitarcommunity.com/video/blueberryguitars-carve... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Yeah, that's the one. Very impressive. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | wow....that would definitely turn me off to buying one of them. Exploitation at its finest! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | I know I'm going to get my assed kicked on this one, but...
These are traditional Balinese carvers, right? Isn't that the point, that they carve these guitars in a 'traditional' way?
I am amazed at their skill, but to try and superimpose our 'western' ideas onto how they go about their business doesn't really seem practical.
I did notice that the price of these guitars has gone up three-fold since they first appeared on eBay, and I would hope that that price rise would be passed on down the line to the people at the 'sharp end' of the construction.
Do they make as much as people on the line at the OVATION factory... I doubt it, but they do get to live in Bali which is something I often wish for... in January, lol. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah John... The price of the Blueberry's has definitely gone up.
And before someone throws stones because these guys make $200 a month...
What does it cost to live where they live.
I told some of my friends that I made $6.25/hr in Tennessee... And was quite satisfied.
They thought that was outrageous slave wages!
But I was renting a two bedroom mobile home for $200!
Those guys ain't working on an assembly line, and they are working free-hand.
It looks like fun work if you can get it.
Test-flying a Blueberry... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | If I sat like that for 8 hours a day I wouldn't be able to stand. Guess they are more limber over there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | yup I know unions ruined this country.
we could all be sitting on a blue tarp in a factory with no shoes no gloves no safety equipment in a pile of dust and dirt with no heat or ac making peanuts.
sorry I don't buy it. This just disgusting. Traditional? are you kidding me? the tools are traditional but this is clearly a factory not an artist in a loft making art.
The standard of living and expenses are low? is that a joke? I think in the US we called that slavery until it was outlawed here is is just "business"
sorry but the video makes me sad and want to throw up my lunch |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | ...  ...
It's probably been done that way for generations, guitars just being another medium. If the workers thought they could be better craftsmen in a recliner or even a hammock, I'm fairly sure they would have designed and build one.
As to worker safety... ever wear goggles/face shield, gloves and steel-toed shoes/boots to change your oil? That's not counting the OSHA requirements for disposal, spill containment and mandatory paperwork/reports.
These are craftsmen that know what they're doing. I saw no missing limbs, no powered tools nor other signs of an unsafe environment.
Yes, I do hope that they are earning enough to support their families, afford some 'luxuries' and are respected within THEIR society.
It's somewhat amusing that some folk desire hand craftsmanship and bad mouth CAM cookie cutting. Then, flip the coin, some complain about the variances in manufacturing and demand CAM accuracy. Can't please everyone... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Never been to Bali, but have traveled extensively over Asia. Working conditions for the vast majority of people are absolutely appalling by ANY standards, much less Western.
Yeah, they may have a job, but it's barely subsistence wages, even by their standard of living, and there are no benefits (pensions, paid vacations, sick leave, assistance with medical care, workman's comp,etc.) that we expect from our employers. Even in the more modernized areas there's no such thing as workplace safety. Ya think anybody that puts melamine (a poison) in infant formula to make it test out at a higher protein content gives a shit about exposure of their employees to workplace hazards? And the situation gets worse for smaller businesses.
You say you cut your hand while carving, bad enough that you can't work? Tough shit, you don't get paid until you come back. What's that? Got an infection from that cut? Hey, hope you don't get gangrene from it, that would suck to lose your hand, 'cause then you'd be begging on the street corner. Good luck with that, since you don't have the coin for some antibiotics.
I'm all for making money, but not at the expense of people's lives and health. I'm with Al all the way on this one. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | slave labor is still slave labor.
isn't that what the civil war was about?
workers were working 8-10 hours a day and receiving room, board, and medical care for free (in exchange for the labor).
We thought it was barbaric in our own country so why is it different there? I am sure the craftsman just love carving for 8+ hours a day.
and are you really a craftsman and artist when you are following a design that someone else drew up and you get to copy or replicate it over and over?
I can almost guarantee that the marketers/owners are making a mint more than the poor workers are.
I'd rather support what many consider the overpriced Collings, Merrills, etc where at least the workers are making a good wage.
rant over (for now). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | While you all debate the people aspects I'll just say that I've seen many of these guitars.
I'd rather have a Taylor.
I'd rather be gay and play tennis.
I'd rather be an alter boy in a Catholic church.
I'd rather be a democrat.
Yeah, these guitars are real speschul. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I don't even know why we're having this discussion. I thought this was the Ovation fan club... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
I know I'm going to get my assed kicked on this one, but... Avatar... Just wondering... since you posted this in the "For Sale" section, do you have an interest in these? Not that there is anything wrong with that. But since it is in this section and the first post sounded so over the top it felt like I was watching an ESTABAN info-mercial, I was just curious.
Again... Not that there is anything wrong with that. It's just in the past we've seen our share of snake oil salesman come into town so it's nice to know up front.
edit:
And Beal is dead right on all counts... except the tennis thing. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I've seen the ads in Acoustic Guitar Magazine for the Blueberry EbaY auction guitars....horrific looking instruments, IMHO. They are the painted up hookers of the guitar universe. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I find it amusing that two folks who castigated and mocked me and proclaimed American business owners are evil, think slave labor is acceptable and desirable. And justify it by saying that slave labor is OK because it is their culture, but say our Western culture of capitalism is wrong and should be outlawed. I wish I could make sense out of that.
That said, I'm with Beal. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | I don't have any problem with slavery (it's just another for of employment), but sorry folks just my opinion but those are some damn shitty looking guitars. CLICK. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I don't see how anyone with any sort of morals can watch that video and even think of buying one of those guitars. |
|
| |
Blueberry Inlay-o-rama!!
