Based on some quick web searches (so take it with a large grain of salt), FSC certified wood can run 15 - 30% more than non-certified. The Iz has a MSRP of about $1800. Add 30% and you are just about there.
Based on some quick web searches (so take it with a large grain of salt), FSC certified wood can run 15 - 30% more than non-certified. The Iz has a MSRP of about $1800. Add 30% and you are just about there.
I liked that grain fill video too! The concert sound did not impress me either--maybe it is out of tune. I think the Streetmaster is attractive and it sounds good, and the price is excellent, but I'd be so tempted to stain that fretboard and bridge a darker color. It really seems like a great value.
Based on some quick web searches (so take it with a large grain of salt), FSC certified wood can run 15 - 30% more than non-certified. The Iz has a MSRP of about $1800. Add 30% and you are just about there.
I assume that Mahogany is not that more expensive in Nazareth than in China, the difference in crafting costs are way bigger.
Ib China they can make a solid Mahogany uke that can sell for < $300. That is after the retailers profit, the shipping from China and the lavour needed to make it. I guess the wood it self is less than $100 in that equation. Add 30% to that and you don't quite get a uke that is so much more expensive.
I dont have inside knowledge to what the wood costs, I guess the profiles active in the luthiers lounge will have a better knowledge of this. But I find it hard to believe that the wood it self is more than $500 more expensive than a non fsc alternative.
If a product is not appealing to you, either in sound or price or other aspects that just means you are not in the target market segment. You will never understand the product or the pricing.
It never ceases to amaze me how people miss the fact that Martin does things for a reason and has a marketing plan. If a product is not appealing to you, either in sound or price or other aspects that just means you are not in the target market segment. You will never understand the product or the pricing.
If you enjoy Chinese ukes and want cheap product, which is likely to end up as landfill, why even bother getting involved in a discussion about Martin products? Even the plastic (HPL) Martins enjoy some fandom and are unlikely to be thrown out or used as cheap toys. Maybe there are a few embarrassing owners who still don't realise that the bamboo is just a picture on the top layer of HPL, but the ukes are sought after.
I've watched many of Martin's own historical and promotional content as it comes to ukulele, and it certainly seems that Japan is a primary target of their new instruments. I'd be willing to bet that you can go to most of Martin's guitar dealers and see very few ukuleles...when I went to summer NAMM 2018, in the whole Martin booth, there was one row of ukuleles on a single wall. So while they may sell a few of the expensive ukuleles here in the US...I'd guess most of those sales are abroad.
Chris Martin talks in one of his videos about how Japanese visits led to the rebirth of the 5K Ukulele.
Then I also track the prices of certain ukuleles, and (good) ukuleles that sell for $1000 to $1500 in the US are often much more expensive when listed from Japan. So what may seem expensive in our market might just be the "normal" price in other markets.
I did play all five ukuleles at NAMM...no one stopped me or asked me about it...and I wasn't that impressed with the sound of the 5K (looks were a 10 out of 10). But the sound from the Konter ukulele was amazing, and I look forward to Petey's upcoming videos with it.
I bet these are close to the street prices. Looks like Martin dropped their website prices on existing models to the prices that major dealers were already selling them for. I don't see anyone selling the Martin C1K for less than the $499 price on the Martin website. When the Martin 0XK soprano was available, the retail price was usually more than $300.
Isn't that what everyone hated on Kala for doing? Screwing dealers by selling direct at the same price?
I got in touch with my local shop, Elderly Instruments
Martin does not sell ukuleles from their website. Their instrument pages show the suggested retail price and have "Find A Martin Dealer" links, but there is no way to buy directly. They do sell strings and T-shirts directly.
LOL for a second I got all jealous that such a shop was local to you. Nice! Then I remembered the K shops and HMS/TUS are my local shops and almost slapped myself for being silly.