Is NASH Guitars a Builder, or an Assembler ?

[CapnCrunch]

If you bought one of those 1950s Finishes Necks + the Lollar pickups + the appropriate electronics you're at $500 before you get the body, pickguard, bridge, etc...

Seems like you can do it, but the whole point of the Nash is you can go in the store and verify it's all perfect already.

If I buy a $200 neck off Reverb I'm just taking it on faith it's got a great fret level/crown/setup on it. I don't have the tools & skills to make it as good as a Nash or Fender CS neck if it's not that great out of the box.

I don't think they are overpriced compared to Fenders. Except for that every Nash I've ever seen was Reliced and I don't want that and/or wouldn't pay extra for it. The Nash guitars I've seen in person were priced in between what an American Pro Tele and an American Original/Ultra/Elite would cost. I don't really think the Nash ones are any worse or better other than you're stuck getting a relic finish.

Add to this analysis that you can sell your Nash for over $1,000 used (probably). Your no name partscaster……...not so much.

I got really into scratch building, and I am at a place where I can scratch build a guitar that easily compares with the best custom shop guitars you can buy. I can't sell them for what I have in cost of the high end parts, and that's before I figure in some cost for my labor. I still dabble for fun, but it is a costly hobby. If you're not building high end arch tops, it's a tough business to be in, and you can't make it without taking advantage of economy of scale.

 

[mefgames]

I am interested to know as well regarding a future buy, so I sent them an email. Here's their answer.

We do not use any aftermarket components. Our necks and bodies are made to our specifics by a business partner (only for us). We also have our own CNC machine for plastics and some neck/body processing. CTS pots made specifically for us as are many other components.
All paint/finish is 100% nitrocellulose lacquer. We use Lollar pickups in about 98% or our builds.

 

[TeleTown]

I am interested to know as well regarding a future buy, so I sent them an email. Here's their answer.

We do not use any aftermarket components. Our necks and bodies are made to our specifics by a business partner (only for us). We also have our own CNC machine for plastics and some neck/body processing. CTS pots made specifically for us as are many other components.
All paint/finish is 100% nitrocellulose lacquer. We use Lollar pickups in about 98% or our builds.

Now this i believe. Thanks for the post.

 

[fenderchamp]

Meaning, do they make or source their necks, bodies, pickups, etc. ?

Nash used to be quite upfront on the website about the fact that he sourced his bodies and necks and didn't make them in house. I don't know if that's still the case though.

We have a nash dealer close to my house, They are great playing guitars right out of the factory, with lollar pickups.

They're cool guitars!

 

[Fretting out]

They charge what folks are willing to pay, simple as that.

Yes they can charge whatever profit into it they want
It’s just exhausting the amount of people that think every penny spent is going into Bill Nash’s pocket or Gibson’s, fender etc.
It costs money to make money I’m not saying they don’t make decent livings there’s just more to it than what the product sells for and a lot of people can’t seem to see behind the product to see the plethora of variables involved in an active business

 

[Musekatcher]

Looking at Humbucker music, the cheapest Nash tele was $1925. A new Fender American is $1549. Seems competitive to me.

 

[hemingway]

I think you’re right that they are allparts and right on about cost!
The markup? Yes they are just partscasters but a lot of people forget about something called “overhead” which is separate from profit and pays for the shop, utilities , pays the employees and the tax’s and insurance associated with such a business and then tack on 25% on top of that for profit
So at the end of the day they have a fair price
I like how everyone always gripes about the cost of instruments but always forget the minute details that adds cost to a business
if you add in all these factors most companies are right on
Of course someone can do it cheaper themselves but have almost zero cost into themselves and just have costs in material

Yeah, if I paid myself to make a partscaster, with all the labour I put into it, I'd have to charge myself about 4 grand for a pretty ropey guitar. I'd be better off going to Nash.

 

[Denton]

I have owned a few Nash basses and currently own one PB-63 and a T72. They are a sum of the parts thing. All the ones I have been outstanding. I also remember reading that they aren’t off the shelf Lollar pickups but are a little different? Their necks also are not sealed (or weren’t initially, maybe that has changed?) which make them lively.

I don’t know but I prefer Nash over the AVRI or RI line from Fender. I buy used when possible so if I sell one, I’m not losing money because they hold their value.

For me, they check my boxes: nitro, broken in feel and detail, aged hardware, great pickups, great necks, great playability and tone. My 72 is a 2011 (currently for sale) with Lollar Regals and my P is actually parted together from 2 different Nash P’s... body from a 2016, neck is from a 2011. Nash Lollar in that one as well.

 

[beninma]

Gotta remember they’re probably trying to pay for stuff like health insurance too.

 

[PCollen]

Yes they can charge whatever profit into it they want
It’s just exhausting the amount of people that think every penny spent is goin into Bill Nash’s pocket or Gibson’s, fender etc.
It costs money to make money I’m not saying they don’t make decent livings there’s just more to it than what the product sells for and a lot of people can’t seem to see behind the product to see the plethora of variables involved in an active business

This seems to be a systemic problem within some factions of our national populace at this time, with regards to many businesses regardless of type and size.

 

[PCollen]

I have owned a few Nash basses and currently own one PB-63 and a T72. They are a sum of the parts thing. All the ones I have been outstanding. I also remember reading that they aren’t off the shelf Lollar pickups but are a little different? Their necks also are not sealed (or weren’t initially, maybe that has changed?) which make them lively.

I don’t know but I prefer Nash over the AVRI or RI line from Fender. I buy used when possible so if I sell one, I’m not losing money because they hold their value.

For me, they check my boxes: nitro, broken in feel and detail, aged hardware, great pickups, great necks, great playability and tone. My 72 is a 2011 (currently for sale) with Lollar Regals and my P is actually parted together from 2 different Nash P’s... body from a 2016, neck is from a 2011. Nash Lollar in that one as well.

View attachment 664836 View attachment 664837

If the basses shown are Nash, why do they have the Fender logo on the headstock and not the Nash logo ? Just curious, not asserting anything. Does Nash also simply buy used Fender instruments and Nash-ize them for resale ?

 

[PCollen]

Now this i believe. Thanks for the post.

And thank you for your inquiry to Nash, and for posting their response.

 

[PCollen]

Add to this analysis that you can sell your Nash for over $1,000 used (probably). Your no name partscaster……...not so much.

I got really into scratch building, and I am at a place where I can scratch build a guitar that easily compares with the best custom shop guitars you can buy. I can't sell them for what I have in cost of the high end parts, and that's before I figure in some cost for my labor. I still dabble for fun, but it is a costly hobby. If you're not building high end arch tops, it's a tough business to be in, and you can't make it without taking advantage of economy of scale.

".....you can't make it without taking advantage of economy of scale."

Absolutely...that fact goes back to Henry Ford.

 

[Denton]

If the basses shown are Nash, why do they have the Fender logo on the headstock and not the Nash logo ? Just curious, not asserting anything. Does Nash also simply buy used Fender instruments and Nash-ize them for resale ?

Great question. The Tele is from 2011 and came to me with a Nash decal. I don’t know if it was added later or what but it was curling up. I bought a Fender one off eBay. Not that I want it to be a Fender or anything, I just wanted to put something there. I’m actually thinking about removing it...there is no clear coat on it.

The P bass neck had the label already on it. I know in his early days, he would apply a Fender decal but then stopped. I don’t know the story on this neck but I like the 60’s Fender Precision decal. It’s staying because it looks good and the whole neck just has that vibe going on, even though it’s a B width. Best feeling neck I’ve had and I’ve had quite a few over the past 15 years of wheeling and dealing.

That said, I would never sell them as a Fender. I recently had someone approach me about the bass and ask what year it was. When I said 2011, they just stared back at me with a real confused look. This bass has the look!

 

[Ronkirn]

what possible difference does it make where the bodies come from? as long as they function correctly and look right... the only thing that really matters is what happens when the guitarist hangs it around their neck, filps the standby switch to play.. and digs in....

From the reports over the many years he has been producing his guitars, I'd say he'd doing a damn fine job..., and.. I used to do bodies for Bill probably 20 years ago now...

r

 

[fenderchamp]

... the only thing that really matters is what happens when the guitarist hangs it around their neck, filps the standby switch to play.. and digs in....

so true

 

[That Cal Webway]

I've read a few interviews w Bill Nash through the years.
I think the one I'm referencing is going to be from the Tone Report a few years ago,
I think...

anyhoot.the interviewers were not fawning-pimping him in any way-
but Nash is very very detail-oriented.
Sweats the details. His ears are always open.

Him using Lollar pickups wasn't just random, particularly the certain bridge pickup he uses of Lollar's in Strats.
I think through his experience on what 'works,' and definitely his ears, and things like- that at least back when I read the articles, he liked to put a shim for the neck to create a little bit bigger break ankle at the bridge on his bolt-on guitars. That is not heresy... the tried/true shim.

If you don't like that there, you can remove it!

I don't have a Nash, I'm not a fan of relic and all that, but I can respect the detail he does and the results.
would love to play some, and would do it with an open mind for sure.

as I recall, and maybe someone can help me here, he even made some prototype Les Paul guitars and had gone through a lot of pickups to see what was good for that... LP, glued-in neck guitars are going to take a lot more finesse and skill than than a bolt-on!
(Memory! I'm not 100% cetain on my recall on that).

Crook, Sadowsky, our Ron Kirn, etc, etc, use necks or bodies or both from outside vendors... No big whoop.

.

 

[Chunkocaster]

Great question. The Tele is from 2011 and came to me with a Nash decal. I don’t know if it was added later or what but it was curling up. I bought a Fender one off eBay. Not that I want it to be a Fender or anything, I just wanted to put something there. I’m actually thinking about removing it...there is no clear coat on it.

The P bass neck had the label already on it. I know in his early days, he would apply a Fender decal but then stopped. I don’t know the story on this neck but I like the 60’s Fender Precision decal. It’s staying because it looks good and the whole neck just has that vibe going on, even though it’s a B width. Best feeling neck I’ve had and I’ve had quite a few over the past 15 years of wheeling and dealing.

That said, I would never sell them as a Fender. I recently had someone approach me about the bass and ask what year it was. When I said 2011, they just stared back at me with a real confused look. This bass has the look!

I would leave it on there, it suits the guitar well. They both do. I'm in to the proper 50's, 60's and 70's fender looks and finishes. I'm not much into the prices they cost or the standard specs on frets, radius and hit or miss in playability, feel and sound. Using any other decal you lose that correct vintage look. A replica should be made to look as accurate as possible imo unless you prefer a different decal.

I feel the same way about 58/59 Gibson bursts. If I was building a replica i'd want it to look real seeing as I cant justify spending $250k plus on one guitar even if I had it to spare. Why should the poor folks have to sacrifice on looks when assembling their ideal guitar.

 

[PCollen]

>snipped<

I think through his experience on what 'works,' and definitely his ears, and things like- that at least back when I read the articles, he liked to put a shim for the neck to create a little bit bigger break ankle at the bridge on his bolt-on guitars. That is not heresy... the tried/true shim.

>snipped<

.

I read that on the Nash web-site years ago. He wanted more downward pressure on the bridge saddles of his Teles. Not sure if it was to get more sustain, or more twang. He would raise the saddles higher to increase the break angle, then shim the neck heel to get the action he wanted. I didn't know that, the first time I tried out a Nash, and I just felt something was weird with the guitar and put it back on the rack after just a few minutes. I'd never heard of Nash guitars and the two at that shop looked like they were built in someone's garage from spare parts. Seriously, they were over the top "relics". I was more impressed with the American Special Tele and eventually bought one of those.

 

[Greggorios]

The Nash's I've tried are terrific guitars as are Ron Kirn's, K-Line's, Mario Martin, and many others. If the builder is experienced and uses quality components I don't believe it makes any difference if they're "builders" vs. "assemblers" or where the quality parts are sourced from. One of the great things here in TDPRI land is that we have a collection of very experienced players and builders who can help guide us through all of that. I'm not real big on relic'ing but Nash will make up a new guitar with minimal or light relic'ing on a custom order. Humbucker and the other Nash retailers can assist in ordering one.

Good luck.