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perri ink guitars

Hey guys,

First off, everyone is entitled to an opinion. In fact I welcome all the thoughts and feelings one might have, as that's how we grow and learn. That being said, and for the record, I am assembling/selling these guitars because I genuinely LOVE them and want to share these beautiful instruments with people. When I was a kid I destroyed MANY guitars cutting my teeth for the first time with customizations and mods. I'd love to save a lot of people out there the time, trouble, and frustrations of such experiments. In addition, having toured the world 2 dozen times from the time I turned 16 to now, I've gained a perspective as to what is really helping and aiding a serious player, and what is not. The clean boost pedal w/ LED for example is something I've been talking about with some of your favorite guitars players I bet, for years. Offering that mod in addition to straplocks, upgraded bridges, tuners, pickups, wiring, pots, caps, etc.. the list goes on.. is something that - so far - people have really started to respond to. And why not!? These guitars are built with an attention to detail that most mass market vendors can't touch. Trust me, I've been to all their factories. The choice, as I said to brother Gregg, wasn't really a choice at all. I've played almost every guitar on the planet. Warmoth is, well.. you guys know.. the F#CKING BEST. Period. As for the price, well, you get what you pay for in this world. Savvy? For those that love to DIY, I encourage you to continue. It's a passion of mine! For those that don't, and want the baddest most upgraded "stock" guitar on the market today. PERRI INK. Custom Guitars welcomes you!

Nick Perri
PERRI INK Custom Guitars
Owner, CEO
 
Well, Mayfly, I haven't seen one in real life yet, so I guess I shouldn't form a strong opinion.

And Mr. Perri, pleased to have you here. I haven't heard much of your stuff, but what I have heard, I really enjoyed.
Hope you stay here a while, and join in the conversations. From what I can tell, your instruments are made as players instruments, not wall candy. I like either one (and both), but I know I like warmoth.

 
This is ironic. I was jamming out to Silvertide in the car just 20 minutes ago. I'm a HUGE fan.
 
Welcome to the board! The visuals and maple necks didn't appeal to me, but the upgraded hardware makes a lot of sense. I will never touch another Tonepros bridge, but that's another story...
 
Nick Perri said:
Hey guys,

First off, everyone is entitled to an opinion. In fact I welcome all the thoughts and feelings one might have, as that's how we grow and learn. That being said, and for the record, I am assembling/selling these guitars because I genuinely LOVE them and want to share these beautiful instruments with people. When I was a kid I destroyed MANY guitars cutting my teeth for the first time with customizations and mods. I'd love to save a lot of people out there the time, trouble, and frustrations of such experiments. In addition, having toured the world 2 dozen times from the time I turned 16 to now, I've gained a perspective as to what is really helping and aiding a serious player, and what is not. The clean boost pedal w/ LED for example is something I've been talking about with some of your favorite guitars players I bet, for years. Offering that mod in addition to straplocks, upgraded bridges, tuners, pickups, wiring, pots, caps, etc.. the list goes on.. is something that - so far - people have really started to respond to. And why not!? These guitars are built with an attention to detail that most mass market vendors can't touch. Trust me, I've been to all their factories. The choice, as I said to brother Gregg, wasn't really a choice at all. I've played almost every guitar on the planet. Warmoth is, well.. you guys know.. the F#CKING BEST. Period. As for the price, well, you get what you pay for in this world. Savvy? For those that love to DIY, I encourage you to continue. It's a passion of mine! For those that don't, and want the baddest most upgraded "stock" guitar on the market today. PERRI INK. Custom Guitars welcomes you!

Nick Perri
PERRI INK Custom Guitars
Owner, CEO
Click to expand...

I feel a bit of a responsibility, and need to respond, since I'm the one who's opened this thread.

It's not that we/I disagree with the guitars you make/sell, or the idea behind it. in fact, I really like them. The idea of having a 'bad to the bone' guitar, with topnotch hardware, parts, and whatnot, just for tone, playability and reliability, is something I applaud.

In all fair honesty, I wouldn't buy a guitar of yours, simply because its too expensive for me, not a guitar (with the looks) I'm aiming for, but the idea, philosophy behind the guitar, is awesome.

What I can't condone is that it seems as if all the guitars are fully made by you or yours, whilst the bulk of the woodworks are done by warmoth. Again, thats not a bad thing. Why would it be? I'm a huge warmoth-fan, and I play literally, nothing else (hell, I have 14 warmoth les pauls, and number 15 and 16 are in order). You state on the site in covered terms that you're 'partnering with warmoth', which for the smart reader means 'I use warmoth parts'. Again, thats fine, warmoth parts are one of the best, if not THE best, in the world. but stating it a bit more obvious, wouldn't hurt,  I suppose?

About the price: For us here on the board, its a bit of a laugh, and I hope you understand why? The parts you buy cost a little over 1500$, all included. Sure, setting it up, assembling, that costs time, and time is money. But asking almost 1200$ for that (with a margin of profit included) seems for us here a bit steep, especially since most of us do it ourselves, with results equal to a 'Pro'.

In any case, who am I to judge your businessplan? I'm the one who's been advocating Warmoth for the last few years in the Netherlands, and it seems to rub off a bit. and if you (or your name?) can sell guitars, all I can say is:
:headbang1: :headbang1: :headbang1:



ps: I understand the rather narrow choice of woods you offer, afterall, they're guitars you designed, you like, with specs you like. But maybe you can broaden the lineup with other shapes and woods? like korina, mahogany, alder for the bodies, rosewood and ebony for the fingerboards, and padouk, wenge or rosewood for the necks? By doing so, you'll be maneuvering yourself in 'Ernie Ball Ball Family Reserve' Territory, and if you keep asking prices, kinda like that, your business will skyrocket within the next 5 years or so. Just my call...
 
Orpheo, the price is probably so he can keep a business without mass production. Higher profit margins are needed.
 
mayfly said:
Just for you Mr Bagman:

35430_434766617111_527102111_5863787_78190_n.jpg
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Dude, how many flowery guitars do you have?  :laughing7:
 
It's great to have you here Nick! I really do like your guitars, I drool over Black and Maple/Maple guitars all the time. Like the others I hope you can join in on some of our conversations here :headbang:
 
Orpheo said:
About the price: For us here on the board, its a bit of a laugh, and I hope you understand why? The parts you buy cost a little over 1500$, all included. Sure, setting it up, assembling, that costs time, and time is money. But asking almost 1200$ for that (with a margin of profit included) seems for us here a bit steep, especially since most of us do it ourselves, with results equal to a 'Pro'.
Click to expand...

I seriously doubt he considers the types that frequent this board his target market, any more than a car mechanic targets other car mechanics as potential customers.

Not that he knows he can gouge the less handy or knowledgeable, but the people who are knowledgeable and talented will often help themselves "off-book" because they know how and won't get in trouble for doing it. But, running a legitimate business is an expensive proposition in the US. Oddly enough, that's why so many people try it on for size. They see guys like Perri charging what appears to be a $1,200 premium, and figure they can do the same thing and get rich. Then, mean ol' Mr. Reality shows up with his rules, regulations, ordinances, taxes, fees, insurance, compliance paperwork, professional services, liability, warranties, payroll, materials costs, etc., etc. and before long the business looks more like an inflamed hemorrhoid than a way to make money. Some of that can be minimized or avoided, but it often involves some serious risk because doing so is illegal, actionable, or uncomfortable.
 
First, I'd like to thank everyone for the warm welcome. Hello! to all of you! I have been visiting this site for years behind the scenes and have always been impressed with your knowledge and appreciation for the art of custom guitars. As mentioned previously, I encourage all intelligent criticism. Specifically Orpheo, thank you for the kind and level-headed response. I would like to clear up a few misconceptions however, if you'd all be so kind to allow me to do so..

Starting with some of the numbers I've seen floating around on here, they are unfortunately inaccurate. These guitars cost a lot of money to put together. I just crunched the numbers for the 4th straight time and if you were paying retail for all the parts I've assembled in a PERRI INK. guitar - forgetting for a second the few that are not for sale to the public which we'll get into in a second - you come out with the exact cost of the guitar. Roughly 2700 for the Protostar, and 2500 for the Solostar. Now, as you all know I don't pay retail, with the only exception being the Warmoth body & neck as their prices are already as low as you can go for the quality and standard they set. On all the others I pay OEM, however added together those parts with the bodies and necks come out to 2K, not 1500. If you factor in shop rent, taxes, and 3 part-time employees, you have a very small margin of profit left. In fact, following traditional business model standards, I should be charging "double cost" to achieve my retail price, which would be 4000 a guitar. I did not feel comfortable with this number as I feel anything above 3K for a guitar is simply too high for even a dude with a good paying job. So that's why I decided to take less profit and keep the guitars in the 2K bracket.

Lastly, and I think a lot of people are overlooking this piece of the puzzle, I designed (along with an extremely talented electronic engineer) a very specific and custom electronic circuit for these guitars. Sure people have been putting pedals into guitars for a long time, but not "stock" and not with this specific wiring. Most definitely not with a built-in LED indicator light for when the pedal becomes active. For those who are unfamiliar with the feature, all PERRI INK. guitars come with a built-in "clean boost" circuit that I designed myself. When the pedal is not activated the circuit becomes true bypass and is virtually non existent in the signal chain. It also has an adjustable 3-20db trim pot located within the electronic compartment as well.. for total customization from player to player. The process of building this circuit is not easy, or cheap, but again it's something I've always wanted to do.

Considering I have spent 2500 on stock guitars from Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Zemaitis, and the list goes on - to then have to upgrade the guitar with all these parts - I think 2500/2700 with all of this included is not only fair, but incredible!

Back to work. Have a great day.
Peace fellas!



Nick Perri
PERRI INK. Custom Guitars
Owner, CEO
 

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I gotta say, props to Mr. Perri for being so level-headed in the face of criticism, unlike others who have come on gone on this forum. I'd also like to say that, although the utilitarian black-on-maple aesthetic those guitars have isn't really my cup o' tea, I do dig the electronics.  :icon_thumright:
 
mayfly said:
Anyone willing to give it a go gets a thumbs up from me. 
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Agreed! and Welcome Nick!

there are a bunch of successful builders that use parts, and if I thought I could make a living of doing that I would probably give it a try too :)
 
Marko said:
mayfly said:
Anyone willing to give it a go gets a thumbs up from me. 
Click to expand...

Agreed! and Welcome Nick!

there are a bunch of successful builders that use parts, and if I thought I could make a living of doing that I would probably give it a try too :)
Click to expand...

Agreed as well. Welcome! Very glad to see you here, and I really like your electronic work, very cool stuff mate.
 
Welcome Nick!  You are living my dream, and I applaud you for that.  I really like the electronics setup in your guitars, and the blue LED indicator is a nice touch.  I have an electronic/electrical engineering background as well.  I enjoy dabbling with passive electronics in guitars instead of the active, but I really like your designs.  Keep up the good work.
 
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