But seriously...
...are you trying to discourage buyers ?
I don't know what price you are hoping to get for it, and I wish you all success, but to start where you have is, IMNSHO, bound to discourage most potential interest.
You have to 'let the dog see the rabbit' to quote a well-known phrase. A low starting price, and a sensible reserve, will get much more action, once again IMNSHO.
I see what you're saying, but I'm not willing to sell it for less than that and it's worth much more.
This is an top quality instrument for serious musicians and what's the point of putting it on for less than it's worth? Sod the marketing BS - what you see is what you get.
I used to try selling instruments with a high starting bid, or reserve, and I do a LOT better now, when I start things at $1 with no reserve. You get lots of early bid activity, which means you have a certain number of people that have a 'dog in the fight', so to speak. And you'll get about 10 times as many people with it in their "watch list".
I always sell instruments that way now, and have never been disappointed by the results. (A couple of times, I have had a friend or two in my back pocket that will do some early bidding, and maybe someone who will snag it at the minimum level I'd be willing to sell it at, but I've never actually had to use that option...)
Good, because that is Illegal.
# Too often I see things go for a fraction of their worth because there were no bidders till the last minute. and 1 person snaps it up for next to nothing. I strongly encourage people to put a realistic reserve on items.
Shill bidding is not allowed on eBay. The following is from their information page on shill bidding:
Shill bidding is when sellers—or someone they know—place a bid on their item to drive the price up and create an artificial bidding war. Often the people placing bids have certain information about the seller's item that other shoppers aren't aware of. To make sure no one gets an unfair advantage, shill bidding is prohibited on eBay.
People who know the seller – such as family members, roommates, or employees – can't bid on that seller's items, but they can use options like Buy It Now that don't involve bidding. Sellers with employees have to make sure their workers are aware of this policy and what the consequences are for breaking the rules. ...
For more details on our policy, please take a few minutes to go through our tutorial.
Violations of our policies may result in a range of actions, including:
* Listing cancellation
* Limits on account privileges
* Account suspension
* Forfeit of eBay fees on canceled listings
* Loss of PowerSeller status
* Referral to law enforcement
If you think someone's breaking the rules, please report it to us. Be sure to provide the member's user ID and the item number.
I don't think the Rev WAS saying he'd used friends, only that he's had the option......
My argument, which Dennis reiterated, was to set the price low,but with a reserve that you can't know till you pass it, so it gets the bidders interested early. Then, as the price rises past what they'd thought was their limit, they're still suckered in,and go on bidding.
You need a strong will to resist this. I reluctantly let a nice little mandolin go, earlier today, but I knew I'd catch it in the neck from 'Er Indoors if a large parcel turned up through the Post Office again. When I'd purchased my 'zouk I got some remarks about mid-life crises and "At least it wasn't a Harley-Davidson.....".
Starting bidding at the minimum you're ready to let it go at deters some of those who'ld otherwise have a go.
Thats the whole idea of having a reserve. Only you know what the reserve is. If the final bid is below your reserve price, you have the option of not going ahead with the sale. The bidder knows this, or should know this. On the other hand if the final bid is only a few quid short of your reserve price, you may be happy to take it.
You will need to relist the item and there will be a place in the listing to opt for a reserve price.
Personally I hate bidding on items that have a reserve, I think it is more honest to just put the iopening bid at the minimum selling price.
Other posters may be right that you'll be more successful with a reserve, but personaly it tends to put me off. Although I mostly just buy (too expensive ) books off ebay.
That said I think your starting bid is too high to generate interest. You have to start at a real bargain price and that will draw in interest as others suggested. (And no I'll not trying to sucker you into listing at a lower price that I'll then bid on )
Buying , I have no problem bidding on items with a reserve. If I am interested in something I snipe it. I would not dream of bidding before the last minute and alerting other watchers/potential bidders/bidders. then I come on strong with my highest price and have another bid with another $5 on as a fall back! Win some lose some.
I often see things come up, and finish with no sale. they are then re listed and fetch the asking price. I also see people drop their opening bid once it has been round once, only to get snapped up very quickly.
Whatever you do dont set a miniscule opening price and hope for bidder. that can end up badly. Recently I won an instrument for less than the value of the case it was in. The seller wisely made up some spurious excuse and I was happy to accept that and didn't complete! . Mad!
set your opening price at the minimum you will sell for or face the risk. If it doesnt sell first time simply relist and keep at it untill it sells[or you give up hope!]
# PS the law universally condemns shill bidding. Auctions have been around a long time. My grandfather was an auctioneer and my father bought and sold a lot regularly .
I know about the reserve, but it cost's me 20 quid to list the instrument, and if it doesn't meet the reserve then I'm 20 quid down.
Truth is, if I'm not intending to sell the bouzouki for less than that price then what's the point of putting it on at less? If I was selling it in a shop it would cost much more, so although I think much of the advice here is obviously good, my wife (who is selling it for me) is an very experienced eBayer and knows what she's doing. I am not letting this instrument go for less than it's worth.
If it doesn't sell on eBay then I'll sell it elsewhere, or hang on to it. If someone bids £999.01 then they've got a good deal.
Interesting about the eBay rules. I may have violated the shill bidding rule by asking people on this forum to bid on stuff before (although, they've always been willing to buy the item for those early bid prices - and I don't exactly "know" everybody here). I'll have to be careful about that in the future.
But my point remains that starting things at a $1 bid with no reserve generates so much more interest in the item that it drives the price up naturally, and the end selling price will generally be higher than it is if you start it out at your minimum. The trade-off, of course, is that you're taking the risk of selling it below your minimum. So it's a gamble, but it's a gamble that has consistently paid off for me when selling instruments.
I see your point but I'm not gambling with this instrument in the hope it meets what it's worth, I'm offering it for sale.
I'm not looking to attract someone who wants to pay £150 for an Ozark bouzouki, I'm looking to attract someone who is serious about their music and would like a decent instrument. A £1 bid with no reserve might generate tons of interest (this bouzouki has generated a fair bit), but if I have to sell it for £250 then I'm going to be pretty peeved.
Anyway, I note no bids yet after 2 days. Must resist saying "I told you so" till all is over.
I believe that Cheshire is the second most affluent county in the country, so you may yet have a chance. On the other hand, who ever heard of an affluent folk musician ?
....oh, incidentally, you said early on "it's worth much more."
It's worth what somebody is prepared to pay for it.
That is what it's worth.
Later this year I hope to be selling an instrument or two myself on ebay. I can't see myself plugging it here.
I rwally hate snipe bidders. I don't mind losing out to someone whao has been taking part in the auction but snipe bidding strikes me as pretty low. Personally I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not for particularly rational reasons, but because I'd feel like I cheapened myself.
Obviously plenty of people feel differently. It is just one of those things I wouldn't do though.
Pete, All he has done is put an instrument up for sale. I he really needs to sell, then he can reduce the price.
Expensive instruments rarely sell quickly. We all know that most folk on ebay are looking for an incredible bargain. An instrument like this could sit there for months waiting to sell. Someone needs to have the money and be looking for a similar instrument.
Maybe if he wants a quick sale then he will have to reduce his asking price but Its only the first time round. with stuff like this you can expect it not to sell first even second time round. these instruments dont grow on trees!
Well, I was just trying to be helpful ( originally, at any rate ).
Don't know how I got so rancorous. Maybe it's because I do trawl the ebay listings quite frequently, but try to hold my limits on what I'll pay for something. When I see someone doing things in a way that seems illogical ( or plain stupid ) to me I tend to jump in with my pennyworth - "Rare Lachenal concertina" - that's a description I tend to comment strongly on, for example.
I think there's a reduced price if you have to re-post the item - I was trying to sell an english concertina myself a year or three ago and my highest bidder, having failed to reach the reserve I set by the end of the time, asked "What do we do now ?". Well, she hadn't reached the reserve so the answer was "Nothing."
I had the option to re-post, but by that time I was enjoying the instrument so much that I decided to keep it.
Incidentally, there are two secondhand Hullah bouzoukis listed by Hobgoblin Manchester branch, an electric and a bowlback.
Both are at rather lower prices, but this may reflect condition and/or popularity of these models.
But interesting.
I saw them last weekend. The bowl-back was possibly the same one offered via a third party to me some time ago and I considered it but never went ahead. The electric is a nice instrument but is obviously solid-bodied . . . and electric, and as such useless for sessions etc. The condition was OK but not outstanding, and I wondered if they had been played in a while.
The Deluxe bouzouki is a considerable step up from both these instruments and considerably better sounding
(the tone being more complex and deeper in the basses) than the standard too.
I have no idea how many John made, but I only know of two more Hullah Deluxe (and neither of these have Applewood tops) and one of those is in Ireland.
And I see that the sale is closed early, as the buyer has withdrawn it from the sale.
I do, seriously, hope that it wasn't something I said. Do I resemble that annoying character in the Harry Enfield shows "You don't want to do it like that !" ? I was trying to be helpful. I did notice that our seller had sold many books, where, no doubt, how the bids may go might well be in a different style entirely. Instruments and musical equipment seem to have a long run-up then a quick burst of taking the final price up to much higher levels for the final purchase.
Please keep us posted.
The seller has indeed withdrawn it from sale, as under ebay rules the seller has the right to remove an item that has no bids on it.
I was contacted privately by a buyer (it was advertised elsewhere locally) who wished to purchase the instrument and offered the full asking price - the minimum I was willing to let it go for.
In this part of 'affluent Cheshire' things are not quite so rosy and despite doing things in a way some might perceive as illogical (or just plain stupid) my reasons for sale are genuine and the price was more than reasonable. Truth is, I'll never be able to afford an instrument of that quality and at that price because so few were made (making them 'rare') and I was forced by circumstances into selling it. I was very sad to see it go.
One thing I have learnt though - I'll never advertise anything I sell on the session.org again. No one should flatter themselves into thinking their ill-considered rants were responsible for me withdrawing the sale; in fact someone who knows what they're talking about saw the instrument and decided it was a bargain.
To those who offered support rather than sniping - thanks!
Well, I'm glad for you that you got the minimum price that you were prepared to let it go for, at least. I can't remember, do you save some costs if you remove it early from the sale ? You might yet have got a bid or two if you'ld left it in, but who knows now? It did indeed look a nice instrument, even though my own preference is for the floating rather than the pin bridge.
I would like to add that it's hard to put a tone of voice onto the printed word, and eschewing exclamation marks, capital letters, and smileys for the sake of good style and clarity might lead people to read a harsher tone into my texts then is sometimes intended. You might read that as an apology, if you have the desire to do so.
Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I'm selling my beloved Hullah bouzouki on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300321628048
I've more pics if you're interested and am happy to answer any questions, just PM me with your email address.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
But seriously...
...are you trying to discourage buyers ?
I don't know what price you are hoping to get for it, and I wish you all success, but to start where you have is, IMNSHO, bound to discourage most potential interest.
You have to 'let the dog see the rabbit' to quote a well-known phrase. A low starting price, and a sensible reserve, will get much more action, once again IMNSHO.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I see what you're saying, but I'm not willing to sell it for less than that and it's worth much more.
This is an top quality instrument for serious musicians and what's the point of putting it on for less than it's worth? Sod the marketing BS - what you see is what you get.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I used to try selling instruments with a high starting bid, or reserve, and I do a LOT better now, when I start things at $1 with no reserve. You get lots of early bid activity, which means you have a certain number of people that have a 'dog in the fight', so to speak. And you'll get about 10 times as many people with it in their "watch list".
I always sell instruments that way now, and have never been disappointed by the results. (A couple of times, I have had a friend or two in my back pocket that will do some early bidding, and maybe someone who will snag it at the minimum level I'd be willing to sell it at, but I've never actually had to use that option...)
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Reverend
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Good, because that is Illegal.
# Too often I see things go for a fraction of their worth because there were no bidders till the last minute. and 1 person snaps it up for next to nothing. I strongly encourage people to put a realistic reserve on items.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Ahh go for it Sugarfoot!
Might be no harm to put a few measurements with it...scale etc.
Good luck!
Seanie
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by seaniemcg
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Personally, I would set the starting bid much lower but, set your reserve at the minimum at which you would like to get for it.
That way, if your reserve has not been met after the auction time is up, you do not have to sell to the highest bidder.
But, to encourage bidding you need to set a reasonably low start bid. A sprat to catch a mackerel so to speak.
I would not advise shill-bidding though, which is what someone above has suggested.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Shill bidding is not allowed on eBay. The following is from their information page on shill bidding:
Shill bidding is when sellers—or someone they know—place a bid on their item to drive the price up and create an artificial bidding war. Often the people placing bids have certain information about the seller's item that other shoppers aren't aware of. To make sure no one gets an unfair advantage, shill bidding is prohibited on eBay.
People who know the seller – such as family members, roommates, or employees – can't bid on that seller's items, but they can use options like Buy It Now that don't involve bidding. Sellers with employees have to make sure their workers are aware of this policy and what the consequences are for breaking the rules. ...
For more details on our policy, please take a few minutes to go through our tutorial.
Violations of our policies may result in a range of actions, including:
* Listing cancellation
* Limits on account privileges
* Account suspension
* Forfeit of eBay fees on canceled listings
* Loss of PowerSeller status
* Referral to law enforcement
If you think someone's breaking the rules, please report it to us. Be sure to provide the member's user ID and the item number.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by rob zouk
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Yep.
Dats de law!!
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I don't think the Rev WAS saying he'd used friends, only that he's had the option......
My argument, which Dennis reiterated, was to set the price low,but with a reserve that you can't know till you pass it, so it gets the bidders interested early. Then, as the price rises past what they'd thought was their limit, they're still suckered in,and go on bidding.
You need a strong will to resist this. I reluctantly let a nice little mandolin go, earlier today, but I knew I'd catch it in the neck from 'Er Indoors if a large parcel turned up through the Post Office again. When I'd purchased my 'zouk I got some remarks about mid-life crises and "At least it wasn't a Harley-Davidson.....".
Starting bidding at the minimum you're ready to let it go at deters some of those who'ld otherwise have a go.
# Posted on June 10th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
But what happens if someone buys it at a fraction of the price I want for it? If I was selling this in a shop it would cost far more.
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Thats the whole idea of having a reserve. Only you know what the reserve is. If the final bid is below your reserve price, you have the option of not going ahead with the sale. The bidder knows this, or should know this. On the other hand if the final bid is only a few quid short of your reserve price, you may be happy to take it.
You will need to relist the item and there will be a place in the listing to opt for a reserve price.
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Personally I hate bidding on items that have a reserve, I think it is more honest to just put the iopening bid at the minimum selling price.
Other posters may be right that you'll be more successful with a reserve, but personaly it tends to put me off. Although I mostly just buy (too expensive
) books off ebay.
That said I think your starting bid is too high to generate interest. You have to start at a real bargain price and that will draw in interest as others suggested. (And no I'll not trying to sucker you into listing at a lower price that I'll then bid on
)
- chris
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Buying , I have no problem bidding on items with a reserve. If I am interested in something I snipe it. I would not dream of bidding before the last minute and alerting other watchers/potential bidders/bidders. then I come on strong with my highest price and have another bid with another $5 on as a fall back! Win some lose some.
I often see things come up, and finish with no sale. they are then re listed and fetch the asking price. I also see people drop their opening bid once it has been round once, only to get snapped up very quickly.
Whatever you do dont set a miniscule opening price and hope for bidder. that can end up badly. Recently I won an instrument for less than the value of the case it was in. The seller wisely made up some spurious excuse and I was happy to accept that and didn't complete! . Mad!
set your opening price at the minimum you will sell for or face the risk. If it doesnt sell first time simply relist and keep at it untill it sells[or you give up hope!]
# PS the law universally condemns shill bidding. Auctions have been around a long time. My grandfather was an auctioneer and my father bought and sold a lot regularly .
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I know about the reserve, but it cost's me 20 quid to list the instrument, and if it doesn't meet the reserve then I'm 20 quid down.
Truth is, if I'm not intending to sell the bouzouki for less than that price then what's the point of putting it on at less? If I was selling it in a shop it would cost much more, so although I think much of the advice here is obviously good, my wife (who is selling it for me) is an very experienced eBayer and knows what she's doing. I am not letting this instrument go for less than it's worth.
If it doesn't sell on eBay then I'll sell it elsewhere, or hang on to it. If someone bids £999.01 then they've got a good deal.
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Interesting about the eBay rules. I may have violated the shill bidding rule by asking people on this forum to bid on stuff before (although, they've always been willing to buy the item for those early bid prices - and I don't exactly "know" everybody here). I'll have to be careful about that in the future.
But my point remains that starting things at a $1 bid with no reserve generates so much more interest in the item that it drives the price up naturally, and the end selling price will generally be higher than it is if you start it out at your minimum. The trade-off, of course, is that you're taking the risk of selling it below your minimum. So it's a gamble, but it's a gamble that has consistently paid off for me when selling instruments.
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by Reverend
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I see your point but I'm not gambling with this instrument in the hope it meets what it's worth, I'm offering it for sale.
I'm not looking to attract someone who wants to pay £150 for an Ozark bouzouki, I'm looking to attract someone who is serious about their music and would like a decent instrument. A £1 bid with no reserve might generate tons of interest (this bouzouki has generated a fair bit), but if I have to sell it for £250 then I'm going to be pretty peeved.
Decent instrument. Decent price.
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Good luck with it.
It's certainly a nice looking instrument.
# Posted on June 11th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
a 1£ startin bid, with no reserve, and no interest, means a 1£ sale if someone snipes at the last minute... like me.
# Posted on June 12th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Can one "Make you an offer....?"
# Posted on June 12th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Anyway, I note no bids yet after 2 days. Must resist saying "I told you so" till all is over.
I believe that Cheshire is the second most affluent county in the country, so you may yet have a chance. On the other hand, who ever heard of an affluent folk musician ?
# Posted on June 12th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
....oh, incidentally, you said early on "it's worth much more."
It's worth what somebody is prepared to pay for it.
That is what it's worth.
Later this year I hope to be selling an instrument or two myself on ebay. I can't see myself plugging it here.
# Posted on June 12th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I rwally hate snipe bidders. I don't mind losing out to someone whao has been taking part in the auction but snipe bidding strikes me as pretty low. Personally I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not for particularly rational reasons, but because I'd feel like I cheapened myself.
Obviously plenty of people feel differently. It is just one of those things I wouldn't do though.
- chris
# Posted on June 13th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Pete, All he has done is put an instrument up for sale. I he really needs to sell, then he can reduce the price.
Expensive instruments rarely sell quickly. We all know that most folk on ebay are looking for an incredible bargain. An instrument like this could sit there for months waiting to sell. Someone needs to have the money and be looking for a similar instrument.
Maybe if he wants a quick sale then he will have to reduce his asking price but Its only the first time round. with stuff like this you can expect it not to sell first even second time round. these instruments dont grow on trees!
# Posted on June 13th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Well, I was just trying to be helpful ( originally, at any rate ).
Don't know how I got so rancorous. Maybe it's because I do trawl the ebay listings quite frequently, but try to hold my limits on what I'll pay for something. When I see someone doing things in a way that seems illogical ( or plain stupid ) to me I tend to jump in with my pennyworth - "Rare Lachenal concertina" - that's a description I tend to comment strongly on, for example.
I think there's a reduced price if you have to re-post the item - I was trying to sell an english concertina myself a year or three ago and my highest bidder, having failed to reach the reserve I set by the end of the time, asked "What do we do now ?". Well, she hadn't reached the reserve so the answer was "Nothing."
I had the option to re-post, but by that time I was enjoying the instrument so much that I decided to keep it.
# Posted on June 14th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Incidentally, there are two secondhand Hullah bouzoukis listed by Hobgoblin Manchester branch, an electric and a bowlback.
Both are at rather lower prices, but this may reflect condition and/or popularity of these models.
But interesting.
# Posted on June 16th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
I saw them last weekend. The bowl-back was possibly the same one offered via a third party to me some time ago and I considered it but never went ahead. The electric is a nice instrument but is obviously solid-bodied . . . and electric, and as such useless for sessions etc. The condition was OK but not outstanding, and I wondered if they had been played in a while.
The Deluxe bouzouki is a considerable step up from both these instruments and considerably better sounding
(the tone being more complex and deeper in the basses) than the standard too.
I have no idea how many John made, but I only know of two more Hullah Deluxe (and neither of these have Applewood tops) and one of those is in Ireland.
# Posted on June 16th 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
And I see that the sale is closed early, as the buyer has withdrawn it from the sale.
I do, seriously, hope that it wasn't something I said. Do I resemble that annoying character in the Harry Enfield shows "You don't want to do it like that !" ? I was trying to be helpful. I did notice that our seller had sold many books, where, no doubt, how the bids may go might well be in a different style entirely. Instruments and musical equipment seem to have a long run-up then a quick burst of taking the final price up to much higher levels for the final purchase.
Please keep us posted.
# Posted on June 21st 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Do you mean the seller has withdrawn it from the sale?
# Posted on June 21st 2009 by leoj
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
The seller has indeed withdrawn it from sale, as under ebay rules the seller has the right to remove an item that has no bids on it.
I was contacted privately by a buyer (it was advertised elsewhere locally) who wished to purchase the instrument and offered the full asking price - the minimum I was willing to let it go for.
In this part of 'affluent Cheshire' things are not quite so rosy and despite doing things in a way some might perceive as illogical (or just plain stupid) my reasons for sale are genuine and the price was more than reasonable. Truth is, I'll never be able to afford an instrument of that quality and at that price because so few were made (making them 'rare') and I was forced by circumstances into selling it. I was very sad to see it go.
One thing I have learnt though - I'll never advertise anything I sell on the session.org again. No one should flatter themselves into thinking their ill-considered rants were responsible for me withdrawing the sale; in fact someone who knows what they're talking about saw the instrument and decided it was a bargain.
To those who offered support rather than sniping - thanks!
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Selling my Hullah bouzouki : - (
Well, I'm glad for you that you got the minimum price that you were prepared to let it go for, at least. I can't remember, do you save some costs if you remove it early from the sale ? You might yet have got a bid or two if you'ld left it in, but who knows now? It did indeed look a nice instrument, even though my own preference is for the floating rather than the pin bridge.
I would like to add that it's hard to put a tone of voice onto the printed word, and eschewing exclamation marks, capital letters, and smileys for the sake of good style and clarity might lead people to read a harsher tone into my texts then is sometimes intended. You might read that as an apology, if you have the desire to do so.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by Guernsey Pete