[sdiy] making 2 or 3 dollars an hour on synth building?

[Derek Holzer]

In this era of mass produced stuff made in faraway places (and in the 
case of some companies, by children's hands), I think it's quite 
reasonable for something custom and handmade to have a price tag like 
that. It's impossible to make custom electronics on a level which can 
compete in price with factory made stuff, or even the small-run 
"boutique" stuff that's common in this scene.

Yes, Dan should have charged $20K for his synth (how much do those new 
Buchlas cost?), and perhaps yes, he should then have paid some 
"consultation fees" to the folks whose designs helped him along. If 
people want stuff that available software or hardware solutions can't 
do, they should in fact pay what it's worth to develop those solutions. 
This way of working even thrives in the free + open source software 
scene, where the basic code is free but the knowledge to implement and 
customize it comes at a premium.

Those with a sustainable business model in this field (like many others) 
are usually the ones who have a production line, even if it is very 
small run stuff (look at Tom Bugs for example, who to the best of my 
knowledge does manage to squeak out a living doing them!)

best!
d.


Ian Fritz wrote:
> 
>> BUT i was just HOPING there was a way to supplement my income with 
>> electronics. it is NO big deal though if not ;)
> 
> I have a friend who makes cellos violins, etc.  She makes and sells 
> several a year.  But you can't even *look* at one for under $20k.  That 
> would be the only way you could make decent money.  Unfortunately, there 
> isn't much demand for analog synths, since people have cheap software 
> alternatives.  Simple supply/demand economics.


-- 
derek holzer ::: http://www.umatic.nl ::: http://blog.myspace.com/macumbista
---Oblique Strategy # 53:
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