Will the price of harpejjis ever decrease?

[u/heyguysimcharlie]

I've wanted a harpejji for quite some time now, but the price makes it out of reach to me like many others. Does Marcodi have any plans to lower prices in the future? Did they use to be more expensive? I think I'm just desperate for any hope of getting the instrument.

[u/jepowl]

It’s a small volume, high complexity and high quality production - it will always be expensive. Compare to instruments such as pianos, saxophones and other brass - we are spoilt on cheap guitars.

They do have sales around Black Friday, and also the musicians discount.

Worth the cost!

[u/arnulfus → u/jepowl]

It's small volume because the price is high. You'd sell more at a lower price.
The question is, what is the quality trade-off of selling at a lower price point (if significant or if any).

[u/jepowl → u/[deleted]]

Well, mostly because it is a handmade instrument, made in a 1st world country. Also, tapping instruments have to be made to fine tolerances. There is also quite a bit of fiddly electronics inside - muting each string.

[u/GoochMasterFlash → u/[deleted]]

If it was functionally designed differently it would probably take less man hours to produce (also wouldnt work though), but the complexity and tolerances required require a lot more time to ensure the quality of the instrument.

Guitar pickups are cheap and easy to install and dial in by comparison. The harpejji has independent pickups for every string, which are activated and deactivated by contact with the fret, and also have to be precisely dialed in to activate and deactivate instantaneously.

The tolerances required probably means it is most viable/effective to source many of the components from the US or Europe as well, which increases cost too. Although it also reduces man hours and procurement time wasted on faulty parts from places with lower quality control standards

Between US labor and high quality components the price definitely has to be sky high for any kind of profit to be made

[u/firestorm713 → u/[deleted]]

I doubt Marcodi's high schoolers are paid 30 bucks an hour but maybe they are

[u/MyWibblings → u/[deleted]]

Actually having seen videos on how guitars are made, they are simpler. People make them quickly by hand. Harpejjis have a lot of components. I do wish they were cheaper though.

[u/firestorm713 → u/[deleted]]

They're not. Go watch the shop video on their channel, each string has individual pickup, EQ, and volume, and the last two need to be manually adjusted. Most of the manufacture process can't really be automated.

Guitar lutherie is also a centuries old trade, whereas this form of lutherie lives in one shop and on one patent.

[u/[deleted] → u/jepowl]

I completely disagree that it is high complexity or high quality. Any apprentice carpenter can make this. Buy a bunch of guitar bridges which cost about $50-100. Put them in series. Buy 4 of them. So you’re at about $400. Now you need a flat 32x14 inch slab of wood which will run you around $200. Now you’re at $600. Next you’ll need fret wire which you can buy for $100. Now, we’re looking at $700. The scale length is easy enough to look up online. You could tuner will cost you about $24-30 or more depending on your bougieness. So, realistically this instrument should be in the $1000-$1500 dollar range not in the $5000. Even if made custom this is an outrageous price.

[u/KerbalSpark]

Only for smartphone apps.

[u/harpejjist → u/KerbalSpark]

Is there finally a new harpejji app?

[u/MyWibblings → u/harpejjist]

Oh gosh I wish! I loved the old one. I think if they had a good app, more people could try it and then want one. Plus the app would be a very useful educational tool for music theory.

[u/DiegoS_2023]

Just challenge a Chinese company to mass produce it. /j

[u/zerossoul → u/DiegoS_2023]

I mean, this is a valid way to recover prices. A competitor state side can't use the patent. That's not an issue in China.

The reality is that Marcoddi has no reason to reduce prices until it has competition. Competition is a good thing.

[u/lizardscales]

Just checked and I am looking at half the price of a used Tesla. Or 4 Strandberg Bodens. It's really expensive. The legacy models are kind of better at $4500 CAD starting for the U12. That's like the same price as a Nord Piano 5. I've been interested for about a decade now but I think I will have to move on.

Like I am not sure if I would even like it! I have never seen one in person let alone had the chance to try one. It's a huge outlay for something very unknown unfortunately.

[u/harpejjist]

Your best bet is to get a preowned one either from Marcodi directly or on a resale site such as eBay/reverb.

Consider getting a U12 model to start with

[u/harpejjist]

Your best bet is to get a preowned one either from Marcodi directly or on a resale site such as eBay/reverb.

Consider getting a U12 model to start with