More on Filipino guitars...
I've learned that the Philippines doesn't mass-produce guitars the way the US and China do. So if you find a skilled luthier and want to sit down and play their guitars before buying, they need to live near you! As luck would have it, I found three promising ones right here on Mactan Island, Cebu: Ferangeli Guitars, Alegre Guitars, and Troy Casquejo (Cebu luthier). I'm going to check them all out!
There's a lesson my father taught me long ago about buying guitars: 'Every guitar MUST come with a hard case.' When I was ten or eleven, we went shopping for a guitar and bought one. After we paid, the clerk asked if we wanted a case. My dad was 'not happy' about that. It's basically lying about the guitar's real price. He returned the guitar and we walked out. That's still my rule to this day. Wherever I shop for instruments, I tactfully bring this up so there's no confusion about the price.
Turns out Ferangeli includes a hard case with every guitar 10k and up, and a soft case with the rest. That alone tells you right away they run an honest business, and that they're used to dealing with customers who expect to be treated with respect. Without even playing one of their guitars, I'm probably going to buy a Ferangeli...
In the end, it's the students with cheap starter guitars who need the cheapest place to get an instrument. But if you're spending real money and someone tries to squeeze a little extra out of you for the case, walk out and go somewhere else.
Make sure it's a solid top, not plywood — that's pretty much the most important thing, but you already know that...
I agree with your dad. Quality instruments come with a case. If the luthier doesn't respect that, why should the buyer?
Taylor only includes hard cases on instruments $1,700 and up. Why would a $250 instrument come with a $125 hard case? I have a 1975 Japanese acoustic that has a soft bag. It's worth around $600 but I only play it at home. Why would I even want a hard case? They're too bulky.. My professional acoustic has a hard case because I travel abroad for music work.. that makes total sense. Guitars worth thousands probably need a hard case, but cheap guitars… if you want a hard case, buy one.
Mass-producing guitars is hard at 90% humidity. I built guitars for three different guitar companies and now run my own company making parts.
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