Mike O'Melia wrote:
We could borrow a bit from Iron Chef, where at the beginning, thus secret ingredient is revealed...
Yeah, a theme ingredient would be awesome
So the luthiers all go to the same town, right? Not each going to a different town?
The 2 auctions would definitely be interesting, but I think to be fair you have to let them see it. Especially important if creative design around the theme ingredient is involved.
Materials are tricky because it should be whoever makes the biggest profit that wins, but usually the best materials are the ones that were bought long ago when the dollar was worth more and the good wood was more plentiful. So whoever's been stashing wood the longest gets an advantage, and may not remember what they paid for something anyway. Maybe all materials must be bought after the competition starts? An interesting twist on the theme ingredient could be that all materials must be bought local. Say, within 100 miles of the town for the episode. Would make for good reality show style drama, following the guys who stress out because can't find what they want
And fun watching the guys who adapt their design on the fly as they explore what's available in the area.The traveling workshop theme is cool, because it opens the opportunity for building in a public place, where people can watch and become interested in buying your particular guitar at auction time. Or you could just hide out in your truck outside of town and build in peace, letting the guitar speak for itself at the auction.
Find a sponsor and do it! I'm in if noobs are allowed. My shop's about the size of the back of a van anyway, and if I can get wood already cut to usual guitar set size and bindings and such, then I don't even need electricity
