@@StrudlePie What's he tossing on about now? Is he still dragging irrelevant dirt up on people for the sake of views? I blocked him after i watched a few of his oversentationliased claptrap videos.
Apparently, numerous big brands are making their instruments there. Super cool for India, super cool for American companies that have to compete with Chinese manufacturers and are tired of the companies (totally not) turning around and ripping off their Intellectual Property or designs. Goos for Brits like Rob, as well, as well as his buyers. Props to Rob for working with Wilkinson, too. That guy is a great pickup maker.
@@RobChappers PLEASE SIR, ignore that "One suggestion", in addition to the "chords please", and those that want more clean demos. Those things are easily demonstrated in all of 5 sec. and really don't demonstrate the technical excellence and precision manufacturing of the instrument (aside from maybe a proof in correct setup and intonation?) When you and Rabea demo a face melting riff, or complete solo you are showing all of us that seek, what is possible on your equipment! You can't necessarily get that at a shop (unless you, and/or he were there?) Much respect and understanding to those that don't want to sit through an entire video just to hear a possible, representation of the chords, and or cleans. Maybe start every demo with a quick strum through the major, or minor chords clean, then back to business? cheers mate! BTW I also bond with proper names (as do most humans other than maybe Elon) Love the new naming convention, and have always loved the ghost fret! ron:)
@@dylano6033 To be fair, Ibanez do have other general names for their models. - It's just that they went so crazy with their RGs that they had to started naming all the slightly different ones from all series and all types and variations. That series is probably the worst offender. - But then you have one like... Iceman... Talman... without having that many of them every refresh, which helps of course. - Still, they could clean things up even more.
I hate it, all of my guitars have model letters and numbers that have meaning and perfectly describe the instrument. Tbh Chapman guitars are mostly irrelevant until they get Floyd rose bridges, you should own 1 hard tail for every 10 guitars cause they are almost worthless.
Need to see the price point, the whole idea on the first place was to put these guitars in the hands of people, I fear the price point will now be out of the reach of the people that really want/crave them, don't forget the younger, the new and the fearful of expensive guitars, put something good & possible in the hands of "the people" & no just the ones that can afford it, love you rob as always
I think they will be around a grand, give or take a few hundred, considering the current range. Unless they're going to increase it more. - I don't know, but you're right, they will not be as obtainable, myself included. I got a 700-ish one in 2019, which was enough for my budget and while it's good, it's difficult to just splurge it on another guitar again not always having that spare. - But I will say, the quality is high and they seem to spare no expense in terms of things like hardware either. I mean, if they care for details like down to the capacitor, it's going to be a complete carefully crafted package. - Which also seems to be the point, to get it all focused and at one level of quality for the entire range. If beginners or hobbyists can't afford them, it might just not be for them anymore and they do aim at more professional players who would have an income for their tools. - I agree it's kind of sad considering the kind of philosophy Chapman Guitars had earlier on, which is also something I liked about the brand, but things change...
@@michaelangeloh.5383 agreed! Fear they're pricing themselves out of the market, now's the time to pick up a 2nd hand one, as itl drive those prices down!
The last BC rich run from that factory was mostly B stock. I saw a dozen at my local musicgoround, for 600$ with fishmans in them.... But there were so many paint and binding defects they weren't worth it at 70% off.
Already in love with Chapman guitars and these changes sound very promising for the future. And although you're not into 7 strings I would love to see a few models in the future. The ml 1-7 pro in morpheus purple is a dream ❤
i have to say that i got an indian dean ML a year or so ago and it truly is a good guitar. it dit come with finish flaws and no solder on the neck pickup wire lol. but it feels a lot like my SE c24, so i'm sure the factory does their actual building well
Hell yea. Moving and shaking. Been around since the old house PRS through the Orange amp lesson videos. About time I get one of these bad boys! Good luck ❤
The DPT is one of the coolest Tele reinterpretations around. Seriously, love it. Maybe I will finally have a chance to try one in a store here in Italy, now that you've made a deal with a distributor. I also agree with having only one range, it gives you much more freedom with less budget constraints, you can really concentrate on value and quality control. I think it's difficult for a relatively small brand to cover too many price points.
Cool. Great to see how Chapman Guitars have evolved. And I can confirm that Chappers is lovely in person. Met him in Australia years ago and he was one of the nicest and down to earth people you could ever meet.
Hi Rob, Small note. Without exception, all of my Standard series guitars have and had better rolled boards than the Pro series. Don’t know why this is but I’m hoping the Indian factory can address this. Thanks for the update and keep well ❤
@@ryanbobadilla2527 the older ML-2 is absolutely my favourite Chapman, just aesthetically pleasing to my eye (of course everyone is different) however the ML-1 hot rod and ML3-RC are also phenomenal machines
Exciting new chapter Rob. I hope it works out well. Certainly guitars with names lure people in to connect with them quicker. I still don’t know the model numbers of my Ibanez guitars for instance but know my two tele models and taylor models
These sound like fantastic changes. I have been toying with the idea of settling on a singular brand to play & tour with, and Chapman really resonates with me. Also, fun fact, Chennai is where my name originates, from the Egmore railway station ☺️
I think that is definitely Huge what Rob and the team are doing. A huge improvement for Rob and the team and also giving more shops the chance of stocking the Chapman range. Some shops struggle now to keep afloat with the Internet now and also some can't afford to stock Gibson ,fenders or any higher end guitars and I have seen shops closed down in recent times. So Rob doing this is absolutely brilliant. Nothing beats going into a store and trying out different guitars and getting great advice and knowledge from staff and also the customers too 👍 this is absolutely brilliant for our guitar community. I know you get a lot of guitar for the money from a Chapman guitar regardless of the price point. Fantastic Rob. Best news on RUclips for a very long time
Love my Chapman (the guitar, but I guess the RUclipsr too). No budget option seems like a smart idea and the new models are absolutely gorgeous. All that said, fingers and toes crossed for a bass announcement one day 🤞🤘
looking forward to the new direction and new guitars. On the topic of moving forward and making inprovements - I think on your website it would be really cool and helpful to have a 'guitar archive' and or 'servicing tools'. Basically a way to look up the electronic specs on discontinued instruments for maintenance and repair - particularly for the more limit run versions like signatures which are often less well documented. I had this issue recently and found it difficult to track down what ohmns of pots I needed. I went with similar based off current models. Also for the guitar nerds among us, I quite like seeing the archives just to see how things have progressed - such as the change of the ml3 with twin humbuckers to the lawmaker with the lil' 59 similar to the Bea pro signature.
Yea, this is necessary. I don't like when websites/companies don't show a trace of what came before, because it makes me feel like being gaslit into thinking I made it all up and "this is just how it is now and always has been". - Not to say that's Chapman's intention, but companies do that to mislead consumers for sure. But when I visited the Chapman Guitars website recently, granted after a long time, I was like: "Tehell happened? Where is everything?" 😆 At least it's annoying indeed to not be able to find information on former products that people might have. So yea, good if they're already considering it. It's also in the importance of preserving history.
@@RobChappers You should definitely make one of those museum-like timeline-pages you can scroll down with transitioning images and everything, and then whatever critical details shows up in the images can get points on them that can pop out more information and easter eggs. - Just throwing it out there. 😌
Hi Rob!! Please add an Indian distributor as well. It’s really frustrating to have the guitars being made couple of hours from my home, but not be able to buy them.
As much of a huge fan I am of Chapman Guitars, I'm not sure about the "one single range" of guitars made. I was a great fan of the Standard and the Pro range as I feel that every player felt included in that idea of "a Chapman for everone" in terms of price point. Having a great Chapman around 400/500€ was amazing for everybody who couldn't afford a 800/900/1000€ Pro range Chapman. I'm curious to see what this lead to for the brand and I'm also curious to see any improvement in the overall QC of the instruments from now on. Love the fact that Chapman finally has a dedicated European distributor. Thanks for the update Rob! Have a great day 🔥🎸
Hi Jack, appreciate your comment and feedback - I have replied to a few comments like this now but essentially I’m much less interested in producing affordable starter pack type product and much more focused on professional level instruments. The world has changed a great deal since we launched 15 years ago and I have changed as a person as well… our focus has shifted and quite frankly it would be impossible to produce the Guitar for even 299 that I was really proud of so for now I’m out of that conversation. Appreciate your comment have a great day Rob
I agree. I bought a Chapman some years before inflationary madness for 400£ at Andertons. I wanted a non-Fender guitar that I could take to practice and gigs and not worry too much about it. Eventually, it got far more use than I intended despite owning Gibsons and American 🇺🇸 Teles. Recently, I was considering buying a second Chapman. I am not saying that I won’t, but this may influence my decision.
@@RobChappers Starter pack type guitars? The cheapest Chapman on Andertons (ML2 Standard Gold Top) is on sale currently for £349 down from £499. You've never sold anything remotely close to starter pack guitar. Good luck instead selling a range that starts at nearer to £1000 and competes with high end PRS SE's, Fender Player Plus/Vinteras etc. as feel you are going to need it.
@@RobChappers I understand the business decision to remove the standard range. However, to call guitars which are anywhere around £500 "starter pack type products" is honestly pretty damn tone deaf. An Eastcoast is a starter pack guitar. Lower end Squiers are starter pack guitars. A £500 guitar is not by any means "starter pack level", unless you happen to be very wealthy. Maybe I'm just very out of touch, but the implication that £500 can't buy you a "professional level guitar" (which I would consider to meaning that it plays well, has great sounds and has the quality and durability required for regular gigs) sounds thoroughly depressing to me... A standard spec Chapman is something that is aspirational for a LOT of guitarists.
Whilst it's definitely a departure from the brand's routes it's definitely one that goes in the right direction. 2nd hand is basically a requirement to get a good and affordable guitar and a brand new one should feel good enough that you can feel wise in your investment.
I used to like the online voting/customer collaboration thing that Chapman Guitars did (probably a long time ago now). It must have been cool to feel that you had a say in the specification of your own guitar. I don't remember any other manufacturer doing that before or since, which probably means it's difficult to keep everyone happy.
GOOD FOR YOU, ROB!!! BRILLIANTLY AWESOME!!! You went where fender and Gibson have already gone!!! How about the big onlines? Guitar center, musician's friend, possibly reverb,Zzounds, American musical supply... Whatever Sam Ash has become... I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN ANDERTON'S!!!
Ive liked a couple of the older chapmans, ghost frets and ml2s, the necks and specs on the newer guitars are less desirable to me personally, I had major issue with the quality of necks on the newer Chapmans so I'd say implement proper QC, if your product at the pro range delivers then it'll be a great step for chapman, the shapes are lovely, make them playable and its definitely something that will benefit the company, compete with the major players at that price point - Ibanez, Schecter etc - Just my two cents and my experience with chapman, hope its helpful
I would love to get a Chapman, just three problems 1: price 2: I Love LP style guitars and while you have one I doesn't meet my requirements 3: Harley Benton has what I'm looking for with the SC Custom III FR. Also I just put in a custom order at Sago Guitars in Japan.
An ML2 Baritone would be awesome. I love my two ML2 pros but my ML3 Bea works so much better for tuning stability in the tjnings I most often find myself.
I've also thought that the model-names were rather "generic" or whatever. And while that keeps it simple and to the point, it's perhaps so simple that it's a bit confusing, just some letters and a number, at least once there are many "ML"s and so on, it's all gonna blur together anyway. - So it's better to just give them unified names and iterate on it without numbering them, and I always liked names like the Ghost Fret and CAP10, which the latter was kinda clever to mix a name and a kind of "model name". Cause you can still have like model-names, like an indication of their form-factor, but a clearer and more suitable name makes it nicer. - I got the last CAP10, by the way, but it's called The Maiden now. Don't steal that. - OK, you can use it for a CAP10 re-issue (re-named The Maiden) at 10 Euros per guitar sold. Deal? 😆 I could even help develop it, then you'll have a modified version of a customized version of a frankensteined guitar.
It's a shame to be pulling out of the more "affordable" market. While I FULLY understand the world has changed considerably, costs have changed, material prices have gone up etc. I have to be honest that - for me personally - having the entire range at around the £1000 mark feels a little high, not by far, don't get me wrong, I think £399 would be too low too! But somewhere in the middle around the £700-£800 mark would be what alot of us would be more comfortable with, but hey, its your company, your products, and if you feel that the £999+ price point is representative of the quality of the instrument, the craftsmanship and components and offers a reasonable return on production and shipping costs then you're absolutely right to do that. TL;DR - I'm happy and excited for the new name structure, the new simplified line and for the new shapes and finishes etc. and I really hope it all goes well for you personally and for Chapman Guitars as a company! My only hesitation is around price point but it's a bloody business at the end of the day and if the "affordable" market doesn't represent a good return on investment then I don't blame you at all for binning that line off
@@SW-by9ob oh I’m sure they will probably have offers on semi-regularly. I tend to buy a lot of my guitars and various paraphernalia from Andertons as I live out in the arse end of nowhere and there’s no local guitar place to me and I see the current Chapman lineup with reductions on them fairly regularly.
I completely agree with you on the price points and have the same reluctance which will probably keep me from ever actually buying a Chapman. Whereas if I was able to buy one for $500-$700 and really loved it I would probably buy more Chapman guitars and pay more for them.
I bought the OG ML1 when it came out and I still have it with the idea that one day I will be endorsed by chapman guitars. Plays better than some £1500 guitars and the weight would put some vintage les Paul’s to shame 😂 love the new changes
I know that this video is a bit old, but I can see on 7:59 that the string hole covers on the back of the guitar are not aligned. My 2016 ML2 (Korean) has the same issue, and it bugged me a bit when I first bought it. If this is a £1,000+ guitar, that issue should be addressed because from my point of view it ruins the looks of an otherwise very nice instrument. it looks like they probably used a slightly bent drill bit on one of the holes, so it is not an expensive correction to make.
A 2013 ML1 was the first guitar I really bonded with, mods, dings and all. Can't wait to see how the new ones turn out. My only wish is that you guys make a baritone with an evertune in the not too distant future (;
Is the Cerberus acquistion still going ahead? Do you plan to have an Epiphone/Gibson, Squier/Fender type set up with the two brands now you're focussing on a higher price point with the Chapman brand?
Yep, I am the co-owner of Cerberus. However, Cerb is a completely different kind of company, just two of us… individual runs of one model at a time etc.
@@RobChappers I'll be interested to see how it turns out. Good luck with the new business model btw, I think you can tell you're happier with the new direction too. More time for more content hopefully!
I agree with you on endorsing artist. Real touring signed bands. Not RUclips artist!!! That don’t have a band or tour. Kinda weird when artist have a signature guitar, and never played in a band or toured
oh its always great news when a company tells us were no longer gonna make affordable products, i believe in transparency when it comes to a company's business practices but may try wording it differently like...."were only gonna concentrate on the higher end chapman guitars and price them accordingly, saying the same thing but leaving out the other word, the opposite of affordable unfortunately is unaffordable but either way it sux, thats my 5cents worth (inflation) love ya Rob been a fan for many years, still am but really that sux but i hold no grudges you have the right to run your company the way you see fit , your friend ,Brad
Thanks, Brad, and of course I understand that my Guitars may not suit everybody’s budget. Of course it’s important for me to focus on product that I’m proud of and right now it’s impossible to build Guitars for 299 unless they are made in incredibly high quantities with very affordable materials and that’s not something I’m prepared to do Although it’s important for Chapman to make profit, it’s much more important for us to focus on Guitars that we’re excited about There are plenty of other brands that make an amazing affordable guitar and I would absolutely encourage beginners to buy either a secondhand or a starter kit from one of the established larger brands Cheers
I personally think this is a great move! The more affordable range of €300 - €700 guitars is flooded with competitors. To capture a share of that market, you have to provide more value at a lower price than the competition. Essentially, you're underselling your product until it establishes its place. As a result, you may not be able to produce the instruments at the quality you want, and you'll be underselling them, meaning you'll have to move a lot of product to turn a profit. When you eventually increase your prices, another competitor could step in and take over your market share. The range around €1,000 already has fewer competitors, and you'd be able to sell guitars with better craftsmanship and better stock parts, like locking tuners and brand-name pickups. However, there are still several brands doing this, so if you're not the cheapest, you'll need another major selling point for your guitars. I hope you'll be able to build up Chapman's reputation and build the guitars you can be 100% proud of.
I feel $1000 range is too high for his guitars. Like, are they so killer that they're worth $1000 price? What do they offer that makes them better or on the same scale as current guitars in the market at same price point? Especially when you then gotta justify your product being just as worth it as much as gibsons or fenders.
@@OscarASevilla Try one once their out and see it for yourself. Fender and Gibson will never offer the same value at a certain price point as their competition since you are paying for the brand name as well. My Maybach Lester is on par with a Les Paul Standard and has specs more alike with a custom shop Gibson, yet it's 30% cheaper. Also chapman is not just making traditional strat copies. Their Telecaster is far from what fender makes. But at the end of the day I don't need to convince you but chapman as a brand should.
The lawmaker is still the one for me, cant go wrong with a big slab o wood and mahoosive sounding pickups... also the rosewood neck is a wea bit nice ;) Great stuff as ever sir
So I might be a minority and not representative of most people. But I have been looking at the Standard range Chapman baritones for a little while now but have been waiting till I had the extra money to spend (around $500-$600). But a move like this honestly will probably keep me from ever pulling the trigger and buying or trying them out at more than a grand. I think it probably limits buyers to mostly people who are already big Chapman fans and own Chapman guitars already. I have a feeling it will drastically reduce the amount of first time Chapman buyers coming into the fold who then become repeat customers. But I still like Rob and like. Chapman guitars. And I may be completely wrong since Rob has been doing this a while now and has a lot more numbers and information at his disposal than some random guy on the internet lol. I hope Chapman continues to be successful but I’m just saying that I don’t see myself becoming a customer anytime in the near future whereas in the past I most likely would have. I cant even count the amount of times I had an awesome Chapman baritone in my cart until I decided I should probably wait till I had a little more money saved up. Normally I wouldn’t have even taken the time to type out this long message but Chapman guitars seems to genuinely welcome participation and input from followers and the public at large. I sincerely wish Rob and the entire Chapman guitars team the best of luck and will continue to follow them and root for their success. P.S. if you read this Rob, I have already seen your replies to similar comments and know what your position is on the matter. So you don’t need to take time out of your busy schedule to type up a message since I’m sure replying to a lot of similar comments gets old pretty quick lol.
Hey Dude, thank you so much for your message and of course I completely understand your situation - everybody’s financial situation is of course different - I will however say there are still lots of the standard range still available at selected dealers and I also wholeheartedly recommend buying secondhand if you are on a budget
i bought two mint ML1s second hand..cap10 and norseman hjarn, both 2.0. Very prized part of my guitar collection. Keep up the good work Rob. If you can maintain south korean QC you will keep making big strides with your bang for buck specs and tasty designs & finishes👍
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine Somebody. Yo Chappers you are onto something here! This consolidation makes sense. Tune out the nay sayers per usual. Looking forward to the instruments coming out, in what will surely prove to be the finest era yet for Chapman Guitars. Follow your gut you Animal!
Well it’s me again. One thing I really would love to see in the future, as a new Chapman customer - is a customer support that actually answers. I received a Lawmaker that basically felt apart within first two days of owning it. Tried reaching out to the support team numerous times but no response at all. It has now been months! I then tried contacting you here on RUclips, and you acknowledged my issue and gave me your direct email (and I really felt seen as a customer, and felt you cared). It’s now been 7 weeks, and still haven’t heard anything. I really wanted to give Chapman guitars a chance after all the backlash the last couple years, because I believe in your vision and been a longtime follower. But I’m unfortunately been greatly disappointed. 😔
I haven’t received an email from you?!! Please send again - rob@chapmanguitars.co.uk The Guitar store you purchased from should immediately resolve your problem
@@RobChappers That’s weird - I’ll try again then. No problem. 😊 Regarding contacting the guitar store, that’s the first thing I did. Unfortunately they have so far been not that helpful of sending me a spare part - that’s why I started contacting Chapman directly, in hopes of you guys being able to help. 😊
The Names are so much mess😂 I got a Cort Avl-BKS somewhat a Ltd-ec1000 a HB BZ-5000 and this year my fist guitar with an actual name arrived and I’m happy to just refer at it as “Ghost” 🤷♂️🤣 The new shape is great Chap has looks pretty 🔥 I’m stoked to see you at Guitar Summit 🤘🤘
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Adding that 6th string is a genius move
That Irish fella is going to love this...
Most of this information was published back in January at the NAMM show
@@RobChappers I must have missed his inevitable video response in that case!
And it's out!
@@JackCalico I just Watched it and then came here to see this comment lol
@@StrudlePie What's he tossing on about now? Is he still dragging irrelevant dirt up on people for the sake of views? I blocked him after i watched a few of his oversentationliased claptrap videos.
Chapman Guitars now made in Chennai, India. Thrilled that these beauties are now made in the city I live in.
That ought to bring the prices down for us, here's to hoping
yessir! I really hope these will be much more affordable for enthusiasts and gigging musicians.
Apparently, numerous big brands are making their instruments there. Super cool for India, super cool for American companies that have to compete with Chinese manufacturers and are tired of the companies (totally not) turning around and ripping off their Intellectual Property or designs. Goos for Brits like Rob, as well, as well as his buyers. Props to Rob for working with Wilkinson, too. That guy is a great pickup maker.
Was very happy to hear made in Chennai 🎉🇮🇳
Hey guys, I’m currently talking to an Indian distributor so they should be available in India soon as well! Also happy Independence Day :-)
One suggestion regarding demos. Please do more riffs. Not everyone likes playing solos.
Thank you for the feedback, genuinely noted!
@@RobChappersand chords please
@@RobChappers PLEASE SIR, ignore that "One suggestion", in addition to the "chords please", and those that want more clean demos. Those things are easily demonstrated in all of 5 sec. and really don't demonstrate the technical excellence and precision manufacturing of the instrument (aside from maybe a proof in correct setup and intonation?) When you and Rabea demo a face melting riff, or complete solo you are showing all of us that seek, what is possible on your equipment! You can't necessarily get that at a shop (unless you, and/or he were there?) Much respect and understanding to those that don't want to sit through an entire video just to hear a possible, representation of the chords, and or cleans. Maybe start every demo with a quick strum through the major, or minor chords clean, then back to business?
cheers mate!
BTW I also bond with proper names (as do most humans other than maybe Elon) Love the new naming convention, and have always loved the ghost fret!
ron:)
Hail the riff!
@@RipzalotHail
Completely makes sense. All manufacturers should stop naming their products like it’s a license plate.
Ibanez have entered the chat
And Gretsch
@@dylano6033 To be fair, Ibanez do have other general names for their models. - It's just that they went so crazy with their RGs that they had to started naming all the slightly different ones from all series and all types and variations. That series is probably the worst offender. - But then you have one like... Iceman... Talman... without having that many of them every refresh, which helps of course. - Still, they could clean things up even more.
I hate it, all of my guitars have model letters and numbers that have meaning and perfectly describe the instrument. Tbh Chapman guitars are mostly irrelevant until they get Floyd rose bridges, you should own 1 hard tail for every 10 guitars cause they are almost worthless.
@trevorD1156 calm down son it's only Chapman marketing video
I’ve got a ML3 Bea and I love it! As a Lawyer, I Love that it’s now called the Law Maker.
Awesome news, congrats to you and whole team! Keep making amazing guitars and innovating 🤘🙌🙌
These all sound like steps in the right direction. All the best of luck to you and your team.
Good on you, man. It's been a trip watching you develop into an international businessman over the years. All the best to you!
I have an original ML1 and ML2 , both left handed, awesome guitars.
Much luck in the new era of Chapman Guitars. Just picked up my first here in NY. Got a great deal on a ML3 and
Loving it!
Need to see the price point, the whole idea on the first place was to put these guitars in the hands of people, I fear the price point will now be out of the reach of the people that really want/crave them, don't forget the younger, the new and the fearful of expensive guitars, put something good & possible in the hands of "the people" & no just the ones that can afford it, love you rob as always
I think they will be around a grand, give or take a few hundred, considering the current range. Unless they're going to increase it more. - I don't know, but you're right, they will not be as obtainable, myself included. I got a 700-ish one in 2019, which was enough for my budget and while it's good, it's difficult to just splurge it on another guitar again not always having that spare. - But I will say, the quality is high and they seem to spare no expense in terms of things like hardware either. I mean, if they care for details like down to the capacitor, it's going to be a complete carefully crafted package. - Which also seems to be the point, to get it all focused and at one level of quality for the entire range. If beginners or hobbyists can't afford them, it might just not be for them anymore and they do aim at more professional players who would have an income for their tools. - I agree it's kind of sad considering the kind of philosophy Chapman Guitars had earlier on, which is also something I liked about the brand, but things change...
@@michaelangeloh.5383 agreed! Fear they're pricing themselves out of the market, now's the time to pick up a 2nd hand one, as itl drive those prices down!
Up against some serious competition at around £1000, expect heavy discounts to happen very quickly once stock piles up.
@@SW-by9ob yeah there's a few on their reverb store that just ain't shifting, those with a keen eye & wallet will benifit
Why has he turned into a bond villain?
This new era is so exciting!, love “the guardian” hope I can get my hands on one soon!.
Ps: please consider making basses 😢
The last BC rich run from that factory was mostly B stock. I saw a dozen at my local musicgoround, for 600$ with fishmans in them.... But there were so many paint and binding defects they weren't worth it at 70% off.
Just took delivery of my first seven string guitar, an ML1 7 Pro from Andertons.
Fantastic guitar that punches well above it's weight. Well done Sir!
So glad you are happy!! ❤
Names are so much better than numbers alone - I agree its a great idea
Exciting news, great ideas very excited to see the future of Chapman guitars from here on out.
Already in love with Chapman guitars and these changes sound very promising for the future. And although you're not into 7 strings I would love to see a few models in the future. The ml 1-7 pro in morpheus purple is a dream ❤
i have to say that i got an indian dean ML a year or so ago and it truly is a good guitar. it dit come with finish flaws and no solder on the neck pickup wire lol. but it feels a lot like my SE c24, so i'm sure the factory does their actual building well
Great news Rob. I already own 2 chapman guitars and love them. Best wishes for your company
Hell yea. Moving and shaking. Been around since the old house PRS through the Orange amp lesson videos. About time I get one of these bad boys! Good luck ❤
The DPT is one of the coolest Tele reinterpretations around. Seriously, love it. Maybe I will finally have a chance to try one in a store here in Italy, now that you've made a deal with a distributor.
I also agree with having only one range, it gives you much more freedom with less budget constraints, you can really concentrate on value and quality control. I think it's difficult for a relatively small brand to cover too many price points.
Great news! I've tried a lot of brands but my ML1 Pro, I don't change it for nothing 🤘
Hey, can you talk to Ibanez about this naming of guitars? I think they missed the memo.
I have an ML1 modern in blood red, beautiful guitar, very happy with it
That first track at the end blew me away😮😎👌
I love you ❤ I love Trevor ❤ I love everything you ate doing to produce guitars . Well done and power to you x
Cool. Great to see how Chapman Guitars have evolved. And I can confirm that Chappers is lovely in person. Met him in Australia years ago and he was one of the nicest and down to earth people you could ever meet.
Hey Dude, thanks for this lovely message, please send my regards to Australia. I miss it :-)
I want the Pete Honore in Porsche butterscotch...I love that the tuners are on top and it's a beautiful tele
That DPT sounds awesome 😎
Hi Rob,
Small note. Without exception, all of my Standard series guitars have and had better rolled boards than the Pro series. Don’t know why this is but I’m hoping the Indian factory can address this. Thanks for the update and keep well ❤
Just ordered a ML-1Pro Black Sun. My first Chapman. I'm looking forward to it.
The new approach makes way more sense, in my opinion 👌
If that's the final concrete wings' solo i can't wait to listen to the rest of it. it's absolutly wicked.
I wish i could have one of those guitars ;) Good Luck Mr. Chapman !!!
Love the Ghostfret , Rob, Thanks .
Can we get the old ML2 body shape back one day...maybe?
Yes please!!
@@jamowallace The Old ML2 Pro Modern from around 2017 was the nicest guitar they ever did, especially in The Red Fireburst.
The Old ML2 Pro Modern from around 2017 was the nicest guitar they ever did, especially in The Red Fireburst.
@@killianlpc I have the old ML2 Pro Modern in Dusk that's my favorite guitar. The new body shape just doesn't look right to me.
@@ryanbobadilla2527 the older ML-2 is absolutely my favourite Chapman, just aesthetically pleasing to my eye (of course everyone is different) however the ML-1 hot rod and ML3-RC are also phenomenal machines
My ML1 is one of my favourite guitars to play. I hope this new chapter for Chapman Guitars includes some lefty models!
Exciting new chapter Rob. I hope it works out well. Certainly guitars with names lure people in to connect with them quicker. I still don’t know the model numbers of my Ibanez guitars for instance but know my two tele models and taylor models
Sounds like you got great focus there. Saving up for a lefty Guardian unless I ever come across the lefty V Chapman used to sell.
Sounds cool, congrats! I’ve yet to play a Chapman but I’d like to one of these days.
Happy to see you. Still playing the ML-2 classic gold top with the Peter Green tone. Cheers
Love that Guitar, had such a great neck in fact I miss mine which is back in England in storage I think
These sound like fantastic changes. I have been toying with the idea of settling on a singular brand to play & tour with, and Chapman really resonates with me. Also, fun fact, Chennai is where my name originates, from the Egmore railway station ☺️
In before the name change! My ML3 Pro Traditional Semi Hollow is my absolute favorite guitar ever. Brilliant, even if it is a mouthful. ❤
I think that is definitely Huge what Rob and the team are doing. A huge improvement for Rob and the team and also giving more shops the chance of stocking the Chapman range. Some shops struggle now to keep afloat with the Internet now and also some can't afford to stock Gibson ,fenders or any higher end guitars and I have seen shops closed down in recent times. So Rob doing this is absolutely brilliant. Nothing beats going into a store and trying out different guitars and getting great advice and knowledge from staff and also the customers too 👍 this is absolutely brilliant for our guitar community. I know you get a lot of guitar for the money from a Chapman guitar regardless of the price point. Fantastic Rob. Best news on RUclips for a very long time
The Herald with a rosewood neck!!! 🤩🤩
Spooky ghost orb at 0:57 😉👍
In Canada a hard find... Would love to see them out here!
Long & McQuade would be the best bet but they have such a wide range already, I think Chapman would be lost
It would be cool to be able to try a Chapman at a L&M, but at the same time our own canadian Godin makes some great stuff at great prices!
Love my Chapman (the guitar, but I guess the RUclipsr too). No budget option seems like a smart idea and the new models are absolutely gorgeous. All that said, fingers and toes crossed for a bass announcement one day 🤞🤘
Given the issues in the past getting the manufacturing for 2-3 ranges at different producers up to your standards, simplifying makes sense.
"Bleed the light" just screams from the demo... Back to the roots! Enjoy the ride Rob...
Loving that Roberts signature.
Would love to own one, one day. Especially the DPT
looking forward to the new direction and new guitars.
On the topic of moving forward and making inprovements - I think on your website it would be really cool and helpful to have a 'guitar archive' and or 'servicing tools'. Basically a way to look up the electronic specs on discontinued instruments for maintenance and repair - particularly for the more limit run versions like signatures which are often less well documented. I had this issue recently and found it difficult to track down what ohmns of pots I needed. I went with similar based off current models.
Also for the guitar nerds among us, I quite like seeing the archives just to see how things have progressed - such as the change of the ml3 with twin humbuckers to the lawmaker with the lil' 59 similar to the Bea pro signature.
This is something we are already talking about, in fact in a meeting yesterday so that’s kind of uncanny
Yea, this is necessary. I don't like when websites/companies don't show a trace of what came before, because it makes me feel like being gaslit into thinking I made it all up and "this is just how it is now and always has been". - Not to say that's Chapman's intention, but companies do that to mislead consumers for sure. But when I visited the Chapman Guitars website recently, granted after a long time, I was like: "Tehell happened? Where is everything?" 😆 At least it's annoying indeed to not be able to find information on former products that people might have. So yea, good if they're already considering it. It's also in the importance of preserving history.
@@RobChappers You should definitely make one of those museum-like timeline-pages you can scroll down with transitioning images and everything, and then whatever critical details shows up in the images can get points on them that can pop out more information and easter eggs. - Just throwing it out there. 😌
@@RobChappers no way!? That is uncanny! :) you’re well ahead of me, I’m looking forward to it!
I think you need to send me one for a serious review. Nice bit of playing at the end Rob. That ‘Tele’ sounds awesome.
A Guardian bass would be pretty epic. 😮
Hi Rob!!
Please add an Indian distributor as well. It’s really frustrating to have the guitars being made couple of hours from my home, but not be able to buy them.
We are talking to an Indian distributor right now, fingers crossed they will be available across India soon
@@RobChappers Woowww!! Christmas (Diwali) for me is gonna come early this year!!
That Pegasus looks frankly phenomenal.
As much of a huge fan I am of Chapman Guitars, I'm not sure about the "one single range" of guitars made. I was a great fan of the Standard and the Pro range as I feel that every player felt included in that idea of "a Chapman for everone" in terms of price point.
Having a great Chapman around 400/500€ was amazing for everybody who couldn't afford a 800/900/1000€ Pro range Chapman.
I'm curious to see what this lead to for the brand and I'm also curious to see any improvement in the overall QC of the instruments from now on.
Love the fact that Chapman finally has a dedicated European distributor.
Thanks for the update Rob!
Have a great day 🔥🎸
Hi Jack, appreciate your comment and feedback - I have replied to a few comments like this now but essentially I’m much less interested in producing affordable starter pack type product and much more focused on professional level instruments.
The world has changed a great deal since we launched 15 years ago and I have changed as a person as well… our focus has shifted and quite frankly it would be impossible to produce the Guitar for even 299 that I was really proud of so for now I’m out of that conversation.
Appreciate your comment have a great day
Rob
I agree. I bought a Chapman some years before inflationary madness for 400£ at Andertons. I wanted a non-Fender guitar that I could take to practice and gigs and not worry too much about it. Eventually, it got far more use than I intended despite owning Gibsons and American 🇺🇸 Teles.
Recently, I was considering buying a second Chapman. I am not saying that I won’t, but this may influence my decision.
@@RobChappers I didn’t see your less expensive guitars as “starter packs”. I feel Squires fit that description. Nonetheless, best of luck.
@@RobChappers Starter pack type guitars? The cheapest Chapman on Andertons (ML2 Standard Gold Top) is on sale currently for £349 down from £499. You've never sold anything remotely close to starter pack guitar.
Good luck instead selling a range that starts at nearer to £1000 and competes with high end PRS SE's, Fender Player Plus/Vinteras etc. as feel you are going to need it.
@@RobChappers I understand the business decision to remove the standard range. However, to call guitars which are anywhere around £500 "starter pack type products" is honestly pretty damn tone deaf. An Eastcoast is a starter pack guitar. Lower end Squiers are starter pack guitars. A £500 guitar is not by any means "starter pack level", unless you happen to be very wealthy.
Maybe I'm just very out of touch, but the implication that £500 can't buy you a "professional level guitar" (which I would consider to meaning that it plays well, has great sounds and has the quality and durability required for regular gigs) sounds thoroughly depressing to me...
A standard spec Chapman is something that is aspirational for a LOT of guitarists.
Whilst it's definitely a departure from the brand's routes it's definitely one that goes in the right direction. 2nd hand is basically a requirement to get a good and affordable guitar and a brand new one should feel good enough that you can feel wise in your investment.
I used to like the online voting/customer collaboration thing that Chapman Guitars did (probably a long time ago now). It must have been cool to feel that you had a say in the specification of your own guitar. I don't remember any other manufacturer doing that before or since, which probably means it's difficult to keep everyone happy.
GOOD FOR YOU, ROB!!! BRILLIANTLY AWESOME!!! You went where fender and Gibson have already gone!!! How about the big onlines? Guitar center, musician's friend, possibly reverb,Zzounds, American musical supply... Whatever Sam Ash has become... I KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN ANDERTON'S!!!
Ive liked a couple of the older chapmans, ghost frets and ml2s, the necks and specs on the newer guitars are less desirable to me personally, I had major issue with the quality of necks on the newer Chapmans so I'd say implement proper QC, if your product at the pro range delivers then it'll be a great step for chapman, the shapes are lovely, make them playable and its definitely something that will benefit the company, compete with the major players at that price point - Ibanez, Schecter etc - Just my two cents and my experience with chapman, hope its helpful
I like the idea of having one range a lot. That means all of the focus goes on one line of guitars. Love the callsign name idea too. Dope af!!
I would love to get a Chapman, just three problems 1: price 2: I Love LP style guitars and while you have one I doesn't meet my requirements 3: Harley Benton has what I'm looking for with the SC Custom III FR. Also I just put in a custom order at Sago Guitars in Japan.
An ML2 Baritone would be awesome. I love my two ML2 pros but my ML3 Bea works so much better for tuning stability in the tjnings I most often find myself.
We currently make a Law Maker legacy baritone with an Indian rosewood neck. You should check it out because it’s incredible.
I've also thought that the model-names were rather "generic" or whatever. And while that keeps it simple and to the point, it's perhaps so simple that it's a bit confusing, just some letters and a number, at least once there are many "ML"s and so on, it's all gonna blur together anyway. - So it's better to just give them unified names and iterate on it without numbering them, and I always liked names like the Ghost Fret and CAP10, which the latter was kinda clever to mix a name and a kind of "model name". Cause you can still have like model-names, like an indication of their form-factor, but a clearer and more suitable name makes it nicer. - I got the last CAP10, by the way, but it's called The Maiden now. Don't steal that. - OK, you can use it for a CAP10 re-issue (re-named The Maiden) at 10 Euros per guitar sold. Deal? 😆 I could even help develop it, then you'll have a modified version of a customized version of a frankensteined guitar.
Love the changes man. While i liked the ML naming i definitely prefer the new names. Great stuff Rob!
Guitars with names, I love it. The Guardian has my full attention. I'm couldn't find it on the website.
Thanks Doug, the Guardian launches at Guitar Summit so it is currently not available to purchase, what you have been seeing is the prototype model.
3:55 the example of new Chapman finish is called "Indian Butt Burst"
A pair of Duncan's in any slab of wood is good enough for anyone. Turn volume and tone to full and take the knobs off. Job done 👍🏼
Good luck with the new direction.
Hi Rob, what are the plans for left handed players? I have the ML3 Pro Trad, it's killer. Will we see a DPT or Baritone?
Congrats!!
It's a shame to be pulling out of the more "affordable" market. While I FULLY understand the world has changed considerably, costs have changed, material prices have gone up etc. I have to be honest that - for me personally - having the entire range at around the £1000 mark feels a little high, not by far, don't get me wrong, I think £399 would be too low too! But somewhere in the middle around the £700-£800 mark would be what alot of us would be more comfortable with, but hey, its your company, your products, and if you feel that the £999+ price point is representative of the quality of the instrument, the craftsmanship and components and offers a reasonable return on production and shipping costs then you're absolutely right to do that.
TL;DR - I'm happy and excited for the new name structure, the new simplified line and for the new shapes and finishes etc. and I really hope it all goes well for you personally and for Chapman Guitars as a company! My only hesitation is around price point but it's a bloody business at the end of the day and if the "affordable" market doesn't represent a good return on investment then I don't blame you at all for binning that line off
I wouldn't worry, if they're anything like the current pro series they will very quickly be discounted to the £7-800 price point you suggest.
@@SW-by9ob oh I’m sure they will probably have offers on semi-regularly. I tend to buy a lot of my guitars and various paraphernalia from Andertons as I live out in the arse end of nowhere and there’s no local guitar place to me and I see the current Chapman lineup with reductions on them fairly regularly.
I completely agree with you on the price points and have the same reluctance which will probably keep me from ever actually buying a Chapman. Whereas if I was able to buy one for $500-$700 and really loved it I would probably buy more Chapman guitars and pay more for them.
Exciting times. I'm looking forward to taking a look at the new run of guitars from the new manufacturer. Will they be in store in Andertons?
Love the updates Rob!! Hope to acquire one of these amazing axes soon!
I bought the OG ML1 when it came out and I still have it with the idea that one day I will be endorsed by chapman guitars. Plays better than some £1500 guitars and the weight would put some vintage les Paul’s to shame 😂 love the new changes
I know that this video is a bit old, but I can see on 7:59 that the string hole covers on the back of the guitar are not aligned.
My 2016 ML2 (Korean) has the same issue, and it bugged me a bit when I first bought it. If this is a £1,000+ guitar, that issue should be addressed because from my point of view it ruins the looks of an otherwise very nice instrument.
it looks like they probably used a slightly bent drill bit on one of the holes, so it is not an expensive correction to make.
Hell yeah, Rob! Do you know why I own a BC Rich Warlock? Not because it's a great guitar, but because it sounds badass!
A 2013 ML1 was the first guitar I really bonded with, mods, dings and all. Can't wait to see how the new ones turn out. My only wish is that you guys make a baritone with an evertune in the not too distant future (;
Is the Cerberus acquistion still going ahead? Do you plan to have an Epiphone/Gibson, Squier/Fender type set up with the two brands now you're focussing on a higher price point with the Chapman brand?
Yep, I am the co-owner of Cerberus.
However, Cerb is a completely different kind of company, just two of us… individual runs of one model at a time etc.
@@RobChappers I'll be interested to see how it turns out. Good luck with the new business model btw, I think you can tell you're happier with the new direction too. More time for more content hopefully!
Have you considered including AU in your distribution options?
This concept makes sense. I appreciate the move for quality but the higher price point means you guys will be out of my price range for a while
Cay you make a Felicity just for me? Soft, rounded curves, not brash, not showy, but feels really good when handled and played....
Over priced guitars that are hard to re sell when a squire contemporary series are just as good.
I agree with you on endorsing artist. Real touring signed bands. Not RUclips artist!!! That don’t have a band or tour. Kinda weird when artist have a signature guitar, and never played in a band or toured
Wish they would offer the option of a non reverse headstock. Probably sell quite a few more to those of us not keen on the reverse style.
oh its always great news when a company tells us were no longer gonna make affordable products, i believe in transparency when it comes to a company's business practices but may try wording it differently like...."were only gonna concentrate on the higher end chapman guitars and price them accordingly, saying the same thing but leaving out the other word, the opposite of affordable unfortunately is unaffordable but either way it sux, thats my 5cents worth (inflation) love ya Rob been a fan for many years, still am but really that sux but i hold no grudges you have the right to run your company the way you see fit , your friend ,Brad
Thanks, Brad, and of course I understand that my Guitars may not suit everybody’s budget.
Of course it’s important for me to focus on product that I’m proud of and right now it’s impossible to build Guitars for 299 unless they are made in incredibly high quantities with very affordable materials and that’s not something I’m prepared to do
Although it’s important for Chapman to make profit, it’s much more important for us to focus on Guitars that we’re excited about
There are plenty of other brands that make an amazing affordable guitar and I would absolutely encourage beginners to buy either a secondhand or a starter kit from one of the established larger brands
Cheers
I personally think this is a great move! The more affordable range of €300 - €700 guitars is flooded with competitors. To capture a share of that market, you have to provide more value at a lower price than the competition. Essentially, you're underselling your product until it establishes its place. As a result, you may not be able to produce the instruments at the quality you want, and you'll be underselling them, meaning you'll have to move a lot of product to turn a profit. When you eventually increase your prices, another competitor could step in and take over your market share.
The range around €1,000 already has fewer competitors, and you'd be able to sell guitars with better craftsmanship and better stock parts, like locking tuners and brand-name pickups. However, there are still several brands doing this, so if you're not the cheapest, you'll need another major selling point for your guitars. I hope you'll be able to build up Chapman's reputation and build the guitars you can be 100% proud of.
I feel $1000 range is too high for his guitars. Like, are they so killer that they're worth $1000 price? What do they offer that makes them better or on the same scale as current guitars in the market at same price point? Especially when you then gotta justify your product being just as worth it as much as gibsons or fenders.
@@OscarASevilla Try one once their out and see it for yourself. Fender and Gibson will never offer the same value at a certain price point as their competition since you are paying for the brand name as well. My Maybach Lester is on par with a Les Paul Standard and has specs more alike with a custom shop Gibson, yet it's 30% cheaper.
Also chapman is not just making traditional strat copies. Their Telecaster is far from what fender makes.
But at the end of the day I don't need to convince you but chapman as a brand should.
Love youuuuuu, see you in January my dude 😘
All the great guitars have names
The lawmaker is still the one for me, cant go wrong with a big slab o wood and mahoosive sounding pickups... also the rosewood neck is a wea bit nice ;)
Great stuff as ever sir
So I might be a minority and not representative of most people. But I have been looking at the Standard range Chapman baritones for a little while now but have been waiting till I had the extra money to spend
(around $500-$600).
But a move like this honestly will probably keep me from ever pulling the trigger and buying or trying them out at more than a grand.
I think it probably limits buyers to mostly people who are already big Chapman fans and own Chapman guitars already. I have a feeling it will drastically reduce the amount of first time Chapman buyers coming into the fold who then become repeat customers.
But I still like Rob and like. Chapman guitars. And I may be completely wrong since Rob has been doing this a while now and has a lot more numbers and information at his disposal than some random guy on the internet lol.
I hope Chapman continues to be successful but I’m just saying that I don’t see myself becoming a customer anytime in the near future whereas in the past I most likely would have. I cant even count the amount of times I had an awesome Chapman baritone in my cart until I decided I should probably wait till I had a little more money saved up.
Normally I wouldn’t have even taken the time to type out this long message but Chapman guitars seems to genuinely welcome participation and input from followers and the public at large. I sincerely wish Rob and the entire Chapman guitars team the best of luck and will continue to follow them and root for their success.
P.S. if you read this Rob, I have already seen your replies to similar comments and know what your position is on the matter. So you don’t need to take time out of your busy schedule to type up a message since I’m sure replying to a lot of similar comments gets old pretty quick lol.
Hey Dude, thank you so much for your message and of course I completely understand your situation - everybody’s financial situation is of course different - I will however say there are still lots of the standard range still available at selected dealers and I also wholeheartedly recommend buying secondhand if you are on a budget
i bought two mint ML1s second hand..cap10 and norseman hjarn, both 2.0. Very prized part of my guitar collection. Keep up the good work Rob. If you can maintain south korean QC you will keep making big strides with your bang for buck specs and tasty designs & finishes👍
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine Somebody.
Yo Chappers you are onto something here! This consolidation makes sense.
Tune out the nay sayers per usual. Looking forward to the instruments coming out, in what will surely prove to be the finest era yet for Chapman Guitars. Follow your gut you Animal!
❤
So, uhhh…. the new Flying V will be “Maverick” ? And have more room in the control cavity for a battery when I want EMG’s..🤘😃🤘
Well it’s me again. One thing I really would love to see in the future, as a new Chapman customer - is a customer support that actually answers. I received a Lawmaker that basically felt apart within first two days of owning it. Tried reaching out to the support team numerous times but no response at all. It has now been months!
I then tried contacting you here on RUclips, and you acknowledged my issue and gave me your direct email (and I really felt seen as a customer, and felt you cared). It’s now been 7 weeks, and still haven’t heard anything.
I really wanted to give Chapman guitars a chance after all the backlash the last couple years, because I believe in your vision and been a longtime follower. But I’m unfortunately been greatly disappointed. 😔
I haven’t received an email from you?!! Please send again - rob@chapmanguitars.co.uk
The Guitar store you purchased from should immediately resolve your problem
@@RobChappers That’s weird - I’ll try again then. No problem. 😊 Regarding contacting the guitar store, that’s the first thing I did. Unfortunately they have so far been not that helpful of sending me a spare part - that’s why I started contacting Chapman directly, in hopes of you guys being able to help. 😊
Sounds like a good plan. Hope it works out for you. I’m guessing the UK made guitars are no longer a thing.
"Second to none" is a bold claim but I like it. So better than a PRS then? ❤
The Names are so much mess😂 I got a Cort Avl-BKS somewhat a Ltd-ec1000 a HB BZ-5000 and this year my fist guitar with an actual name arrived and I’m happy to just refer at it as “Ghost” 🤷♂️🤣
The new shape is great Chap has looks pretty 🔥
I’m stoked to see you at Guitar Summit 🤘🤘