Fool me twice...Won't get fooled again. Repair Story

TNCreature · #1 11-12-2011, 12:26 PM

It's my own fault really, but I am desperate.

I've shared here before that there is no-one of quality to take my bass to for repair work. The one person I have used in the past (In Doylestown, PA. That would be D-Town. yes "D-TOWN", not that I'm naming the business) did OK work before but the guy was such a jerk, the bass came back filthy, and I could swear that there were scratches that weren't there before. I swore I would not go back

So fast forward, my main bass needs a full setup and I have another that has a broken battery lead. Against better judgment (and because 5 years later there is still NO ONE in my area to do work), I go back to the same guy. Hey, a setup and a battery lead, easy right?

I checked them out before leaving the store:
Main bass- severely out of tune, how do you set up if it isn't tuned? Every string at every fret is buzzing like a beehive! The guy who works at the shop (not the owner/repair person) says "that sounds like crap!"
the bass is FILTHY. I refuse to pay.

Second bass: Battery lead is attached and working, BRAND NEW BASS has three new scratches on the back- one very long and deep- and the bass is covered in grease and fingerprints. I have to pay for this one because "it works".

So, clearly I am pissed (hence the ramble) and now I have to set up my bass myself and hope that I can get it back to where it was (who knows what he did to it). And my beautiful new bass will forever have scratches to remind me of this jerk.

Don't say it. It's my own fault.
Now my one or two basses that need real work need to go to someone in NYC, no more Podunk for me.

Moral: Don't be me!
and
Don't have your guitar break down in Doylestown, PA

elgecko · #2 11-12-2011, 12:34 PM

Learn how to do it yourself....it isn't rocket science!

P.S. I love your avatar!

TNCreature · #3 11-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Thanks,
I can do quite a bit, but I am not a pro. There is stuff I just can't do.
In terms of a setup, sometimes I feel that what I do is good, but could be better (on certain "difficult" basses) and then I would like someone else to take over.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Learn how to do it yourself....it isn't rocket science!

P.S. I love your avatar!

fourstringdrums · #4 11-12-2011, 01:05 PM

I used to be afraid of doing setups myself but then I realized it's not that bad. I don't do fret work, but with truss rod/bridge adjustments I'm just fine. Definitely something everyone should know how to do.

Was this something that you couldn't have done yourself?

How does a guitar get covered in grease is what I'm wondering when all you wanted was a setup and a new battery lead.

elgecko · #5 11-12-2011, 01:07 PM

Is that picture chopped or did you pose your dog? (if it's your dog at all)

TNCreature · #6 11-12-2011, 02:01 PM

The million dollar question.
Maybe he was eating fried chicken.
The worst part is that this guy is a bass player!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

How does a guitar get covered in grease is what I'm wondering when all you wanted was a setup and a new battery lead.

Pilgrim · #7 11-12-2011, 09:15 PM

Anyone can re-connect a battery lead. It's a trivial repair.

rojo412 · #8 11-13-2011, 08:55 AM

The motivation for me to learn how to fix instruments was the fact that most "Techs" I'd deal with in my area were 1 of 2 types:

1) Complete hacks who I wouldn't trust to butter my toast, or
2) So amazing that their waiting period was a month or more.

Everything you need to know is right here on TB, if you decide to learn it for yourself. And a lot of this stuff is not only easy to learn, but isn't dangerous (because I know a lot of people tend to be afraid that the turn of a screw will "break something").

****ing "techs"!

(And if I got a setup done and it was nasty and out of tune, it'd be hard to resist the urge to burn down the building...)

jeffbrown · #9 11-14-2011, 07:41 AM

+1 on learning to do it yourself.

I'm not any sort of mechanic/electrician, nor do I play one on TV, but I learned (thanks, TB!) how to adjust the neck, bridge, and intonate my instruments. I can also solder something; it doesn't look like factory, but hey, it works....

It really ISN'T rocket science. I also have learned to be gentle (a previous nickname was Dr. Torque) and not over-tighten things/go slowly, a little at a time. Patience is your friend, as well as the wealth of knowledge here.

Just do it!

stflbn · #10 11-14-2011, 07:49 AM

There's no quality repair people in the PHL/NYC area as shown as the OP's location???

.

TNCreature · #11 11-14-2011, 07:59 AM

As I said: "Now my one or two basses that need real work need to go to someone in NYC"

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

There's no quality repair people in the PHL/NYC area as shown as the OP's location???

.

TNCreature · #12 11-14-2011, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the comments.
I re-set up the bass and it is fine now, but it's amazing, I would almost say the guy did nothing, except he appreanty did everything in the wrong direction.
everything was worse than when I brought it in.

The reason I took the bass in was because his "Compelte Setup" was also supposed to address nut and fret issues (two things I am not equipped to do). But clearly, these things weren't even addressed.

Josh Pelican · #13 11-14-2011, 09:58 AM

I have decided to start doing my own work on instruments because my last tech ripped me off completely and left a nice "route mark" on a quilted maple top. Not too impressed.

Chris Breese · #14 11-14-2011, 10:15 AM

If I'm not mistaken, there are a few shops in NY that could do setups. Sadowsky is one that comes to mind.

NKUSigEp · #15 11-14-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNCreature

Thanks,
I can do quite a bit, but I am not a pro. There is stuff I just can't do.
In terms of a setup, sometimes I feel that what I do is good, but could be better (on certain "difficult" basses) and then I would like someone else to take over.

All you need is a tuner, a screwdriver and patience.

Febs · #16 11-14-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNCreature

Reading comprehension, it's awesome.

This comment is really out of line. He asked a legitimate question.

Next time you need work done, try Jack Romano in Conshohocken. He does excellent work.

fhm555 · #17 11-14-2011, 10:50 AM

Given the circumstances, learning to DIY seems a very viable alternative.

I learned to do it and if I can do it a gerbil with just a bit of training could as well.

As the guy who taught me to build fishing rods said when I first started said, "It ain't rocket surgery."

TNCreature · #18 11-14-2011, 12:39 PM

Febs,
Thank you for a local reccomendation! Much appreciated.
And yeah, I had a migraine this morning. I aoplogize for sounding surly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs

This comment is really out of line. He asked a legitimate question.

Next time you need work done, try Jack Romano in Conshohocken. He does excellent work.

rojo412 · #19 11-14-2011, 02:17 PM

Every time I read the title of this thread, I just picture something like this:

secretsound5 · #20 11-14-2011, 02:51 PM

find rick emory at mainline music. i believe in ardmore. he's a wizard.