I've had it with luthiers!!!

WarofAges · #1 10-29-2008, 12:54 AM

No offense to anybody here, but I'm tired of luthiers. I know you gotta make money, and i have to pay for your services, but sometimes it gets ridiculous.

I went in to a local shop and wanted some work done to my bass. I specifically told him i did not want a setup or anything. all i wanted was a replacement truss rod nut put in so i could setup the bass myself. I told him i play in drop A#, similar to a 5 string tuning and i needed to adjust the neck for such a low tuning.

I come back to get it and he's not there. I go and plug in it to test it out and look and the tag. he was gunna try to charge me 45 dollars when the instal ation and the nut should only be like 10 bucks. but he didnt do anything i even asked for. all he did was action trussrod, pickup, and intonation adjustment and setup, he didnt even order the part, he used a special wrench that he had to buy to use. and he set it up in BEAD tuning. he did not understand anything i say

I told him i would do him a favor, i would pay him 1/3 of the price for his work and take my business elsewhere for the nut. He refused. I told him this was the only option, or i would report him to the better business bereau. Still refused. Finally i told him i would come back when my friend was working there and he overheard everything we talked about.

this guy has done this to two of my friends and now me.

what a jacka$$

black_labb · #2 10-29-2008, 01:05 AM

edit: sorry, just noticed you wrote truss rod nut as opposed to truss rod. makes more sense

what was wrong with the nut that you have atm?

Ampeg SVT · #3 10-29-2008, 01:07 AM

He said he wanted a new trussrod nut.

Jazzint · #4 10-29-2008, 01:10 AM

I feel your pain, bro. What I'd do next time is to give the luthier (or any pro you go for repairs to) clearly written directions of what to do. They still can lose the list, but it minimizes the risks.
So what is the guy doing, refusing to give you your bass back?

Ampeg SVT · #5 10-29-2008, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzint

I feel your pain, bro. What I'd do next time is to give the luthier (or any pro you go for repairs to) clearly written directions of what to do. They still can lose the list, but it minimizes the risks.
So what is the guy doing, refusing to give you your bass back?

"I told him i would do him a favor, i would pay him 1/3 of the price for his work and take my business elsewhere for the nut. He refused. I told him this was the only option, or i would report him to the better business bereau. Still refused. Finally i told him i would come back when my friend was working there and he overheard everything we talked about."

atheos · #6 10-29-2008, 01:16 AM

The guy must be the only luthier in town since you went for him even though he did the same for your friends...? You know, I wouldn't have gone there, I would've picked somebody with good reputation.

When it comes to instrument building/repair, it will cost money if it's done right. I wouldn't trust a guy who replaces a nut for 10 bucks. The part alone costs more than that.

WarofAges · #7 10-29-2008, 01:20 AM

we figured it out because my friend works there and heard everything i said. i gave him 15 bucks for nothing, just cuz im a nice guy. but if he had refused more i probably would have just taken my bass forcefully and not paid, or reported him.

i didnt want to take it and just say F you because i go in there for regular business

I took it home and was able to adjust it back to standard tuning and now im just gunna sell it to a friend and buy something new.

the trussrod nut was stripped, so it was really hard to adjust with an allen wrench.

Lewis22 · #8 10-29-2008, 01:22 AM

Ive seen music shop owners play up more than mechanics.
back when i was eight a music teacher gave me so much greif that i gave up accoustic guitar, now he runs a business with three music shops, and he does really dodgy repairs, my friend actually got to the point of reporting him after he screwed up his guitar and ripped him off.

but if it wasnt for him, i never would have given up on guitar and found my calling for bass a few years later, haha.

**Rodent** · #9 10-29-2008, 07:30 AM

this guy does not sound like a bonafide luthier, but instead a guitar tech (and a poor one at that)

real luthiers know how to build acoustic (and electric) instruments from rough lumber, are experienced in making proper wood selections for stability and sound, and cannot afford to play the dumb "I'm going to do whatever I want with your instrument to run up the bill" game

sorry you experienced a loser tech. maybe some day you'll experience the difference and have opportunity to work with an exceptional luthier ... just understand that real luthiers are few and far between

all the best,

R