Rant: Angry With Local Music Store

[BassGod]

I'm in a bad mood, because of my bass and my music store.

I bought a six string Ibanez. I took it home and did I set up, and got it perfect, with very low action. I noticed that the last few frets were uneven, and so I sent it in for a fret dressing of the last five frets, which they said would be covered under the warranty. As they wrote up the repair sheet, I stressed that they should not change the action at all, and they said that would be no problem at all.

Three weeks later, I get a phone call from the store. He says my bass is ready, and I'm uber excited to have those two extra strings again.

The repair guy says the action was simply too low, and it made buzzing everywhere. I explained that I play with a very light touch, and that it only buzzed on three frets, and was fine everywhere else. Light touch, according to him, doesn't affect anything. I told him that I did the straight-edge test, and am certain that a few frets are uneven. Anyways, after three weeks, he didn't do the fret dressing at all. Instead he gave me a free setup, which I specifically asked him not to do.

So now, I'm just going to return the bass, get my money, and go elsewhere to buy the same bass. Then I'll have to do a setup again. If they had just done what I asked, I wouldn't have to blow gas money to return the bass, then blow more money driving to Toronto to get another one (and waste three weeks which could've been spent getting another bass).

So what the hell? Why the three week wait to tell me that my action was too low, as if a setup is not a subjective thing? Why do precisely what I told him not to do?

I'm really pissed about this, so enjoy the rant.

Graeme

[Eric Moesle]

With all due respect, a bit of an overreaction don't you think?

Yeah, they reset your action when they were told not to. But you said you set it up yourself the first time. Just do it again. Spend 30 minutes to an hour tweaking and get it back to where you wanted it.

Returning the bass to get another one off the shelf is going to get you the same thing - having to set up the action on the bass to your liking. Exact same amout of effort.

[TrooperFarva]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

With all due respect, a bit of an overreaction don't you think?

Yeah, they reset your action when they were told not to. But you said you set it up yourself the first time. Just do it again. Spend 30 minutes to an hour tweaking and get it back to where you wanted it.

Returning the bass to get another one off the shelf is going to get you the same thing - having to set up the action on the bass to your liking. Exact same amout of effort.

I think his gripe isn't so much with the fact that they did a set up, as the fact that they did a set up, didn't do the fret dressing, and took 3 weeks doing so.

Plus, you gotta figure, he's in Canada, so it's like, 3 days ride to the nearest music store.

[BassGod]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

I think his gripe isn't so much with the fact that they did a set up, as the fact that they did a set up, didn't do the fret dressing, and took 3 weeks doing so.

Exactly. They wrote up a work order for a fret dressing of the last five frets, with no setup changes, covered by warranty. And they didn't do it. Even if I somehow complained enough so as to make them do it, I'd have to wait another three weeks.

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

Plus, you gotta figure, he's in Canada, so it's like, 3 days ride to the nearest music store.

Right on the money here. To get to Toronto, I have to take the 401, the busiest highway in the world. It's a long drive, and it wastes a tonne of gas. Frankly, Long & McQuade (the store in question) should be paying the petrol price for me.

Graeme

[Rattman]

I'm with BassGod.. why couldn't the tech do what he was asked to do, and in a MUCH quicker time? Canada or not, money is money and time is time! I feel for this guy.. I would have reacted the same way: "time for a refund!". What is the point of giving a professional instructions if they are just going to be second-guessed? Did the tech even call him and discuss anything? Doesn't sound like it.. lack of respect.

[invader3k]

Yeah, if the tech had a differing opinion, he should have at least called the guy to address the situation. A simple two minute phone call could've saved everyone involved a ton of hassle.

Bottom line, it seems like it's really hard to find quality techs to do setups and repair jobs.

[::Saint::]

I suggest finding a different, preferably private tech guy. I live near Victoria BC, and I actually got the name of the guy who does all of our Long and Mcquade's tech work from my sales guy in the bass department. I called the guy up and made an appointment about getting a custom pickguard cut for my bass, and when I went in he did a setup for me, while I was there, and stopped after various adjustments to see how it felt to me. He also charged me all of $20 for the setup.

[tplyons]

Unfortunately most techs don't think regular musicians know how to do anything, nor how we like things. We don't know any better, don't you know that?

It sucks that he didn't do what you brought it in for and instead did something you told him specifically not to. Have you talked to the manager about it?

[BassGod]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Unfortunately most techs don't think regular musicians know how to do anything, nor how we like things. We don't know any better, don't you know that?

It sucks that he didn't do what you brought it in for and instead did something you told him specifically not to. Have you talked to the manager about it?

Not yet, but I'm gonna head over there tonight. I suppose I should have a word with him.

On the plus side of all this, once my money is refunded, I get to go bass shopping again. This time I'm taking a straight-edge to the store, and making sure the frets are nice and level before I drop a whole bunch of money.

Graeme

[Foamy]

Devil's Advocate here.....
I'm a tech, and the instrument is a brand new factory line bass. If I were a bit seasoned, I would probably be lazy and assume that what you get is what you get, and that doing a fret dressing on a new instrument is not normal course for a production line bass.
I would re-check the setup and set it up to how I think it should probably be. If the buzzing goes away, then I would think I did a good job.
Is it "reasonable" to expect a shop to do a fret dressing on a production line bass for free? I don't know, but I rather doubt it.
However, I would also show the common courtesy of a phone call to the owner to discuss.

[guy n. cognito]

The logical decision is to simply have the tech perform the work requested. Instead, you choose to return the bass and go shopping for another.............

Most low end basses, like your Ibby, aren't capable of getting super-low action without substantial fretwork. It's not a defect.

[guy n. cognito]

Let me add: don't expect a warm reception when you walk in with a straight edge, and then ask to see the ibbys.

[BassGod]

When did a nine hundred dollar bass become low end?

Graeme

[ibnzneksrul]

Three weeks to do a setup?! That fact alone proves they're jerking you around.

Originally Posted by ::Saint::

I suggest finding a different, preferably private tech guy.

+100

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Unfortunately most techs don't think regular musicians know how to do anything, nor how we like things. We don't know any better, don't you know that?

I've heard some say this.

So - they say that everybody comes in asking for a super low setup, but that if they did that, the bass would be unplayable - they would get loads of complaints and have to spend far more time on this - when it doesn't actually earn them much money!

Instead they give everybody a medium set-up and find they get far less complaints and many more happy customers!

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by BassGod

When did a nine hundred dollar bass become low end?

Graeme

That's a good question.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Rattman

...money is money and time is time!

And the reverse is true as well!

[Eric Moesle]

I get the "I'm upset because they didn't do what was asked" part, but I don't get the "I'm returning the bass" part. It just seems like an overly extreme reaction to me.

And FWIW, I have fret leveling and recrowning done on EVERY new bass I buy. Unless its a handmade custom, I've NEVER found fret perfection on any production bass regardless of price, and that includes Carvin's with their claims of fret-crowning greatness, Ernie Ball/Musicman, and Modulus.

[Xed32]

L & M sucks. Have Dave at Clubbass.ca hook yu up.

[Xed32]

A bit $$ though, but he at least tends to listen.