Double Bass Bill Merchant...good?

[Mark Trainor]

I feel that I should write in Bill Merchant's defense. In my view, there are several highly competent luthiers in the New York area, including both Merchant and Ballboch. Outside of this forum, there are individuals (including my two teachers in grad school) who prefer Merchant's work over Ballboch's. In my experience, however, the primary differentiator is customer service.

I am a difficult client. At times when other luthiers were indifferent to my problems (in part due to limitations of my financial situation while in school), Bill Merchant enthusiastically solved them. More so than other luthiers, I believe he is sincerely concerned about his clients' outcomes, and deeply committed to the realization of music itself.

Perhaps the only way to test for the aforementioned sincerity and commitment is to ask a luthier to do something for little or no financial reward, based solely on the artistic merit of the project. As a starving student, I did this once. Bill Merchant rose to the occasion. Ballboch, Gage and others were arrogant.

 

[philly]

My 2 cents: Bill Merchant is a great guy and does excellent work. I would hate to see people in this forum steered away from him .
I'm sure Jeff Bollbach is also a very skilled craftsman and I have no reason to doubt his abilities, but in the spirit of full disclosure Nick Lloyd would have to admit that he and Jeff are buddies, No?
(not to insinuate that Nick's assesment is incorrect or self-serving in any way, just that is may not be totally unbiased).

Bill is a little rough around the edges, but he is a salt-of-the earth guy with a no-nonsense approach.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I feel that I should write in Bill Merchant's defense. In my view, there are several highly competent luthiers in the New York area, including both Merchant and Ballboch. Outside of this forum, there are individuals (including my two teachers in grad school) who prefer Merchant's work over Ballboch's. In my experience, however, the primary differentiator is customer service.

I am a difficult client. At times when other luthiers were indifferent to my problems (in part due to limitations of my financial situation while in school), Bill Merchant enthusiastically solved them. More so than other luthiers, I believe he is sincerely concerned about his clients' outcomes, and deeply committed to the realization of music itself.

This is all fine. And it's "Bollbach".

Perhaps the only way to test for the aforementioned sincerity and commitment is to ask a luthier to do something for little or no financial reward, based solely on the artistic merit of the project. As a starving student, I did this once. Bill Merchant rose to the occasion. Ballboch, Gage and others were arrogant.

Please be careful when making remarks like this last sentence, especially when you know that it applies directly to someone who posts here. I don't know Bill Merchant from Adam, and anyone is welcome to praise his work to high heaven by way of balancing the opinions in this thread. But as the person who has to clean up the messes around here, I'd like to remind everyone to please keep the discussion civil so that I only have to spend as little time as possible holding the mop later. Thank you!

 

[Uncletoad]

Perhaps the only way to test for the aforementioned sincerity and commitment is to ask a luthier to do something for little or no financial reward, based solely on the artistic merit of the project. As a starving student, I did this once. Bill Merchant rose to the occasion. Ballboch, Gage and others were arrogant.

Are you suggesting a luthier's competence and dedication to his craft be evaluated by what he does for free?

 

[Jeff Bollbach]

I

Perhaps the only way to test for the aforementioned sincerity and commitment is to ask a luthier to do something for little or no financial reward, based solely on the artistic merit of the project. As a starving student, I did this once. Bill Merchant rose to the occasion. Ballboch, Gage and others were arrogant.

Wowee wow wow wow! On TB I can be arrogant just like Ed Fuqua can be obsequious[is that the right word, Ed?] In real life Ed is the salt of the earth and more while I am.....well, I find it hard to believe I would be arrogant to a potential customer unless they were a d#$% first. I don't recognize your name at all. Perhaps you can refresh my memory and maybe I owe you an apology. [or mebbe you owe me one] Did you call me up out of the blue and ask for a neck graft for a hundred dollars? What makes you think I have the wherewithal to do pro bono work?

 

[Jeff Bollbach]

Thanks Chris for the spelling lesson. I know I still have a few friends around here. [doesn't mean i'll do free work though]

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Jeff gave me a Chinese pear/apple right off his tree and dint even charge me for it! Picked me up at the train station! Did not make fun of my giant hammy hands!

Arrogant? Not in my opinion.

Siriusly, yes, there are any number of reasosn that people choose to work with the people they do. That goes for luthiers as much as it goes for drummers. One man's meat is another's poisson and alla that crap.

It's wonderful that you had a good experience with Bill. It in no way invalidates people who have not. In exactly the same way that my good experiences with Jeff do not invalidate anyone who has not had a good experience.
Jeff' s personality and mine are a good match and it's a nice hang, but the only reason that I would go back ( and I would ) and the only reason I recommend his work to others (which I do, but basically anybody who touches my bass doesn't need me to say anything, they can feel it and hear it) is because I liked the quality of it.

I like everybody at Dave's shop and they have NEVER treated me with any kind of "arrogance". I mean, I'm NOBODY, but anytime I've gone in Dave has made it a point to say Hi and talk to me. I've been introduced to Mark Dresser, John Pattitucci, Buster Williams, Ira Coleman and a buncha other guys who were in when I stopped by. Sprocket, Mike Weatherly have all done me any manner of small "solids" over the years, even when I was bringing in my Kay when I first moved here.

But that's MY story, you have your own. None of us should mistake OUR story for the ONLY story.

 

[Jeff Bollbach]

My 2 cents: Bill Merchant is a great guy and does excellent work. I would hate to see people in this forum steered away from him .
I'm sure Jeff Bollbach is also a very skilled craftsman and I have no reason to doubt his abilities, but in the spirit of full disclosure Nick Lloyd would have to admit that he and Jeff are buddies, No?
(not to insinuate that Nick's assesment is incorrect or self-serving in any way, just that is may not be totally unbiased).

Bill is a little rough around the edges, but he is a salt-of-the earth guy with a no-nonsense approach.

It's true,Nick and I are friends. But I believe we can be unbiased in regards to our work. I would not talk up a luthier just cause he is my friend. I have luthier friends whom I would not reccommend-like that Ahnold guy[whatta putz].

Lemmee tell you something about why Nick and I are friends. Early on in my career, after I left my previous employ I reached out to every freakin bass luthier in the country that I could. With the intent of sharing knowledge and resource and building community. That may sound pious. but what the hey-it's true. Some were receptive, many were not. Many relationships were developed that I am very proud of. Some years back I get a TB pm from a young luthier. It's Nick[at that time just one N] and guess what, he's doing the same thing. Things have progressed over the years and Nick knows a huge amount of luthiers whom he can call friends and reap the luthier rewards of those relationships. Nick even started B.L.A.B.L.A.- the Brotherhood of Loosely Associated Bass Luthiers of America. Mostly tongue-in-cheek but the part that isn't is the real deal. I am very proud to be associated with that group and many had the opportunity but weren't interested. I won't name names.

 

[Jeff Bollbach]

Jeff gave me a Chinese pear/apple right off his tree and dint even charge me for it! Picked me up at the train station! Did not make fun of my giant hammy hands!

Not to your face anyway.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

It's true,Nick and I are friends.

But you guys aren't as "close" as, say, Nnick and Arnold...right?


Invalid Link Removed

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Not to your face anyway.

Arrogant grammar Nazi.

 

[John Sprague]

Ballboch, Gage and others were arrogant.

Woh! Bollbach, arrogant? I don't wanna disagree with ya Mark, but man that's the last description I would ever expect to hear. Some folks are born good looking, some are witty, but Jeffy is the dictionary-picture text book description of a nice guy. To a fault, even.

Merchant also has an excellent rep, and Gage. You guys are really trying to split hairs among some excellent luthiers in this thread I'd say.

 

[Mark Trainor]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I accept that a luthier's interpersonal style is a matter of personal preference, and that others may have different performances than I. In retrospect, it was unfair of me to call Bollbach and Gage arrogant -- particularly due to the fact that I have far less experience with them than others in this forum. I apologize for this.

However, I think it is also dangerous to create posts based on who we know to be reading. This thread has a charged title ("Bill Merchant...good?") that might not have appeared if Bill were an active participant in this forum. It elicited a charged response from me, as I feel strongly positive sentiments regarding Bill Merchant's work, and have had negative experiences with others (however unsubstantial) -- others whose defense may be attributable, in part, to their presence here.

To answer one of the questions, I do not judge competence by charity. I do, however, regard social concern and empathy as postive attributes under the heading of customer service (which is all that I was comenting on).

I think it's important for everyone to articulate their own subjective view, and accept the views of others as subjective. Objectivity is, at best, collective subjectivity.

 

[Jeff Bollbach]

Woh! Bollbach, arrogant? I don't wanna disagree with ya Mark, but man that's the last description I would ever expect to hear. Some folks are born good looking, some are witty, but Jeffy is the dictionary-picture text book description of a nice guy.

I know I'm not witty, but are you sayin' I'm not good looking?

 

[Uncletoad]

You guys are really trying to split hairs among some excellent luthiers in this thread I'd say.

Agreed. If a person can feed themselves, pay the rent, and maintain a buisiness over time they are doing most of it right. Its a tough racket to stay afloat in. Cream rises.

 

[Uncletoad]

To answer one of the questions, I do not judge competence by charity. I do, however, regard social concern and empathy as postive attributes under the heading of customer service (which is all that I was comenting on).

I agree with this notion. Nnick's providing all the labor required to get basses into the hands of Katrina victims is a perfect example of that.

I will say that the way your post read to me was you were a difficult client wanting something you couldn't afford and Bill gave it to you. Noble effort and I applaud him. To criticize another luthier who turned you away because he won't do difficult work for free is inappropriate and has nothing to do with social consciousness.

 

[Mark Trainor]

I will say that the way your post read to me was you were a difficult client wanting something you couldn't afford and Bill gave it to you. Noble effort and I applaud him. To criticize another luthier who turned you away because he won't do difficult work for free is inappropriate and has nothing to do with social consciousness.

Thank you for that. I have apologized for unfairly calling Bollbach and Gage arrogant. However, your post makes several assumptions: that I sought the fulfillment of a different work request for free; and that my perception of arrogance is based solely on the refusal of such service. I regard neither of these assumptions as valid. Social capitalism entails two bottom-lines (social and financial) that ideally interact and cross-pollinate. In my assessment, Bill Merchant understands and executes on social capitalism.

I appreciate everyone's comments on other luthiers. I believe their perspectives on them are broader in scope than my own.

 

[Uncletoad]

However, your post makes several assumptions: that I sought the fulfillment of a different work request for free; and that my perception of arrogance is based solely on the refusal of such service. I regard neither of these assumptions as valid.

Yes. Those assumptions are easy to draw from your original post.

I am a difficult client. At times when other luthiers were indifferent to my problems (in part due to limitations of my financial situation while in school), Bill Merchant enthusiastically solved them.

I prefer to be wrong about those assumptions. Perhaps being more specific in your story would have lead us to more proper conclusions.

 

[Mark Trainor]

Yes. Those assumptions are easy to draw from your original post. I prefer to be wrong about those assumptions. Perhaps being more specific in your story would have lead us to more proper conclusions.

The ease with which an assumption may be drawn is often inversely related to its validity. If you require greater clarity or specificity, you may request it.

I just spotted a typo in my last post. By "different job" I meant "difficult job".

While this is a clear digression/tangent, I see a broader issue here. To what extent should the philosophy of a luthier, or any agent in the music business, be aligned with that of an artist? Or more practically, to what extent can it be? In my view, most artists are social capitalist. They work as much for intangible social reward as financial reward. Their billable hourly rate is on a sliding scale (from $1,000 per hour for the corporate event, to $10 an hour for the trio they love playing with or $5 for talented student from the inner city). They understand that value is not only transacational based, but also synergistic. They are not capitalist cookie cutters, but rather contextual thinkers and evaluators.

Can a luthier operate like this too? What about a record label?

 

[EFischer1]

The ease with which an assumption may be drawn is often inversely related to its validity. If you require greater clarity or specificity, you may request it.

Seriously? Are you two really going to duke it out over which of you will be the alpha-male by attacking another's language usage?

Man, I feel like your mother interceding in such a juvenile pseudo-intellectual debate. And I know for a fact that you are both SIGNIFICANTLY older than I am.