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Botched Repair, need advice

Brando_Beast

Brando_Beast

Jan 4, 2021
188
90
Tampa
#1
I have been very unhappy with Music Showcase in Brandon FL so I have been looking for a new shop in the area. I thought I had found a great place and I was even sending a friend with his projects. But my first project came back this past weekend. I am very dissastisfied.

So this is a totally custom strat build. I painted the body a metallic silver. They returned it with two bright shiny globs of solder right on the front of the brand new paint job. Also the back has these weird black smudges. Brand new pickguard is scratched up, also cracked in the corner where the screw is.

Moving on to missing materials.

It didn't have the tremolo arm when I picked it up but I didn't notice because I was excited and in a hurry. I bought special gold screws to match the metallic theme. They lost those, claimed they never had them in the case, but you know what's peculiar? The back cover of the tremolo cavity has two of my gold screws, but supposedly the gold screws "never came in with the guitar, we never saw those". If the gold screws were never included or whatever, then where did these two come from? Sounds like someone got caught in a lie. They lost the specialty gold screws, and things happen. but it truly appears they lied about it PLUS when I picked it up it only had like three different screws in the pickguard, the whole pickguard was un anchored and floppy. My friend was playing it and there is a push/pull on one of the tone knobs. Every time he pulled the tone knob up the whole pickguard was flopping and separating. I had to go hunt down those particular screws the next day to secure the pickguard. Why would they not secure the pickguard before sending it back.

So total for wiring and setup I paid 195 plus tax.
185 for the work
10 for the strings
plus tax

The brand new pickguard was pre-loaded and wired up, they just had to solder the hot and ground. I paid for 65 for that plus a setup I paid over 200 dollars.

The setup and playability are really good, but with the missing parts, damaged finish on brand new surfaces, and the crazy prices, what do you guys think?
What would Jaco do?

PS they strongly denied everything
 
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#5
Don’t go back. Not everyone can solder and not everyone is a tech even if they say they can. It is however something we as musicians can learn to do and cut down the need for a tech. Just like simple lawn care or plumbing or something that usually requires a professional that would be infinitely more rewarding than the experience above. Which is not unusual in any facet of daily bs to navigate. Certainly that particular store should be slapped for the fail. Your detailed description above should be sent to all their emails and hopefully it will sink in they just blew the job and a good chunk of business. That is opposite of good business. Also for me tell them to remove head from backside and man up. Best of luck!
 
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#6
Obtain written repair estimates for the exact damage. Photograph and describe problem in your words. Send info to shop owner in email and text requesting repair reimbursement for the repair amount. It may be less, equal to, or more than the repair amount. Phone them as well.

Hopefully, you and they can reach amicable solution. Otherwise, consider small claims court, or cut your loss and move forward.
 
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#7
Brando_Beast said:
I have been very unhappy with Music Showcase in Brandon FL so I have been looking for a new shop in the area. I thought I had found a great place and I was even sending a friend with his projects. But my first project came back this past weekend. I am very dissastisfied.

So this is a totally custom strat build. I painted the body a metallic silver. They returned it with two bright shiny globs of solder right on the front of the brand new paint job. Also the back has these weird black smudges. Brand new pickguard is scratched up, also cracked in the corner where the screw is.

Moving on to missing materials.

It didn't have the tremolo arm when I picked it up but I didn't notice because I was excited and in a hurry. I bought special gold screws to match the metallic theme. They lost those, claimed they never had them in the case, but you know what's peculiar? The back cover of the tremolo cavity has two of my gold screws, but supposedly the gold screws "never came in with the guitar, we never saw those". If the gold screws were never included or whatever, then where did these two come from? Sounds like someone got caught in a lie. They lost the specialty gold screws, and things happen. but it truly appears they lied about it PLUS when I picked it up it only had like three different screws in the pickguard, the whole pickguard was un anchored and floppy. My friend was playing it and there is a push/pull on one of the tone knobs. Every time he pulled the tone knob up the whole pickguard was flopping and separating. I had to go hunt down those particular screws the next day to secure the pickguard. Why would they not secure the pickguard before sending it back.

So total for wiring and setup I paid 195 plus tax.
185 for the work
10 for the strings
plus tax

The brand new pickguard was pre-loaded and wired up, they just had to solder the hot and ground. I paid for 65 for that plus a setup I paid over 200 dollars.

The setup and playability are really good, but with the missing parts, damaged finish on brand new surfaces, and the crazy prices, what do you guys think?
What would Jaco do?

PS they strongly denied everything
Click to expand...
I use a very good tech who's over in St. Pete. Jeff has always been meticulous with anything I've had him do.

Mick Donner at Tampa Guitar Repair off of Waters, is really good, but you can expect quite a wait. He did super work to my last build, along with Mo Colors, probably about the best guitar and bike painter in Tampa. PM me for contact info.
 
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#8
I used SevenC in St Pete for a refret on my '78 Rick 4001. They did great work at a reasonable rate. Just a few weeks ago.

Initially they said it would be $375, then called back a day later to say it would be $450 due to the finish on the fingerboard. Also said it would take about 4 weeks.

When I picked it up (only a few days after dropping it off), they only charged the $375. Under promised and over delivered.

I don't know how they are with electronic repairs, but the luthier work was great. They're also a certified Martin guitar warranty repar facility, so they have some skills.
 
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#9
My advice is buy a soldering iron, connecting a pre-wired pickguard takes all of 5 mins, if that. Even more complex wiring isn't too hard to do with a little practice. Nor is setting up a guitar or bass. Checkout the all setup questions answered thread here, or any number of online videos and tutorials. Then there's no need to gamble on somebody else's skills.
 
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#10
ShadowGroover said:
Obtain written repair estimates for the exact damage. Photograph and describe problem in your words. Send info to shop owner in email and text requesting repair reimbursement for the repair amount. It may be less, equal to, or more than the repair amount. Phone them as well.

Hopefully, you and they can reach amicable solution. Otherwise, consider small claims court, or cut your loss and move forward.
Click to expand...
This. They damaged your instrument through negligence -- getting stray solder on the body is not normal or acceptable. Breaking the pickguard is not normal or acceptable. "They lost the specialty gold screws, and things happen." No -- not when you're paying a professional for work. Lost trem arm. "it only had like three different screws in the pickguard." It's terrible work and you paid a lot for it -- you shouldn't let them off the hook.

If they refuse to help, just the prospect of going to small claims will probably get them to make a compromise. But if you're not comfortable doing that, file reports with the BBB, Angi (Angi's List), tell them you're documenting this exchange on the largest bass community, TalkBass ;-) And if you have any social media accounts, share the story there as well.
 
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#11
I learned my lesson years ago. I first went to a repair guy not far from me, who at first did well, but left him a bass uke to cut down the horns and refinish to match the rest of the body. He said about two weeks since he has a lot of work. Two weeks turned into almost a year, with me constantly asking. On a Friday I finally said I'm taking it back Monday. I get there Monday and it's done, badly, the paint doesn't match. He apologized and discounted the job from $200 to $150, said it will never happen again. I said to myself, for sure 'cause I'm never coming back. Turns out he was pushing my job aside for more "famous" clients.

It's so important to note with the place the parts you are incuding, like the screws, and even take a photo of the instrument in the shop before leaving it. I found a great place not far who does absolutely great work, Eric's Guitar Shop in Van Nuys, CA. Both he and Billy are great. I also use Pat Wilkins for finishes, also in Van Nuys.
 
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#12
File a formal complaint with management & pictures.
Ask for your money back or at least some off.
Stores are full of hacks. I had a collectable bass at a store, the kid/Clerk
took a Dewalt 20 Volt cordless srewdriver out to open the custom wood
cavity cover. He was having a hard time lining up the screw head with the tool tip.
Gee, what could have gone wrong? Not cool in my book.
 
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#13
Ralph69 said:
I know exactly where you are talking about. They tried to charge me for work that they didn't do.
Click to expand...
Music Showcase really pissed me off because I have a MIJ Jaguar Bass, they are notoriously noisy. I took it in to get the crackle and pops fixed. I paid like 60 dollars and he broke the active circuit! And it came back still making noise. So now I have to go somewhere else and replace the guts.
 
#16
With that much of obvious neglect, damage and missing parts, it sounds like they have no idea what they're doing at that shop. I'd file a BBB complaint against them and an online bad review comment if nothing else. My condolences, that just sounds like a horrible experience with that business.
 
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#17
I really appreciate your condolences and seriously thanks for the input.

But also, I have more to add. I've been busy with my father in the hospital so I didn't notice immediately but the g string is buzzing pretty bad all up and down, of course it depends on how hard you pick, but yea it's distracting enough that it needs to be fixed.

missing part: the luthier only used two of the six included screws for the tremolo. What happened to the rest? I would have appreciated it if they just put them in a little baggie included in the case. Where else am I going to find screws just like that, if/when I need them?

Also, more damage, but it's pretty slight. There is a thick scratch across the bridge, but it's under the strings and halfway under the saddles so it doesn't really show. But it's there.

edit for grammar
 
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#18
Brando_Beast said:
I really appreciate your condolences and seriously thanks for the input.

But also, I have more to add. I've been busy with my father in the hospital so I didn't notice immediately but the g string is buzzing pretty bad all up and down, of course it depends on how hard you pick, but yea it's distracting enough that it needs to be fixed.

missing part: the luthier only used two of the six included screws for the tremolo. What happened to the rest? I would have appreciated it if they just put them in a little baggie included in the case. Where else am I going to find screws just like that, if/when I need them?

Also, more damage, but it's pretty slight. There is a thick scratch across the bridge, but it's under the strings and halfway under the saddles so it doesn't really show. But it's there.

edit for grammar
Click to expand...
Wholly Moses, rank amateur time.
 
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