It was looking for details. Asking valid questions. What that “long winded” post was doing is self-evident. OP responded and all is good.
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Buyers Beware/Scam: Rick Link/Beardly Customs
- Thread starter Brian Crosby
- Start date
It was looking for details. Asking valid questions. What that “long winded” post was doing is self-evident. OP responded and all is good.
Beej made a great post inquiring about specifics of the issues and further clarification. What about that was long-winded? I guess in todays age any post more than a sentence or 2 is going to get people saying TLDR, unfortunately.
I can only describe and explain things, I can't understand them for you.
Man I just hope it gets resolved to your satisfaction. Such a bummer to have what should be a cool fun thing not come out the way you had hoped.
I can only describe and explain things, I can't understand them for you.
I thought your post was thoughtful, professional and insightful. Nobody else needed to ask anything because you had it covered.
All I gotta say is yikes!!!
We could discuss this till we’re blue in the face, but that’s just straight up sloppy.
We could discuss this till we’re blue in the face, but that’s just straight up sloppy.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
I was at a Pittsburgh Bass Day get-together a year or two ago. I couldn't believe how shoddy-looking his display pieces were! Like, for what he charges, are you kidding me??
People defending Beej is crazy - he wasn't like crazy over the line but did you look at those photos lol?! Like this isnt one small thing.. theres cracks in the fretboard, i don't even know *** the fret seating was or why it looks like he hammered a chisel into the top of the frets 10 or 15 times lol.
Like its supposed to be a custom handbuilt instrument and based off the poster, it sounds like it was costed accordingly lol. These things weren't oversights - they were lazyness. No bass player would look at that nut fit and be like "hmm this looks fine" and the person is supposed to be a luthier. You are treating it as if hes complaining that the setup wasnt perfect, or the color of purple heart was too light for his taste and he should cut the builder a break.
I would be shocked / furious, and i assume he just recived this after 2 years if hes posting now and put the commission in 2023
Like its supposed to be a custom handbuilt instrument and based off the poster, it sounds like it was costed accordingly lol. These things weren't oversights - they were lazyness. No bass player would look at that nut fit and be like "hmm this looks fine" and the person is supposed to be a luthier. You are treating it as if hes complaining that the setup wasnt perfect, or the color of purple heart was too light for his taste and he should cut the builder a break.
I would be shocked / furious, and i assume he just recived this after 2 years if hes posting now and put the commission in 2023
Pretty sure everyone that has posted in this thread accepts that this instrument is unacceptable in the condition it was sold. Beej didn't say otherwise from what I can see, they just asked for additional information to further understand the issues. The OP replied to the request with more pictures which provides more information to the rest of us so on that basis alone I'd say the post has merit.
D
I can only describe and explain things, I can't understand them for you.
I’m going to appropriate this if you don’t mind….
Best of luck OP. That builder has much to learn before taking more money from anyone. Wishbass would have played out better. Mr. Builder you could save this, refund the man, hone your craft some more and try again. Instrument repair and building is one of those life long pursuits that always has surprises. Wood does what it wants but we are man and will adapt and conquer.
All the stuff on his FB page looks extremely amateur hour. Just slap some exotic woods together in goofball shapes, install frets and pickups, and then ask for money. Pathetic. Sorry to the OP for this nightmare.
The one thing I've learnt re Custom builds is not to get too fancy with the spec if it is work the builder hasn't done before.
So, don't be the guinea pig for wacky idea's with wood combinations. The risk is they dont compliment each other. Sure, you might hope the pre amp can help you out but, imv, there is no substitute for a great acoustic resonance.
Basically, if he has done the thing you are asking for and you see/hear the result and are happy, proceed.
If they have reservations on your ideas, then beware and do not sink in much cash.
I don't know this builder or reputation so can't comment there but I feel the approach to have anyone willing to build everything you want spec-wise is fraught with potential problems, generally speaking.
So, don't be the guinea pig for wacky idea's with wood combinations. The risk is they dont compliment each other. Sure, you might hope the pre amp can help you out but, imv, there is no substitute for a great acoustic resonance.
Basically, if he has done the thing you are asking for and you see/hear the result and are happy, proceed.
If they have reservations on your ideas, then beware and do not sink in much cash.
I don't know this builder or reputation so can't comment there but I feel the approach to have anyone willing to build everything you want spec-wise is fraught with potential problems, generally speaking.
For whatever it’s worth, OP originally posted this in the Luthier / Builder forum which @Beej is quite accomplished at. I’m sure he was just trying to understand any issues better and probably trying to figure out what happened and how.
There is no excuse for any of this. It's shoddy work, nothing less. No one here should defend (or have to defend) work like this. Its garbage! The attempt to fix by the builder and letting it go out the door as is, isn't even respectable to say the least. He's hoping that Brian may just be an idiot, which obviously he isn't. Everybody has bad days but, this is builder stupidity to take advantage of a customer like this and damages trust in a personal build by anyone.
If it's any solace, when you google the name Beardly Customs this thread and its title are now the second result, between his actual website and his Instagram account.
These stories are common on message boards with these small builders, and I don't understand why they never decide to take the L and start over from scratch. It seems like these stories wind on for a year or two with the builder doing several rounds of band-aid fixes and no one ends up being happy. Why spend all that time trying to dress up a poor build when you could have just started over and gotten it right the second time? Labor is more expensive than wood.
Hope you get a new bass or a full refund.
These stories are common on message boards with these small builders, and I don't understand why they never decide to take the L and start over from scratch. It seems like these stories wind on for a year or two with the builder doing several rounds of band-aid fixes and no one ends up being happy. Why spend all that time trying to dress up a poor build when you could have just started over and gotten it right the second time? Labor is more expensive than wood.
Hope you get a new bass or a full refund.
I'm a carpenter by trade. Been doing woodwork since 5th grade. I'd never attempt some of these builds as a wood worker. I'd have too much anxiety of slight mess ups....not much room if any for mistakes....
All I can say is that the woodworking in that truss rod cavity looks...rustic. And I'd say the same for the fretwork. Maybe that's part of his aesthetic? (kidding)
Thanks to the OP for outing the builder. 
I hate threads that complain about inferior work but won’t name names.
I hate threads that complain about inferior work but won’t name names.
