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Celinder Ain't No Joke!

#42
JAUQO III-X said:
I recently spoke with Chris Celinder about having an Update built but I can't wait for over a year for a Bass to be built(any more) but if I have to I will and in the case of a Celinder it would be more than worth it,they really are some killer Basses and the craftsmanship is second to none.
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Man had I known that I would've sold you mine. It was a great bass,but I like the traditional 34' inch scale bass. I just recently sold it not too long ago.
 
#43
tombowlus said:
I can't say it enough, but Glenn is just a super, super guy to deal with, and my appreciation for him has only grown through this ordeal. He totally stands behind his customers. :)
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With all this aggravation I wonder how long Glenn is going to keep carrying celinders? Having to deal with an unpredictable supplier must be stressful at best and with the kind of support he's giving Tom I can't see how he's making a profit either. I've got an order in via Glenn as well but if the bass isn't right I don't think it will leave the shop. Save everyone involved a headache.
 
#45
Just had a chance to play Tom's Celinder, and we compared it to my two. Tom's is AMAZING! They all three sound great... with my blue one being a little more sizzly and wide ala Marcus, Tom's being somewhat more low mid punchy to my ear, and my blonde one falling in between. However, the sound of all of them was relatively close, and I'm sure each one could sound like the other with some slight EQing. Tom's also plays GREAT.

It's a shame about that finish issue, although the picture Tom posted shows it at its worst.... it's not really that noticable unless you position it a certain way toward the light (that doesn't mean I wouldn't want it fixed though). Actually, when we closely inspected my blue one, there was a similar if smaller finish indentation at the back heal, and a very slight 'waving' at the tummy tuck, less than Tom's but you could see it if you line it up just right to the light. I've had the bass for two years and never even noticed it.

There must be something in Chris's very thick finish that results in the tummy tuck area, with the exposed ash grain and the curves and angles, to be problematic (although my blonde one seems perfectly smooth).

Anyway, it's a smokin' bass and it was a fun hang... lot's of cool gear to check out.... Groove Shoppe 5, multiple Sadowsky's and Celinders, Tom's Rob Allen Mouse, a WONDERFUL sounding wenge/ash MTD that Tom is considering purchasing, the mighty Glockenklang, Mike' very nice Accugroove/AI rig, and some great stock that was at LDS... Eden, Aguilar, etc.
 
#47
KJung said:
There must be something in Chris's very thick finish that results in the tummy tuck area, with the exposed ash grain and the curves and angles, to be problematic (although my blonde one seems perfectly smooth).

.
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The problem is in the sanding, most likely in the final sanding, and carried over to the wet sanding after the finish is laid. Just not paying attention to small details. It happens sometimes, but should be fixed immediately, or his reputation is going to take more hits. Those waves could be block sanded out and re-polished in 30 minutes. It's not like it's too labor intensive, unless the colour is bled throughout the finish process, then it will have to be completely stripped and re finished.
 
#48
Musiclogic said:
The problem is in the sanding, most likely in the final sanding, and carried over to the wet sanding after the finish is laid. Just not paying attention to small details. It happens sometimes, but should be fixed immediately, or his reputation is going to take more hits. Those waves could be block sanded out and re-polished in 30 minutes. It's not like it's too labor intensive, unless the colour is bled throughout the finish process, then it will have to be completely stripped and re finished.
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Interesting. My guess is that the color is 'bled throughout' as you mention, since he has stated a number of times that he has had to start the finish process over on some basses from scratch. It sounds like he just needs to change his procedure to me. The problem is that when his finishes are done correctly, they are the best looking in the business IMO.

Also, the above would seem to explain why his 'colored' basses seem to exhibit this issue to one degree or the other, but not the 'clear' finishes (based on a very small sample size).
 
#49
It can be a problem with wide or open grained woods, you have to pay very close attention to avoid getting grain waves. As for his finishes being the best in the industry, I would have to say that it should be. Any custom builder should put 100% effort into every aspect of building and finishing. The first time I saw one of Michael Tobias's hand made instruments, I was floored at how incredible the finish was, same for my brothers first custom Alembic, both back in the early 80's. these were my inspiration to learn finishing, and become adept at it.

Pete Skjold does some nice finish work of those I have seen, and Fodera does some nice stuff too. Most all of the custom builders I have had the pleasure to meet, do impecable work, but even the best have off days. It still isn't an excuse.

Maybe you'll be at the Chicago GTG, would like to meet you one of these days.
 
#50
Musiclogic said:
It can be a problem with wide or open grained woods, you have to pay very close attention to avoid getting grain waves. As for his finishes being the best in the industry, I would have to say that it should be. Any custom builder should put 100% effort into every aspect of building and finishing. The first time I saw one of Michael Tobias's hand made instruments, I was floored at how incredible the finish was, same for my brothers first custom Alembic, both back in the early 80's. these were my inspiration to learn finishing, and become adept at it.

Pete Skjold does some nice finish work of those I have seen, and Fodera does some nice stuff too. Most all of the custom builders I have had the pleasure to meet, do impecable work, but even the best have off days. It still isn't an excuse.

Maybe you'll be at the Chicago GTG, would like to meet you one of these days.
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+1 to all of the above. I, of course, should have put a big IMO on the 'best finish in the industry'. What I meant to say, is that his finishes are the most aesthetically pleasing to me personally, with the very shiny, glossy but hard finish (it doesn't scratch up like the FBass finish, which is the closest looking finish I've seen to the Celinder). I really like that very deep color but also seeing the wood grain through the finish... very unique versus other finish executions. However, to your point, if he can't execute with total consistency, then time to change process!

+1 to hanging and meeting you sometime (and other Chicago TBers). I'm actually in Chicago playing privates all weekend. I'll pop into that GTG thread and see when you are all getting together. It's not a bad drive from Detroit!
 
#52
Just to chime in, I got to hear and play all three Celinders yesterday, and they are FABULOUS instruments. Ken's thoughts were right on the money. Each bass sounded a little different, but definitely in the same tone family. I made the comment that I don't know if I've ever seen three better looking basses, and I don't think anyone disagreed. Of the three, Ken's natural/maple Update, Tom's redburst update, and Ken's blue update, I think I was most taken with Ken's natural, with Tom's red a close second. I think I'm just a sucker for blocks and binding! It's really too bad Chris is apparently having some business, or at least communication problems, because these basses are the shiznit.
 
#54
kelbrihan said:
Hey, thanks for inviting me guys.:(
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Sorry, Britt. We actually brought your name up and wondered if you were going to show. I guess we got all presumptious and thought that you (and others) would get the notice for the hang on the Bowlus Bass Borg GTG thread (which refuses to die, and which we tend to use as a "NW Ohio/Southern Michigan TB Support Group").

I blame Ken Jung for not giving you the personal heads up. :D

Tom.

P.S.
I wonder how many bass shops had three Celinders on hand yesterday? ;)
 
#55
tombowlus said:
Sorry, Britt. We actually brought your name up and wondered if you were going to show. I guess we got all presumptious and thought that you (and others) would get the notice for the hang on the Bowlus Bass Borg GTG thread (which refuses to die, and which we tend to use as a "NW Ohio/Southern Michigan TB Support Group").

I blame Ken Jung for not giving you the personal heads up. :D

Tom.

P.S.
I wonder how many bass shops had three Celinders on hand yesterday? ;)
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Yeah. It's Ken's fault. :D
 
#58
burk48237 said:
Anthony, I would agree with you 100%. For an aggressive 70's J bass sound they are hard to beat. Ken got a couple of exceptional basses from Chris and the guys at Austin Bass Traders are great to deal with. I would consider a used one (fairly rare) in a heartbeat.

But, Chris MUST improve his customer service before I would order a new one (not n stock). The saga that Tombowlus went thru was inexcusable ( I had lunch with Tom, Friday). And the worst part was that the finish was not satisfactory on Tom's bass AFTER it arrived. As a Bass builder your word and your customer service have to be exceptional and Chris's is mediocre at best. Which is a shame because his product is very cool.
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I agree that the Celinder customer service was disappointing. I had 4 grand ready to drop in a Vintage 4 fretless and got no reply from Celinder or Glen at the time I was going to place an order. We were talking one day ironing out custom options and a price and the next day...poof.nothing....:bawl: I'd still love to own one because I too think that they quietly dominate the Fender bass clone territory. It's just a lot easier to get one somewhere else, namley New York Bass Works where they are making superb J-Bass clones WITH 6 STRINGS!!!!!!!:eek:
 
#59
HI

Had a 5 string a while back. Nice bass. Liked the neck. Finish was funky, preamp not my cup of tea. I emailed him to order a new pickguard and discuss the preamp. He emailed me right back. We discussed meeting at namm. When I emailed him back a bit later to discuss, never heard from him again. Sent 3 or 4 more emails, no answer. I was amazed. Too many great luthiers in the US that will bend over backwards for you and plenty in NYC(I'm only 3 hours away) I wouldnt go down the Celinder path again. Bad taste in my mouth. Its too bad. Cool basses

Rob
 
#60
Update on my situation. Glenn has been in touch with Chris, and Chris would like to have a chance to refinish it. But, given his extreme delays, I am a bit reluctant to be without my bass for so long. So, Glenn proposed that he order an identical bass from Chris, and when it comes in, I can either take the new one, or if I still prefer the old one, I can worry about having it refinished then.

Man, you can't argue with that kind of an offer from Glenn! :)

Now, the additional upside is that Glenn assures me that Chris is still around, still in business, still building basses, and that he expects him to be doing so for some time. So, that is good! :cool:

Tom
 

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