"Make an appointment" to get an invitation to "the castle"...my gawd. What an operation. 
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Frustration on my JERZY DROZD build. Please help me.
- Thread starter benchpress11782
- Start date
Ask for your money back and move on. I don't think they have been unreasonable, but I also don't think you'll ever be satisfied. IMO you can't really expect a custom handmade bass from a popular builder in 6 months. And for God's sake apologize to the woman. There is no reason to ever be nasty to anyone.
Fair enough. That's why I said "if" a lot.
look at it like this... if there are 10 - 20 basses in line before yours... How is he going to complete yours in 6 months? I know he builds maybe 2 dozen instruments a year. maybe less now that he doesn't have an apprentice with him.
It just isn't realistic to think Jerzy ( or any in demand boutique builder) could complete a custom build in 6 months, and would even be considered if one did their research.
It just isn't realistic to think Jerzy ( or any in demand boutique builder) could complete a custom build in 6 months, and would even be considered if one did their research.
and I'll guarantee you, if you order a custom Fodera, it won't be completed in 6 months either. It will go in the batting order, and won't get into production for months also.
and I won't even mention the wait for a Darren Huff bass LOL
Right now Fodera is about 10 months for a custom. If you want a standard, you're not more than 6 months out. I ordered my E6Std last month, will have it late April.
But Fodera has done a ton of work to get build times down and have things very organized. Not at all the same as a "one-man shop". I think Ken Lawrence is about 2.5 years at this point for a custom. Rob Allen has stopped doing customs and instead will just do "standard" models (but all no doubt with gorgeous top woods).
Quality takes time and/or money. But even bags of money can't rush certain aspects of a build. Always a balancing effort for builders.
I don't get it. Why put up with that kind of treatment when there are plenty of pro builders that do great work and don't treat customers like crap? Look in the Luthier's Corner Builder Showcase at great work from builders that make great basses without all of the drama. Look at the amazing work by ACG, Lorita Basses, Marleaux Divas, etc.
And all of the silly egotistical positioning drivel on his website. For example from the "Castle" section: "And that is why the master Jerzy Drozd, who reads the landscape from which he nourishes and concentrates it between the shades of light and space of the Castle, makes instruments like the one who writes poems; Poems of wood and rope, that love that topology - the human itself - that denies the substantial and solitary unity; Which embraces everything, because music is promised, like the slow and trembling bride of life."
I'd rather have a bass, not a Harlequin romance novel. Ok, feel free to flame...
And all of the silly egotistical positioning drivel on his website. For example from the "Castle" section: "And that is why the master Jerzy Drozd, who reads the landscape from which he nourishes and concentrates it between the shades of light and space of the Castle, makes instruments like the one who writes poems; Poems of wood and rope, that love that topology - the human itself - that denies the substantial and solitary unity; Which embraces everything, because music is promised, like the slow and trembling bride of life."
I'd rather have a bass, not a Harlequin romance novel. Ok, feel free to flame...
What kind of treatment? It seems to me the OP has unrealistic expectations. Name the "plenty" of pro builders that can build a custom bass in 6 months please.
The poor communication as described in the original post. Mr Drozd "The master" seems to have plenty of time to write syrupy, self promoting poetry on his website. Maybe a little more building and answering email and a little less time with the website.
I just wanted to add a few thoughts to this thread. I've had a few custom basses built from various luthiers over the last 5-6 years. I've had some great experiences, been quoted 6 months and it's been absolutely bang on, basses perfect (thanks Brian Low End) and i've had builds run a little overtime which is fine but i recently had a number of issues with a well established US luthier who shall remain nameless. I had a 9 month quote on two basses, both took 2 years, it was obvious that priority customers kept getting put ahead of me, i'd get update photos then nothing for a very long time, then a little more would be done of them.....but worse was both basses ordered were 33" 6 string, (one fretted one fretless)....well the fretless accidentally turned into a 5 string...yep...that really happened. I was extremely patient right through the builds, took it on the chin and backed out on the 5 string...
I also had another luthier who took around 12 months longer than the quoted time and he was extremely hard to get any information from, that was a painful experience but basses arrived beautifully made, a lot of love was put into them.
Now the reason why i won't mention these luthiers by name is because they're actually making amazing basses and are doing their best to promote their business with high profile players while filling orders for the little guy (me in this case). These guys make bugger all money for the amount of time they put in, it's a musicians wage....with more hours involved.
If you're unhappy with the lack of communication let them know. One way to get their attention is to say you want to finalise the specs on this order so you can look at "possibly" doing a second build....that generally works.
Good things come to those who wait....you'll be hearing that a lot the next couple of years but i think with JD it's true.
I also had another luthier who took around 12 months longer than the quoted time and he was extremely hard to get any information from, that was a painful experience but basses arrived beautifully made, a lot of love was put into them.
Now the reason why i won't mention these luthiers by name is because they're actually making amazing basses and are doing their best to promote their business with high profile players while filling orders for the little guy (me in this case). These guys make bugger all money for the amount of time they put in, it's a musicians wage....with more hours involved.
If you're unhappy with the lack of communication let them know. One way to get their attention is to say you want to finalise the specs on this order so you can look at "possibly" doing a second build....that generally works.
Good things come to those who wait....you'll be hearing that a lot the next couple of years but i think with JD it's true.
My first Alembic Series II took two years in '79. My impression at the outset was 10 months waiting time. I grew very anxious and waited nonetheless. It was worth it, every second. You will be happier to just let go of it and forget it. That is, of course, if you trust who you are dealing with.
In fairness (remember fairness?), we have only heard one side of the story here.
That is true and I acknowledge that. And I think his basses are beautiful pieces of art and would love to have one! My take on this after reading the website and seeing the OP was that exclusivity was being "enhanced" by a bit of poor treatment manipulation during the purchasing process. It reminds me of a sales guy I worked with that made his customers wait unnecessarily to see him because he was "so good" and they needed to appreciate that - and to a degree it worked. To be fair, like you said I don't have both sides. But it's not an uncommon sales tactic in luxury goods. See, I'm not that big of a jerk after all. 
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i don't know about bass builders, but any known acoustic guitar builder can't start your instrument within six months. your deposit holds your place in line, and some builders have a several year backlog. also a lot of those builders aren't the most organized when it comes to emails as they work a lot more than 40 hours a week - usually double that - and the rest of their time is spent decompressing.
Last edited:
madbass6
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- Jan 13, 2009
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She prefers emails ? but you dont! & youre the customer! Total BS!
To late to cancel ? i mean what ever happened to the customer is always rite thing !! i bet if you email them that you're considering canceling the order cuz customer service sucks, you're no longer comfortable or interested on the project cuz lack of trust and comunication, some one wil call you rite back!
Just a little thing to consider: I'm dutch, and although my english is fine (I work for a Dutch/German/French/Italian company), I still prefer mail most of the times. Espécially when the conversation is getting difficult. Writing gives me time to think, rephrase, reconsider, even check phrases on the internet prior to sending. When things get emotional I have trouble expressing myself properly at the pace of a regular verbal conversation.
Please beware of your advantage being a native speaker, even in writing. You're faster and it's easier for you. If she's Spanish, there's a chance she is having trouble dealing with the anger you expressed in an early mail, postponing the reply each day looking for the right words. I can assure I have felt like that more than once. Jerzy's web page, with the 'syruppy' language was probably written by someone else. It's not fair to expect the same kind of flawless english in regular communication from a foreign company.
She probably has to deal with Jerzy too. Maybe he's generally unclear with his estimations, maybe he's running into problems with some other basses, annoyed, whatever. I have three custom instruments, and what I learned from that process is that it's a hard life with loooooooooong hours. Customer care is often done by the luthier himself, or by no more than one other employee.
Please beware of your advantage being a native speaker, even in writing. You're faster and it's easier for you. If she's Spanish, there's a chance she is having trouble dealing with the anger you expressed in an early mail, postponing the reply each day looking for the right words. I can assure I have felt like that more than once. Jerzy's web page, with the 'syruppy' language was probably written by someone else. It's not fair to expect the same kind of flawless english in regular communication from a foreign company.
She probably has to deal with Jerzy too. Maybe he's generally unclear with his estimations, maybe he's running into problems with some other basses, annoyed, whatever. I have three custom instruments, and what I learned from that process is that it's a hard life with loooooooooong hours. Customer care is often done by the luthier himself, or by no more than one other employee.
