• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hack Tech Damaged Fretboard...

#22
Bad work, very sloppy, did he actually try to stone those frets or hammer them down : (

The chips can be filled with expoxy and sanded flat in line with the board if it detracts that much for you, the same method as a (proper) guitar tech would use for filling chips in the board after a defret, it works well, you can blend the colour too.

I would be annoyed at that work, accidents happen but that ain't no accident.
 
#23
dtsamples said:
I want to ask him to buy me a new neck. Is that unreasonable? Needless to say, I wouldn't trust him to put a new board on.
Click to expand...

It is not unreasonable, although there may be other acceptable solutions as some people have mentioned above. I use a VERY good tech named Jack Romano in Conshohocken, which is probably not far from you if you are in Wilmington. If you would like his contact info, please let me know.
 
#24
dtsamples said:
I read an article where Sadowski said he charges $75 plus the price of strings (It's in the sticky, don't know what year it's from)
Click to expand...
1978?:rolleyes:

the dings themselves are irrelevant to the sound and playability; they're just an indicator that the work wasn't done by somebody who knew what they were doing.

replacing the neck is a whole different kettle of worms, and could leave you with an instrument that just isn't the same guitar as you had before.

whatever happens, i'd be inclined to correct the frets and steam out and fill the dings.
 
#25
Wow, that sucks! Sorry man...

I did my first fret leveling a couple of months ago. I didn't do any damage to the rosewood board. I don't honestly understand how any competent tech or luthier could do that kind of damage! It's like they were drunk or something.
 
#26
Jack Gretz said:
I have been repairing guitars and basses along with factory authorized repair for over 20 years.
The marks appear to be from the techs attempt to crown the frets. The file slipped off of the fret top and damaged the fretboard. I do not believe it warrants a new new neck but in most cases the dings can be fixed, He simply did sloppy work!.
Ask for a refund or ask for him to have the fretboard repaired, Do not go in with a attitude and start screaming as it just makes the situation worse. If you still have a problem ask to speak to the store owner, It should be resolved for you.
Click to expand...

With all due respect, I think he has every right to an attitude, with lousy work like that.

Too many businesses think they are doing you a favor just taking your money, maybe they think they should be compensated for the extra work of screwing your things up too.

I'd be steamed about that. None of these companies want to pay anyone who knows what the hell they are doing anymore, God forbid a tech wants 7 bucks an hour oh my Gawd, and they could really care less if the customer takes it in the shorts as another sucker will walk in the door they can do the same thing to.

That store and that tech are responsible and screwed it up, and frankly if I couldn't get them to take care of it, I'd see about filing a claim in small claims court and see what a judge has to say about it. You don't need a lawyer for this and it doesn't cost much to file and get them served. I'd do it just on the principle if they gave me attitude about it. In fact I have done it when people have done that to me. They ended up wishing they hadn't been jerks.

They aren't doing you a big favor taking your money and screwing up your stuff, you are doing them a favor giving them your business, a favor they haven't earned. American companies forgot this and are pretty arrogant these days, but see how cocky they are if you take them to court.
 
#27
scotch said:
Wow, that sucks! Sorry man...

I did my first fret leveling a couple of months ago. I didn't do any damage to the rosewood board. I don't honestly understand how any competent tech or luthier could do that kind of damage! It's like they were drunk or something.
Click to expand...

My guess is this one isn't competent, doesn't care, probably gets 6 bucks an hour and no bennies, and won't be there in 6 months. And the company is glad they don't have to pay much for his "services" so everyone is happy, except the poor customer who takes it in the shorts, but their philosophy is they are doing you just one HELL of a favor to even give you the time of day they just want your money and then see ya so hey, it's a great thing for them.
 
#29
Update:

I found a great tech in the area who said he could fix the damage. The original guy agreed to pay the cost. I just received my bass back yesterday.

The results are amazing. I just realized that I've never played a properly set-up bass before. The guy pulled all the frets, planed the fretboard, filled in the dings with the rosewood dust (still visible, but level), put new frets in, completely leveled and dressed them, filed the nut slots, shimmed the neck, straigtened the neck, and radiused the saddles. The instrument plays better than it did new (I'm the second owner, so that is an educated assumption).

My only regret is that the fretboard has lost a bit of its color. But I'll gladly trade that for the newfound playability.

To anyone who hasn't had a professional set-up: go get one. You don't know what you are missing. And these guys are right: $80 is not enough money. Go find a better tech.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I'll post pictures of the repair when I get home.
 
#30
dtsamples said:
Update:

I found a great tech in the area who said he could fix the damage. The original guy agreed to pay the cost. I just received my bass back yesterday.

The results are amazing. I just realized that I've never played a properly set-up bass before. The guy pulled all the frets, planed the fretboard, filled in the dings with the rosewood dust (still visible, but level), put new frets in, completely leveled and dressed them, filed the nut slots, shimmed the neck, straigtened the neck, and radiused the saddles. The instrument plays better than it did new (I'm the second owner, so that is an educated assumption).

My only regret is that the fretboard has lost a bit of its color. But I'll gladly trade that for the newfound playability.

To anyone who hasn't had a professional set-up: go get one. You don't know what you are missing. And these guys are right: $80 is not enough money. Go find a better tech.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I'll post pictures of the repair when I get home.
Click to expand...

I added emphasis to your quote.
 
#31
JLS said:
I added emphasis to your quote.
Click to expand...

Thanks, JLS, although that's not really what I want to be remembered for...:hiding:

It's true though. I've played a long time and have played lots of high-end guitars (though never boutique instruments, they're few and far between in DE!) but never played a factory set-up that compared to this. Didn't know what a real person's attention could do for an otherwise pretty good instrument! 'Pretty good' isn't going to cut it anymore!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back