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Hatchet job? (Ending edited and inching toward a postitive)

thanks for the comments all. It’s clear (a) I am not overly pissed off and (b) I need to ask for at least a full refund and at best a full refund and new body. He’s a small business so I’m sure it’s not going to be an easy ask but this bass is clearly ruined.

Well, the bass isn't completely ruined, but its aesthetics and resale value sure are. I don't know what you spent on the work, but I'd ask the luthier to either refund the amount you paid him OR the cost of an equivalent replacement body, whichever is more.
 
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I would ask him to refund the actual cost of that exact body from Fender, ask for that exact amount of money, and the hourly cost of a professional to assemble the instrument (and you get to keep that body as well). I would also ask for his explanation of not only what happened, but why he did not tell you. Absent some explanation of which I cannot imagine, he is incompetent and/or unethical.

Absent complete satisfaction, I would go to small claims court with both instruments, and as good pictures of a proper P/J as you can find. If you can find any articles on proper pickup placement, bring that as well. A judge is unlikely to be knowledgeable on instruments. It's gonna take some time. Until then, play the instrument. You may decide to keep any proceeds and live with it
 
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Seeing it, it really makes you wonder what he was using for a frame of reference, regarding the position of the route/pickup... I'd be pissed... did you pay with credit? I would dispute the charges, until resolved...
 
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I feel for you, no doubt it would have me fuming. I would bring it back and ask them if this looks right to him. He may feel guilty enough that he makes it right. If he can't come up with a solution I would have a thought or two ready, non that would incude him working on it.
 
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thanks for the comments all. It’s clear (a) I am not overly pissed off and (b) I need to ask for at least a full refund and at best a full refund and new body. He’s a small business so I’m sure it’s not going to be an easy ask but this bass is clearly ruined.

As a small business owner, and someone that has worked for other small businesses for most of my life, I will say that we all know that there is a chance that it will happen eventually. Sometimes you have to take a bath on a job in order to ensure that a customer ends up happy, or at the very least won't end up telling everyone in town about how you screwed up a job. We all make mistakes, the important part is owning up to them and doing the right thing. These kind of images going around the internet could ruin that business.

In my opinion there is no way that when confronted about this job that the person that did it can deny that there is a problem. It's very simple to mark the center line of whatever you are working on and use that as a guide. Thats carpentry 101.

And for the guy thats saying that all that matters is the sound, I say that the sound should be a given considering that good parts are used. The most important part is doing a pro job with good fit and finish. If this were my instrument I would not be able to play it in it's present state no matter how good it sounds because in my mind it would be tainted.
 

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