How long should a urethane coat take in a shop?

I'm getting pretty fed up.

First of all, let me state that I trust the shop owner, and have been going in and out of his shop for the last 20 years. I don't think he's trying to pull a fast one on me.

About three years ago, I wanted a P-Bass. Picked up a brand new Squier in a pawn shop for $100. Then I wanted to mod it out--I bought a set of Quarter Pounders, Hipshot-A bridge, tortoise shell pickguard, thumb bar, bridge and pickup covers, the works.

I decided after having all these parts that it would be better to have the local repair guy do it; the pickguard needed to be routed a bit because I couldn't find the exact right fit, I couldn't solder, and didn't trust myself installing the covers.

Since I was hurting for bread, I told him not to rush, as it will be rare that I get a job that people would rather me do on my jazz bass or my upright. Took him a year.

I should have learned my lesson with that, but as it came out, I asked him if he could leave it in for one more job. I wanted a urethane coat on the neck so it felt more like my Geddy Lee. I didn't like the feeling of bare wood on my hands.

That was two years ago. I live about 50 miles from there now, so I asked him a few weeks ago to have it ready around Christmas, since I'll be visiting then and am getting a lot of Motown gigs in January.

I made up the Motown thing, but the very next day after I told him that, I got a desperate call to do some Motown concerts last week. I did them on the Geddy, and did fine, and the bandleader wants to use me on more of the Motown shows. I've just been fasttracked to his #2 bassist.

I don't want to be a pest, but three years in the shop is too long. Would it be too much to call him tomorrow and ask to have the bass ready by Friday? He told me a few months ago that there's already a coat on it, and the bass is in pieces, so I assume he's already started.

He's already apologized for the time and told me the neck job is going to be done at no charge, so I've got that going for me.

TL;DR: How long should a urethane neck job take in a busy shop from start to finish? Could I expect it in a few days?

 

Yep. Seen it. The neck was in one place, and the body was in the corner about ten feet away.

It's not the first time. He's the best guy in the area, but takes FOREVER if you don't rush him. My Epiphone took him almost a year to instal EMG pickups. I forgot about that until I ended up waiting for the current bass.

Okay, I'll be pushing him tomorrow to have it out by Friday. I was just told that I'll be called soon to do a show with the original Marvelettes. I really don't want to do another Motown show with the Geddy Lee.

 

Oh? It really felt like I was dragging over wood grain. But would have polishing it made it feel like the poly on the Geddy Lee? That has a real high gloss finish on it. Oh, and I forgot...he was adding a yellow poly finish on it to give it a vintage look.

Good point. And looking into my past, I usually have the funding when an instrument is finished. Even if not, a gig comes by that will help me get it out soon. So I need to stop saying "no rush."

Yup.

Yeah, I'm going to call him today. Thanks for the help, guys.