I just need to vent a bit and go on a rant—no names necessary, as it’s not important to single anyone out.
Last September, I traded a Sadowsky jazz bass with another user here on TB (a good guy, by the way). The deal went smoothly, and in exchange, I received a 5-string jazz bass that he had custom-ordered from a small luthier shop on the West Coast.
The bass was in great condition—mint, passive, and exactly as described. I had plans to convert it to an active preamp, a few days in I was playing it at home and I noticed the neck had a slight bow, I decided to adjust the truss rod. I grabbed the key, gave it a quarter turn, and… snap. I heard a small cracking noise. Sure enough, the truss rod had broken. A small piece came off, and I noticed tiny dots or "bubbles" in the steel rod. Was it a weak point, a defect, or just cheap material? I’m not sure.
Now, I’ve been playing bass for 30 years, owned over 20 basses, and I’ve never experienced a broken truss rod. I know it can happen, but it’s never happened to me—not even on some of the super cheap basses I’ve owned (Ibanez, Yamaha, etc.) or the high-end ones (Alembic, Sadowsky, you name it). I’ve adjusted necks in terrible shape before, but this was a first.
I reached out to the previous owner (not his fault—the bass was fine when he shipped it), and he suggested I contact the luthier who built it. I did just that. I called the luthier, explained what happened, and he apologized for the broken truss rod. He agreed to build me a brand-new neck for a couple hundred dollars and said he’d start working on it as soon as I shipped the damaged one back to him (he needed it to match the bass pocket size and align the holes). I shipped the neck in October, and the waiting game began.
After a month (despite him saying he’d start right away), he told me he wouldn’t build a new neck but would instead repair the existing one by installing a new truss rod and fingerboard. He promised to send pictures of the premium fingerboard material he planned to use, but those pictures never came. Another month passed, so I reached out again. He said he was “ready to start working on it” but had some questions for me. We talked on the phone, and he assured me he’d finish it ASAP.
By December, I texted him again, and he said, “I’m working on the neck and will finish it next week so I can get ready for NAMM.” More weeks went by—still nothing. No pictures, no updates, nada. In January, I texted him once more (I’ve been incredibly patient), and he said he was too busy preparing basses for NAMM but promised to finish my neck right after the show. So, I kept waiting.
On January 30, he texted me saying he was back from NAMM and that my neck would be finished the following week. Finally, some progress! Or so I thought. Two more weeks passed—still nothing. No pictures, no tracking info, no updates. Yesterday (February 12), I reached out again, and the excuses started pouring in: “I’m too busy, I’ve been sick, my shop burned down, the dog ate my homework, aliens invaded us…” You name it.
So, what’s the end of the story? See the attached image. This is what he’s sending me back: an unfinished neck. Now I’m stuck with it and will have to find a local luthier to finish the job, which will likely cost me at least $600 to do it right.
Shoutout to the TB user I traded with—he even offered to take the bass back and return my Sadowsky. I said no—it’s not his fault. He also offered to help cover some of the costs, but again, I said no—it’s not his responsibility.
The moral of the story? Your word reflects your character. Don’t make promises you can’t keep or underdeliver on your commitments. As for me, I’ve learned my lesson: I’ll never buy from a one-person shop again. I’ll stick to reputable brands and builders who stand by their work and deliver on their promises.
To the Luthier who built this bass, you are a nice guy, but a terrible business person, your word is as weak as the truss rods you put in your basses....
Thanks for lending me your ears..... laters
Last September, I traded a Sadowsky jazz bass with another user here on TB (a good guy, by the way). The deal went smoothly, and in exchange, I received a 5-string jazz bass that he had custom-ordered from a small luthier shop on the West Coast.
The bass was in great condition—mint, passive, and exactly as described. I had plans to convert it to an active preamp, a few days in I was playing it at home and I noticed the neck had a slight bow, I decided to adjust the truss rod. I grabbed the key, gave it a quarter turn, and… snap. I heard a small cracking noise. Sure enough, the truss rod had broken. A small piece came off, and I noticed tiny dots or "bubbles" in the steel rod. Was it a weak point, a defect, or just cheap material? I’m not sure.
Now, I’ve been playing bass for 30 years, owned over 20 basses, and I’ve never experienced a broken truss rod. I know it can happen, but it’s never happened to me—not even on some of the super cheap basses I’ve owned (Ibanez, Yamaha, etc.) or the high-end ones (Alembic, Sadowsky, you name it). I’ve adjusted necks in terrible shape before, but this was a first.
I reached out to the previous owner (not his fault—the bass was fine when he shipped it), and he suggested I contact the luthier who built it. I did just that. I called the luthier, explained what happened, and he apologized for the broken truss rod. He agreed to build me a brand-new neck for a couple hundred dollars and said he’d start working on it as soon as I shipped the damaged one back to him (he needed it to match the bass pocket size and align the holes). I shipped the neck in October, and the waiting game began.
After a month (despite him saying he’d start right away), he told me he wouldn’t build a new neck but would instead repair the existing one by installing a new truss rod and fingerboard. He promised to send pictures of the premium fingerboard material he planned to use, but those pictures never came. Another month passed, so I reached out again. He said he was “ready to start working on it” but had some questions for me. We talked on the phone, and he assured me he’d finish it ASAP.
By December, I texted him again, and he said, “I’m working on the neck and will finish it next week so I can get ready for NAMM.” More weeks went by—still nothing. No pictures, no updates, nada. In January, I texted him once more (I’ve been incredibly patient), and he said he was too busy preparing basses for NAMM but promised to finish my neck right after the show. So, I kept waiting.
On January 30, he texted me saying he was back from NAMM and that my neck would be finished the following week. Finally, some progress! Or so I thought. Two more weeks passed—still nothing. No pictures, no tracking info, no updates. Yesterday (February 12), I reached out again, and the excuses started pouring in: “I’m too busy, I’ve been sick, my shop burned down, the dog ate my homework, aliens invaded us…” You name it.
So, what’s the end of the story? See the attached image. This is what he’s sending me back: an unfinished neck. Now I’m stuck with it and will have to find a local luthier to finish the job, which will likely cost me at least $600 to do it right.
Shoutout to the TB user I traded with—he even offered to take the bass back and return my Sadowsky. I said no—it’s not his fault. He also offered to help cover some of the costs, but again, I said no—it’s not his responsibility.
The moral of the story? Your word reflects your character. Don’t make promises you can’t keep or underdeliver on your commitments. As for me, I’ve learned my lesson: I’ll never buy from a one-person shop again. I’ll stick to reputable brands and builders who stand by their work and deliver on their promises.
To the Luthier who built this bass, you are a nice guy, but a terrible business person, your word is as weak as the truss rods you put in your basses....
Thanks for lending me your ears..... laters
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