Luthier screwed up my P bass

[funkmaster p]

Two weeks ago I dropped off my bass for modification by a well respected luthier in my area. He has always done a great job for me in the past. He is also a very nice human being, and although I have never seen him outside of doing work for me, I consider him to be a friend. He replaced the stock pickup in my American Standard P bass with an active EMG P bass pickup and I was delighted with the results.

This week, I brought the bass back to him to have an active EMG J pickup installed in the bridge position.

While at my gig this afternoon, I got a text from him saying that he was making good progress on the bass until he drilled through the back of the body. He said if I want to get another bass body, he will pay for it, or if I want him to look for one, he will do that.

There are many different ways to approach this problem. I will start by having a couple of stiff drinks first.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

"Stuff" happens.
Clearly not a good thing, but given it's on the back, hardly the end of the world.
I do think it was an accident, but he should be willing to come to some arrainegment with you.
It sounds like he has accepted responsiblity and feels bad.
I would imagine that he could fill the hole and hide it under a wider band on black, since it is on the edge of that part of the SB.

I too would have a couple of stiff ones.
Jameson and sparkling water, in my case.

 

[Door County Bass]

Two weeks ago I dropped off my bass for modification by a well respected luthier in my area. He has always done a great job for me in the past. He is also a very nice human being, and although I have never seen him outside of doing work for me, I consider him to be a friend. He replaced the stock pickup in my American Standard P bass with an active EMG P bass pickup and I was delighted with the results.

This week, I brought the bass back to him to have an active EMG J pickup installed in the bridge position.

While at my gig this afternoon, I got a text from him saying that he was making good progress on the bass until he drilled through the back of the body. He said if I want to get another bass body, he will pay for it, or if I want him to look for one, he will do that.

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There are many different ways to approach this problem. I will start by having a couple of stiff drinks first.

I’ll wait until you are finished with your drinks....wait for it....wait for it...HOLY CRAP!
I’m curious as to what the luthier was attempting to do when the accident happened. Any idea (his explanation?)?

 

[funkmaster p]

He just sent me another pic. Looking at the orientation of the drill hole, I'm thinking a battery box would be the simplest solution.

 

[mongo2]

That'll teach you to make a PJ.

If he can't repair it, take him up on his offer of another body.

 

[Jonithen]

I'm sorry to hear this happened. The guy is stepping up to make it right. If he can work the battery box option that might be a way to go - maybe give it a try since otherwise the body's shot...

I hope whatever happens you end up a happy person with a bass that sounds the way you want.

 

[chris_b]

If he's that good get him to fill the hole and respray the body. That'll make it an invisible repair.

 

[mongo2]

I’ll wait until you are finished with your drinks....wait for it....wait for it...HOLY CRAP!
I’m curious as to what the luthier was attempting to do when the accident happened. Any idea (his explanation?)?

From the position of the "oops" my SWAG is he was drilling the hole from the j pickup routing into the control cavity for the pickup wires.

 

[Jeff Scott]

happens. At least, unlike the usual story, he owned up to it and wants to make it right.

 

[musicman666]

Take him up on his offer for a new body! It sounds like you are dealing with a responsible person, thats good considering all the complaints some people have. Best of luck to you. Hope you get it worked out.

 

[FingerDub]

I think installing a battery box and doing the work without charging seems a reasonable solution.

 

[MegaSwing]

Think 'Freebies'. That's messed up.

 

[Jscriv]

Mistakes happen. Pick out a new body, let him pay for it and rebuild a new bass out of the thrashed body. That's the route I would take.

 

[Jscriv]

All in all, the immediate phone call and offer to fix it how you see fit would still win my future business.

 

[Spidey2112]

Two weeks ago I dropped off my bass for modification by a well respected luthier in my area. He has always done a great job for me in the past. He is also a very nice human being, and although I have never seen him outside of doing work for me, I consider him to be a friend. He replaced the stock pickup in my American Standard P bass with an active EMG P bass pickup and I was delighted with the results.

This week, I brought the bass back to him to have an active EMG J pickup installed in the bridge position.

While at my gig this afternoon, I got a text from him saying that he was making good progress on the bass until he drilled through the back of the body. He said if I want to get another bass body, he will pay for it, or if I want him to look for one, he will do that.

View attachment 3031755


There are many different ways to approach this problem. I will start by having a couple of stiff drinks first.

I 'liked' this, not because of your misfortune, but because you're maintaining your sense of humor about this, as best you can...

If I had done this to my own bass, I'd feel bad... I'm thinking he probably feels the same way, or worse, doing it to a client's bass...

... at least he fessed up about his mistake. I've experienced this type of mistake, where the tech/luthier prayed I didn't notice his mistake...

... silly rabbits.

 

[Coughdrops]

I think either repair solution is probably a good compromise. I personally would have it filled and touched up at that spot. But a battery box might be cool too. Down the road you could go with a full preamp. That is of course if you trust him with doing a larger mod to route out more wood. I agree that it's a bummer but in the grand scheme of things not a huge deal, particularly if he makes it right through either solution.

 

[Wood and Wire]

He obviously feels terrible about it, and is acting professionally by taking responsibility.

He's given you two very reasonable options, but regardless of whether he finds you a replacement body, or you elect to find the replacement ; he (or somebody) is going to have to go back to square one with all the modifications you want.

I would drop the guy a line, and arranged to go over to inspect the damage in person, and discuss all the options - which would include an invisible repair / restoration, or even routing out a battery box.

 

[Snaxster]

Two weeks ago I dropped off my bass for modification by a well respected luthier in my area. He has always done a great job for me in the past. He is also a very nice human being, and although I have never seen him outside of doing work for me, I consider him to be a friend. He replaced the stock pickup in my American Standard P bass with an active EMG P bass pickup and I was delighted with the results.

This week, I brought the bass back to him to have an active EMG J pickup installed in the bridge position.

While at my gig this afternoon, I got a text from him saying that he was making good progress on the bass until he drilled through the back of the body. He said if I want to get another bass body, he will pay for it, or if I want him to look for one, he will do that.

View attachment 3031755


There are many different ways to approach this problem. I will start by having a couple of stiff drinks first.

By your account, yes, this guy is a decent human being and is trying to make good on his honest mistake.

To others' suggestions, I will add that an advantage of choosing to repair is that it's a sure thing sonically.

If instead you choose to replace the body, there will be zero guarantee that the new body will sound good to you at all, not mention sounding as good as the original body.

Good luck!

 

[scuzzy]

that stinks, and I'm sorry it went awry. I am glad that they are owning it and taking responsibility. hearing so many horror stories of attempted cover up's or just not accepting the deserved blame, it's refreshing when people own up to mistakes and work to rectify in the best way possible.

enjoy your drinks. i'll have a few for you.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I am guessing that is the ground wire from the J pickup? I did that the first time I made a body. My concern on a new body is the possible added weight - as you know, not all bodies are the same, and that is where you could end up with a boat anchor. If you go the new body route, make sure you can pick the body.