Luthier with terrible attitude

[MCF]

Some days back there was a thread wondering why buy Fender Custom Shop. This is yet another reason for some of us; a degree of predictability in what we'll be getting and who we are dealing with

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Also, I've looked at David Certain's Facebook page. Not him. I don't see any negative posts about Talkbass on his personal page or on his business page, so put the pitchforks away. It's this kind of stuff that gives Talkbass its reputation and why the pros stay away.

 

[TripleDouble]

We're going on the OP's word here as to how stuff went down, and all that's being spread is negativity and eventually the person's name is going to get revealed and slandered. This is hen house gossip, and gossip is poison. Not feelin' it, we should all be trying flatwounds or something instead.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

We're going on the OP's word here as to how stuff went down, and all that's being spread is negativity and eventually the person's name is going to get revealed and slandered. This is hen house gossip, and gossip is poison. Not feelin' it, we should all be trying flatwounds or something instead.

I'd rather buy a bass from a neurotic luthier than try flatwounds.

 

[Dan Bass]

So I was on facebook and I am friends with a couple of luthiers. I saw the post of a particular luthier who had a picture of one of his basses that was on sale here in talkbass. He wrote, (I am paraphrasing) "please someone buy this bass of this guy, he has bought 11 of my basses and he eventually sells them not appreciating the work i put into these basses. He sells them on talkbass that website that is filled with non professional bassists who are just hobbyist. I dont want to deal with that customer anymore." I dont remember all the things he said but they werent nice.

This greatly surprised for several reasons. First of all this guy bought 11 bases from him so why get mad if he sells them. He took it as an insult that the customer would change his mind and sell the bass. Its not like he is returning them and asking for a refund. Two he basically called everyone in talkbass amateurs who don't have illustrious careers. I responded saying, "hey these types of posts actually hurt your business and reputation. You are also alienating everyone in talkbass, which to me sounds like terrible business practice."

This wasn't the only post of this nature he has written. Some times he says bad things about other luthiers while promoting his brand. I advised him that he comes across unprofessionally when he does that and that it only hurts his brand. He then said that other luthiers do it to and he needs to promote his struggling business anyway possible. I wasn't being disrespectful in my replies at one point I even offered to review some of his basses in my youtube channel which is growing (32,000 subscribers). I said that since he doesn't have a wooten or bona endorsing his basses that he needs to use customer word of mouth to help his admittedly struggling business. Other people replied telling him the same thing. He then wrote that we are not luthiers and so we are not qualified to tell him how to run his business. I then wrote that he could do whatever he wanted with his business but that his actions would only hurt him.

He then unfriend me and blocked me. Shocking to say the least. I did not disrespect him and i was genuinely trying to help him out.

Ok , you have to show me a full pic of one of his Basses, I would like to see the kind of Basses he builds, SHOW SOME.

 

[mikbrx]

You were literally minding someone else's business. I don't think there is a respectful way to do that

 

[hdracer]

Also, I've looked at David Certain's Facebook page. Not him. I don't see any negative posts about Talkbass on his personal page or on his business page, so put the pitchforks away. It's this kind of stuff that gives Talkbass its reputation and why the pros stay away.

This is why a persons professional and personal reputation is so important in business.
There is a reason that his name came up.

 

[Double E]

So I was on facebook and I am friends with a couple of luthiers. I saw the post of a particular luthier who had a picture of one of his basses that was on sale here in talkbass. He wrote, (I am paraphrasing) "please someone buy this bass of this guy, he has bought 11 of my basses and he eventually sells them not appreciating the work i put into these basses. He sells them on talkbass that website that is filled with non professional bassists who are just hobbyist. I dont want to deal with that customer anymore." I dont remember all the things he said but they werent nice.

This greatly surprised for several reasons. First of all this guy bought 11 bases from him so why get mad if he sells them. He took it as an insult that the customer would change his mind and sell the bass. Its not like he is returning them and asking for a refund. Two he basically called everyone in talkbass amateurs who don't have illustrious careers. I responded saying, "hey these types of posts actually hurt your business and reputation. You are also alienating everyone in talkbass, which to me sounds like terrible business practice."

This wasn't the only post of this nature he has written. Some times he says bad things about other luthiers while promoting his brand. I advised him that he comes across unprofessionally when he does that and that it only hurts his brand. He then said that other luthiers do it to and he needs to promote his struggling business anyway possible. I wasn't being disrespectful in my replies at one point I even offered to review some of his basses in my youtube channel which is growing (32,000 subscribers). I said that since he doesn't have a wooten or bona endorsing his basses that he needs to use customer word of mouth to help his admittedly struggling business. Other people replied telling him the same thing. He then wrote that we are not luthiers and so we are not qualified to tell him how to run his business. I then wrote that he could do whatever he wanted with his business but that his actions would only hurt him.

He then unfriend me and blocked me. Shocking to say the least. I did not disrespect him and i was genuinely trying to help him out.

I think you are referring to Roger from R-Bass or Roger Bass. This happened quite a long time ago...why in the world did you feel the need to bring it up now, after it as long since blown over? At least this exact scenario played out and can still be found in the R Bass thread. If I am wrong, let me know and I will delete my post.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

This is why a persons professional and personal reputation is so important in business.
There is a reason that his name came up.

Certainly, but this thread is connecting his name with things he never said or did.

 

[ldryder]

He needs to figure out - somehow - that a Talklbass hobbyist's money is just as green as the established pro's money.

I would suspect that many Talkbass hobbyists might actually have far more money to spend on expensive basses, and gear than many of the established, working professional bassists.

It would never make sense for any seller to decide who to sell an instrument to, based upon how the buyer of that bass chooses to earn their money.

 

[hdracer]

Certainly, but this thread is connecting his name with things he never said or did.

That is because of his reputation. The same reason that the other two names came up.
No one would ever think of Mike Lull or Rodger Sadowsky when they read the op.

 

[Mushroo]

Please don't name the luthier unless you can also provide a quote of what he said. But

That is because of his reputation. The same reason that the other two names came up.
No one would ever think of Mike Lull or Rodger Sadowsky when they read the op.

Except now they will, thanks to you... if someone does a forum search for "Mike Lull" or "Rodger Sadowsky" then they will see "Luthier with terrible attitude" among the search results. Can't this thread just die already??

 

[MultiScaleMale]

This is why a persons professional and personal reputation is so important in business.
There is a reason that his name came up.

Agreed, but TB tends to amplify things. Case in point, this thread.

 

[hdracer]

Agreed, but TB tends to amplify things. Case in point, this thread.

Oh for sure. Just like when someone gets a new bass and it has a minor defect. The whole company is bad and all of their basses are junk.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I don't think the OP is being negative. He didn't mention the guy's name and was respectful. To me he seemed more baffled by the luthier than upset. But I think this topic is worthy of discussion on TB. Luthiers' personalities are part of the bass playing experience. I've dealt with a few cantankerous shop owners and repairmen. Personally, I get a chuckle out of cranks with strong opinions. I feel like I earned something when they like me back.

 

[ole Jason]

I would suspect that many Talkbass hobbyists might actually have far more money to spend on expensive basses, and gear than many of the established, working professional bassists.

No doubt about that. There aren't many people getting rich playing the bass. The vast majority of professional bassists make less than the national average (around $55k last I looked).

I do kind of understand what the luthier is saying. He sees this customer buying stuff and immediately flip it and it seems like the buyer doesn't really appreciate the work put into the instrument. It's kind of like if you spent 5 years restoring a 1970 Chevelle and decide to sell it. Some 16 year old kid buys it, doesn't really understand the work you put in, and sells it three months later when he gets tired of it. All that said, I don't agree with the luthier but as someone who builds things I do understand why seeing his stuff flipped so quickly can be a little disheartening. Some luthiers build purely as a business and don't really care what happens to a bass once it is sold. Other guys get emotionally invested in the things they create and want to see them used and appreciated at a high level.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I would suspect that many Talkbass hobbyists might actually have far more money to spend on expensive basses, and gear than many of the established, working professional bassists.

It would never make sense for any seller to decide who to sell an instrument to, based upon how the buyer of that bass chooses to earns their money.

Definitely. Touring pros have pedal boards we would scoff at. Honestly, I probably played better when I had one bass and one amp. But where's the fun in that?

 

[pglaser01]

Agreed, but TB tends to amplify things.

But we can never agree if doing so is better with tubes or solid state...

 

[noeinstein]

It kind of amazes me how far people come just to screw themselves over politically. Like how long it must take to learn to build basses from scratch, and do it well. Then all the money you have to invest in the tools, and work space. THEN all the "small business management 101" book learning.... Just to throw it all out the window by being an asshat!

Not all his dogs are barking if he's gonna defenestrate his whole career like that.

"Defenestrate" - now that is some professional level word use!

 

[woodyng]

I'd rather buy a bass from a neurotic luthier than try flatwounds.

Thanks,that made me LOL....
But.....flatwounds can be cool,Mang.....