FRAUD ALERT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM7hZ_mG2kM
Always wanted to design and build a Danelectro inspired guitar. My name is Doug Tulloch, guitar fanatic since the late 1970's. Been in the business since then also. I began collecting Danelectro instruments/amps in the 1980's, and ultimately authored the Bible on the subject, Neptune Bound, The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide. I also co-wrote the 1st book ever written on the subject, Guitars From Neptune. A few years ago I acquired the Coral™ trademark with the intentions of resurrecting the brand. An opportunity I'd never dreamed I'd have. I contracted Rick Wilson of Moonshine Custom Guitars in White Bluff Tn. to build a prototype Coral™ guitar that was to be based on one of Vincent Bell's personal guitars that was in my possession. As I understood he worked at Gibson and Gruhn Guitars repairing instruments, and later opened his own repair shop. I paid him in full for the prototype build, in advance, as well as supplying pickups and other essential/special components for the instrument. It was to take 90 days. It ended up taking 1 1/2 years. When delivered it had some incorrect specs., and the fit/finish was a bit rough, but I figured after all it was a "prototype", and aside from me having to pay a local luthier $180.00 to level/dress the frets to get it playing perfectly, I took everything into consideration and accepted it as delivered. When I brought these issues to his attention {such as, he changed the inlay design, added neck binding, & a fancy fretboard end without consulting me} and {the fit/finish was off}, and the obvious delays {he used Covid as an excuse through much of that year}, I quickly received his assurances the two batches of six production models each that followed would be "perfect" and on time. I took him at his word. This is what Rick Wilson @ Moonshine Custom Guitars sent to me as one of the 1st two production models. He described it to me one week before shipping it as a "Boutique instrument that will be purchased by collectors and they will pay big money for them." This is a guy who has been custom making instruments for 35 years! After working with this guy for nearly 2 1/2 years, accepting all his apologies and excuses, I told him respectfully the guitar was unacceptable, and his response was to brake our contract and quit like a CHUMP. He then went on Facebook and threw a pity party for himself telling everyone he was "in a dark place" and "was questioning whether he was a "fraud" talking about his mental health issues without revealing ANY details. His reply ending our association because I brought up these HORRID guitars he sent was "Doug, I am done. I should have never agreed to do this project at the price I did and that is my fault. The amount of money I have lost working on these has come close to bankrupting my company." He later said I WAS responsible for his business going bankrupt. Oh, did I mention a few days before shipping the guitars he called me to ask for another $3,000.00. When I told him I cannot pay for something that has not yet been built/delivered, and didn't want to wait two more years he hit the roof. Now, he's holding $1,000's of $ worth of my stuff that was shipped to him to build these 12 guitars {cases, wood, parts, paint, etc.} telling me that he's broke, going bankrupt, and currently cannot afford to ship my property back to me, but he will "when he can". Quote: "At this time I am broke and overdrawn at the bank (not that is your problem) so I cannot afford to ship these items at this time but I will do so as soon as I am able." I immediately offered to pay the shipping, and his story changed once again. Quote: "As I mentioned yesterday, I am in a financial crisis. my priority is getting some money in to take care of my family. AS you made very clear to me, my financial situation is not your problem. Likewise for me. I will get to it when I can." That was his answer. Can you imagine treating a customer like that after you illegally break a contract because you screwed up and you have property of his your spitefully not returning? Tried to be classy despite his foolish illegal behavior and despite that he has now blocked me on Facebook cutting off communication despite me trying to really work with him to get my stuff back without going public/legal. He is a spiteful, vindictive fraud of a guitar builder with zero integrity. There's lots more to this story, and I have proof of everything. Hate to see anyone else get ripped off. I'm already in touch with his local PD.
He can be reached @:
[email protected]
*Or @ 615-948-5339
