Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Moonshine Bass?
- Thread starter Gare Boo
- Start date
Attachments
Last edited:
Thanks, appreciate it. Actually "awful" would be a step up...
Well this thread was a lot more educational than I'd counted on.
Lol the close ups do look pretty bad, from a distance it looks alright
Here is a more up to date explanation.
It's unfortunate that I have to expose Rick Wilson, owner of Moonshine Custom Guitars, but it is warranted.
I acquired the Coral™ trademark and contracted him to build 1 prototype and 12 production guitars for my new Coral™ Stinger model based on one of Vincent Bell's personal guitars he gifted me. We discussed the build, he gave me a price, I agreed without any negotiation and sent him a 25% deposit {$1,500.00} he requested. I also gifted him one of Vincent Bell's personal woodworking tools and some other "cool" items, and also gave him permission to build 1 bass for himself with the Coral Stinger logo. I did this as a gesture of goodwill to our deal.
Our agreement was I'd have the 6 completed guitars in 90 days, with the next batch of 6 to follow. I did insist he take time {2 weeks} to clear any current work out so he could work full time on this project. I did this because some of the delays with the prototype he said were because he had to work on other projects in lieu of mine. Seven months later, after many delays, excuses, missed deadlines, and just prior to shipping, he described these first two production guitars as "boutique instruments collector's will pay lots of $ for". To make matters worse he has $4,300.00 worth of parts/materials that I sent him for the project he told me he'd return right after he quit on me because I respectfully told him these first two production guitars pictured below were unacceptable.
The main reasons he gave was he should not have taken the job and he was on the verge of bankruptcy. He said it was his fault and wished me well and that he had nothing bad to say about me. Then he said he'd return my parts when he could "afford" to. That was a big red flag to me and I immediately offered to pay the shipping. He quickly changed his tune and NOW the issue is he was "too busy" taking care of his own affairs to worry about getting my stuff back to me. When I suggested since I offered to pay the shipping he had no reason to delay returning my property, his response was that he would send them when he was able to, which soon turned into he now intends to hold my parts based on his brand new theory I owe him an additional $1,500.00. I don't. I then mentioned involving his local PD. He instantly blocked me.
The guitars were 1k each {6k total} with me supplying most parts. I already pd. a deposit of $1,500.00 on the 6 guitar order, so bal. due upon completion of 6 guitars was $4,500.00. Since he quit after I complained about these first 2 guitars, not only do have to start all over again, I end up paying $1,500.00 for these first 2 bad guitars, PLUS he's demanding an additional $1,500.00 from me to get my stuff back. So, he now expects 3K for 2 bad guitars that were 1K each if PERFECT. Makes zero sense... I guess he thinks when you screw someone & quit like this you get to be made whole at the other guy's expense...
Since he blocked me and refuses to take responsibility my only alternative is to warn the guitar community and wait for the Tn. Atty. General {file number 21008081}and Asst. Chief Dorland of the White Bluffs PD to do their job, but the fact I'm in Ma. and he's in Tn. certainly complicates matters.
One side note, a few days prior to him shipping the 2 guitars he asked me to advance him 3K on the bal. due {$4,500.00} for the first 6 guitars. He explained he was in bad financial straits. I respectfully told him no, that after all the delays I'd experienced with him that I did not feel comfortable paying for guitars that were not completed. He hit the roof, told me I insulted him, and hung up on me. He then shipped the 2 guitars a day apart from each other.
He has only addressed this on his Facebook page where he controls the narrative. His defense has changed like the wind including "I rushed him", "I got what I paid for", "I faked the pics", "My expectations were too high", "I contracted for "unfinished" guitars", "that I did the touchup after receiving the guitars", "that I did the damage dis-assembling them when I received them", etc..
It's unfortunate that I have to expose Rick Wilson, owner of Moonshine Custom Guitars, but it is warranted.
I acquired the Coral™ trademark and contracted him to build 1 prototype and 12 production guitars for my new Coral™ Stinger model based on one of Vincent Bell's personal guitars he gifted me. We discussed the build, he gave me a price, I agreed without any negotiation and sent him a 25% deposit {$1,500.00} he requested. I also gifted him one of Vincent Bell's personal woodworking tools and some other "cool" items, and also gave him permission to build 1 bass for himself with the Coral Stinger logo. I did this as a gesture of goodwill to our deal.
Our agreement was I'd have the 6 completed guitars in 90 days, with the next batch of 6 to follow. I did insist he take time {2 weeks} to clear any current work out so he could work full time on this project. I did this because some of the delays with the prototype he said were because he had to work on other projects in lieu of mine. Seven months later, after many delays, excuses, missed deadlines, and just prior to shipping, he described these first two production guitars as "boutique instruments collector's will pay lots of $ for". To make matters worse he has $4,300.00 worth of parts/materials that I sent him for the project he told me he'd return right after he quit on me because I respectfully told him these first two production guitars pictured below were unacceptable.
The main reasons he gave was he should not have taken the job and he was on the verge of bankruptcy. He said it was his fault and wished me well and that he had nothing bad to say about me. Then he said he'd return my parts when he could "afford" to. That was a big red flag to me and I immediately offered to pay the shipping. He quickly changed his tune and NOW the issue is he was "too busy" taking care of his own affairs to worry about getting my stuff back to me. When I suggested since I offered to pay the shipping he had no reason to delay returning my property, his response was that he would send them when he was able to, which soon turned into he now intends to hold my parts based on his brand new theory I owe him an additional $1,500.00. I don't. I then mentioned involving his local PD. He instantly blocked me.
The guitars were 1k each {6k total} with me supplying most parts. I already pd. a deposit of $1,500.00 on the 6 guitar order, so bal. due upon completion of 6 guitars was $4,500.00. Since he quit after I complained about these first 2 guitars, not only do have to start all over again, I end up paying $1,500.00 for these first 2 bad guitars, PLUS he's demanding an additional $1,500.00 from me to get my stuff back. So, he now expects 3K for 2 bad guitars that were 1K each if PERFECT. Makes zero sense... I guess he thinks when you screw someone & quit like this you get to be made whole at the other guy's expense...
Since he blocked me and refuses to take responsibility my only alternative is to warn the guitar community and wait for the Tn. Atty. General {file number 21008081}and Asst. Chief Dorland of the White Bluffs PD to do their job, but the fact I'm in Ma. and he's in Tn. certainly complicates matters.
One side note, a few days prior to him shipping the 2 guitars he asked me to advance him 3K on the bal. due {$4,500.00} for the first 6 guitars. He explained he was in bad financial straits. I respectfully told him no, that after all the delays I'd experienced with him that I did not feel comfortable paying for guitars that were not completed. He hit the roof, told me I insulted him, and hung up on me. He then shipped the 2 guitars a day apart from each other.
He has only addressed this on his Facebook page where he controls the narrative. His defense has changed like the wind including "I rushed him", "I got what I paid for", "I faked the pics", "My expectations were too high", "I contracted for "unfinished" guitars", "that I did the touchup after receiving the guitars", "that I did the damage dis-assembling them when I received them", etc..
Unfortunate ?
You've been a TB member for 2 1/2 year yet managed just 8 posts , all regarding Moonshine Guitars.
It's not "unfortunate" ; it's a deliberate smear campaign !
Sorry to disagree... I call it letting honest musicians know he doesn't deal in good faith so they don't get ripped off. Too bad he's banned here, he could answer my claims.
Perhaps he should give his side where the same complaint is posted elsewhere where he is free to post and defend himself without being able to control the narrative. He hasn't because he has no defense. To sum up, you are entitled to your opinion. In this case you are wrong however. Peace
