I'm not a luthier, and may be missing something, but it's baffling to me that I can make an appointment for a specific date and time with my doctor, dentist, barber, mechanic, etc., but every luthier I've ever contacted needs to hold my bass for 3+ weeks before doing any work. I recently had my Spector in for a pickup swap, and the shop held it for two months (after giving me a 3 week estimate) before telling me that they were too scared and recommending I go elsewhere. Sure, things can go wrong and cause a project to take more time than originally estimated, but so can dental procedures, car repairs, etc. But I've never had to leave my car at the shop for a month or two before getting an estimate. What am I missing?
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My dentist and mechanic manage somehow
- Thread starter DCErik
- Start date
I have. Car was in an accident and repair shops were backed up a month on doing estimates and several months on completing repair. They ultimately had my car for 4 months from drop-off to pick-up. I did not want to lose my place in line (or drive a car with a broken headlight/hood/bumper), so I left it there. Could have tried another shop, but car was a year old and I wanted to use the manufacturer certified body shop.
Luthier/guitar tech (yours sounds like they might be more tech than luthier) keeps your guitar because you can leave your guitar. If they did not keep it, then they would have people not show up or show up late to appointments. The appointment model would cost them money. I typically leave instruments for 1 to 3 weeks when I need work. True for guitars and horns. They get to it when they can.
Not defending the shop you went to. Certainly sounds like they should have known it was more work than they wanted to do from the start. The turnaround time you were quoted is not uncommon. The turnaround time being missed by an extra month was hopefully communicated along the way.
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The person I deal with locally is awesome. He tells you he is currently two weeks out, gives you a date to drop it off (two weeks down the road), then calls you two days after dropping it off to say that he’s done.
That may be out of the ordinary for guitar techs, but it’s the way he’s always worked.
That may be out of the ordinary for guitar techs, but it’s the way he’s always worked.
Fair enough, but to my mind collision repair shops are more like the ER than a doctor's office or barber shop. I wasn't looking to have a broken headstock repaired or anything; just a new preamp and pups. Pretty easy to know in advance what parts are needed and how long it ought to take, barring anything unforeseen happening. I could have been playing it in October and November while waiting for the call to bring it in as @MIMike manages to do. People are late to or miss appointments with doctors and barbers, too, but they manage to make it work.
Yeah, depending on the preamp (if it's pre-wired like Audere Classics or Bartolini) it could take less time, but if it was just a pickup swap I couldn't see it taking that long or getting a "We're too scared" appraisal.
As for time, yeah...there can be a lot of surprises in the work process, but an estimate or appraisal for scope of work shouldn't take THAT long. I've had amp repair shops with far shorter turnaround times. Sorry to hear it took them that long to chicken out on the pickup swap...how handy are you with a soldering iron?
As for time, yeah...there can be a lot of surprises in the work process, but an estimate or appraisal for scope of work shouldn't take THAT long. I've had amp repair shops with far shorter turnaround times. Sorry to hear it took them that long to chicken out on the pickup swap...how handy are you with a soldering iron?
My luthier asks ''when do you need it?'' If you say ''today'', he deals with it immediately or in 2-3hr's time. Meanwhile you get a coffee in his kitchen, browse his wood collection, ongoing projects, chat with him, his apprentices and other customers. I love visiting my luthier, really. Same one for 12 years and 4th boutique bass from him on the way^^
Sounds like your luthier should consider raising their prices. That could reduce the backlog.
There’s a lot of variables at play here and it’s hard to know which specific ones are the primary driver. Is this the only luthier/tech in the region? I’m guessing the number of luthiers vs number of mechanics or dentists per person in the region isn’t the same. Real apples to apples would be
1. The ratio of luthiers to string instrument owners.
2. The ratio of mechanics to car owners.
3. The ratio of people with teeth to dentists.
Also, the number of people who demand working cars or teeth and the related economics doesn’t mirror the demand for working instruments.
Lots of luthiers are one-person operations, whereas mechanics and dentists commonly have staff to assist and handle admin tasks.
Certainly, in a perfect world you’d have a luthier who knows the job hours required in a day and the ability to schedule accordingly. But the reality of the business and the people in it doesn’t allow for such things to be common.
There’s a lot of variables at play here and it’s hard to know which specific ones are the primary driver. Is this the only luthier/tech in the region? I’m guessing the number of luthiers vs number of mechanics or dentists per person in the region isn’t the same. Real apples to apples would be
1. The ratio of luthiers to string instrument owners.
2. The ratio of mechanics to car owners.
3. The ratio of people with teeth to dentists.
Also, the number of people who demand working cars or teeth and the related economics doesn’t mirror the demand for working instruments.
Lots of luthiers are one-person operations, whereas mechanics and dentists commonly have staff to assist and handle admin tasks.
Certainly, in a perfect world you’d have a luthier who knows the job hours required in a day and the ability to schedule accordingly. But the reality of the business and the people in it doesn’t allow for such things to be common.
This is why I watched a couple YouTube videos and learned to do most maintenance work and modifications myself. Saves time and money and if I don’t like the work I only have myself to blame.
Same goes for fermenting food! I realized I loved kraut and kimchi and was spending too much money on it. DIY is empowering.
Same goes for fermenting food! I realized I loved kraut and kimchi and was spending too much money on it. DIY is empowering.
I think sometimes repair shops take on more work than they can process since guitars don’t take up a huge amount of space.
I used to work with a repair guy who was super nice, but he would always prioritize easier fast money jobs…that is unless you told him “I need it done in a week.”
All the more reason to learn how to do most repairs yourself.
I used to work with a repair guy who was super nice, but he would always prioritize easier fast money jobs…that is unless you told him “I need it done in a week.”
All the more reason to learn how to do most repairs yourself.
I do the exact same thing. Here’s the thing, I know I’m not 2 weeks out, but I always anticipate something coming up (even though it never does). Keeps my customers and my boss happy.
This is exactly why I learned how to setup and do most maintenance on my basses myself. Got tired of waiting weeks to get my bass back for what in my mind should be relatively quick/easy tasks for a pro. I'm talking things like setup, fixing pokey fret ends, nut replacements, etc.
Must be nice.
Most of my doctor appointments need to be booked 3-6 months out. Otherwise I get to sit in the emergency room.
I normally get two teeth cleanings per year. Last year the dentist's office called me to cancel the day before my appointment, because they had to do training. They said they couldn't get me back in for 6 months. I told them I would find someone else. Researched another dentist and they were also booked 6 months out on cleanings. I set up an appointment.
Months later the first dentist called and said they needed to change the date of my appointment. I had not made an appointment with them, so I mistakenly thought it was the second dentist and said okay. However, I was a bit confused because the date they wanted to cancel did not match the date on my appointment card. I didn't figure it out until the day of the appointment when they called and asked if I could come in early because one of their technicians had to take off early. When I realized what was going on, I told them to cancel.
My upright bass got a crack last week, I got in with my luthier, and he was done with it yesterday.
Most medical and dental appointments in my area are booked out well beyond a year.
Most medical and dental appointments in my area are booked out well beyond a year.
As far as music shops go, you might be dealing with places where the "luthier" has other responsibilities. So sales come before fixing stuff.
But it's revolting how many people simply turn up whenever the hell they feel like, regardless of their booking times or dates, so we're constantly scrambling to make it work.
In the medical world that I inhabit, people expect high standards.
But it's revolting how many people simply turn up whenever the hell they feel like, regardless of their booking times or dates, so we're constantly scrambling to make it work.
It is. 90% of maintenance is not more complicated than what one can tackle with YouTube, patience, and a good tool kit. I'm still learning to work on strings, much the same way I've become a proficient bike mechanic over the years.
That said, it is unlikely that I'll be doing my own dentistry work any time soon.
Maybe post this again in the Luthier section. Some of them are pros and maybe they can give their perspective.
Yeah, me either… we’re all drooling, mouth breathing, knuckle daggers. Guess bass players and mechanics really aren’t that different…
And I’m extra screwed cuz I’m both
