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Overly cautious/trust issues???

#23
Lawdawg01 said:
I recently decided to start playing after a few years hiatus. For motivation, I bought a new bass. I’m very happy with it, but after a few weeks I started noticing an electrical issue or two. Not sure if it’s grounding or shielding, but probably one or the other or both.

Anyway, my issue is that I no longer know anyone locally that does repairs. The bass is an old BC Rich with all the knobs and switches and about a half mile of wiring. Not something I’m comfortable leaving with the kids at the well known national chain stores. After searching online. I found a guy with a shop real close to my house. Kind of strange because I’ve lived there for over a decade and never saw or heard of the shop. Nonetheless, it’s a got an informative website and has outstanding reviews and testimonials. I’ve googled the owner and no mugshots came up.

I’ve emailed with the owner about my issue and he’s been real helpful and appears to be completely legitimate. They aren’t generally open on Saturdays, but he agreed to meet me tomorrow and look at my bass.

My concern is, if we agree to have it repaired, I’m going to have to leave it with him. It’s really new to me and wasn’t inexpensive, and I’ve never worked with the owner or his shop before. He seems to be very timely and responsive, but I’m still nervous about leaving it with, essentially, a complete stranger. In the past, I’ve always had a pre-established working relationship for awhile with anyone that did any work on my basses.

Anyone have experience with this type of situation? If so, how did you handle it? Of course, I wouldn’t leave it without getting a receipt with the serial number on it.

Any advice/suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
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Get a receipt with his name and some other ID, that describes your instrument and its brand, serial number etc.

Heck take a picture of it with him.

If that is a problem, find somebody else.
 
#32
Hey brother-- I haven't been there but have heard from my stepdad, who stopped thru there once (he plays blues guitar like his grandmother's making a pecan pie if he whips it up right, has for 40+ years, and used to be an ATL scene regular and WRFG radio show host, and he likes checking out small area shops btwn ATL and Ellijay). He liked it, and I've played & talked with him enough to know if he likes a place, it's the real deal.

It may be less of a wood-whisperer type luthier shop than an electric instruments shop, mind you, but on this side of TB, that's totally fine, and maybe better since we don't want a guy looking for a tone post or whatever when he should be soldering a treble bleed.


Also, I'm not into the POINTIEST of pointy instruments, but that one's got just enough points on it to be in the groove. That's a babe of a bass right there.
 
#33
DrThumpenstein said:
Looks legit to me. If there's a way to check the business license number and make sure it isn't just crafted out of somebody's imagination
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAVegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw3eb5qA4mOGx89ZQkN5RrgH

20190824_052955.jpg
 
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#34
Keep in mind this site is full of stickys warning people of businesses that completely flaked out and screwed a lot of people . Intentional or not .

My point is some had been around quite awhile with a good track record.

Just because his business license is fairly new means nothing to me. That could be a good sign. Still hungry and passionate about his business.

Tell him it's your only bass and you need it back ((that's correct IRRC)... so it doesnt become a " I'll get to that later job" I've even offered people a bonus,without being a smug prick,if they can turn something around for me. Call it an expedite fee.
 
#35
The issue the bass is having could be oxidation on or the plating worn off the jack. This can cause all kinds of noise, signal cut outs, losses of volume and missing parts of the tone. Swapping out a jack is a quick wait for it job.

If all that is true you could meet him and be with your baby too before you trust him with an over night stay. :)
 
#37
Lawdawg01 said:
In the past, I’ve always had a pre-established working relationship for awhile with anyone that did any work on my basses.


Any advice/suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
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All I have to add is that a pre-established working relationship has to start somewhere.
It seems like you've done your due diligence and not found any red flags.
Proceed, with caution.
Hopefully this'll be the start of a great new partnership.
 
#38
It's easier to set up a fake bass pic and talkbass thread than it is setting up a business listing so I think he better check on YOUR bonifides as a citizen bass owner and lawyer who may sue him. I think he's taking a big risk doing business with someone as...nervous as you seem to be...
(Fraud always announces it self in some way. You may make money defrauding Medicare with 100 assisted living residents, but on a few guitar repair jobs, there isn't enough revenue to take a risk. He may be less than the best, he may even be the best, but he won't be dangerous.)
I'm curious, how do you handle leaving your car for major repairs (or you just have new cars?) because it's about 60/40 odds an auto repair is being done correctly...auto repair fraud Does make economic sense because stuff does happen to obscure the truth and costs are high.

Also, you need a spare bass. It can be a cool bass too, just one you can risk taking out into the wild, like when Mr Mayhem is your drummer.
 
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