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Question about Luthiers

#41
Anyone remember those who downpaid/deposited Klein Electric Guitars Lorenzo German, for some Klein electric guitars, some 10 years back, and what happened?

He just vaporized from the earth, and got a lawsuit. Luckily people got tired of waiting, promising, waiting, promising. If you have enough order, demand surpasses supply and labour, you bet that the only thing is to go big business and more corporate. Hire people to take care of things you can't. Later on, claims of longtime illness, disputes with former owner Steve Klein, and so on escalated. The whereabouts of Klein Electric guitars (Lorenzo German) today is still shrouded in mystery, although Steve Klein has built a few squiggly new electric guitars again. Now, regardless of longtime illness, some communication would be just good business conduct. Pay back the deposit to people, rehab, heal and go healthy again before one tries to do any business at all again.

This is the hazards of one man shop luthiery. Unless you live in the vincinity, at least regionally and can visit the luthier in person, it's a roulette game. On the other hand, private one-man shop luthiers HATES when visitors comes around just for chatting. I do understand them. But if you had a deposit, and being told/informed that they're onto the build, you can make an appointment to see where it's at, and they'll gladly show you around. Which makes it a guarantee that it is really that - yours - bass or guitar they're building. You can detect things afterwards, even in full color and finish, that will still be there. And you can ask for small deviances from the norm and so on.
 
#42
Nev375 said:
As a cranky, kind of curmudgeonly "artist" type myself, that's my guess as well.

Although I do see the OP's point and feel he is entitled to some visual confirmation that progress is being made. It's only fair.

Truth be told, it might be that not a lot of progress has NOT been made since the last update because he has several other customers hounding his arse asking for photos of this and that and it has become a huge distraction. He might be wanting to scream at the customers "Do you all want instruments on time or do you want me to convert my shop over into a photo studio every other day and waste time and money doing something I'm not particularly good at?"

It's true that many of the best artists and craftsmen are poor at business and communicating. Art tends to favor the introspective introvert and business tends to favor the extroverts of the world.
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he has several other customers hounding his arse asking for photos of this and that and it has become a huge distraction. He might be wanting to scream at the customers "Do you all want instruments on time or do you want me to convert my shop over into a photo studio every other day and waste time and money doing something I'm not particularly good at?"

With the exception of his BEING good at taking photos, I had one of my builders E-mail me almost exactly that, along with an apology for being remiss in providing me a daily photo shoot of my build!

I told him no worries! Spend your time building my bass, not sending it to make-up w/ Kylie Jenner for the cover of "People"!:roflmao: (jk)

Of course I get the OP wanting pics, but I guess I trusted my builders to do what we agreed on, & was right!

I can imagine if someone bothered me-on stage, at my job, saying "We want a pic of the Rhythm Section before you start to Jam!"

Waidaminnit--They do!:roflmao:
 
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#44
C' mon waiting more than 2 years for any instrument, even if I paid in full? I may not be around in that time, and so may the luthier too. I would love to see a luthier putting a stop on orders, or downpayment for more than 12 months lead time. I don't know if something else has come up around the block which gives me incredibly more gas, probably that will have an equal lead time...;)

And yes, I have heard of ONE example here in Sweden, were a relatively well-off, and knwon, musician paid the luthier in full prior to building. It should take just 8 months. Alas, the luthier had a heart attack, and bit the dust, i e just died. No one else finished his builds, and all he got was a receipt, but he couldn't claim money back nor his guitar. They just said, "how can we know you haven't got it?" there were no lead time spec'ed on the receit. Pretty bad huh?
 
#45
Honch said:
The whereabouts of Klein Electric guitars (Lorenzo German) today is still shrouded in mystery,
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Rumor has it he changed his name, grew a lock of hair which would shame Fabio, and is riding a Harley in the lush mountainous region of Chile...

images(6).jpeg


... probably just a rumor, though.
 
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#47
Honch said:
C' mon waiting more than 2 years for any instrument, even if I paid in full? I may not be around in that time, and so may the luthier too. I would love to see a luthier putting a stop on orders, or downpayment for more than 12 months lead time. I don't know if something else has come up around the block which gives me incredibly more gas, probably that will have an equal lead time...;)

And yes, I have heard of ONE example here in Sweden, were a relatively well-off, and knwon, musician paid the luthier in full prior to building. It should take just 8 months. Alas, the luthier had a heart attack, and bit the dust, i e just died. No one else finished his builds, and all he got was a receipt, but he couldn't claim money back nor his guitar. They just said, "how can we know you haven't got it?" there were no lead time spec'ed on the receit. Pretty bad huh?
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Guess we'll be needing a "Death Clause" before any new build is ordered!:roflmao:
 
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#50
When I am building a bass for a customer I usually send many pics as I go. I think it helps them get a feel for how much work goes into building a bass by hand. I only build a few a year so I do have time to do that.
Some builders have odd business practices but ultimately the goal is to end up with an instrument worthy of the money you spent and the time waiting for its completion. It may be frustrating but I hope in the end you end up with an awesome instrument.
 
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#51
I see a potential red flag in progress.

Anytime you're having something custom built, and the person you're dealing with goes dark, or becomes unresponsive to a reasonable request (like an update report or some progess photos) that's never a good sign. It's an almost sure bet something is up. And it won't be anything you're gonna be happy about learning.

Suggestion: tell him you have the balance of the money owed - which you'll be happy to hand him when you pick it up. And then politely ask when you can pick it up. If he insists on receiving full payment in advance of delivery…well…that'll be the giveaway there's a problem you're not being told about.

Unfortunately, there's some people in the custom built music world that seem to go through life with a "business plan" that says: "You hand me a lot of money. And I'll build your ____ when I get around to or feel like it. In the meantime - don't bug me!" And these flakes, BSAs, and con artists are what make it look bad for all the legitimate builders out there.
 
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#55
Along with progress pics I had a builder send me a pic of his gallstone x-ray to explain a slight delay during the build. I certainly didn't ask or require that in a contract, but he did that to ensure I wasn't upset about the delay.


Too bad the bass was nothing more than firewood with batteries and frets, but I did appreciate the fact he sent all kinds of pics... :facepalm: :vomit:
 
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#57
What's the contract say? When I had major remodeling work done. I paid a deposit, limited by law to 15 percent and then paid weekly for work that I could see completed and invoices I could look at for materials as per a mutually signed contract. Twenty percent was held back until final walkthrough and all punch lists completed. The fact that so many of you pay upfront with e-mail agreements with luthiers who live hundreds or thousands of miles away is absurd to me. Any luthier who isn't successful enough or well organized enough professionally and financially to front for his own materials is of no interest to me.
 
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#58
Herrick said:
It would be a little awkward at this point to name the builder methinks. The OP should've been something like, "I ordered a custom bass from Herrick. I asked Herrick for a picture but he wouldn't send me one until the final payment is made. Does he usually do that? Kinda strange. Just wondering".
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I ordered a Herrick bass, years ago and am still waiting to hear if he started the build? You're not the same Herrick, are you? ;) :D
B-line said:
It's totally possible, but I can see why a luthier- prolly working on several builds in different stages-might object to taking photos when he's got his work cut out for him building, installing, finishing, etc.

These guys generally do it for the love & craft, sometimes considering all, they make very low hourly wages, for their skill level.
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I can cite the names of a lot of luthiers with many irons in the fire that regularly post photos of the work that is in progress.

Pops OB said:
I will give my response, but first you need to remit full payment.
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Consider the payment sent. ;) What's your response? :roflmao:
 
#60
benchpress11782 said:
Hello and thank you for looking. I have a complaint about a well known luthier. Can anybody tell me why this luthier would frown from sending photos of the bass? It has been almost a year and I was just told that it will be completed beginning of sept. That once I make final payment they will send me 5 photos of bass. Is it wrong that this pisses me off? Since I can't pay it off yet. Thanks friends
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I understand both sides but, after reading thread and learning that in-progress pics are the norm from many well-regarded builders, I side with you. Why is this guy so hung-up on not sharing? Maybe it would set him behind schedule if he did this for everyone? Regardless, you are the customer and the norm is progress pics. Big however... If he is as reputable as you imply (just by virtue of your selecting him, and his being well-known) then why are you worried? Try to relax. If he is reputable as implied, you're going to get a fine bass and you are worrying and causing drama for nothing. Yes, it's your right as a paying customer but chill for your own sake.
 
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