• 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.

South Florida Luthier?????

#41
Just an update. I still stand by the statement that Kaufman-Daenzer is the best place to get your luthier on in South Florida. However, Kevin's main tech, Holly now works in the "garage" at Guitar Center in West Palm Beach. I have had her and Kevin set up the same bass for me, and they both do very similar quality work. Holly has worked with artists like Kirk Hammet and Adam Clayton when she lived in the big apple. I would stay with Kaufman, but their turnaround time is weeks. If you need a good luthier who does awesome work and can turnaround quickly, give her a call.
 
#42
ajish4 said:
Call Dave Wilt....in Port Saint Lucie.

This guy is AMAZING. One man operation. Has done some of the BEST work bar none. He's not flasy, doesn't have a huge shop, and you MAY have to wait a few weeks if one of his regular customers has an emergency, but he WILL LISTEN to what you want. And when he does work on your guitar, he treats it like a one of a kind.

PM me if you want and I'll send you his phone # and address if you like. The guy does setups like none other. He REALLY takes the time to get your bass as you like it. He is the ONLY guy I let touch my Rickenbackers.

He can build you a custom bass or acoustic if you want, he'll do a straight set up if that's all you need.
Click to expand...

+100

Dave is a fountain of knowledge and ability.
 
#43
bassgod76 said:
Just an update. I still stand by the statement that Kaufman-Daenzer is the best place to get your luthier on in South Florida. However, Kevin's main tech, Holly now works in the "garage" at Guitar Center in West Palm Beach.
Click to expand...

That's good news. On more than one occasion I've had customers bring in instrument "set-up" from that GC and it looked as if they'd taken it to a "butcher shop" instead of a "garage".
:crying:
 
#44
I paid $150 for upgrading my pre-amp, changing pups and adjust the action w/ Alex Petronouv. Seriously, I'm kinda disappointed even though the turn around time is fast. The E string on my bass is buzzing on the bridge and I called him about it and he told me that it is my fault because I ain't taking care of my bass. It wasn't even buzzing when I let him mess around with the action!

Ohh and I told him I want a ramp for my bass too. I told him specifically that It should be radiused because a ramp that wasn't radiused is pointless and he didn't listen. He made me a ramp that is non radiused and looks like a piece of wood painted black on my bass. Emailed him about it and he denied that I told him that it should be radiused!

I should have just wait for Kevin Kauffman to work on my bass.. He worked on two of my basses and I'm really satisfied..
 
#45
Infidelity said:
I paid $150 for upgrading my pre-amp, changing pups and adjust the action w/ Alex Petronouv. Seriously, I'm kinda disappointed even though the turn around time is fast. The E string on my bass is buzzing on the bridge and I called him about it and he told me that it is my fault because I ain't taking care of my bass. It wasn't even buzzing when I let him mess around with the action!

Ohh and I told him I want a ramp for my bass too. I told him specifically that It should be radiused because a ramp that wasn't radiused is pointless and he didn't listen. He made me a ramp that is non radiused and looks like a piece of wood painted black on my bass. Emailed him about it and he denied that I told him that it should be radiused!

I should have just wait for Kevin Kauffman to work on my bass.. He worked on two of my basses and I'm really satisfied..
Click to expand...

Man that stinks! Well, you can always visit Holly at GC in WPB for the buzzing issue. She knows her stuff, and has faster turnaround that Kaufman right now.
 
#46
bassgod76 said:
Man that stinks! Well, you can always visit Holly at GC in WPB for the buzzing issue. She knows her stuff, and has faster turnaround that Kaufman right now.
Click to expand...

Plus I drove from Lake Worth to Deerfield just for him to work on my bass.. IMO Alex just wanna work on the basses that he make! I talked about him about his basses and he was smiling having fun telling story about his basses.

You have a PM too..
 
#47
Infidelity said:
Plus I drove from Lake Worth to Deerfield just for him to work on my bass.. IMO Alex just wanna work on the basses that he make! I talked about him about his basses and he was smiling having fun telling story about his basses.

You have a PM too..
Click to expand...

Oh, you're just down the road! My visits to Holly are few and far between since I live in Coral Springs.
 
#48
Kevin Kaufman used to have a shop about 10 or so blocks west of MAE for a couple of years back in the day on Davie Blvd. Great Tech. Lots of stories about Jaco and he always had some cool basses there....like those Turner Renaissance basses and lots of fine vintage axes! I have seen Jaco play many, many times since 1970ish and Kevin always had something new to share.
 
#49
mtb777 said:
Kevin Kaufman used to have a shop about 10 or so blocks west of MAE for a couple of years back in the day on Davie Blvd. Great Tech. Lots of stories about Jaco and he always had some cool basses there....like those Turner Renaissance basses and lots of fine vintage axes! I have seen Jaco play many, many times since 1970ish and Kevin always had something new to share.
Click to expand...

I hear you.. Kevin is a real genuine man! I remember picking up my 78' stingray from him and I told him 'Man! It plays like butter!' he gave me a smirk and said 'That's what I do'.
 
#50
Just an update guys.. I talked to Alex a couple times on the phone and he is asking for more money to make a radiused ramp and pretty much a complete set up for my bass.. I was so pissed so I didn't even bother talking to him again..

So I decided to work on my bass myself!

I checked the string spacing on my bass and found out that my strings are not equally spaced. That causes my E string to sit on the whole bridge saddle. Now the bass is buzz free and I didn't even have to deal with Alex about the problem. :hyper:

Seriously, I would recommend that if you guys are finding a professional luthier avoid Alex Petronouv if you can..
 
#52
chilliwilli said:
Has anyone ever tried the amp shop in wpb? They are close to me and seem good.

Holly left gc in 2012 and have seen two different guys since then. Don't know where she is at now.
Click to expand...

I've used the amp shop a few times. If the drive wasn't so far, I'd continue to use them. Not the fastest turnaround time (3+ weeks).

I miss Holly. I tried Guitar Hospital, but he takes way too long
 
#58
chilliwilli said:
Has anyone ever tried the amp shop in wpb? They are close to me and seem good.

Holly left gc in 2012 and have seen two different guys at gc since then. Don't know where she is at now.
Click to expand...

Kevin Kaufman is in Lake Worth, off 10th ave; I just dropped off my 78 P yesterday, he "promised" it will ready next Tuesday.

He is swamped, but if you can catch him I think you can do no better.

PM me if you want more details.
 
#59
Kaufman is by far my favorite. I know he's kinda shying away from bass work since he's focusing on live sound. He did the entire neck de-fret and epoxy on my Jaco tribute. I think he's the best, but I had to wait 6 months to get it. It was worth it and means a lot that Jaco's guy did my Jazz bass.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back