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the bebensee arrives today!!!!!!

#162
I've been following this thread since you started it. I am very deeply sorry for your losses. The only advise I can offer is this: Sell it, lose a bit of money, move on. I know it's the worst advise that someone can hear, but you don't need that kind of stress and tension in your life. KB will get it in the end. I know that alot of people have read this thread, and I know at least me, and a few others will spread the word. Between everyone who is outraged by this, we know alot of other musicians who are always looking for new gear. KB will not be the guy that they order from. I only wish that you weren't the one we had to learn from.
 
#163
Brad Johnson said:
I have a bass that I got back after it was AWOL for quite a while and, while I'll never forget the story behind it, the bass is great. Took it on a gig last night. It wasn't the bass' fault.
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More power to ya if you can do that! Unfortunately sometimes incidents like this are just fate and a lot of times once you get rid of this negative vibe bass another one 100 times better just falls right in your lap.

Regardless I hope the owner ends up happy with whatever he does! :bassist:
 
#165
Juniorkimbrough said:
More power to ya if you can do that! Unfortunately sometimes incidents like this are just fate and a lot of times once you get rid of this negative vibe bass another one 100 times better just falls right in your lap.

Regardless I hope the owner ends up happy with whatever he does! :bassist:
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I hear ya but ultimately... the bass itself is an inanimate object. I can laugh about my situation now, it was so ridiculous in hindsight. This situation is also absurd but it'll come in handy when story time rolls around.

"You think that's bad? This one time, at custom bass camp..."
:rolleyes:



Good luck on the sale.
 
#166
tribal3140 said:
Thanks to everyone for your wisdom and support!

The bass is en route to the low end for sale and I have been advised to still file suit after the sale for any loss.
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I certainly hope that you have taken numerous high-resolution pictures of the alleged flaws and poor workmanship prior to sending it to Brian. If you intend to sue for your "loss", you will have to prove that the bass was less than perfect and not built to spec. That will be difficult to do without the bass in hand.
 
#170
There are so many reasons to not file a case. First it will likely be required to be filed in California as that's where the business is.

Second is there is a good chance he'll lose, not because he's wrong but because small claims cases are like talking to a manager at a McDonalds, they just don't care. Also since he took the bass he could end up with a small offset of a few hundred as his judgement since much of the bass is useable. And collecting is nearly impossible especially from out of state.

Third if he wins it can be easily appealed and then he has to come back with lawyers to a real courtroom. (you don't really need a lawyer for an appeal, unless you want to win)

If this was a poker hand I'd fold.

Tribal, I'm sorry for your loss... and that ziricote should have been on the front ;)
 
#171
The Penguin said:
There are so many reasons to not file a case. First it will likely be required to be filed in California as that's where the business is.

Second is there is a good chance he'll lose, not because he's wrong but because small claims cases are like talking to a manager at a McDonalds, they just don't care. Also since he took the bass he could end up with a small offset of a few hundred as his judgement since much of the bass is useable. And collecting is nearly impossible especially from out of state.

Third if he wins it can be easily appealed and then he has to come back with lawyers to a real courtroom. (you don't really need a lawyer for an appeal, unless you want to win)

If this was a poker hand I'd fold.

Tribal, I'm sorry for your loss... and that ziricote should have been on the front ;)
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Well, if this was a poker hand, I'd play it. It the OP can truly demonstrate that the work is sub-par AND that it was not completed as specified, then he has a strong case. Furthermore, the simple threat of a lawsuit can often spur folks like KB into action, for fear of what a public condemnation of their work will do for their business. IMHO, this is EXACTLY the type of case the courts were meant to handle.
 
#172
SMASH said:
You make excellent points which I largely agree with, but for some people it'd be worth it just to cost the person who ripped them off some worry, time and money.

If that's the point though, I'd be looking into alleging some kind of mail fraud. Very big deal that's taken quite seriously especially if over State lines. Definitely a Better Busines Burea complaint. But doing nothing isn't taking it well or responsibly, IMO.

As for it being usable, that's not the point at all. If all he wanted was a usable bass then he could have spent $100 on a Rondo. He ask for and paid for some very specific features that he didn't get.
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+1
 
#173
this is how I explained it:

YOu buy and average bass its $800.00= average
I bought $4500+ bass thats 5.4x average

I have a tahoe its an average car (well almost)
its $55k

multiply that by 5.4

thats $300K

now if I bought a custom bently which is the same ratio of a higher model car to my "average" tahoe

and went to the dealer and all the windows were busted out + the paint job was the wrong color
and the salesman told me that "it runs fine and is still a bently"
I cold cock him then bury him in the desert, then sue.

Ken is telling me the same thing, it still plays nice and sounds great but its not what you ordered and has a few minor flaws
but its still a bebensee. So you will take it and love it and worship me as the god of all builders because I said so. remember "art and museums etc etc."
!!!
HA!
Someone will love this bass because it plays well and sounds good , just not me
bitter herbs over here.
 
#175
SMASH said:
You make excellent points which I largely agree with, but for some people it'd be worth it just to cost the person who ripped them off some worry, time and money.

If that's the point though, I'd be looking into alleging some kind of mail fraud. Very big deal that's taken quite seriously especially if over State lines. Definitely a Better Busines Burea complaint. But doing nothing isn't taking it well or responsibly, IMO.

As for it being usable, that's not the point at all. If all he wanted was a usable bass then he could have spent $100 on a Rondo. He ask for and paid for some very specific features that he didn't get.
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I'm the kind of guy who would take it to court also :) Of course that's where the cynicism comes from, I've had 5 small claims cases in California. If Ken came to court with a notebook listing phone calls and saying this is when we changed the specs he would likely win. My point is mainly fair or right won't come into play and I'm pretty sure you can't ask for travel costs or lost wages so coming out ahead is unlikely.

Maybe we could order some pizzas at his address? ;)
 
#176
beav2k2 said:
That's one bass that Brian will have I won't play! Bad karma's going to be all over that thing!
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I tell you though if you like narrow string spacing , it needs new strings that are the right scale but it rips!
just the darn pups are in the wrong place!
I like it tighter, I play exactly where the space inbetween them is.
I would play it, it plays well
the karma is on ken I dont think karma can follow inanimate objects (unless you wrote the grudge)!;)
 
#178
tribal3140 said:
I tell you though if you like narrow string spacing , it needs new strings that are the right scale but it rips!
just the darn pups are in the wrong place!
I like it tighter, I play exactly where the space inbetween them is.
I would play it, it plays well
the karma is on ken I dont think karma can follow inanimate objects (unless you wrote the grudge)!;)
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Yo Todd... is that you? Here are some pic's of the wood pieces you sent... primo stuff +10000 Many thanks!
Matt W.

Edit: Oh yeah... sorry your bass isn't what you expected. If you need assistance knee-capping, I know some people who know some people.

99ab9050.jpg


mattii002.jpg


MattWilliamsonBass014.jpg


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279350
 
#180
Man, I hate to hear this stuff. I could not not sleep at night if I took a customer's money and made them wait that long- not to mention all the other things! I gave up my entire Sunday last week because I commited to getting a bass finished up for a customer that gave me the whole amount up front. I told him it would be done by the end of this month( took the payment at the 1st of the month - this was a bass that didn't make it to the last NAMM and was just about done) and I had to stick to it, even though my wife had some plans for the day -she understood. Four years is just crazy/stupid to build an instument, unless it is for NASSA.

Bru
 

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