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The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

#2,721
Just got an email from a dealer here in the USA (Peter from SouthShoreMusic who has been very patient with me and really helpful during this entire process) and my custom Elwood is to arrive in Boston area from Germany today! 3 weeks ahead of the deadline.
Here is the sofa pic I received :hyper::drool:

IMG_4658.jpg


I will create a NBD thread in Bass forum once I get the bass in my possession.
 
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#2,722
TheRealGru said:
Just got an email from a dealer here in the USA (Peter from SouthShoreMusic who has been very patient with me and really helpful during this entire process) and my custom Elwood is to arrive in Boston area from Germany today! 3 weeks ahead of the deadline.
Here is the sofa pic I received :hyper::drool:

View attachment 3373203

I will create a NBD thread in Bass forum once I get the bass in my possession.
Click to expand...

yes , happens often. We often get them ahead of schedule.
 
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#2,724
Still lurking the Maruszczyk thread. :cool: I'm thinking as soon as my tax return gets here, it'll be time to get started on a Maruszczyk custom order.

Question: Is there a benefit to going through a U.S. dealer like South Shore or Fretspot vs. ordering directly from Adrian?

5sg.
 
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#2,725
fivestringgecko said:
Still lurking the Maruszczyk thread... I'm thinking as soon as my tax return gets here, it'll be time to get started on a Maruszczyk custom order!

Question: Is there a benefit to going through a U.S. dealer like South Shore or Fretspot vs. ordering directly from Adrian?

5sg.
Click to expand...

Well , US Dealer will deal with you in USD and quote you a price delivered to your door after importing for you and paying import duties in USD.

Having delt Maruszczyk worldwide from Philipines to Uruguay I don't really see a certain difference however for some people it's easier to deal "locally" and in their currency.
 
#2,726
Pierre Ganseman said:
Well , US Dealer will deal with you in USD and quote you a price delivered to your door after importing for you and paying import duties in USD.

Having delt Maruszczyk worldwide from Philipines to Uruguay I don't really see a certain difference however for some people it's easier to deal "locally" and in their currency.
Click to expand...

Good points to think about, thanks for your input @Pierre Ganseman!

5sg.
 
#2,727
fivestringgecko said:
Question: Is there a benefit to going through a U.S. dealer like South Shore or Fretspot vs. ordering directly from Adrian?
Click to expand...

On both of mine, I dealt directly with Adrian and it was really quite easy. He'll quote you in Euros, but given the fact that you need to wire anyway, the bank will be able to quote you accurately in USD (as will Google for the most part). Adrian is pretty responsive and very knowledgeable (obviously), but he's not verbose. :D
 
#2,728
fivestringgecko said:
Good points to think about, thanks for your input @Pierre Ganseman!

5sg.
Click to expand...

Sure. On the other hand for example , should you buy direct from Adrian (or me , or whoever) Europe to USA is 96 hours Door to door roughly (unless Wildlife and Fisheries inspects the bass for illegal woods , shells or whatever they feel like inspecting, Please note that can happen too if you deal with a US Dealer)

And you will just and only receive a bill from Fedex a few weeks later for import duties from your State (which sometimes may be nothing as far as I understood) but usually 5/10% on Declared value. So still a very easy process.

however yeah , some prefer to speak in their Currencies , have somebody in their own time zone (ya know what i mean) etc ... just a "comfort" thign really.

just my two cents
 
#2,729
TonyRo said:
On both of mine, I dealt directly with Adrian and it was really quite easy. He'll quote you in Euros, but given the fact that you need to wire anyway, the bank will be able to quote you accurately in USD (as will Google for the most part). Adrian is pretty responsive and very knowledgeable (obviously), but he's not verbose. :D
Click to expand...

yes he's not lol ... "yes" "no" "ok" "no problem" "order ready" ... that's about it...

Adrian knows his ***** inside out indeed.
 
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#2,730
How much do you have to pay Adrian up front to put in your order? When going through a US dealer I only had to front $300. Then I got a final bottom line, delivered to my door, bill when it got to the dealer. Made it really easy.
 
#2,732
More good input, thanks!

I'm not too worried about conversions and time zones... I've spent some time outside the U.S., so that doesn't really bother me.

gln1955 said:
How much do you have to pay Adrian up front to put in your order? When going through a US dealer I only had to front $300. Then I got a final bottom line, delivered to my door, bill when it got to the dealer. Made it really easy.
Click to expand...

@gln1955, who did you go through for a dealer? Did they do any kind of inspection/setup before they sent it to you?

I certainly wouldn't mind going through a U.S. dealer, but there IS a part of me that enjoys a direct connection with the person building an instrument as well, even if they "aren't so verbose." :) At the moment, I don't have a particular preference either way, just weighing options. Although, I do also wonder how much the $ markup would be through a U.S. dealer...?

5sg.
 
#2,733
fivestringgecko said:
More good input, thanks!

I'm not too worried about conversions and time zones... I've spent some time outside the U.S., so that doesn't really bother me.



@gln1955, who did you go through for a dealer? Did they do any kind of inspection/setup before they sent it to you?

I certainly wouldn't mind going through a U.S. dealer, but there IS a part of me that enjoys a direct connection with the person building an instrument as well, even if they "aren't so verbose." :) At the moment, I don't have a particular preference either way, just weighing options. Although, I do also wonder how much the $ markup would be through a U.S. dealer...?

5sg.
Click to expand...

i don't really know regarding Markup in the USA, you can easily check prices on Public-peace. Unless you want special options it's pretty much "all there"...

that configurator has made our lives easy. I get customers writing me / linking me their chosen "builds" and ask me opinions... if i see anything that makes my eyes twitche... or if it seems all good. Custom shop is custom shop , better to ask questions before ... once it's built it's there lol...
 
#2,734
Pierre Ganseman said:
i don't really know regarding Markup in the USA, you can easily check prices on Public-peace. Unless you want special options it's pretty much "all there"...

that configurator has made our lives easy. I get customers writing me / linking me their chosen "builds" and ask me opinions... if i see anything that makes my eyes twitche... or if it seems all good. Custom shop is custom shop , better to ask questions before ... once it's built it's there lol...
Click to expand...

Oh trust me... I've spent quite a bit of time in the Configurator for both the Frog and the Sputnik! That's still the tough decision! :D

I'm just putting together some final opinions/information before my tax return gets here. (I research everything!).

I sure appreciate your input!

5sg.
 
#2,735
fivestringgecko said:
Oh trust me... I've spent quite a bit of time in the Configurator for both the Frog and the Sputnik! That's still the tough decision! :D

I'm just putting together some final opinions/information before my tax return gets here. (I research everything!).

I sure appreciate your input!

5sg.
Click to expand...

yea man no problem. Can't blame you , since that configurator went online I ended up with 2 Frogs without really meaning to. I'm just a lost cause....

and yea just my two cents from trading worldwide....
 
#2,736
fivestringgecko said:
More good input, thanks!

I'm not too worried about conversions and time zones... I've spent some time outside the U.S., so that doesn't really bother me.



@gln1955, who did you go through for a dealer? Did they do any kind of inspection/setup before they sent it to you?

I certainly wouldn't mind going through a U.S. dealer, but there IS a part of me that enjoys a direct connection with the person building an instrument as well, even if they "aren't so verbose." :) At the moment, I don't have a particular preference either way, just weighing options. Although, I do also wonder how much the $ markup would be through a U.S. dealer...?

5sg.
Click to expand...

I went through Fretspot. They went over the bass and made sure it everything was to spec and shot a video for Youtube.

Obviously, a US dealer is making something on these orders, but my final bill seemed pretty much in line with what I originally estimated from the configurator, plus shipping and fees. I'm thinking you don't pay a huge premium when going through a dealer.

One thing that did happen with my bass is that when I saw my sofa shot, I noticed the P pickup was not what I ordered. A simple email to Donavan at Fretspot, and it was taken care of.
 
#2,737
fivestringgecko said:
I certainly wouldn't mind going through a U.S. dealer, but there IS a part of me that enjoys a direct connection with the person building an instrument as well, even if they "aren't so verbose."
Click to expand...

Just be aware of this: Once you have placed the order, you will be given an estimated build time. Other than that, you will hear nothing more. Neither will you be informed about a change in the lead time nor about the building process, let alone will you receive any pics of it (they just manufacture too many basses to give this type of service I guess). Then finally one day, out of the blue, you will receive the famous sofa shot. :)

I am not criticising this, as after 3 builds, I know how reliable Adrian is (also got the opportunity to meet him once), but it is important to know for new Maruszczyk fans. ;)
 
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#2,738
BassmanM said:
Just be aware of this: Once you have placed the order, you will be given an estimated build time. Other than that, you will hear nothing more. Neither will you be informed about a change in the lead time nor about the building process, let alone will you receive any pics of it (they just manufacture too many basses to give this type of service I guess). Then finally one day, out of the blue, you will receive the famous sofa shot. :)

I am not criticising this, as after 3 builds, I know how reliable Adrian is (also got the opportunity to meet him once), but it is important to know for new Maruszczyk fans. ;)
Click to expand...


Indeed , pretty much same for me. And yes ... about 500 customs per year. Imagine updating 500 ppl...
you need 1 or 2 more employees. so yes :-)
 
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#2,739
@BassmanM @Pierre Ganseman

I'm no stranger to that either... I have a couple customs from another builder with similar communication, except that each bass took about a year to finish. I know how busy custom luthiers can be and I'm a pretty patient guy, but thanks indeed for the heads up!

5sg.
 
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