Trouble with a custom build

[mcnach]

Disturbing reading some of that, so your looking at a new neck or fretboard and a bridge moving as well as fixing any surface marks left behind after that? That is quite a screw up, I make basses (as a hobby) but if I was the builder I would be offering you a new build not a repair for that, forever more it will always be a bodge job. OK we all make mistakes but the wrong scale neck and he/she didn't notice? I think you need to be very firm in dealing with the builder to get this sorted otherwise I suspect you will get strung along in a very out of tune manner if you'll excuse the terrible pun

why new neck/fretboard? where did you get that from?

All we know so far is that the OP is not able to intonate the bass properly. Perhaps the bridge needs moving slightly. Maybe. Why talk of neck?

EDIT: Ignore the above... for some reason I read this before earlier messages, I skipped a whole page. Ooops. I get it now

 

[mcnach]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the responses. At this point, after a very sobering conversation with my local luthier, I'm going to try to get this sorted out with the builder. If we can get squared up one way or another, I'll be a happy camper. This turned out to be a very weird experience so far but I'm hopeful we can get to a good place with a minimum of drama. I hate to be vague but I don't want to light the guy up or anything, I bought this bass because I loved what I was seeing and I'm still hoping I can get one done up right.

I've had enough of my own bad days to not give someone a hard time if they can turn around and make it right. I just really hope I get to come back here and show something off.

That sounds sensible.
I hope you get the issue sorted soon!

 

[MD Stingray]

Can you post pictures? Actual measurements, like several TB’s already asked?

Too vague for me.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Subbed.

 

[Christine]

why new neck/fretboard? where did you get that from?

All we know so far is that the OP is not able to intonate the bass properly. Perhaps the bridge needs moving slightly. Maybe. Why talk of neck?

EDIT: Ignore the above... for some reason I read this before earlier messages, I skipped a whole page. Ooops. I get it now

Skipping a page is never good

 

[baileyboy]

... bridge is in the wrong spot and I can't intonate it as is... Notified builder, no response but benefit of the doubt it's a holiday here in the US... Suck it up and eat a repair bill on a new build?

I would give the builder a week to respond. If no response, send one more notification and wait one week. If no response, I'd blast the builder on TB and everywhere else, just sticking to facts so to not slander.

I definitely would not "suck it up" and pay another luthier to fix. I would not pay shipping to send it back either. Builder's mistake, he needs to own it or invite customer wrath.

 

[Jonithen]

The last time something kind of sensitive came up somebody decided to become an internet detective and involve themselves so unfortunately I'm staying vague until I get a resolution without running the risk of having someone dive in and poison the well.

If the side dots were simply placed where they would have been had this bass been fretted, I could run with it - that's how my US Precision deluxe is since its a defret. That wouldn't have required my luthier to spend that much of his time with the ruler trying to figure out why each dot was placed for a varying scale with a seeming random tolerance ranging from .2 to .6 inches for each interval. The octave inlay wouldn't be placed in a position offset from where the bridges' placement suggested it should be. He showed me where the markers would be if they were placed either on the position for the notes as one would expect for a fretless instrument or for a fretted instrument as we both thought of that. The man was exactingly thorough in the hopes that when I presented the info to the builder we'd get to a resolution faster showing that there's something wrong and this isn't just bank account blues.

The bridge saddles on D and G reached the full extent of movement and the intonation on both is still unacceptably flat.

I'd like to give the builder the benefit of the doubt that this was just a really bad day. I politely sent our findings, it's a holiday so I'll just expect to hear back soon.

 

[Northfear]

No string change, it has what it shipped with. Hipshot toploading bridge.


Took it by my trusted local guy, we did some measurements he helped me understand the issues and I'm going to collect my thoughts, take a day to breathe, and reach out to the builder. Here's hoping he makes it right one way or another.

If that's an A style bridge, you might want to try shorter intonation screws first. Saddle intonation range is somewhat limited with the default ones (1.25" i believe) and they simply can't move all the way back. Had the similar intonation problem with 2 lower string on my bass. Replacing screws with 1" ones fixed it.

 

[mcarp555]

I can understand you don't want to rat out the builder before he has a chance to respond, and it's a holiday in the US and all. But after three pages so far, you've ignored every request to post the actual measurements. Simply saying the saddle screws are maxed out really doesn't explain very much. Staying vague about the situation doesn't jibe well with posting the problem in the first place. You say there's a problem, you haven't explained it very well and won't go into specifics, but ask for advice. For all we know, you and your builder don't really know if there is a problem or not; maybe the two of you are just confused. I'm not trying to be rude, but it's a bit much to ask us our opinion when you can't (or won't) provide hard numbers to back up your claim.

 

[bolophonic]

It was a holiday on Wednesday. Pretty much everyone I know was back to the grind on the 5th.

 

[Jonithen]

I can understand you don't want to rat out the builder before he has a chance to respond, and it's a holiday in the US and all. But after three pages so far, you've ignored every request to post the actual measurements. Simply saying the saddle screws are maxed out really doesn't explain very much. Staying vague about the situation doesn't jibe well with posting the problem in the first place. You say there's a problem, you haven't explained it very well and won't go into specifics, but ask for advice. For all we know, you and your builder don't really know if there is a problem or not; maybe the two of you are just confused. I'm not trying to be rude, but it's a bit much to ask us our opinion when you can't (or won't) provide hard numbers to back up your claim.

Instrument described as 32" scale.

Bridge:. Placed appropriately for 31.625" scale. None of the position markers are. Either the bridge is wrong or the neck is, or both.

1st dot: placed for 27.2" scale
2nd dot: placed for 30"
3rd dot: 30.6"
4th dot: 30.9"
5th dot: 31.1"
6th / octave: 31.77"

Fingerboard inlay for octave appears to have been attempted twice, visible signs of it being moved.

D and G saddles maxed out intonation over 25 cents flat. Luthier advised .5" move towards nut to allow proper intonation with current set and sufficient saddle movement to allow for string changes if I decided to use something else down the road. That would not address innaccurately placed position markers.

As I said, the man was thorough and I hope the builder will recognize there's a problem here.

 

[gln1955]

Fingerboard inlay for octave appears to have been attempted twice, visible signs of it being moved.

Sounds like the builder knows damn well this bass is screwed up. He tried to fix the most obvious sign and hopes you won't notice or care about the rest of the mess.

I really hope he makes good on this.

 

[Jonithen]

Sounds like the builder knows damn well this bass is screwed up. He tried to fix the most obvious sign and hopes you won't notice or care about the rest of the mess.

I really hope he makes good on this.

If that was the only issue it wouldn't be the end of the world. I wouldn't be wowed but if everything else was on then the only mention would be me saying "whatever" about it to the guy who we all know would point it out in the NBD thread I was hoping to have posted.

If he makes me whole with either a great bass or the cash back so I can get one somewhere else I'll consider it no harm done in the grand scheme and move on with my life. Based off this experience leaning more towards the refund side but either would do me fine.

 

[JRA]

what does a "custom build" like this cost?

 

[BassJuju]

...it's going to affect how I feel about that instrument for as long as I own it.

If it were me, this would be enough to send it back and ask for a full refund now. I feel you will always have this bug stuck in your head. It's happened to me and I still don't play the instruments to this day. They might get sold one day. That's just me.

 

[BassJuju]

On a fretless bass intonation should be so that if you press down a perfectly tuned string with a credit card edge right at the octave marker dots, it is in tune.

This may be the single best tip I get all week!! I am so checking that tonight for more than one reason.

 

[jeff62]

Presumably you paid with a credit card? I believe you typically have 30 days to dispute the charge. After that, you’re out of luck and relying on good will between the two of you to fix.

Point being, make sure you’ve been made whole before the time is up. That means the bass is fixed and back in your hands and no cash out of your pocket.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

The builder should have done it right in the first place, so this is not your problem (you know what I mean) and he should make it right for you without hesitations.

 

[Nev375]

I tried to run some quick simple calculations from the OPs given figures to see if there was any consistency in the amount of offset.

I thought perhaps he was placing dots at the center-finger position instead of fret position. But I'm not sure what the builder did wrong.

I cannot imagine any builder releasing something so obviously hosed. I'm not sure who or what to believe or where the misunderstanding/error lies.

UPDATE:_____________________________

Added calculations for the OPs given scale length for bridge position at 31.625.

Results are much closer and consistent with a .25" offset for half the width of a finger. However they still aren't perfect.

 

[obimark]

Hey TB

Not intending to name and shame, just polling for opinions. Long anticipated build came in. Looks ok but discovered bridge is in the wrong spot and I can't intonate it as is.

Notified builder, no response but benefit of the doubt it's a holiday here in the US.

I've got a guy that can put the bridge where it should be. I don't feel too happy about popping money down for something that should have been handled before it arrived.

The repairs would probably be less than shipping it back. I'd feel like a bit of a jerk doing that to a smallish builder. If the dude covers the cost of the fix I'd just shrug it off and move on with my life. I'm hoping he steps up.

What do you think? No mercy, if it doesn't rock back in the box and see what CC company will do? Suck it up and eat a repair bill on a new build?

ask the builder to cover the repair cost.