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WARNING: Jon Letts/Letts Basses
- Thread starter EddieG
- Start date
Conversely I paid in full for a bass from a small time builder I found on here a few years ago and received one of the finest instruments I've ever owned. Getting burned stings but on the whole I think most people are good and want to do the right thing.
I don't say that to discount any of the truly abhorrent things that have happened here, just sharing experiences.
This is a really terrible take, man. The fact that "life happens" isn't an excuse for most grown-ups. My landlord still expects rent the 1st of the month regardless of how much life is happening.
Indeed. Jon Letts is definitely at the extreme end of the spectrum, this kind of notoriety is only on a par with the likes of SGD and Huff.
Most luthiers seem to be decent guys who want to make a living doing what they love to do, and act with honour and decency.
When guys like Letts surface I think it's right to give them the opportunity to rectify the situation, and get themselves back on that track, and I hope I have accurately shown just how far I went in trying to let him do that.
He just wasn't willing to do anything to make that happen. Letts wanted to act how he wanted, and have no consequences for his actions at all. As you've seen, for him it's everyone and everything else's fault.
There are diagnostically predictive patterns of behavior to draw from here, it's not just making things up.
I'm a clinical psychologist by education and training, and I've known junkies in my personal life. I've seen that duck walk and quack more than 100 times, which is why I commented. And suggesting that, based on the behavioral evidence, there is a strong likelihood that a person has a serious drug problem is far less condemning than outing them as a common thief and con man.
I mean, I wouldn't be surprised, per se, I just don't think the speculation does anyone any good. We have ample documented evidence - including an admission from Mr Letts himself - that he took money from someone for a product and did not deliver the product. As such, it's quite easy to conclude that he's a thief.
I have had amazing experiences with small builders (Pete Hilton, Cliff Bordwell, Chris Stambaugh). I've also been completely and totally ripped off and quite literally had my money stolen (Harold Cagle / HJC Customs and another that I'm not quite ready to name yet). It's reached the point with me that I will only do business with big names like Fodera or Warwick, or one man shops when I can meet the builder in person or another builder I know and trust, vouches for them. In fact, getting ripped off by two different builders on three different builds was a contributing factor in me hanging things up for a few years.
What really gets me is you never...I mean never...see this kind of garbage in the classical stringed world, like violin and double bass luthiers, where a hell of a lot more money is at play. Head over to the DB forums and see how many WARNING threads there are. I just don't get it.
I get where you're coming from. And as I student of human behavior, my mind goes to trying to understand the "why." And when I see a common behavioral playbook for a specific reason "why," that's the first thing I hypothesize. And why is that relevant? Because if this likelihood is indeed true, it is predictive of future behavior if the victim has the notion that it might be worth his time or money to continue pursuing resolution.
I'm not trying to stir up a hornets nest, just offering an educated warning to the victim and any other potential victims.
V, I'm exactly the same now; I've been burned a couple of times, once by a luthier who actually lives in my town, and who I really honestly trusted after spending much time in his company. Consequently I'm also now at the point where I trust no one except people who are well-established and have proven themselves. It's a shame, because there really are some incredible luthiers out there.
It's a shame that people like Letts spoil it for them.
Go have a look at his videos and see if your comments are there. I posted the link to this thread on his videos, and he deleted every single comment.
I'm betting yours are gone too.
As usual, Letts is trying conceal his behaviour rather than address it.
And it's no better testament to why this thread had to be created, and really should be shared.
As a clinical psychologist then you should know better than making a "diagnosis" based off of a third party account of someone's (not witnessed directly) behavior. Suggesting that someone has a serious hard drug problem is indeed condemning and almost gives the person an "out." It wasn't me - it was the drugs!
What you are saying is hard drugs could easily be a mental health condition or simply a part of the con.
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Gah! I thought this was the last place I would hear Ted Ciamillo’s name uttered
OP, thanks for the warning and the sadly entertaining read. You may not get justice. But I hope you find some peace and the space to forgive and move on.
I've made deals with people like this, and years go by with excuse after excuse, and they still advertise that they are honest and good business folk?!?!?!?!
I had a repairman for my vintage tube stereo receiver, took 2 years for him to finally fix my stereo, and I had to wait outside his apartment for a couple of days before I cornered him and got it back, as he had blocked my phone number and all. I had to use my friend's phone to finally get a hold of him. He fixed it correctly, but TWO YEARS.
I had a repairman for my vintage tube stereo receiver, took 2 years for him to finally fix my stereo, and I had to wait outside his apartment for a couple of days before I cornered him and got it back, as he had blocked my phone number and all. I had to use my friend's phone to finally get a hold of him. He fixed it correctly, but TWO YEARS.
But-
Does ‘turning the other cheek’ include any provisions for forgiving the sin? Is it a suggestion to stop fighting (for yourself and for others?)
I believe not
Yes, that's the brakes guy! You must also see how similar this all is, right?
@EddieG Sorry for what you’ve been through. I think the most healthy thing you could do for yourself is move on and consider it one of the best life lessons you will ever receive.
@Jon letts The admission of being a croook does not lessen the fact you are one. The punishment you receive from living with the reputation you have created for yourself might seem harsh, but in your case, it also seems well deserved.
@Jon letts The admission of being a croook does not lessen the fact you are one. The punishment you receive from living with the reputation you have created for yourself might seem harsh, but in your case, it also seems well deserved.
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I do indeed.
Though sadly one need only to go to their LBS to find some thief of a ‘custom wheel builder’ peddling some shady wares… Too many names could fit that label
I've started three businesses; two failures and one success. I can see both sides to this matter, but am inclined to be more sympathetic to the O.P.
In all my dealings, a customer with a problem was always shifted to priority one. This usually resulted in working extra hours. increased expense, etc. The point being to get it done and resolved asap. The other point being to avoid such situations in the future, usually through better Q.C. This years-long saga reads like slow torture.
I'm guessing that the luthier wiped out his profit on the first mistake. That was a flag. The second time he screwed up had me wondering if his mind was really on the job. At this point it would have been easiest to give back the O.P.'s money, or the money minus materials, but I suppose he didn't have it, or would have done. Too bad. With a legal judgement against him, which he won't obey, he's a dead end.
O.P., I'm sorry this happened to you. I know you will be much more cagy in the future. I like to say "I learned a valuable lesson..." I hate valuable lessons! You've suffered a financial loss, but the time and emotional investment are a major price. I think this thread is cathartic, and I wish you well.
Good luck! Keep it legal.
Tom
In all my dealings, a customer with a problem was always shifted to priority one. This usually resulted in working extra hours. increased expense, etc. The point being to get it done and resolved asap. The other point being to avoid such situations in the future, usually through better Q.C. This years-long saga reads like slow torture.
I'm guessing that the luthier wiped out his profit on the first mistake. That was a flag. The second time he screwed up had me wondering if his mind was really on the job. At this point it would have been easiest to give back the O.P.'s money, or the money minus materials, but I suppose he didn't have it, or would have done. Too bad. With a legal judgement against him, which he won't obey, he's a dead end.
O.P., I'm sorry this happened to you. I know you will be much more cagy in the future. I like to say "I learned a valuable lesson..." I hate valuable lessons! You've suffered a financial loss, but the time and emotional investment are a major price. I think this thread is cathartic, and I wish you well.
Good luck! Keep it legal.
Tom
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