What Annoys You Most ???

[Jisch]

On the flaw thing: it bugs me too. If you see one, think about how it got there and how you can change things so it doesn't happen again. I can't say anything I've made iis flawless, but every instrument gets better.

 

[earlysecond]

Jishch- Gonna say that many of my flaws are the result of proper planning. I love to dive right in. Just goofed a process order/workflow up last night and have to work around. Now working around is a valuable learning tool but does not always create the results I want.

Back closer to topic. . . .

Have any of you completed a custom which nobody ever paid final payment for or picked up. What did you do with it then?

 

[Beej]

Back closer to topic. . . . Have any of you completed a custom which nobody ever paid final payment for or picked up. What did you do with it then?

It was a custom driftwood-topped body and I hung it on my shed wall. I later took some pics of it and complained to friends/family about the situation one time just to vent a little, and then one of my friends said he wanted it, so I gave it to him. It was a custom body to go with the original commissioner's strat parts, so my friend just disassembled his strat, put it all together and has played it ever since. Probably about 20 years ago? '96 or '97?

 

[earlysecond]

That is a cool story Beej, sorry you got hosed though!

 

[Beej]

I learned a few things: I'm not doing this professionally and need a career (got one); don't accept money until it's finished (that way, they haven't lost anything if they decide the custom process is not for them, and I don't owe them anything until they've accepted what I've built and paid me for it);build what I want, the way I think is right, if they want something that I think won't work, say sayonara...

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I have a good relationship with all of my customers. All are very loyal, easy-going, and appreciative. However, I have one customer now that is annoying the hell out of me! Long story short, I'm re-tolexing his marshall cab, but it took a lot of time to research what was needed (didn't like the old glue, screws would be better than those rivets, white piping?, etc...), and he wanted to save as many parts as possible to save money, but that wasn't possible for most of this because the parts on it were plastic and broken or very rusty. My time line has been a little off; I was sick with allergies for a while, and I've been busy trying to find a new full-time job (I do instrument repairs as a side hobby thing in my spare time, almost like a part-time job outside my full-time job). He didn't give me the cab until two months ago, he didn't decide on the parts until a month ago and I didn't receive them until a couple weeks ago, and it's also a lot of work. The original glue is very thick and gooey. After the delay, I told him that this will take longer than anticipated but it won't add to the cost/quote I originally told him. I also told him that I can only work on this on the weekends and that I'd keep him posted. He was cool with that. Right now the cab is 90% stripped and clean, I just have to strip a few edges, then I cut the new tolex and glue it on, screw in the new parts, put the speakers back in and it's done. BUT he's been texting me every few days with "how's the cab?" since he dropped it off and it's annoying. At one point I told him "if you are not happy with the progress, please pick up your cab and take it somewhere else", I know for a fact that IF he took it anywhere else it would cost him way more and it will take longer. That seemed to shut him up a bit, but I'm on this thread today because he texted me again asking about it today. I've never had a customer be this annoying, he didn't give a deadline, he didn't give a deposit/I didn't ask for one because I didn't think he'd be this annoying, he said "take your time" cuz he's not in a band not playing shows, I've done all the necessary steps and have worked on it a lot since the plan was set. The cab was pretty beat and has been toured with, he basically wants the cab to look new in case he wants to sell it and/or have to use. It's going to look amazing when it's done, I just want him to stop annoying me. At one point he was texting me asking about it while I was in the middle of working on it, so I had to stop and tell him. I don't really know how much longer it's going to take, i'll likely be working on it more tonight and tomorrow, but I'm sick of hearing my phone buzz and then I look at it and it's him haha. Any advice? Thank you for reading.

Even though he said to take your time, he clearly wants a time/date when you will be done. So, give him a set date, longer than you know it will take, and tell him it will not be done before that time.

 

[reverendrally]

All the things you guys are mentioning are why I decided not to build for customers for the time being. I have one good friend I built a bass for and it's a great playing bass, but I HATE it. I wanted to build him X as a present, but of course he wanted Y instead. He apparently likes it, but he wants little changes. Nup. I know that will never end. Beyond that, it's a copy of another bass and I swore I'd never build them. I made some mistakes for sure, but really, I just hate the whole aesthetic of the instrument.

Lessons learned the hard way.

Re cheapy customers, my luthier friend/mentor told me this a long time back. If anyone asks about having an instrument build you have a pat answer down...

"Any instrument is a minimum $1000; plus the cost timber, hardware, electronics, consumables and finishing products. Expect to wait a year before the instrument is delivered."

These simple sentences shut down a lot of low ballers and dreamers. I then added to that an extra sentences that got rid of idiots wanting to build redneck horrors...

"Things I don't do include; spray finishes, complicated inlays, complicated electronics, expensive imported timbers or copies of existing instruments. Things I do include; oiled and hand rubbed finishes, light weight designs, recycled and local timbers, passive electronics and innovative designs and ideas."

Now of course I have the liberty of a decent day job and plenty of tools. But I don't have a lot of time and I decided I didn't want to waste it building Jazz and P bass copies. Unfortunately, that appears to be 90% of the market where I live. Maybe down the track I'll have another go when people think a little differently.

 

[Jisch]

The two custom instruments I did I charged a deposit equal to the cost of materials. I figured that was fair to both parties. I also put together a document that described the instrument in great detail, so both parties understood the scope. I also had a discussion with the buyers about price impact of changes and let them know when decisions were final based on progress in the build.

 

[Hopkins]

The whole "scope creep" thing is pretty easily avoided by sending a quote with an itemized break down of parts and labor, and a disclaimer that any changes made are subject to a price increase, and to have that quote agreed upon before work is commenced.