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Winter Build-Off 2023: Twin Tigers!!!
- Thread starter Lonnybass
- Start date
Hi guys - some advice needed!
As most of you know, we've had some delays over here. My lovely wife had broken her ankle awhile back. She's totally fine now, and well on her way to a complete recovery. She was unable to drive for some time, and my family obligations essentially doubled.
Knowing my schedule would be so highly limited, I took the fretless bass to a local luthier so the fingerboard could be leveled under string tension. That was nearly five months ago. After the first two months, I started calling the shop to get updates. Over those months, I've been told everything from 1) my instrument was next on the bench to 2) they evaluated it and gave me an estimate, and asked for authorization to 3) they hadn't looked at it, but would soon, to 4) they had staffing issues, to 5) I'd be getting a call in the next few days (I never did).
I've reached a point where they've told me literally everything except the bass is ready for pickup. Part of me even wonders if they still have the instrument or if they found a way to make an buck by selling it off somehow while hoping I'd forget about it.
I'm at a loss here and don't know what to do next. I would love your thoughts everyone.
Thanks -
Lon
As most of you know, we've had some delays over here. My lovely wife had broken her ankle awhile back. She's totally fine now, and well on her way to a complete recovery. She was unable to drive for some time, and my family obligations essentially doubled.
Knowing my schedule would be so highly limited, I took the fretless bass to a local luthier so the fingerboard could be leveled under string tension. That was nearly five months ago. After the first two months, I started calling the shop to get updates. Over those months, I've been told everything from 1) my instrument was next on the bench to 2) they evaluated it and gave me an estimate, and asked for authorization to 3) they hadn't looked at it, but would soon, to 4) they had staffing issues, to 5) I'd be getting a call in the next few days (I never did).
I've reached a point where they've told me literally everything except the bass is ready for pickup. Part of me even wonders if they still have the instrument or if they found a way to make an buck by selling it off somehow while hoping I'd forget about it.
I'm at a loss here and don't know what to do next. I would love your thoughts everyone.
Thanks -
Lon
I'd drive there right now and just ask for it back. The delay alone is unacceptable, not to mention the BS.
That's awful. Delays are forgivable but backpedaling and making excuses like that are not. It's time to show up and take the instrument back. They haven't upheld their part of the deal and they're not showing any indication that they can or will.
Very annoying. This has both happened to me, and I've done it to someone myself. 
The time I did it to someone, it was a combination of challenges with the requested work, a mistake that had to be fixed before proceeding, and a combination of things that created minor delays, but which I let turn into major ones. By the end, I was burned out on the work and it was a serious chore to get it done, despite being relatively easy to do in the end.
It's happened to me a couple of times as well. One was a local guy who was rewiring a pickup for me. Originally promised "over the weekend" and a month later, I called him and said I needed it back done or not. He didn't reply for a couple of days, but his eventual reply was 'it's done' and I got it, no harm no foul. He also discounted me a bit.
The other was a refret done for me many years ago - I knew the tech at Long and McQuade (kinda like Guitar Center in the US) and was confident it would be great. At three months, I got a bit pushy and said I'd be coming to pick it up done or not, and they told me it was at their Kamloops location and would be shipped back asap complete. That's about a 4 hour drive after taking a 90 minute ferry. I got it a week later complete, with no explanation as to why they had sent it to another location for repair.
Anyway, I'd probably just call them and let them know I'd be coming to get it that day and see how they respond.
The time I did it to someone, it was a combination of challenges with the requested work, a mistake that had to be fixed before proceeding, and a combination of things that created minor delays, but which I let turn into major ones. By the end, I was burned out on the work and it was a serious chore to get it done, despite being relatively easy to do in the end. It's happened to me a couple of times as well. One was a local guy who was rewiring a pickup for me. Originally promised "over the weekend" and a month later, I called him and said I needed it back done or not. He didn't reply for a couple of days, but his eventual reply was 'it's done' and I got it, no harm no foul. He also discounted me a bit.
The other was a refret done for me many years ago - I knew the tech at Long and McQuade (kinda like Guitar Center in the US) and was confident it would be great. At three months, I got a bit pushy and said I'd be coming to pick it up done or not, and they told me it was at their Kamloops location and would be shipped back asap complete. That's about a 4 hour drive after taking a 90 minute ferry. I got it a week later complete, with no explanation as to why they had sent it to another location for repair.
Anyway, I'd probably just call them and let them know I'd be coming to get it that day and see how they respond.
Thanks guys!
I took your advice, I called the shop at 10 a.m. and told them I'd be coming in this afternoon to pick up the instrument. Whaddya know, the bass magically went on the bench today and I received a call at about 1pm that it was done. Heading up there now to get it.
The remaining question is...
Too late to submit it for the 2023 Winter Build Off?
I took your advice, I called the shop at 10 a.m. and told them I'd be coming in this afternoon to pick up the instrument. Whaddya know, the bass magically went on the bench today and I received a call at about 1pm that it was done. Heading up there now to get it.
The remaining question is...
Too late to submit it for the 2023 Winter Build Off?
Thanks guys!
I took your advice, I called the shop at 10 a.m. and told them I'd be coming in this afternoon to pick up the instrument. Whaddya know, the bass magically went on the bench today and I received a call at about 1pm that it was done. Heading up there now to get it.
The remaining question is...
Too late to submit it for the 2023 Winter Build Off?
ht
Back from the tech. FINALLY!!! Now I just need to carve out some time to install electronics and make the wenge covers. The end is in sight.
It's looking amazing !
And as to A or B on the previous page, I love them both… but I'm leaning toward B because it's "slightly" More unique
And as to A or B on the previous page, I love them both… but I'm leaning toward B because it's "slightly" More unique
Thanks! I am really glad to have this thing back and ready to finish up.
I had a chance to work through the layouts on the A and B and came up with a hybridized version by adjusting the orientation and positioning of the bookmatch. I'll put up a photo of the rendering this weekend.
Here's the updated rendering on the elder burl bass. This positioning brings in some of the unique patterning on the lower half of the body, and manages to incorporate a really nifty two-tone section that corresponds perfectly with the shape of the upper strap horn.
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A nice snug fit on the cavity cover with some wenge.
Very nice... kinda a shame those "eyes" weren't just a touch lower
Pickups are ready to go in. I've soldered up a pair of shielding leads to connect the pickup cavities to the main electronics cavity.
