My story of Trace Davis and Voodoo Amps (spoiler, I'm not stoked)

team13chad

team13chad

Active member
My story of Trace Davis of Voodoo Amps.

Well…here goes…

I normally don’t do this as I’ve seen many a disgruntled customer take to social media to emotionally and publicly burn a company when things don’t go their way. That is not what I am trying to do here, and I am willing to be wrong.

I want to say up front that Trace Davis @ Voodoo has always been polite to me and seems to be a very nice guy but the below is past the point of what I’d deem acceptable by normal business standards, and I am not sure how else to proceed except to put this out there.

Back in August of 2017, (almost 4 years ago), I sent him a JCM 800 2203X reissue to have modified into a CP100. The CP100 is a special build that never really made it to the mainstream and Trace was nice enough to agree to do it for me. (see below emails)

I also included the transcripts from our Facebook messenger chats.

Since then, I don’t believe anything has been done to the amp and since he was (I guess) doing me a favor by doing this special build I completely stayed out of his way for the last 3.5-4 years and maybe sent an email/DM once or twice a year to say hello and wish him well.

About a week and a half ago I called (and he answered) and I asked him to please either ship my amp back with no hard feelings or if he wants to buy it that’d be fine too.

He said he would call me back and I’ve heard nothing despite a few follow up calls and emails.

THEN I see this below thread on www.rig-talk.com and NOW my radar is going off. https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/threads/turn-around-time-for-a-mod.210524/

Has anyone ever had this sort of issue with him?

Am I being unreasonable or an asshole?

Trace Davis
Facebook
You're friends on Facebook
Lives in Horseheads, New York
5/1/19, 11:35 AM
You sent May 1, 2019
Hey Trace! It’s me, the guy that asked you to build a CP100. Shot ya a few emails to say hello and didn’t get a response. Wanted to let you know I’m still alive and wanted to say hello.
You sent May 1, 2019
Still no rush, just wanted to check in with you.
5/1/19, 1:56 PM

Trace sent May 1, 2019
Calling & leaving a voice mail would probably be best. We’ve had some server issues so that may not have gotten your emails. I love computers when they work properly! Lol I have some pcb’s I’ve been working on specifically for the CP100 as it will be very helpful over all. Hard to explain in a text lol but she’s here & safe-&-sound Everyone wanting their tour rigs done has begun earlier than normal this year so we’re presently knee deep in that. I’n very much looking forward to when I can install the pcb’s for the CP100, I geek out on that stuff! almost done with the design, its the same guy I worked with on the pcb designs for our V-Plex, Mid-Drive & V-Rock. It will be awesome!!
You sent May 1, 2019
Hell yeah man. Great to hear. Like I said, not in a rush, just wanted to drop in just in case you were wondering where the hell I went haha
5/1/19, 2:20 PM

Trace sent May 1, 2019
It's all good my friend
You sent May 1, 2019
Good deal brother. I appreciate it.
You sent May 1, 2019
I know you’re kinda doing me a square so I’m trying not to bother

Trace sent May 1, 2019
I appreciate it, we’re swamped but I’m making progress with designing boards for it.
You sent May 1, 2019
Sounds good. Thanks Trace.
8/5/19, 11:58 AM
You sent August 5, 2019
Hi Trace! Just wanted to say hi and check in.
8/13/19, 11:05 AM

Trace sent August 13, 2019
Hello there
You sent August 13, 2019
Hey Trace! Just wanted to say hi and check on the CP100 build. Hope you’ve been well.
8/26/19, 3:43 PM

Trace sent August 26, 2019
I’m currenty out here with Aerosmith. I know I had some boards designed for the CP100 & we were waiting for those to arrive. As I’m no at the shop I can’t check in those at this moment as I’m not at the shop. Hope all is well with you good sir!!
You sent August 26, 2019
Aerosmith is more important than my CP100??? Just kidding haha!! Naw no worries at all! Just wanted to say hello and check in. Hope you’ve been well and thanks for keeping me in the loop.
8/26/19, 4:17 PM

Trace sent August 26, 2019
I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed soon! Lol I enjoy working with these guys, amazing band & the new production & sound is beyond anything I’ve ever heard or seen before. If you get a chance to see it its truly amazing. Gotta head to the venue now
You sent August 26, 2019
Have fun! Talk soon!
5/14/20, 8:04 PM
You sent May 14, 2020
Hi Trace! Just wanted to say hey and check in in my CP100 build. Hope you're staying safe during all this craziness we have going on. Thanks!
You sent May 14, 2020
As usual, no huge rush. Just wanted to say hello!
5/15/20, 12:14 PM

Trace sent May 15, 2020
Hiping to get back to work as usual! They bumped the reopen date to June 6th & as of right now it looks like we’ll be good to go on that
You sent May 15, 2020
Cool man!

Trace sent May 15, 2020
I hope you are safe & healthy! I am some othe here had the covid virus so we’re good to go, just waiting to get back to work now.
You sent May 15, 2020
Yeah same here man. It's been crazy and I was telling someone about the CP100 you are building for me and I figured I'd pop in and say hello while it was on my mind

Trace sent May 15, 2020
Its all good & I’m looking forward to making it awesome!
You sent May 15, 2020
Thank you my friend!
5/15/20, 1:29 PM

Trace sent May 15, 2020

7/31/20, 6:55 PM
You sent July 31, 2020
Hi Trace! Any update on the CP100 build? Hope you're doing well and staying safe from all this covid stuff!
8/23/20, 8:24 AM

Trace sent August 23, 2020
Its been a long several months, most of us here did catch the covid, myself included & its taken a while to bounce back as well as to get energy levels back to normal. Its a not a fun thing to go through so I hope you & your’s have been in good health. They say if you have your health you can do anything, having gone through this I can say there is great thruth in those words. We were not able to be in the shop for months so we are working in trying to get our heads back around it all & get caught up. We are dealing with supply chain issues with vendors but it seems most everyone is in the same boat in that regard. Hopefully in a few weeks things will stablize a bit more. Most all parts are made in China so sorting through all of that is still a challenge but we’ll get there one way or the other! I hope your Subday is relaxing & enjoyable. Stay safe & be strong my friend!
You sent August 23, 2020
Thanks for the update! Yeah things are a bit crazy right now.

Trace sent August 23, 2020
It seems its becoming a saying but we certainly are living in interesting time. Some things I never thought I would be seeing much less living through. One day at a time it seems is the best way forward.
You sent August 23, 2020
Yep. I was really sick back in January before all of this became mainstream media stuff. I kinda HOPE I had it back then so maybe its a one and done thing.






On Aug 25, 2017, at 10:22 AM, <cindy@voodooamps.com> <cindy@voodooamps.com> wrote:
Chad;


1.) Package - At a quick glance the package itself appears to be ok but we have not yet had an opportunity to unbox it. IE: One of my guy's needs to unbox it as I have a bad disc in my lower back that I have to be very careful of.

2.) Mod Form - Would you be so kind as to fill out the Mod Form & email it back.


Many thanks good sir & I hope your Friday is off to a great start


Trace Davis, President / Founder

<sigimg0>

(607) 256-0465
228B South Sage Circle
Horseheads, NY 14845
Website | News | Facebook | Artists


**********
Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this communication is confidential, private, proprietary, or otherwise privileged and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to who it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. Thank you.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [SPAM] Re: RE:
From: Chad Mosbey <team13chad@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, August 24, 2017 1:00 pm
To: cindy@voodooamps.com
Did it make it to you in one piece?

Sent from my iPhone
 
These guys are a joke. I can see sending your car to some high end, well renowned custom car guy that says right off the bat, "if you want to go with me it is going to easily be a year for me to paint it, etc". You would at least know that up front. For you to send your amp to an amp guy, one would expect worst case 2-4 months tops to get it modified. For him to take it and then to just sit on it while he takes on business from Aerosmith and leaves you hanging for almost 3 years is pathetic. You think someone like Trace would have contacted you and said, " look I know that I have your amp here but Aerosmith called and they want me to go on tour with them for next 18 months and there is no way I can get to your amp, I will send it back to you at no charge". If he said something like that one would completely understand and would be fine with it. Some forget that they started off modifying amps in their basement/garage and got business all by word of mouth.......some get too big and some forget where they came from. Some just don't have any business sense and screw over the guys that work hard for their money and now are left without an amp. Sounds like Cameron...............
 
I agree. Expectations are everything.

Maybe it's partially on me for not asking for a timeframe and then asking that he stick to it.
 
Yeah that’s my post lol.
Same kinda deal.
I got ahold of him as soon as he started doing mods again. Over two years now.
Had to have my c.c. # so he could call and charge me for a call just so I could tell him I wanted a mod that is listed on his webpage ,and that is B.S. btw!
I could not and still can’t get any reply email wise since.
I remember calling back in March of 2020 because
1) I just got laid off because of COVID
2) He had my amp for a year
Told me how he was the only one working because of COVID lockdown and said he had the mercury transfers and all the parts ready to go and he’d jump on it since I had the cash in hand to pay him.
So I waited.
May of 2021. This year I call. No answer.
I leave a message to just send my amp back if he didn’t start it yet. I had enough. Over two years was long enough to wait.
And guess what?
Not a fucking thing and here we are in June!
No amp. Not even a phone call.

I’ve bit my tongue on this for a while too.
I’m done waiting.
Any suggestions?
 
team13chad said:
I agree. Expectations are everything.

Maybe it's partially on me for not asking for a timeframe and then asking that he stick to it.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't fault you for trusting an established company like Voodoo. Disappointing to hear that they would take advantage of you for not being a pain in their ass.

Hope this gets set straight.
 
dainbramage0 said:
I wouldn't fault you for trusting an established company like Voodoo. Disappointing to hear that they would take advantage of you for not being a pain in their ass.

Hope this gets set straight.
Click to expand...
I don't know that he took advantage of me so much as blowing me off which sucks because I truly wanted to do business with him and have my CP100 build done.

I'm more disappointed than angry.
 
Yeah how do you go from a somewhat reputable amp mod guy to a amp builder that has his own product line of amps to a guy that is being requested to work on the amps of AC/DC and Aerosmith to a guy that can't even pick up the phone to call someone back let alone a simple email?

Funny guys like Dave Friedman went down the same path of modifying amps, creating his own product line, creating guitars, being requested by the Guitar God's to develop amps for them and to working on amps/rigs for the biggest names in the industry and yet if you are a simpleton like me and have a question, he emails you back in a few hours time.
 
rm5153 said:
Yeah how do you go from a somewhat reputable amp mod guy to a amp builder that has his own product line of amps to a guy that is being requested to work on the amps of AC/DC and Aerosmith to a guy that can't even pick up the phone to call someone back let alone a simple email?

Funny guys like Dave Friedman went down the same path of modifying amps, creating his own product line, creating guitars, being requested by the Guitar God's to develop amps for them and to working on amps/rigs for the biggest names in the industry and yet if you are a simpleton like me and have a question, he emails you back in a few hours time.
Click to expand...

Because whoever pays the bills gets the attention. I'd be willing to bet the simpletons buying amps every day put more money into Friedman's pocket than any one-off project he does for a big shot.
 
Very dissapointing to hear. I always felt like Trace was one of the good guys. There are too many killer amp techs doing great mods now to put up with that. At this point, I am afraid I wouldn't even want him to work on my amp, I hope he returns your amp asap.
 
Being a good tech/builder and knowing how to grow and run a business are different skill sets. There are some really talented guys who get lots of traction on the merits of their skills and products, but are eventually overwhelmed by their own success. Maybe Trace is one of them.
 
I had a bad experience with Trace back in 2013-14. Not wasting my time going into detail here, already wasted enough time on that deal back then, but basically he sourced a clean JMP 2204 that he was gonna mod for me. I payed him for the amp and 1 year later still had no product. I told him to send me the amp or I was initiating a dispute with my cc company. He said he had already started on it but needed more time to finish. I insisted he either buy it or send it to me, so I got the amp over 14 months later with new caps but no mod. I think he was suffering from back issues supposedly, but man....how about some fucking communication at the very least.
 
MetalHeadMike said:
I had a bad experience with Trace back in 2013-14. Not wasting my time going into detail here, already wasted enough time on that deal back then, but basically he sourced a clean JMP 2204 that he was gonna mod for me. I payed him for the amp and 1 year later still had no product. I told him to send me the amp or I was initiating a dispute with my cc company. He said he had already started on it but needed more time to finish. I insisted he either buy it or send it to me, so I got the amp over 14 months later with new caps but no mod. I think he was suffering from back issues supposedly, but man....how about some fucking communication at the very least.
Click to expand...

But if Aerosmith calls him you can bet he will drop everything and take their call.
 
Unfortunately sounds like VooDoo is asking for payment up front then dragging things out until the refund and return dictates are expired asking you to just wait a little longer then you the buyer may not have any recourse either through Paypal or your credit card to either get your amp back and full refund. Quite an insidious tactic and highly unethical.

Seems CV has accelerated these issues for the worse for many small builders.

At this point it's time to cut and run, get your amp back and whatever refund you can pry out of them.
 
I had him mod a Marshall back in the late 2000’s
So I definitely trusted him.
I know his wife passed and he went to modding for the stars but damn man. Shot us an email,”hey sorry I can’t get to it till… you want me to send it back or?
 
I have been working as a collector in the commercial collections world for over 15 years.

If he doesn't send me my amp back lickity split, I can promise you that he picked the wrong one.
 
tpruitt said:
Yeah that’s my post lol.
Same kinda deal.
I got ahold of him as soon as he started doing mods again. Over two years now.
Had to have my c.c. # so he could call and charge me for a call just so I could tell him I wanted a mod that is listed on his webpage ,and that is B.S. btw!
I could not and still can’t get any reply email wise since.
I remember calling back in March of 2020 because
1) I just got laid off because of COVID
2) He had my amp for a year
Told me how he was the only one working because of COVID lockdown and said he had the mercury transfers and all the parts ready to go and he’d jump on it since I had the cash in hand to pay him.
So I waited.
May of 2021. This year I call. No answer.
I leave a message to just send my amp back if he didn’t start it yet. I had enough. Over two years was long enough to wait.
And guess what?
Not a fucking thing and here we are in June!
No amp. Not even a phone call.

I’ve bit my tongue on this for a while too.
I’m done waiting.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
You've been more than understanding... it's time to bring out the big guns and get your amp back and refund!:2thumbsup:
 
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