Anyone ever deal with LRC Guitars out of Orlando??

[CoreyW]

So, I had a wall hanger fail back in July, and broke the headstock on my Les Paul... the SG that was next to it was unharmed... anyway, it was a pretty nasty break. I carried it to the most reputable shop I could find in Alabama and they said they were worried about messing with it to contact gibson, it would probably need a new neck... contacted Gibson, they were quoting a little less than 2k for a new reinforced neck joint, and 3k+ for neck replacement... even though this guitar has a lot of sentimental value to me I couldn't justify a 3k repair on a guitar that I didn't pay 3k for when I bought it brand new.. its a 2012 Les Paul Standard.

Well, I did a lot of digging and came across different sites recommending LRC guitars, and I reached out to them, spoke with their main luthier, and he said that they have a semi unique way of handling neck breaks, and judging by the pictures it would be something they could handle, anyway I jumped on it and sent it out, when I first started this process they were very responsive, and I payed half up front, told the guitar would be ready around the first week of Oct. Well, 9/20 I get an email about the remainder of my invoice and send and email and they say its ready.. so I pay the invoice and give them the dates for the week I will be gone on a cruise and ask them not to ship if it will arrive while I am gone.

On Oct 5 I send an email asking about where my guitar was, and on 10/6 I get a response that they found the finish wasn't right and was hazing over from moisture, and it was getting sent back through their finish department.

I try to follow up on 11/19 and no response, I try again 12/4, 12/6 I get a response the main guy hasnt been able to approve the rework, 12/16 I write a follow up email no response, 12/21 another follow up email, no response. 1/6 send another follow up and no answer. 1/13 I send another email threatening to contact the CC company... I actually get a response this time, my guitar is finished (yay!) its waiting on someone to be in the shop to ship it and they would be back in the shop by the 20th...

2/2 I send a follow up email, no answer.. 2/6 I send a pretty angry email..

2/10 I get a call from the main guy... he apologizes and says that during reassembly and set up they found the truss rod was broke, and since they didnt inventory that during the initial repair they didnt know if it happened during the break or during the repair and they replaced it at their cost. But that I would have tracking info the next day.

2/19 Text the guy, asking about tracking info... no response

2/25 text him again, no response.


Now, I have records of all of my contacts with this company and their lack of responses, I am not sure what to do... I want my damn guitar back and not sure what to do, this company is supposedly very in demand and does a lot of contract work for cruises and big tours, and I can understand being slammed with work but just flat ignoring a customer, I don't get it. I am a Customer service engineer/ technician myself, and I would lose my job if I ignored the small job shops in favor of the major OEMs that I work with.

 

[SMCLEARY]

Those guys have worked on my junk since I moved to Florida in 2022. Great guys and by far the best work. It seems they are always overbooked and understaffed so you have to have patience (I speak from experience). Make sure you only email them and read that auto response they send out as it tells you their schedule and can help with the anxiety of not hearing from them. I was frustrated with them last year a bit and once I got in tune with the way they work I settled down. I will admit, they are pretty open about the way they do things, I didn't like it, but I can't say they didn't warn me. I spoke to JR?, I think, asking about staffing etc, as I also work in customer support. He said it is incredibly difficult to find someone whose work meets the expectations of the shop, which is typically higher than that of the customer. Based on the work I have had done, I agree they are friggin' great.

This is cool too. I had a good friend with a custom Kiesel. One of the guys that worked there, put a small mark in the satin orange finish. I mean barely noticeable small. My friend didn't even care, the owner still bought him a new one without my friend even asking for one. It was like $3500. I feel like most shops would have lied and said they didn't do it.

Hope this helps with the anxiety and good luck man.

 

[CoreyW]

Those guys have worked on my junk since I moved to Florida in 2022. Great guys and by far the best work. It seems they are always overbooked and understaffed so you have to have patience (I speak from experience). Make sure you only email them and read that auto response they send out as it tells you their schedule and can help with the anxiety of not hearing from them. I was frustrated with them last year a bit and once I got in tune with the way they work I settled down. I will admit, they are pretty open about the way they do things, I didn't like it, but I can't say they didn't warn me. I spoke to JR?, I think, asking about staffing etc, as I also work in customer support. He said it is incredibly difficult to find someone whose work meets the expectations of the shop, which is typically higher than that of the customer. Based on the work I have had done, I agree they are friggin' great.

This is cool too. I had a good friend with a custom Kiesel. One of the guys that worked there, put a small mark in the satin orange finish. I mean barely noticeable small. My friend didn't even care, the owner still bought him a new one without my friend even asking for one. It was like $3500. I feel like most shops would have lied and said they didn't do it.

Hope this helps with the anxiety and good luck man.

They currently have a “new” guy handling emails, think he was a previous employee, and communication has gotten significantly better.

Like I said before I’m not upset that it is taking a long time to get done, I’m actually on with that as long as I am kept in the loop, but I’ve been told twice that my guitar is done first time in Oct and second time in Jan, and in Jan I was told by I would have tacking the next day.. here we are the middle of March and I just got an email this morning that JR will be back at the shop tomorrow and he will get it sorted out.. this is the 4th time I’ve been told this.. let’s see how this week unfolds

 

[SMCLEARY]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[VonBonfire]

They currently have a “new” guy handling emails, think he was a previous employee, and communication has gotten significantly better.

Like I said before I’m not upset that it is taking a long time to get done, I’m actually on with that as long as I am kept in the loop, but I’ve been told twice that my guitar is done first time in Oct and second time in Jan, and in Jan I was told by I would have tacking the next day.. here we are the middle of March and I just got an email this morning that JR will be back at the shop tomorrow and he will get it sorted out.. this is the 4th time I’ve been told this.. let’s see how this week unfolds

I asked a friend of mine who has some history in Orlando and all he could offer was that LRC are a "by appointment only" shop. Good luck Corey, I hope it comes back soon, looking, playing, and sounding nice.

 

[CoreyW]

I asked a friend of mine who has some history in Orlando and all he could offer was that LRC are a "by appointment only" shop. Good luck Corey, I hope it comes back soon, looking, playing, and sounding nice.

Thank you, I just hope the frustration will be worth it.

 

[SMCLEARY]

I haven't been back since December of last year as I haven't need any work, but just sent them an email and got their autoresponder. Looks like they have been booked on tours and such. They also added a link to some videos on their site about communication. I watched them and I have to admit, it is the same thing they say when you drop off an instrument. https://www.lrcguitars.com/watch-me

Best of luck.

 

[Laputan Machine]

Those guys have worked on my junk since I moved to Florida in 2022. Great guys and by far the best work. It seems they are always overbooked and understaffed so you have to have patience (I speak from experience). Make sure you only email them and read that auto response they send out as it tells you their schedule and can help with the anxiety of not hearing from them. I was frustrated with them last year a bit and once I got in tune with the way they work I settled down. I will admit, they are pretty open about the way they do things, I didn't like it, but I can't say they didn't warn me. I spoke to JR?, I think, asking about staffing etc, as I also work in customer support. He said it is incredibly difficult to find someone whose work meets the expectations of the shop, which is typically higher than that of the customer. Based on the work I have had done, I agree they are friggin' great.

This is cool too. I had a good friend with a custom Kiesel. One of the guys that worked there, put a small mark in the satin orange finish. I mean barely noticeable small. My friend didn't even care, the owner still bought him a new one without my friend even asking for one. It was like $3500. I feel like most shops would have lied and said they didn't do it.

Hope this helps with the anxiety and good luck man.

Join date: today, solely to post in defense of these guys...
Surely you're not some guy that works there...right?

 

[SMCLEARY]

Join date: today, solely to post in defense of these guys...
Surely you're not some guy that works there...right?

View attachment 437887

No. Not here to defend. They pissed me off last year. I have experience with them and decided to help out. I am simply saying they do good work and are open about how they do it. Honesty is not the same as defense. I have been a lurker on this site for years. That is all.

 

[CoreyW]

Join date: today, solely to post in defense of these guys...
Surely you're not some guy that works there...right?

View attachment 437887

There is more than one coincidence and it’s in the user name, but the way I read what he wrote doesn’t sound to me like he is part of the company.

He actually is somewhat reinforcing what I am hoping, that it’s bad communication but great work.

 

[SMCLEARY]

There is more than one coincidence and it’s in the user name, but the way I read what he wrote doesn’t sound to me like he is part of the company.

He actually is somewhat reinforcing what I am hoping, that it’s bad communication but great work.

No part of the company. Again, best of luck.

 

[VonBonfire]

There is more than one coincidence and it’s in the user name, but the way I read what he wrote doesn’t sound to me like he is part of the company.

He actually is somewhat reinforcing what I am hoping, that it’s bad communication but great work.

There is no excuse for bad communication when an instrument worth thousands of dollars is in question. I guess some people are willing to let it slide but I say that's a shit way to run a business. Dude needs to get with the program. The end.

The way smcleary wrote it is how I would write it if I were part of the company and wanted to smooth it over without it being obvious I was part of the company. "I was frustrated too.....but once I learned how they work etc etc".

Regardless of the motive there, this thread is already popping up on googles page 3 under a "lrc guitars orlando any good" search and if things don't get squared away you can probably alter your title to make it rate higher in the search results and be a warning to people who might utilize their services. If I had needed guitar work and had come across your OP I would've already looked for a different luthier tbh.

 

[SMCLEARY]

The way smcleary wrote it is how I would write it if I were part of the company and wanted to smooth it over without it being obvious I was part of the company. "I was frustrated too.....but once I learned how they work etc etc".

Incorrect man. Jesus. Crazy how trying to help someone out that wasn't getting help is received. The shop does great work. They have highly respected people that work there. They work for some crazy big names. They suck at communication. That is it. No conspiracy. It seems like on the internet these days if you are not willing to bash someone you are a plant. Back to being a lurker for me.

 

[VonBonfire]

Incorrect man. Jesus. Crazy how trying to help someone out that wasn't getting help is received. The shop does great work. They have highly respected people that work there. They work for some crazy big names. They suck at communication. That is it. No conspiracy. It seems like on the internet these days if you are not willing to bash someone you are a plant. Back to being a lurker for me.

Your level of defensiveness isn't required. You reassured him that their shitty communication is standard practice and eventually one day he'll get his guitar and it'll be awesome. Sounds like you are one of those guys that accepts sub-par business practices. Or....you are the guy with sub-par practices. It doesn't really matter since he doesn't have his guitar now does it?

 

[SMCLEARY]

Your level of defensiveness isn't required. You reassured him that their shitty communication is standard practice and eventually one day he'll get his guitar and it'll be awesome. Sounds like you are one of those guys that accepts sub-par business practices. Or....you are the guy with sub-par practices. It doesn't really matter since he doesn't have his guitar.

Your level of accusations isn't required. You have no experience with the shop he is asking about. I do. It really is that simple. G'day, Mate!

 

[VonBonfire]

Your level of accusations aren't required. You have no experience with the shop he is asking about. I do. It really is that simple. G'day, Mate!

Thanks to the posts here I will never have experience with the shop.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Join date: today, solely to post in defense of these guys...
Surely you're not some guy that works there...right?

View attachment 437887

Coincidence or fuckery?

 

[VonBonfire]

Coincidence or fuckery?

If OP has his guitar in-hand next week you'll have your answer.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Yeah. There is no excuse. If you are taking longer and communicate that, there will be some resentment, but honesty is much better than lies and silence. It comes off shady when you make dumb assurances and then go radio silent, especially after asking for the full amount and saying it is ready and will ship soon.

If this simple shit is confusing, then you are a moron and shouldn't be in business

 

[CoreyW]

So, @VonBonfire the timing of the reply to the post I made what a couple of weeks ago and the emails I got today did seem a bit suspicious.

But, from what I understand... they have reached out to a former employee to address the customer communications issues, the previous person is no longer there, since I initially spoke with him, he has been responsive, and done so in a timely manner. I am not going to air anyone elses dirty laundry, but if what I am being told is true, I understand what the main issues were, even with the original communication issues, I have not felt like I have been intentionally lied to, and I am feeling hopeful again that I should have tracking info in the next day or two.

After speaking to the new communications guy and what he has shown me, @SMCLEARY isn't part of the company, but does know the current comms guy, and it appears he is aware now of some of the issues that went on.

Lets see how these next few days develop before we grab the pitchforks.