Gil Yaron 59 Replica Headstock Repair

[Stramm8]

^The issue isn't if he's stealing from Gibson or making the best '59 LP clone; the issue is customer service. My guess is if I spent $10k on a Gibson guitar and it showed up on my doorstep looking like Steve's Yaron, I could call the dealer I bought it from, get an RMA and have another one in a couple of days. This motherfucker is selling $10k guitars, packing them like shit and then tells the customer to pound sand when it shows up busted?? He has got to be clearing at least $100k profit per year selling these things but he doesn't have the sense to pay for a repair or send him a new guitar?? I think anyone considering buying a guitar from this guy after knowing how Steve has been treated should have their head, dare I say soul examined I am a huge supporter of Israel but fuck this motherfucker

 

[Shark Diver]

Holy crap.

Idk what to even say. $10k? Even fixed, who wants to keep a guitar after all this - and the resale is shot.

I had a big "f*k you" from a major guitar company a few years back. Had about 20 of their guitars ranging from $4-14K. Sold everyone at a big lose. Decided I didn't want to advertise for them anymore. They still roll on, only one effected was me.

 

[fishyfishfish]

The shipping fiasco aside, looking at the break this should be
An easy and bull it proof repair for your tech. What gets me is if I had
spent all this time and effort in creating a work of art
for someone to enjoy, why would I not go the extra
Step and flight case it? Strange

 

[firegate]

Here's a shot of the high impact newspaper that stabilized the guitar in its case and a picture of the box. The single ply box was shaped for the case and designed to transport an empty case - not a case with a 9lb guitar in it and provide any impact protection. He might as well have just stuck an address label on the case and forgot the box.

Wow, that's unbelievable. I wouldn't package a Squier that poorly.

 

[Superunknown]

Steve....is it possible for you collect shipping insurance on the guitar? I thought that Gil insured every guitar before he shipped? He told me that mine would be insured...

 

[Telephant]

This is totally fucked. Mojo, mang. That is otherwise a beautiful looking guitar. That said, two months to repair a headstock?

 

[Shawn Lutz]

sounds like GY is a douchebag to me. Did his company NOT ship this guitar? It IS his fucking problem.

I think if I got that kind of answer out of the guy I'd be going postal on his ass. Karma is a bitch but I'd be inclined send a copy of the invoice to Gibson's Legal team as someone is out there building 59 replicas and logoing them as Gibson's

Absolutely, the problem is that of the shipper, not the receiver of the product. Not tooting my horn, but my 4x12s were built by a third party until I found a local cab guy and they were drop shipped to the customer rather than shipping them to me and having me re-ship them (which is just another chance for shipping disaster). One customer received a cab and it was damaged on the bottom - really just cosmetic - but that is irrelevant. The customer was rightfully bummed and I immediately got on the phone with my builder as soon as the customer contacted me. Between myself and the builder we were ready to have an inspector to the customer's house the next day, identified appropriate forms and were ready to provide a shipping account to have the cab sent back so it could be repaired/replaced. For his own reasons, the customer decided it was best to just keep the cab, but I wanted him to be a satisfied customer, so since the shipping had been poor, I offered to refund the $150 he paid in shipping as a good faith gesture. The customer accepted and was appreciative. I basically ate my margin on the cab, but the bottom line is that this business (boutique, high value gear) is about SATISFYING THE CUSTOMER. I could have told the guy to send the cab back or done nothing when he decided to keep it, but I didn't do that because my rep matters to me. It wasn't my fault and it wasn't my builder's fault either as he ships many cabs without incident and he knows how to pack them... Shit just happens sometimes and how you treat the customer and how you satisfy them is job one...

This is why I also had custom, professional, bullet proof packaging made for my amp heads at considerable cost to me. The designer says the package can take a 50G hit without damaging my amp (sounds ridiculous to me, but this is what I was told by the industrial designer) I want my customers to get their amps in one piece.

Steve

Well Steve you're a stand up guy and I don't think you have a douchebag bone in your body, at least you haven't shown it over the years on various forums

I know if I bought a guitar from the builder and he said his work was "done" after building it and did nothing about it it would be on big time...that is not what I'd consider satisfactory customer service. Ans to see how it was packed and the box it was shipped in, good god man.

 

[steve_k]

Steve....is it possible for you collect shipping insurance on the guitar? I thought that Gil insured every guitar before he shipped? He told me that mine would be insured...

The guitar was originally supposed to ship to Cliff as the dealer. Because of the impending Gibson lawsuit, he doesn't want anything shipped to or from him as he thinks Customs is watching. So, it shipped to my US address, where I don't live. If there had been someone to open it and check it out and had it been damaged on the Tel Aviv - US leg of the shipping, a claim could have been filed. However, there is a 24 hour window to file a claim. So, missed that one. Gil does not fully ensure either. The guitar was actually $10,500 and it was insured for $7650. Not sure who was expected to cough up the other $3000. Cliff uses 3rd party insurance as a dealer, but it is messy with the law suit. I only partially insured it with Fedex coming over here. I have never had a guitar damaged with them. I did call Fedex to file a claim. They came and inspected the damage then looked at the packaging and laughed, then said sorry and left. Gil wanted me to pack it up and send it back to the US real quick, fully ensured then file a claim there. Uh, I am pretty sure that is like fraud or something. I knew this is wasn't going to end well when I saw the sort of person I was dealing with. Never again will I deal with fucking assholes like this. All I wanted to hear or read on an email was "please send it back and I will fix it or replace it". Not listen to schemes on how to collect money. Quite frankly, I am rooting for Gibson on this one.

 

[mmolteratx]

Steve....is it possible for you collect shipping insurance on the guitar? I thought that Gil insured every guitar before he shipped? He told me that mine would be insured...

The guitar was originally supposed to ship to Cliff as the dealer. Because of the impending Gibson lawsuit, he doesn't want anything shipped to or from him as he thinks Customs is watching. So, it shipped to my US address, where I don't live. If there had been someone to open it and check it out and had it been damaged on the Tel Aviv - US leg of the shipping, a claim could have been filed. However, there is a 24 hour window to file a claim. So, missed that one. Gil does not fully ensure either. The guitar was actually $10,500 and it was insured for $7650. Not sure who was expected to cough up the other $3000. Cliff uses 3rd party insurance as a dealer, but it is messy with the law suit. I only partially insured it with Fedex coming over here. I have never had a guitar damaged with them. I did call Fedex to file a claim. They came and inspected the damage then looked at the packaging and laughed, then said sorry and left. Gil wanted me to pack it up and send it back to the US real quick, fully ensured then file a claim there. Uh, I am pretty sure that is like fraud or something. I knew this is wasn't going to end well when I saw the sort of person I was dealing with. Never again will I deal with fucking assholes like this. All I wanted to hear or read on an email was "please send it back and I will fix it or replace it". Not listen to schemes on how to collect money. Quite frankly, I am rooting for Gibson on this one.

That last part is ridiculous... They most certainly check for easy fraud like that. Can't even believe he would ask you to do that.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Steve....is it possible for you collect shipping insurance on the guitar? I thought that Gil insured every guitar before he shipped? He told me that mine would be insured...

The guitar was originally supposed to ship to Cliff as the dealer. Because of the impending Gibson lawsuit, he doesn't want anything shipped to or from him as he thinks Customs is watching. So, it shipped to my US address, where I don't live. If there had been someone to open it and check it out and had it been damaged on the Tel Aviv - US leg of the shipping, a claim could have been filed. However, there is a 24 hour window to file a claim. So, missed that one. Gil does not fully ensure either. The guitar was actually $10,500 and it was insured for $7650. Not sure who was expected to cough up the other $3000. Cliff uses 3rd party insurance as a dealer, but it is messy with the law suit. I only partially insured it with Fedex coming over here. I have never had a guitar damaged with them. I did call Fedex to file a claim. They came and inspected the damage then looked at the packaging and laughed, then said sorry and left. Gil wanted me to pack it up and send it back to the US real quick, fully ensured then file a claim there. Uh, I am pretty sure that is like fraud or something. I knew this is wasn't going to end well when I saw the sort of person I was dealing with. Never again will I deal with fucking assholes like this. All I wanted to hear or read on an email was "please send it back and I will fix it or replace it". Not listen to schemes on how to collect money. Quite frankly, I am rooting for Gibson on this one.

Man, what a scumbag move on his part. Are you sure that wasn't Mark Cameron that was emailing you under his alias?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Please tell me you didn't have to pay him via Western Union because his power was disconnected

 

[steve_k]

Moral of the story?

Know who you are dealing with and don't fall for the hype. There are plenty of honest and worthy alternatives out there.

 

[joepete77]

Was he pissed that you sent It out to someone else to be repaired rather then send it back to dealer or to Israel? Did you try for a refund before starting the thread? Not that it should matter either way, I am just trying to figure out what would cause such a respected luthier to pull such a scumbag move. I would also consider trying to appeal the fed ex denial and have the claim looked into again. Also, if the dealer made a commission off this sale then I would put pressure on them and maybe they will put Gil's feet to the fire on getting this situation fixed. It's not the least bit fair that you should be left with dick in hand and out 10.5 k plus repairs and shipping etc. Don't let this drop. That box is identical to what the $199 squire strat ships in and actually the squire box is probably better.

 

[steve_k]

Was he pissed that you sent It out to someone else to be repaired rather then send it back to dealer or to Israel? Did you try for a refund before starting the thread? Not that it should matter either way, I am just trying to figure out what would cause such a respected luthier to pull such a scumbag move. I would also consider trying to appeal the fed ex denial and have the claim looked into again. Also, if the dealer made a commission off this sale then I would put pressure on them and maybe they will put Gil's feet to the fire on getting this situation fixed. It's not the least bit fair that you should be left with dick in hand and out 10.5 k plus repairs and shipping etc. Don't let this drop. That box is identical to what the $199 squire strat ships in and actually the squire box is probably better.

The dealer has offered me his commission and a little more. I haven't accepted it yet. He is in a precarious position, as I now realize. However, with the law suit, if I send this out, it may not come back as US Customs may be flagging the shipments. I would rather the repair and make up a portion of the loss in value than risk having no guitar and being out 10K. For those with guitars on order, you should be concerned.

 

[Shark Diver]

Still in shock.

 

[dooredge]

I've gotten a few shitty deals handed to me over the last couple years, but nothing like this. I'm sure I'm not the only one grateful not to be standing in Steve's shoes. Being the recipient of a raw deal sucks, but this particular cluster certainly put things in perspective where my hassles are concerned.

 

[Deleted member 16554]

Moral of the story?

Know who you are dealing with and don't fall for the hype. There are plenty of honest and worthy alternatives out there.

steve, for what its worth I dont think i'd ever heard one bad thing about gil before this, but pretty much everything you're learning in this process is downright disturbing. from his shitty packing to his suggestion to "ship it back stateside" to collect money.

i'm glad you shared this information so hopefully no one else gets shafted this way. also, it was pretty nice of the dealer to offer you the commission, at least someone seems to care...

looking forward to the post-repair pics

 

[DeezDemos]

Condolences Bro.

 

[gbsmusic]

I cant believe he's not covering this. So sorry Steve! What a fucking cocksucker!!

 

[LAVALLE]

You know what, I have been seriously considering ordering one of these for the past 6 months or so. Not that I need another expensive LP, but damn his guitars are nice. After hearing about all this BS I will NEVER order anything from that F'N guy!!!