Should I be upset? VIDEOS ADDED

[Mr. Willy]

Personally....I would never handle a situation like this by posting on the internet about it. I guess I’m “old school, or just old” but if you feel you got fucked, take it up with the guy or the business and get resolution. Threatening a business by showing a thread posted on a forum isn’t likely to get anything accomplished. I know I don’t respond kindly to threats and I feel most people feel the same.

I suppose if I paid the amount you did and I was expecting a “perfect” looking finished product I might be upset. I don’t get hung up with perfect looking guitars. I’m much more concerned about the playability and tone of an instrument. Just MY opinion.

I needed outside opinion to make sure I’m not overreacting to the quality of this work. I don’t get work done like this often. I’ve had this guitar for nearly 30 years and this is the first and only time I’ve attempted to get it fixed. Besides that, I still have not told anyone who this person is. Can you tell who this is by this info?

I had a major issue with this guy when the bill came because it was so far off the mark for what he quoted.

The public has a right to see his work and decide for themselves whether or not to employ his services.

One thing to mention, is that based on the interaction I’ve had with him so far, I do not expect any of my money back. This is part of a last ditched effort to get him to realize how poorly he’s done and to make it right somehow.

Posting this on a forum is a tool I’m going to use. Put yourself in my shoes and see how you’d feel if your most sentimental guitar was worked like this and you spent as much as I did on it.

Again, I was pointing out I would handle it differently. Still a free country (for now anyhow) and it’s fine that you want to go this route. You did pay a shit ton of money for the work, no doubt.

I think what I’m saying and what others have injected means nothing. It’s your money and how you feel about the guitar and the quality of the work is what matters. I feel bad for you honestly.

I feel you man. And I totally see what you’re saying. This guy is a nice fellow, and it’s nothing personal. But he’s been well aware of my concerns for weeks now, and has an overall attitude that he’s done a good job and done exactly what I wanted. In no way has he admitted yet that his work is poor or that his communication throughout this process is lacking.

I’m old school as well. I realize how “airing dirty laundry” online appears.

At this point with this guy, a simple apology would go a long way. At least an “I’m sorry you’re unhappy.” Or something. Anything.

 

[paulyc]

Out this guy already.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

 

[Mr. Willy]

He’s responding to me in text. I’m still giving him a chance. He’s telling me that the razor marks were there from a previous fret job. How can that be true when he shaved the fretboard down from a 10 in radius to a 12” radius?

Yes, the chips in the fret board were from a previous fret job, but the razor and file marks were not. There’s no way they could have been if he, in fact, shaved the fretboard down to a 12” radius.

He’s a member on RigTalk. He’s aware of this thread. He’s welcome to make his case here, in the court of public opinion.

 

[Detroit1973]

This is a repair shop in Nashville. I’m not ready to out this guy yet. I have all correspondence minus the two phone conversations we had. Here’s the original laundry list I sent to him of what I wanted done:

She needs a good bit of work. I’d like it to look like the Peter Frampton model (minus the middle pup) - black finish, open coil black humbuckers, white pup rings, silver hardware.

Here’s a list of things I think need to be done. I submit to your expertise in these areas as you are the expert. These aren’t in order, it’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.

1. Total re-fret (including leveling, crowning, dressing, etc.)
2. Repaint and Refinish (I believe some finish sanding may have to happen.) I do like an unfinished neck. Not sure if I want the back of the neck painted and finished. I’m open to suggestions here.
3. Holes need filling. 2 mini toggle holes between the both volume and tone knobs. Holes for original tuners that were replaced.
4. New hardware, pickups, rings, pots, etc. I saw that Gravelin fellow on your FB page. Got in touch with him, and he’s gonna make me some new pups for her. She’s got Rio Grandes in her now, but they’re covered and I wanna try something new, so...
5. General set up, make her play like butter.

One thing you should know about her is that she’s had her neck broken a long time ago, before I got her. The break was repaired, and I’ve never had any issues with it. I don’t think anything needs to be done in that regard.

I bout this guitar when I was 19. She used to be yellow, but I took all the finish off her at one point (mainly because I was curious if she had a maple top). In short, I just want her to look and play the absolute best she can. I’d already decided to go with the 70’s look like the Frampton LPC when I came across your site.

Attached are pics. I realize that you charge by the hour, but if you could give me a ballpark figure on how much the work would cost, I’d appreciate it. I have an amount I can spend. If the work will be more than that amount, I’ll have to hold off and save up some more. Attached are a few pics. I can take more if need be. I live in Northern Alabama, between Huntsville and Birmingham.

His response:
Very Cool.
I like that it has an ABR bridge, not a tom. An early 75 from Kalamazoo.
just from the pictures and your laundry list,
A conservative guesstimate around $900~$1100.

The Request for $500 back seems fair. Where are you in Alabama? My Family on my Mom's side is in Huntsville & Arab. My Uncle used to work at the Redstone for Years.

 

[JimAnsell]

man, to think i sent Micheal Tuttle my 81 lp custom (then later my 74 deluxe)for $500 shipped to cali and back for a SS refret. i had not only the most flawless fretwork i have still seen to this day, but the guitar was buffed, and cleaned so well, with a set up that was so good it lasted for almost a year before i had to touch anything but the tuning pegs.

sold em on ebay as i had kids and got less commited to music
Tuttle doesn't do work anymore, just builds his own guitars

yeah that fretboard prep was highly half assed.
my ebony board came back looking factory fresh, re-radiused, and everything.

these are big jobs that only need some research before you have just anyone do it.
i'm assuming OP did that, and just had bad luck or something.

 

[Goat]

Lesson: Never hire a luthier from an internet music forum.

 

[ErikT]

He’s responding to me in text. I’m still giving him a chance. He’s telling me that the razor marks were there from a previous fret job. How can that be true when he shaved the fretboard down from a 10 in radius to a 12” radius?

Yes, the chips in the fret board were from a previous fret job, but the razor and file marks were not. There’s no way they could have been if he, in fact, shaved the fretboard down to a 12” radius.

He’s a member on RigTalk. He’s aware of this thread. He’s welcome to make his case here, in the court of public opinion.

If they were there from previous fret work that means he didn't even retrue the fingerboard, especially if it was getting a different radius. That's 100% BS. I'm a fellow RV grad and worked at Sadowsky Guitars for 7.5 years as a builder. This bro is being super shady and scummy. Def demand $500 back. Even if this was a perfect job, $1900 is INSANE.

 

[Devin]

Lesson: Never hire a luthier from an internet music forum.

Worked out well for me! Though this most certainly wasn't the built by the same luthier who worked on Mr. Willy's LP

 

[paulyc]

The fact that he’s aware of this thread and hasn’t stepped in here to either explain his side of it or apologize to you publicly and offer a refund tells me all I need to know about this guy. Out him he’s being a tool.

 

[Mr. Willy]

This is a repair shop in Nashville. I’m not ready to out this guy yet. I have all correspondence minus the two phone conversations we had. Here’s the original laundry list I sent to him of what I wanted done:

She needs a good bit of work. I’d like it to look like the Peter Frampton model (minus the middle pup) - black finish, open coil black humbuckers, white pup rings, silver hardware.

Here’s a list of things I think need to be done. I submit to your expertise in these areas as you are the expert. These aren’t in order, it’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.

1. Total re-fret (including leveling, crowning, dressing, etc.)
2. Repaint and Refinish (I believe some finish sanding may have to happen.) I do like an unfinished neck. Not sure if I want the back of the neck painted and finished. I’m open to suggestions here.
3. Holes need filling. 2 mini toggle holes between the both volume and tone knobs. Holes for original tuners that were replaced.
4. New hardware, pickups, rings, pots, etc. I saw that Gravelin fellow on your FB page. Got in touch with him, and he’s gonna make me some new pups for her. She’s got Rio Grandes in her now, but they’re covered and I wanna try something new, so...
5. General set up, make her play like butter.

One thing you should know about her is that she’s had her neck broken a long time ago, before I got her. The break was repaired, and I’ve never had any issues with it. I don’t think anything needs to be done in that regard.

I bout this guitar when I was 19. She used to be yellow, but I took all the finish off her at one point (mainly because I was curious if she had a maple top). In short, I just want her to look and play the absolute best she can. I’d already decided to go with the 70’s look like the Frampton LPC when I came across your site.

Attached are pics. I realize that you charge by the hour, but if you could give me a ballpark figure on how much the work would cost, I’d appreciate it. I have an amount I can spend. If the work will be more than that amount, I’ll have to hold off and save up some more. Attached are a few pics. I can take more if need be. I live in Northern Alabama, between Huntsville and Birmingham.

His response:
Very Cool.
I like that it has an ABR bridge, not a tom. An early 75 from Kalamazoo.
just from the pictures and your laundry list,
A conservative guesstimate around $900~$1100.

The Request for $500 back seems fair. Where are you in Alabama? My Family on my Mom's side is in Huntsville & Arab. My Uncle used to work at the Redstone for Years.

I live in Cullman. I work in Huntsville.

 

[Mr. Willy]

He runs a legitimate repair business in Nashville. Has a website with pics of his previous work, as well as at least a Facebook page.

He has apologized to me via text. Is arguing about why the fretboard looks the way it does and why the finish looks the way it does. Basically says it could not be helped given the condition it was in. I completely disagree.

I will update this when I can with what he has sent me for the sake of full transparency.

He has not said whether or not he will offer any refunds. I do not expect one. As soon as I know for sure, I will reveal whose business this is. NOT for retribution, but SOLELY so that no one else here gets burned.

I will have to continue saving up my precious pennies to be able to send this to someone who can fix it and make her what she deserves to be. She doesn’t deserve this treatment.

 

[ZEEGLER]

That is absolutely amateur work. Demand your money refunded in full.

 

[Goat]

Lesson: Never hire a luthier from an internet music forum.

Worked out well for me! Though this most certainly wasn't the built by the same luthier who worked on Mr. Willy's LP

Simple and clean... What's not to love?

 

[Devin]

That is absolutely amateur work. Demand your money refunded in full.

He probably already blew the money on hookers and blow

Simple and clean... What's not to love?

 

[Monomyth]

I’ve never had a single guitar refretted or leveled, the only person I’ve considered recently retired here in the Midwest, I own a lot of guitars, they can come and go much easier.

 

[Deleted member 13074]

...

 

[phil b]

As what has been already said, the line about being "Aged" is a little unsettling as that can be determined quite a number of ways. I think from your requests you did in fact, make it clear that you wanted the Frampton look with no covers on the pups. In no terms did you explicitly say "aged" in ANY of your correspondences. He as the builder ABSOLUTELY should have let you know if he was having any issues with the filler and the fact that as a result it would not come out as even he expected. He put himself in a bad situation when he admitted that the filler was not taking in certain spots. Right there a conversation to the owner, the one PAYING THE BILL, should have taken place. For the money that you spent you really should not be bummed and absolutely should have gotten what you wanted. Hell, he charged enough money that he should take it back and make it right. Even if he did refin it again he would probably break even.

 

[Monomyth]

It’s not your right to dox the fella here, if you actually read the thread you would know that. Listen, people doing this work should be vetted before hand by years of expierence, working with wood is super difficult.

 

[Mr. Willy]

]

It’s not your right to dox the fella here, if you actually read the thread you would know that. Listen, people doing this work should be vetted before hand by years of expierence, working with wood is super difficult.

It is ABSOLUTELY my right to reveal who this is and shine a light on his work. Especially considering ALL the circumstances of this transaction. He runs a legitimate repair shop in Nashville. Got a website with pics of his past work, which looked good to me and was ultimately why I chose him. He worked for Gibson Custom Shop. By every account, he portrayed himself as a competent luthier.

But don’t you or anyone else ever tell me what right I have and don’t have. You may have an ethical or moral objection, and that’s fine, but to say it’s not my right? You couldn’t be more wrong.