When a custom builder loses interest.

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spaced_ghost

spaced_ghost

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I've been talking to a custom guitar maker about getting a guitar for a couple weeks. He's a mostly unknown but "highly regarded by those who know about him" longtime builder with decades of experience and a pretty killer resume of top tier musicians playing his customs. Up until recently, he (well, his sales guy) has been exceptionally helpful and friendly. We have decided on body style, scale length, etc, etc. etc. and are now in the process of picking out tone woods and pickups. Well, they asked me to send them a clip of the kind of sound I was after. i sent them a pretty heavy doom/psych clip, and ever since the dude has been much less communicative. Whereas before, he had all these suggestions for pickups and custom winds, now he's just like, I dunno, we have some (small maker) pickups here in the shop, just use those. Similar with the tone woods. before, it was was, this wood would be great for the body, it does this. now, it's, yeah, i dunno, we've got some of this already cut in that body style, just use that. Not to mention, railroading me on the options. Like, despite what I say I want for a color, he says, "oh, just go black, it'll be better for resale if you decide to sell." I don't know for sure, but it seems like it's because the guys in the company play blues and focus on blues and AOR rock, and have no interest in what I'm after now that they have heard the clip. I knew going in that they were big on the blues, but I had played one of their guitars belonging to a friend, and it was a really great guitar and sounded perfect for what i do, actually. I don't particularly care that I'm using a "blues" guitar to play heavy rock and metal, I mean, isn't that what bands have been doing for 40 years? I totally respect the artistry aspect, and I even empathize: If i was a guitar maker and someone wanted me to make a guitar for a crabcore band or a limp bizkit cover band, I'd def be way less interested than someone wanting to play doom, metal, etc. etc. etc. I dunno, i guess I would just really prefer that the maker was into what he was doing. seems like it would lead to a better guitar, particularly when the guy wont even help me out with pup selection. and the thing ain't cheap. The caveat is that I build expensive custom objects for a living, and I don't do a worse job on ones I don't like (I sure do bitch about it to my employees, though), so I do know that it's possible to not let your craft be affected by it.

At this point, I have put down a smallish initial deposit, around 10%, with 40% due in a couple weeks, and the remainder on delivery. But I'm seriously considering pulling the plug if the guy isn't willing or able to help me pick out pups, etc. The ETA is 6 months from now, and I know he hasn't started it yet. This is my first custom, are my expectations out of line?


Thanks.
 
Nope. You want your builder to be as into the project as you are. At least that's how I feel. If he's not into it, I would feel like he wasn't a fan of my ideas, and would be much less inclined to be a 'part of the build'. Granted, no one is gonna be as excited about it as you are, but for the lack of interest and the comments he's made about your ideas concerning colors and pups, I'd just move on.

This to me, would be an exercise in frustration, and that's not why I have custom guitars built. I dig the designs, the teamwork, the exchange of ideas. This would totally ruin the entire process for me.
 
I'd move on. If you're not feeling it now why think it will get better? A builder shouldn't care what type of music you play. A builder should only care about getting you a quality instrument that fits your needs.
 
Agree with these guys. If he's not digging it now during the planning stages, imagine just how much effort (or lack thereof) he'll put into actually building and delivering the damn thing. A custom job from a small builder is a lot of money riding on the line with practically nothing you can do to be made whole if it turns out poorly. If I was getting bad vibes, I'd want my deposit back and to move on. Even if I couldn't get the deposit back, not sure I'd sink good money after bad.
 
If anybody says "stay", it's the builder or rep in cognito.

Aside from doing the right thing, this is a very competitive field. Don't settle for anything less and from what I've seen over the years on TGP, go with a known name with few exceptions...

Luxxtone being one of them. Jerry and Dave are THE shit! If you were my son I'd say LUXXTONE until I was blue in the face.
 
He's a known name, especially on TGP for his LP's. His early model LP restorations sell on ebay for $15k, $25k, or more.

The pickup thing particularly left me with a sour taste in my mouth. at first, it was, well, we use these three custom pickup makers, two of them will do custom winds and listen to the guitar and then change the wind to get the tone you want. Afterwards, it was literally, "Well, we have these used pups that just came out of our buddy's guitar, just use those." well, I said I wanted high output, those are like 7k. what about these other ones that are 14k? "these are really high output, just use the used ones." well, what about these other ones that are higher and what about that custom wind? "Well, I don't know much about tone, but these pickups sounded good in so and so's guitar." Well, what does the builder think I should use? "Oh, you should probably just use these used ones. if you don't like them you can sell them on ebay."

Very similar conversation with the color. every time i asked about a color, the response was always, "Just get it in black with white binding, it'll sell better that way." After I had asked about silverburst or sea foam green or eggshell blue. I started to feel like they just needed a black guitar for a photo for their website. this all happened after I put down the 10% and after I sent the clip.

thanks for the opinions guys, pretty much how i felt. I just want to make sure I'm not acting like an entitled brat just because i'm ordering a custom guitar.
 
Pull the plug. He's not giving you clear answers, if those are what he said verbatim. You're already frustrated. I'm assuming you're going to spend a pretty penny. It's your money. Do what your gut tells you. Sorry you're having problems bro.
 
Mr. Willy":2n9gzbvg said:
Pull the plug. He's not giving you clear answers, if those are what he said verbatim. You're already frustrated. I'm assuming you're going to spend a pretty penny. It's your money. Do what your gut tells you. Sorry you're having problems bro.
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Agreed, the guy should at least be willing to build you what you are leaning towards. Attitude towards the customers request's should be a no-brainer in the custom build world.
My experience in custom stuff is that communication is point A... I'd never get to point B if point A was not flowing properly. ;)
If it matters to you, it should matter to him
 
You can't work with a builder like that. Hopefully you won't lose your 10% deposit. I have been fortunate with builders and communicating with them and it is the greatest thing to have the guitar you want to go from tree to instrument. This endeavor should make you feel excited and nothing less. Tell them you changed your mind.
 
No way man, gotta feel comfortable to spend that kind of money.mfind another builder who shares in your vision.
 
Run, if you drop the 10% then that is better than all of it going to something he wants you to play.
 
Sounds like you won't be happy with the outcome. But I wouldn't expect that deposit back. Hopefully, whether or not it is refundable is in writing so there won't be any question.

My .02...if/when you cancel, be honest about why. Sounds like the dude needs a bit of a wake-up call.
 
yep, if he's not into it - chances are you will see that in the end result. being "meh" about it to you is quite unprofessional as well.
 
Shark Diver":25rcfsdl said:
I'd move on. If you're not feeling it now why think it will get better? A builder shouldn't care what type of music you play. A builder should only care about getting you a quality instrument that fits your needs.
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+100


Time to walk.
 
Glad to see so many people on the same side....if you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate a PM as to who this guy is, just so I can avoid any dealings with him in the future.
 
throw the dude under the bus, sounds like a prick. if you're worried about getting the deposit back just be up front with them and tell them how you've come to the decision to walk. then walk
 
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