|
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| Well, looks like Brett's lost it for a little while, and I'll be picking up my guitars in various stages of build with a police stand-by tomorrow...
Bluebird's less than 1/4 done and was supposed to be ready a long time ago, and was hoping to have it for the tour....
had to DRAG the vipertron out of him before that for Slydog, and he did do a nice job on that, but just took forever for no reason.. or excuse other than he's 24...
he's also got my hot rod proto that he and howie built for me, and also has a double cut artist body with an Ovation shaved/shaped/stripped deluxe neck he was building for Shannon
I've been a little distracted lately with Char's health issues, and had just been corresponding via phone with him recently, but he was assuring me things were close, and to bring him the strings to set-em-up. and that he could even bring me the hot rod if I wanted.
well, we went over there tonight and....
they're still parts piles... he's used some of my NOS parts on other people's projects, and my parts, bodies, screws, pickups, wiring, etc.. are scattered from one end of the shop to the other...
let's just say I was not pleased... and went off like a rocket.
He's having issues.. and I guess the beer helps.
I'll be inventorying everything tomorrow and taking pictures to compare with the sales photos.. glad that paypal keeps all the invoices and everything was bought online.
I also have several witnesses of my gear in his possession... and in his shop.
hoping it's not too screwed up, hope he gets some help.
He just called several times threatening to trash my stuff and throw it on the curb.. and threatening to sue me, ?????????????
yes Law enforcement is now involved...
and I'll have one of there officers with me on standby as I pick up my gear.
I provided all finishes, paint, and materials,
he was paid for his work, and I thought everything was going as should.
these were jobs that were originally bid out at 3-4weeks each. it's now over 6 months later..
only one done is al's 4 months ago..
boy was I wrong.....
anyway.... I no longer recommend Brett Spillers of Spillerscustom.com for any guitar work..
Glenn |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Glenn, sorry to hear about that. You'd placed a lot of trust in him during a difficult time in your life, and it's really a shame he took advantage of that. I hope you get enough stuff back to go elsewhere and finish the projects! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| When the booze gets a hold.....
I had a good friend who went the same way, but at least he only had a few records of mine which he sold.
You have my sympathy - so does your friend but only after somebody kicks his butt first. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 308
| Glenn, I am so sorry to hear about that!
Unfortunately I had a somehow similar experience with my local luthier. Last time I trusted him with my Ovation Legend he messed it up causing more damage than fixing. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by schroeder:
When the booze gets a hold.....
SRV put it,"living life by the drop". Man Glen, I pray things turn around for you and Char. Glad you've got documentation on the stuff you supplied, but it may get to be the old "blood out of a turnip" thing if you have to extract any compensation from him. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Just keep in mind you usually get screwed when your pants are down. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | ooh, flippant yet sage advice. well said. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I say get drunk and go beat the shite out of him.
No seriously, there's something wrong, he might be having some sort of personal problems.
In this situation, just say thank you very much, give me my stuff, and I'll pay you for the work you've done. Sever your relations with him.
Next, come to NYC, I know two luthiers that will be able to help you. One's a stoner, but he does good work, he's just slow and would never try to rip you off. The other one is top notch too.
Also, I know a guy in vermont ... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Glenn - really sorry to hear about all of this on top of everything else. Let us know the status after you pick everything up. I'm sure you can get some amateur lutherie help here on the board as well.
Mike |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| with my EXTREME nearsightedness... and mild parkinsonism at times... small assembly, and straight lines, delicate movements are sometimes a challenge, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
guess I'll have to give it a shot.. can't afford to pay out any more on these so it's gonna be a DIY job on them.
Bill, I'll definitely try to keep them up and my belt tight next time.
I was trying to give the kid a chance to do some good work on these to show you guys what he can do... and possibly help him build his business...
the deputy just called him to tell him to have all my stuff ready... sent him the parts list/inventory by e-mail.
waiting to hear from him(Brett) and then we'll be on our way out there with a Deputy standing by.
Thanks Guys.
Glenn |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I had a similar problem with a car mechanic once. I had to go sit in his shop and "help" him put my car back together so I could get it out of there. Then I had to have someone else fix everything he had screwed up.
It is unfortunate that there are some people who start out thinking they can get things straightened out by telling a little lie and then they keep getting in deeper. I hope you didn't get burned too badly. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| well.. it's pretty rough.. got 98% of it back, the uk body is pretty banged up, the bluebird neck has binding missing.. the artist body is pretty thrashed and half carved, and the other deluxe neck has a ton of green lacquer overspray on it tho is tung oiled... but will clean up ok.
assorted hardware missing, most importantly 4 machine screws and neckplate for the UK.. one gretsch harness was appropriated and given to someone elses project, and he forgot to give back 3 new sets of strings which I dropped off with his father a couple weeks ago... he did remember the set for the 12 tho..
while we were retrieving the gear... he actually tried to hand me a bill...
officer standing by actually busted a chuckle on that one.. as did I.
wish I had a workbench.. Howie's gonna help me get the UK and the proto back together..
Woody? wanna work on a total mutt? bring your rasp and dremel... have some great hardware for it, and the shaved/stripped/sculpted deluxe neck is really pretty nice... tho really thin.. sculpted for girls hands.
Glenn |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Originally posted by Amazingly-Detached..:
tho really thin.. sculpted for girls hands. Where's fillhixx???? :D :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| here's a slide show of the recovered carnage.. the cuts on the body were for backcarving ala prs.. the body was originally for a 21 fret neck and the pocket has been lengthened for the deluxe... hence the need for the narrower pickups.. I have ebony headstock blanks for the pickup rings..
parts parts parts
laid out all the parts on the artist to show somewhat what it's supposed to look like when done.. all top line hardware and elx, shaller bridge, mini grovers, roller nut, mini buckers, ovation deluxe neck.. the body is basswood, top cap is unknown... limba? korina?...
anyway.. if anyone wants to take a stab at it..let me know... I have assorted parts and cash to barter.
Glenn |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | Sorry about this situation for you Glenn. You really didn't deserve this.
Glad that you recovered most of your stuff, but compared to what you and Char have been through, it still is just stuff.
You have always been positive and looked on the bright side, it's just another lemon for the lemonade.
Don't forget to add ice... ;)
Jim |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| Thanks Jim... btw thanks for starting the "Southern Book Tour"... I am almost done committing the book to memory.
I believe JPcannon is next.. I'll be signing the #3 spot on the cover and sending it on it's way along with a copy of the Unique Voices DVD from Ovation.
Mr. Cannon... send me your address... the line down here forms after him.
Glenn |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241
Location: Simpsonville, SC | That is a great addition Glenn. I hope that your memory is better than mine. There will be a test next Tuesday. :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| I work on projects of all kinds in my shop, there are times when you just can't find a job when you need a little extra cash or your feeling like you want to tackle something other than your own stuff and then there are times when you can't get them all done.
I don't drink and I am not a kid either but I have found myself buried lately, in projects on three benches currently, so a small part of me feels bad for this guy. Very small part.
I treat other peoples guitars better than my own. They do not come out of the case unless they are being worked on or are in clamps on the bench and even then I cover them with something. The strangest shit happens sometimes and I always worry about shit that ain't mine.
I am curious? How did you figure a guy who is this young (24 did you say?) was a good luthier anyway? Really?? this makes little sense to me..... This profession takes time to aquire it's various techniques and trade secrets. There are so many subtle issues when it comes to something as common, in the guitar repair world, as straightening out a neck to replacing a bridge. You can't be very good at it unless you have done more than a few and your not an expert until you've done dozens on the various makers guitars. You have to know the various finishes just to make a simple color repair and on & on & on & on.
Find yourself an experienced luthier. they are hard to find but worth the price.
I by the way am not one...even with my woodworking, and endelss list of trade skills, I only dabble in guitar building and repair I do my own work but I would only do the most basic of repairs for most people. This kid sounds like he needs to get a job and get some responsibility and start building a life before he takes the time to learn this craft.
I hope the damage is repairable and I mean no personal offence to you but for me there is no "Kid" who I would take a guitar to for repair work unless I was not willing to either spend much money and figured on getting low quality work that took forever.......or this "kid" had a list as long as his arm of satisfied customers and even then some that I knew.
Good luck my friend.
Randy |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by dvd:
Originally posted by Amazingly-Detached..:
for girls hands. Where's fillhixx????
But can I interest you in a monkeys paw? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | only if you're delivering it by hand to the party at Greg's house on July 14th. and as long as you're NOT wearing the tin-foil outfit from that other thread. ;) |
|
| |
Screwed by my luthier(who I felt was a friend).. mad and worried for him
