This is gonna be a Loooong post, so get comfortable.
Ok, Say “I told ya so” because I still have not received a Tele from Jay Monterose… but keep reading.
Not long after my last post concerning my infamous “Vintique Tele” I found out that Chihoe Hahn had parted ways with Jay Monterose/Vintique. I do not know the details as to why and even if I did, it’s not my place to say. Chihoe told me that he was very sorry that I did not receive my Tele as promised, but he had done his best to try and get Jay to honor my deadline of March 3rd, 2007 . It was now out of his hands and he wished me luck.
A few days later I spoke to Jay and he was fired up about getting me my Tele, but because of his “split” with Chihoe, it would take a bit more time. This was about 2 months ago. I spoke to Jay 3 times since then. The last time was about 3 weeks ago. He called me to see “what we needed to do to get this Tele finished” Apparently what he “needed” was $1900 MORE!!! Yep, you read that right. When I calmly told Jay that they had agreed to send me my Tele regardless of any “balance” I might owe, his reply was “ I don’t make guitars for free!” And he said he would “sell the guitar for $3500” He had also asked me for my “original paper work” which I gladly sent him. I also pointed out that the original invoice price for the guitar was $2108.00 and I had paid $1600 plus shipped him a Thermometer case valued at $200. ( that means I only owed him $508 of the original price) He acknowledged that I had paid him $1600 and the case was mine. He said “If you want, I can sell this guitar and send you a refund and your case back.” (by the way, he said Vince Gill was very interested in the guitar... right). So, that was 3 weeks ago, he is not returning my calls and I have yet to see a refund check or a return of my Case, and No… I don’t ever expect to. But alas…. You’ve not heard “the rest of the story”
Today, I woke up to find a package on my door step. It was a box that said “Fender”. I opened it up to find a gorgeous Black & White Tweed case. Inside was this:
This was not an unexpected package. About the time that Jay Monterose was asking me for more money, I received an e-mail out of the blue from Chihoe Hahn that said this:
June 4th, 2007
Hey Danny
Just checking in with you to see if you've had any luck ... have you?
I have my shop up and running pretty much full speed now, and am producing some great guitars. I have thought about it a lot, and would like to get you a guitar -- on me. (you can see some pictures of what i'm building at www.hahnguitars.com)
Anyway, let me know -- and if I can get you a guitar, that's well worth it for me.... and you will get a guitar that will be absolutely killer.
Best regards,
Chihoe
I was absolutely blown away. I had made it clear in the original “5 year Tele” thread that Chihoe had been honest and up front with me and gave me no reason to doubt his word. And I was right.
I told him that it was not his place to send me a guitar and that he owed me nothing. It was Jay that owed me. But Chihoe insisted. I told him that if he felt this strongly about it, then I would be honored to own one of his guitars. And now… I do!
The guitar is absolutely AMAZING! It’s light weight, 2 piece ash body. It has hand wound Seymour Duncan pickups and it sounds great! It seriously plays better than my 1994 Gatton Sig. Tele.
The only thing lacking right now, is knobs. He promised that they would be in the mail to me in 2 weeks… I think I can trust him.
This by no means is an advertisement for Hahn Guitars. It’s just pure FACT! Chihoe stepped up and did what Jay would not and HAS NOT done. I am grateful and despite the fact that this guitar is absolutely outstanding, it’s one of the most cherished guitars I will ever own. There are good people and Chihoe Hahn is most certainly one of them and I thank him dearly.
As for Jay…. I believe the lyrics to that song go “ Someday, Some Way, ohhhh . Someday Some way”
Thanks to all of you and Thanks to the TDPRI
Your Pal - Danny Thompson