"This Old Guitar" (relic builder in Austin) - any reviews/experience?

tristanavakian · April 12th, 2008, 02:50 AM

Hello All,

I've been talking to a relic builder in Austin named Dave... real nice guy.

He may build me a 70's era Keef "Micawber". He offered me a really sweet deal.

Does anyone have here have any experience with his guitars? What did you think?

There is not a single thread about him here. NOT ONE.

That's encouraging - no horror stories at least. But puzzling too.

If you had any dealings, before I throw down my $$$, please give me your 2c!

Thanks.

62_Inca_Esquire · April 12th, 2008, 03:19 AM

Dave makes nice guitars..Ive been to his shop, and previously owned a tele he built. Good quality at what I feel is a very fair price. Good guy too.

dB · April 12th, 2008, 02:21 PM

Dave who? I'm curious.

Thanks,

dB

csapo · April 12th, 2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dB

Dave who? I'm curious.

Thanks,

dB

ThisOldGuitar.net

Click on the link to the '55 Seafoam Green Tele to see more detail. The only change I made was to swap out the top hat p/up selector for a barrel tip.

I just sold mine earlier this week. I've had it for a couple of years and it just was not getting played enough. A really nice tele though and Dave was terrific to deal with. Plus his prices used to be pretty darn good. Can't speak to that now.

I think his work has actually gotten better and more realistic since mine. I would place his work on par with K-Line or Nash.

Pic of my former from Dave's site...

este · October 14th, 2008, 10:09 AM

I have a strat by him .
He buys the neck,body,and pieces at allparts.com and other companys , he doesn´t actually build guitars from scratch , then relics it .
And I ordered another guitar . A bbender telecaster six months back , and still dont get the guitar .

Lostheart · October 14th, 2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by este

But the worst thing is that I bought another guitar from him , a telecaster with a b-bender and paid him about six months ago . He does not send me the guitar and stop to answer my emails three months ago .
I don´t know what to do .

Wow, shame on that guy!

tristanavakian · October 14th, 2008, 11:01 AM

I've gotta wonder why you bought another if you did'nt like the first one?

BTW a lot of excellent builders use Allparts, including Nash.
If you want one made from scratch go somewhere else, but expect to pay more money. I think this guy's price was very reasonable.

No guitar - and no contact - is a very bad sign, however.

ROADMAN · October 14th, 2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by este

I have a strat by him .
He buys the neck,body,and pieces at allparts.com and other companys , he doesn´t actually build guitars from scratch , then relics it .
Bad wood selection = bad tone .
But the worst thing is that I bought another guitar from him , a telecaster with a b-bender and paid him about six months ago . He does not send me the guitar and stop to answer my emails three months ago .
I don´t know what to do .

keep emailing "Dave" till he gives you an answer...tell him your a member of the
biggest telecaster forum in the world and his business will take a big hit if word gets out he's a ripoff artist...be relentless and good luck

este · October 14th, 2008, 01:06 PM

Tristanavakian ,
I´m been reading this forum for a long time and just now i decide to sign in after reading this topic thread .

I liked the guitar but it´s not the real deal . Here in brazil we have a lot of good luthiers who would do a lot better job from scratch selecting good tone woods .
Tone comes from wood , and I can tell you the wood that comes from this guitar(all parts) is not good , but since its sound a lot better than my japanese strat , all that I have at the time I purchase it ,I got happy for a short time .
But then I got the EJ strat and now i know how a good guitar must sound .

I ordered the second guitar from him before i got the EJ , and I just ordered because he will be putting a b-bender on that guitar , I pay $1200 for the guitar , $140 for shipping $100 for some eletronic upgrade and $500 USD more for the b-bender .

The last $500 he ask me after I have closed the deal and already paypaled him for $1440 the telecaster with a b-bender for $1440(with shipping) .But since I´m crazy for a b-bender I accepted send more $500 for him .

Man , this is happening with me , I email him two or three times a week and dont get any answers . The last one is from 3 months back .

I think I lost the money . Any idea what I have to do ?
I went to paypal site but the date for complain expired .
By the way , i upgrade my member log , ok ?

este · October 14th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Roadman,
I did that right now !
Thanks .

este · October 14th, 2008, 01:26 PM

This is my first impressions on the strat :

WWOOOOOWWWWWW .
Hi Dave .
The strat arrived on feb 11 .
It worked sending that way .

Great guitar . Really like it .
I like very much the tone . Its not the bestest strat tone ever , but i like very much .
Very beautiful neck and body . maybe not the bestest neck and body woods .
Maybe i should asked a AAAAAA neck and body woods . A extra-super-power-hyper lightweight alder body .
I prefer the metal parts look like new ones , i did not like that oxidation .
I know . . . this is a old guitar !
But i like very much !
I like the neck size and radius . Beautiful neck .
I like the body painting , very nice !
But has some fingerprints on his back .
Thank you very much . I really like the guitar .

I sent this email to him right after i got the strat .
este

este · October 16th, 2008, 07:53 PM

He finally answer my email :

Estevao,
After the guitar was returned to me damaged by UPS several months ago (before it even left the USA) they refused to re-imburse for "lack of proper packaging". I'm now at the place of having to save money to fund the build of the complete guitar over again - very little was salvageable, I have built hundreds of guitars now in the hands of customers all over the world, Please understand I am not in business to take advantage of anyone especially a return customer such as yourself.

I've been asking you to please be patient with me as I promised you will get a beautiful guitar per your specifications, Once it arrives if you choose to not keep it I will honor my warranty as stated and refund your money.

Please no need for harsh words.

All the best,
Dave

Problem its too late .
I´m already bought two guitars . A nice fender strat Eric Johnson and a telecaster from a local luthier , very nice guitar too .
Besides i don´t trust him anymore .
I told him I want my money back .
Several months passed since his last email .
Estevao .

Brewboy · October 16th, 2008, 08:32 PM

Looking at his gallery, I've seen more convincing relics from other builders.

Guitfiddler · October 16th, 2008, 09:01 PM

there's much more tone to be had from the right pickups, not so much any " tonewood"

Allparts supplies ash, alder and mahogany right? The staples of electric guitar woods. I guess Fender and Gibson have been way off all these years.

mojo2001 · October 16th, 2008, 10:01 PM

Too long. Doesn't sound good. Story sounds fake.

If you paid your paypal through a credit card, maybe you can still get your money back. Try your credit card company.

mkern · October 16th, 2008, 10:55 PM

I have been talking to Dave thru email and he has been extremely responsive. I was very impressed with him. Really impressed in fact. If you do enough business with enough people, you are bound to experience some problems.

este · October 16th, 2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojo2001

Too long. Doesn't sound good. Story sounds fake.

If you paid your paypal through a credit card, maybe you can still get your money back. Try your credit card company.

mojo,
Its sounds fake to me too . How you can damage the hardware ?
I told him maybe you can send me the b-bender and the rest of money . I even asked for some pics of the guitar .
And more , the paypal date for complaims expired. . .
He keeps telling me to be pacient, pacient and the date expired .
its too late now .

este · October 16th, 2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkern

I have been talking to Dave thru email and he has been extremely responsive. I was very impressed with him. Really impressed in fact. If you do enough business with enough people, you are bound to experience some problems.

Yeah , he is very responsive . Just a little slow .
Until you send him the money .
As soon as you send him the money he starts to stops email you back .
My story is a very sad one . . .
Este

este · October 16th, 2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitfiddler

there's much more tone to be had from the right pickups, not so much any " tonewood"

Allparts supplies ash, alder and mahogany right? The staples of electric guitar woods. I guess Fender and Gibson have been way off all these years.

I don´t think so . Pickups is really important as the wood too .
Not all alder is the same . The best alder is the lightweight one , more lightweight is , the better you will sound , and you can can graduade the alder and other tonewoods like 3A , 4A e 5A . The eric johnson strat has a very lightweight one and its sound is awesome .The alder that fender uses in american series is a very poor one and you can tell that for its sounds .
The same for ash , and other tonewoods .

No problem pick a alder body in allparts , i´m sure they have some 5A .

Guitfiddler · October 17th, 2008, 02:36 AM

So, I'm confused Este, Fender American series ash and alder teles have poor tone--and it's because of the wood? Are you also saying that allparts does or doesn't have toneful, alder bodies?

Lostheart · October 17th, 2008, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by este

He finally answer my email :

Estevao,
After the guitar was returned to me damaged by UPS several months ago (before it even left the USA) they refused to re-imburse for "lack of proper packaging". I'm now at the place of having to save money to fund the build of the complete guitar over again - very little was salvageable, I have built hundreds of guitars now in the hands of customers all over the world, Please understand I am not in business to take advantage of anyone especially a return customer such as yourself.

I've been asking you to please be patient with me as I promised you will get a beautiful guitar per your specifications, Once it arrives if you choose to not keep it I will honor my warranty as stated and refund your money.

Please no need for harsh words.

All the best,
Dave

Keep us updated if the guitar will ever show up...

este · October 17th, 2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitfiddler

So, I'm confused Este, Fender American series ash and alder teles have poor tone--and it's because of the wood? Are you also saying that allparts does or doesn't have toneful, alder bodies?

Sure I love the alder and ash tones ,I just think the american series its not select good ones , like some customs shop or some other signature series that fender have . Not all alder is the same .
You can purchase the good ones at allparts or warmouth , some really nice ones like 4A or 5A ,but you have to pay more for that , and this is what i have ordered from Dave .
Otherwise , he sent me some like 2A alder body , really heavy one . But for his price what should i expect ? He has a really good price .

My EJ strat has a nice really great tone , and i think its not just comes from the pickups , comes from the nice lightweight alder body and the almost flamed/beautiful maple neck .

I will tell you guys if i ever get the guitar or the money back .
Este .

Guitfiddler · October 17th, 2008, 12:29 PM

Ok, I see what your saying Este, good luck with your guitar!

este · October 20th, 2008, 05:49 AM

I sent him two emails back and nothing .
He did not answer .
este .

RothnRoll · October 20th, 2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by este

I sent him two emails back and nothing .
He did not answer .
You guys got to be carefull if you thinking purchase a guitar by him .
este .

The guy should have contacted you as soon as the guitar came back damaged.
It's also pretty weird how he didn't let you know that it shipped from the very beginning.
Everything sounds really weird about the whole transaction

Maybe you should point him to this thread in an email?

I think you got your money taken.. and there isn't a lot you can do about it.
Good luck

April 12th, 2008, 02:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
tristanavakian Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto Posts: 107	"This Old Guitar" (relic builder in Austin) - any reviews/experience? Hello All, I've been talking to a relic builder in Austin named Dave... real nice guy. He may build me a 70's era Keef "Micawber". He offered me a really sweet deal. Does anyone have here have any experience with his guitars? What did you think? There is not a single thread about him here. NOT ONE. That's encouraging - no horror stories at least. But puzzling too. If you had any dealings, before I throw down my $$$, please give me your 2c! Thanks.

October 14th, 2008, 10:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
este TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: brazil Age: 36 Posts: 13	I have a strat by him . He buys the neck,body,and pieces at allparts.com and other companys , he doesn´t actually build guitars from scratch , then relics it . And I ordered another guitar . A bbender telecaster six months back , and still dont get the guitar . Last edited by este; October 21st, 2008 at 12:55 PM.

October 14th, 2008, 01:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
este TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: brazil Age: 36 Posts: 13	This is my first impressions on the strat : WWOOOOOWWWWWW . Hi Dave . The strat arrived on feb 11 . It worked sending that way . Great guitar . Really like it . I like very much the tone . Its not the bestest strat tone ever , but i like very much . Very beautiful neck and body . maybe not the bestest neck and body woods . Maybe i should asked a AAAAAA neck and body woods . A extra-super-power-hyper lightweight alder body . I prefer the metal parts look like new ones , i did not like that oxidation . I know . . . this is a old guitar ! But i like very much ! I like the neck size and radius . Beautiful neck . I like the body painting , very nice ! But has some fingerprints on his back . Thank you very much . I really like the guitar . I sent this email to him right after i got the strat . este Last edited by este; October 22nd, 2008 at 03:36 PM.

October 16th, 2008, 08:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
Brewboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lake Wobegon, MN Age: 42 Posts: 552 8 Photos	Looking at his gallery, I've seen more convincing relics from other builders. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/canneryrowband http://thebrewersdiary.blogspot.com/

October 16th, 2008, 10:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
mkern Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Age: 37 Posts: 150	I have been talking to Dave thru email and he has been extremely responsive. I was very impressed with him. Really impressed in fact. If you do enough business with enough people, you are bound to experience some problems. __________________ 1985 MIJ 52RI Telecaster; 2005 Gibson Les Paul Classic Squire Affinity Partscaster; Epiphone AJ-100 '65 Fender Princeton Reverb RI; Fender Champion 600

April 12th, 2008, 03:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
62_Inca_Esquire Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 872	Dave makes nice guitars..Ive been to his shop, and previously owned a tele he built. Good quality at what I feel is a very fair price. Good guy too.

April 12th, 2008, 02:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
dB Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 395	Dave who? I'm curious. Thanks, dB

October 14th, 2008, 11:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
tristanavakian Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto Posts: 107	I've gotta wonder why you bought another if you did'nt like the first one? BTW a lot of excellent builders use Allparts, including Nash. If you want one made from scratch go somewhere else, but expect to pay more money. I think this guy's price was very reasonable. No guitar - and no contact - is a very bad sign, however.

October 14th, 2008, 01:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
este TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: brazil Age: 36 Posts: 13	Tristanavakian , I´m been reading this forum for a long time and just now i decide to sign in after reading this topic thread . I liked the guitar but it´s not the real deal . Here in brazil we have a lot of good luthiers who would do a lot better job from scratch selecting good tone woods . Tone comes from wood , and I can tell you the wood that comes from this guitar(all parts) is not good , but since its sound a lot better than my japanese strat , all that I have at the time I purchase it ,I got happy for a short time . But then I got the EJ strat and now i know how a good guitar must sound . I ordered the second guitar from him before i got the EJ , and I just ordered because he will be putting a b-bender on that guitar , I pay $1200 for the guitar , $140 for shipping $100 for some eletronic upgrade and $500 USD more for the b-bender . The last $500 he ask me after I have closed the deal and already paypaled him for $1440 the telecaster with a b-bender for $1440(with shipping) .But since I´m crazy for a b-bender I accepted send more $500 for him . Man , this is happening with me , I email him two or three times a week and dont get any answers . The last one is from 3 months back . I think I lost the money . Any idea what I have to do ? I went to paypal site but the date for complain expired . By the way , i upgrade my member log , ok ?

October 14th, 2008, 01:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
este TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: brazil Age: 36 Posts: 13	Roadman, I did that right now ! Thanks .

October 16th, 2008, 07:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
este TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: brazil Age: 36 Posts: 13	He finally answer my email : Estevao, After the guitar was returned to me damaged by UPS several months ago (before it even left the USA) they refused to re-imburse for "lack of proper packaging". I'm now at the place of having to save money to fund the build of the complete guitar over again - very little was salvageable, I have built hundreds of guitars now in the hands of customers all over the world, Please understand I am not in business to take advantage of anyone especially a return customer such as yourself. I've been asking you to please be patient with me as I promised you will get a beautiful guitar per your specifications, Once it arrives if you choose to not keep it I will honor my warranty as stated and refund your money. Please no need for harsh words. All the best, Dave Problem its too late . I´m already bought two guitars . A nice fender strat Eric Johnson and a telecaster from a local luthier , very nice guitar too . Besides i don´t trust him anymore . I told him I want my money back . Several months passed since his last email . Estevao .

October 16th, 2008, 09:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
Guitfiddler Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Marcos, Texas Age: 25 Posts: 142	there's much more tone to be had from the right pickups, not so much any " tonewood" Allparts supplies ash, alder and mahogany right? The staples of electric guitar woods. I guess Fender and Gibson have been way off all these years.

October 16th, 2008, 10:01 PM	#15 (permalink)
mojo2001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colonial Virginia Age: 49 Posts: 269	Too long. Doesn't sound good. Story sounds fake. If you paid your paypal through a credit card, maybe you can still get your money back. Try your credit card company.

October 17th, 2008, 02:36 AM	#20 (permalink)
Guitfiddler Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Marcos, Texas Age: 25 Posts: 142	So, I'm confused Este, Fender American series ash and alder teles have poor tone--and it's because of the wood? Are you also saying that allparts does or doesn't have toneful, alder bodies?

October 17th, 2008, 12:29 PM	#23 (permalink)
Guitfiddler Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Marcos, Texas Age: 25 Posts: 142	Ok, I see what your saying Este, good luck with your guitar!

October 20th, 2008, 05:49 AM	#24 (permalink)
este TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: brazil Age: 36 Posts: 13	I sent him two emails back and nothing . He did not answer . este . Last edited by este; October 21st, 2008 at 01:03 PM.

October 20th, 2008, 11:21 AM	#26 (permalink)
Rick W TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 81