Vintique: Excitement, Anger and Astonishment!! The FIVE YEAR Telecaster...

[Pete Galati]

Nice grain on that body Fatocaster.

I don't like people taking my money before before they ship things.

Pete

[Bickert Fan]

Screw that garbage. If that company wants to make things right, then he sends you the completed guitar and a full refund. Period. I would say that if his idea of making things "right" is to fufill a five-year old order, then he better not forget that you essentially loaned that company 1800.00. If he borrowed 1800.00 from a bank he'd pay interest. And if he never paid anything back in 5 years, he'd have a lean on his business. Or no business at all. He scammed you into giving him money. And it's obvious it was NOT used to finish that guitar.

That guy is a thief and nothing else. I wouldn't spend one ounce of your time praising this guy until you actually have the item in your hands. Who the hell loans someone 1800.00 for 5 years? That's BS.

That being said, if you can collect anything on what this guy stole from you, then you might as well take it and run. I personally would have filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau to be honest. It's free and designed to help people just like you with people just like him.

In any case. Good luck. Magpies are never to be trusted. If given the option, doing the "right thing" would be to have the guy send you your payment back since you don't need a guitar. Or, make sure he really does a great job so you can sell the thing and get your money back.

I feel bad for you. I always hate to see someone get screwed. And isn't it always the way that the theif is the one who tries to act like the victim? Like you have no right to talk to him that way? He flippin' stole 1800.00 of your money...that gives you the right to get your money back.

Good luck. I hope this works out well for you. I would hold back on the advertising for this guy. He's lied to you for half a decade, I might want proof before I say anything.

And to be perfectly blunt, does this story really instill a sense of integrity in this company? I'll reserve judgement until this poor fellow gets his money or his guitar. Everybody deserves a second chance...but I do NOT believe businesses deserve second chances. If a businesses advertisies a specific service, and you paid for that service, then they should provide that service. Period. No excuses. You worked hard for that 1800.00.

ARG! Makes me ripping mad to see a guy get ripped off. Of ALL the choices this buyer had, he chose this guy. And for his choice, he gets 5 years of empty promises, insults, and the runaround. He better give you that guitar for free. And hand deliver it. Then I might reconsider giving this dufus some business. But if all he's going to do is finish a guitar you paid for 5 years ago, it doesn't really make me feel like the company is operating with integrity. All it says to me is the next guy is going to get his/her guitar too...if they can wait 6 years.

[lewis]

After Jay completes your order he owes you another...gratis.

[holndav]

Whoa. Maybe it will work out. I'm also from the camp that says you should always keep your dignity instead of fighting. Life is too short. Five years is a little much, though.

Good luck and welcome back.

Where ya been anyway?

David

[Markl8]

Leopards do not change their spots! As a business owner I hate guys like this. They give everyone in their respective industry a blackeye. I hope you get what you rightfully deserve and paid for. This company however shall remain on my blacklist, the lack of character and propensity for lying and stealing is so plain Ray Charles could see it, people like that dont change. There are just too many good folks out there to do business with to even waste time with these kind of people.

Screw me once shame on you!
Screw me twice shame on me!

[getbent]

Fatocaster,
Good on you man! If the guitar shows up on your birthday and sounds good and you love it... let us know! I'm gonna get a good bottle of booze for the occasion and if it it works out... I'm gonna get the heat on in your honor!

From the sound of your story you and Mandy are well matched--> both really great, really kind and compassionate people. It is most definitely a screwed up world, but if this gets quasi straightened out, it will be because you were bigger than the situation... Not easy to be!

[Jack Wells]

Originally Posted by Tom S

Why anyone would ever consider doing even the smallest bit of business with these folks is way beyond my comprehension. Is there some sort of severe shortage of competent, trustworthy guitar builders that I haven't heard about?

That says it all..............

[jfp]

I read through this thread with some interest, although I've never had the "pleasure" of dealing with Vintique.

Then I went to the Vintique website and read the following policy statement:

"Vintique Policies
Due to the increased demand for Vintique hardware and the fact that Jay manufacturers every part by hand, Vintique has introduced some guidelines to help new customers order hardware and access our current production schedules.

Vintique produces the world's finest Tele-style replacement parts available. Vintique produces only a few of these unique pieces a month. In order to contact Vintique to purchase hardware or to obtain services, contact Vintique at the address on the top of this page.

To guarantee purchase and delivery, you MUST contact Jay personally and place order.

At this time we accept only U.S. post office money orders for payment for the exact amount of order plus shipping.

Money orders are to be made out to JAY MONTEROSE (not "Vintique").

This year we have initiated a purchase-and-delivery program based on a first-come-first-serve basis which requires the full amount of the purchase to be paid at the time your order is placed to secure products and services. Your name will be added to the current list of purchasers and your order will be filled as soon as specific items become available.

We have NEVER received any returns on the basis of quality or unsatisfactory performance.

In some cases, on certain back-ordered components, a 90 to 120-day wait for a particular item may be necessary. Be patient! We are the ONLY manufacturer that produces hardware of this quality in the world!! Our products address and correct all of the problems associated with the current factory hardware and the many knock-offs currently on the market. Don't accept imitations! Spend the money ONCE and get the correct part that lasts a lifetime.

All of our handmade stainless hardware is fully guaranteed for a lifetime of service to the original purchaser against defects in materials or workmanship, with the exception of brass bridge saddles that are subject to string wear and eventually need to be replaced.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

There will be NO EXECPTIONS to our policies."

I found this paragraph particularly interesting:

"This year we have initiated a purchase-and-delivery program based on a first-come-first-serve basis which requires the full amount of the purchase to be paid at the time your order is placed to secure products and services. Your name will be added to the current list of purchasers and your order will be filled as soon as specific items become available."

In other words, give us all the money then get on line and wait and someday, we can't say when, you'll get your product.

I'd find this policy offensive even if it was coming from a vendor of the highest quality.

Coming from someone with the history of Mr. Monterose and Vintique, I find it nothing more than laughable.

But, hey, that's just me.

[Fontane57]

he owes you the guitar YOU PAID FOR 5 YEARS AGO hand delevered and the amount you paid him . good luck to you

[Frankie]

You must be talking about Barden, no Hamel, no wait its Vintique...

Its the ole I've been gone, had some problems, so sorry to everyone I screwed, but I'm back and I promise not to do it again. Just send me money.

Sorry folks it's bullcrap.. There is no excuse.. Everyone has problems, but there are so many ways of making contact to customers, that not answering the phone, email, letters or what ever is just plain bullcrap.. There is not a product anywhere that is worth being treated the way these folks have treated people.

Danny best of luck, the man has had $1,800 that your family could of used, and then has the nerve to tell you. “if I fu#@ed with him, nobody would get nothing!”. Then has a "new" business partner call and make things right. There are posts all over this site with good folks telling of sending this guy hundreds of dollars and not getting their product for many many years. Jay should be in jail for the things he has done.

Modern day Snake oil salesmen... Again my opinion...

[maestrovert]

it takes years, decades even, to build up a good reputation, and only seconds to destroy it.
i'm furious because Mr. Monterose has been openly trading on Danny Gatton's good name and reputation !
i for one, wouldn't even begin to consider doing business with Mr. Monterose/Vintique.
i can only hope that those who place an order based on their current advertising are treated right.

Welcome back Danny ! i agree that Mr. Monterose not only owes you the guitar, and a full refund, but an apology, face to face, & lookin' you in the eye like a man.....but don't hold yer breath.

Just in case they don't make good, look into possible interstate fraud charges...... yep, make a Federal case out of it !
you do have legal recourse even yet, & don't be afraid to let 'em know that you know it.

[Ignatius]

I'm not really familiar with Vintique, nor Jay, nor any of the "problems" he's had.

But after reading your story, all I can say is that his behavior is simply inexcusable. That's all there is to it.

[Bill]

Wow, by the time you get your guitar, it's vintage.

[mark norwine]

I've read this entire post twice now, and I'm more furious with Montrose than ever before. I can feel my heart pounding.

What a sack of nonesense.

I truely hope a day of reckoning is out there somewhere. Instant karma's gonna get you......gonna knock you right on your head.....right?

[mojocasterman]

1. Fatocaster, you're a better man than I am
2. Based on that story alone, there's no way in heck I'd ever do business with that man - regardless of who his new business partner is.
3. especially when there's people such as the Rice Custom Guitars guys around!

[lostpick]

Removed By Webmaster

[Oster]

Looks like it's going to be a really nice guitar. It's overdue but it sounds like Mr. Hahn is trying to make good. I myself am a forgive-and-forget kind of guy (if only to 'clear the mojo' with the guitar) but I don't think I could honestly make any glowing first person testimonials for that kind of runaround no matter how good the guitar, especially considering it was you that tracked them down.

Forgiveness is a very positive quality though.

[Barrettworld]

i always find it interesting to hear about Vintique. I had a difficult experience with them... jay refinished an '89 '52 reissue, finished a new neck for it, rewired it with Duncan Antiquity pickups, and set it up. it took about 6 months longer than he said to get the guitar back, but what a phenomenal guitar! It is spectacular, and on par with any guitar I've ever played. After hearing so many horror stories about jay i'd certainly be hesitant to deal with him again, but his product is pretty unbeatable, imho.

[TY]

Just to echo, you have WAY more patience than I or any other reasonable person should have. Sure if its over $50 or even $100, just let it go, its not worth the trouble. But almost 2 grand!!! It would be a long time before 5 years passed that I would sick every possible enforcement agency on him and pursue every recourse possible. I'm know there are many others like you; I'm sure an attorney would be chomping at the bit to take on this case, especially since the business is back up and there seems to be something there besides empty pockets.

I know the new guy is trying to make it right, but as far as I'm concerned it's too little, too late. I say sue the guy out of business for good.

[RockinCarl]

Does anyone else think its strange that both Danny Gatton's "right hand" men (Joe Barden and Jay M.) went out of business and came back around the same time?

Well, at least now Joe is back in business so you can have Joe Barden pickups in the Vintique Tele. Glad I finally heard the story, Danny!