Bad luthier / shoddy work

[MichaelD83]

Took my telecaster for a setup and have the nut slots lowered. I left a note w desired setup specs (standard fender specs) and my preferred strings. After 4 weeks the guitar came back playing worse than when I brought it in. I was quite shocked to see a large doink in the neck from mishandling. My requested strings were not even put on and still in the case. The only thing actually done to the instrument was that all the strings were lowered ridiculously (This was their $100 “gold setup”). I met the the “luthier” and he said he was “going to put this to rest.” Instead of listening to me about how I wanted the guitar to play, he berated me on how his setup was perfect. I told him again the specs I desired, my preference, and what a liked- with no acknowledgment. Only after long endless bantering and back and forth did he actually lower the nut slots as requested (and paid for !) The work was shoddy. I asked him to lower just a smidge and he went crazy. Slots were cut so poorly and it doesn’t even stay in tune hardly. He used abrasive chord instead of proper nut files and damaged the lacquer behind the nut in 2 spots. I also asked him to put the strings on I provided and he became super indignant and reluctantly did my request. He was so rough that he broke one while putting in on. He told me that he hated fender strings and that’s why he didn’t put them on. He also made it a point to mention the various things he that hated on my guitar. After reluctantly adjusting the guitar he had me play the it and asked how it felt. It was still not to my liking - He refused to raise the action as he “had already done so once and didn’t want to raise it anymore.” My interaction was so incredibly uncomfortable that it made me feel sick. This was my prized instrument (51 AVRI ii) that took a lifetime to acquire - he treated it like trash! It was incredibly intimidating to see someone so angry rough with my 2K+ instrument. I felt bullied and belittled. It is absolutely one most uncomfortable situations I've ever been in. The owner (after much bantering from him) agreed to give me a refund (which is more than deserved) but would not acknowledge his workers extremely unprofessional behavior. My guitar played and was in better condition before I brought it in. Now I need a new nut plus a competent luthier to fix the dent in the neck and the lacquer chips behind the nut. I estimate trusting my instrument to this place will set me back $250. I couldn’t have dreamed my experience would be this bad. I do my own setups but have never done nut work, so I took it to the most (so called) reputable outfit in town. I left a poor review and no response. What would you do ?

 

[memorex]

What would I do? What I did long before I was your age. Learn to do my own setups. Sorry you had a bad experience.

 

[68tele]

What i would have done: gone to a competent tech based on fellow players recommendations. You went to a butcher - lesson learned. Continue to leave appropriate reviews of this idiot everywhere.

 

[MichaelD83]

What i would have done: gone to a competent tech based on fellow players recommendations. You went to a butcher - lesson learned. Continue to leave appropriate reviews of this idiot everywhere.

This was the highest rated in my city.

 

[MichaelD83]

What would I do? What I did long before I was your age. Learn to do my own setups. Sorry you had a bad experience.

I do my setups - not nutwork. I guess I’ll just butcher it myself next time and still be ahead

 

[Freeman Keller]

I see both sides of this situation, I fix guitars as well as play them. Unfortunately there are good and bad setup technicians (a "luthier" builds guitars). An important question for me is exactly what you said in your instructions and how he responded. Did he in fact adjust your guitar to fender factory specs (or whatever you listed), if not its pretty easy to ask him to do it over. If he did then maybe you need to evaluate your request.

Damage to a guitar should never happen but it does, it should have been disclosed and negotiated. If you furnished strings (or told him exactly what you want) he should have used them, but if he has a reason for not liking them he should of discussed that with you.

Most techs or shops will give you an estimate and some sort of work order before you start, I think its important to know what was said. I do this after the evaluation phase of the setup, I list the "as found" measurement and the target values, what will be done to get there and we both agree before I do anything. I'll also tell someone when I'm not comfortable doing something and frequently not do it.

Four weeks is a long time to be without a guitar but many shops are that far behind. I frequently will make minor adjustments to get a guitar playable while the time slot opens up, and I always try to turn it around in two weeks or less (or I give a realistic estimate to the owner).

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend this person or his work. I think you have a legitimate complaint and should not have accepted the work or paid for it. Register your complaints, let him give you a proposal to rectify it, then never go back. There are others looking for your business and learning to file nut slots is not unreasonable.

 

[MichaelD83]

I see both sides of this situation, I fix guitars as well as play them. Unfortunately there are good and bad setup technicians (a "luthier" builds guitars). An important question for me is exactly what you said in your instructions and how he responded. Did he in fact adjust your guitar to fender factory specs (or whatever you listed), if not its pretty easy to ask him to do it over. If he did then maybe you need to evaluate your request.

Damage to a guitar should never happen but it does, it should have been disclosed and negotiated. If you furnished strings (or told him exactly what you want) he should have used them, but if he has a reason for not liking them he should of discussed that with you.

Most techs or shops will give you an estimate and some sort of work order before you start, I think its important to know what was said. I do this after the evaluation phase of the setup, I list the "as found" measurement and the target values, what will be done to get there and we both agree before I do anything. I'll also tell someone when I'm not comfortable doing something and frequently not do it.

Four weeks is a long time to be without a guitar but many shops are that far behind. I frequently will make minor adjustments to get a guitar playable while the time slot opens up, and I always try to turn it around in two weeks or less (or I give a realistic estimate to the owner).

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend this person or his work. I think you have a legitimate complaint and should not have accepted the work or paid for it. Register your complaints, let him give you a proposal to rectify it, then never go back. There are others looking for your business and learning to file nut slots is not unreasonable.

This person is a self proclaimed legend (by the shop) and is in such high demand that one (pions such as myself) cannot consult w him for day to day work as he cannot be bothered and is already back logged. Shame on me for accepting and paying. It really did feel good the ten minutes I played and evaluated in the shop - not until I took it home and put through the paces did I realize it was not to my liking. I think I was a little assuming and hopeful as the reputation was high.

I left very detailed notes (fender specs and strings provided in case). I was very cool and polite about the whole matter.

Typical case of butt hurt ego - everyone is always so nice until you disagree over their poor work.

 

[MichaelD83]

I see both sides of this situation, I fix guitars as well as play them. Unfortunately there are good and bad setup technicians (a "luthier" builds guitars). An important question for me is exactly what you said in your instructions and how he responded. Did he in fact adjust your guitar to fender factory specs (or whatever you listed), if not its pretty easy to ask him to do it over. If he did then maybe you need to evaluate your request.

Damage to a guitar should never happen but it does, it should have been disclosed and negotiated. If you furnished strings (or told him exactly what you want) he should have used them, but if he has a reason for not liking them he should of discussed that with you.

Most techs or shops will give you an estimate and some sort of work order before you start, I think its important to know what was said. I do this after the evaluation phase of the setup, I list the "as found" measurement and the target values, what will be done to get there and we both agree before I do anything. I'll also tell someone when I'm not comfortable doing something and frequently not do it.

Four weeks is a long time to be without a guitar but many shops are that far behind. I frequently will make minor adjustments to get a guitar playable while the time slot opens up, and I always try to turn it around in two weeks or less (or I give a realistic estimate to the owner).

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend this person or his work. I think you have a legitimate complaint and should not have accepted the work or paid for it. Register your complaints, let him give you a proposal to rectify it, then never go back. There are others looking for your business and learning to file nut slots is not unreasonable.

BTW - the damage was caused during the rectification visit

 

[68tele]

This was the highest rated in my city.

That is some twilight zone sh*t

 

[toanhunter]

I once had a similar situation to yours, actually almost identical, to cut a long story short he didn't do what I wanted at all, he also refused to give me back my own property, I got him to change a bridge and he flat out refused to give me the original one back! I should have refused to pay him there and then, he was also well known for doing weed and was baked/high as a kite on one occasion when I turned up, I started doing my own setups from then on.

 

[Thebluesman]

Took my telecaster for a setup and have the nut slots lowered. I left a note w desired setup specs (standard fender specs) and my preferred strings. After 4 weeks the guitar came back playing worse than when I brought it in. I was quite shocked to see a large doink in the neck from mishandling. My requested strings were not even put on and still in the case. The only thing actually done to the instrument was that all the strings were lowered ridiculously (This was their $100 “gold setup”). I met the the “luthier” and he said he was “going to put this to rest.” Instead of listening to me about how I wanted the guitar to play, he berated me on how his setup was perfect. I told him again the specs I desired, my preference, and what a liked- with no acknowledgment. Only after long endless bantering and back and forth did he actually lower the nut slots as requested (and paid for !) The work was shoddy. I asked him to lower just a smidge and he went crazy. Slots were cut so poorly and it doesn’t even stay in tune hardly. He used abrasive chord instead of proper nut files and damaged the lacquer behind the nut in 2 spots. I also asked him to put the strings on I provided and he became super indignant and reluctantly did my request. He was so rough that he broke one while putting in on. He told me that he hated fender strings and that’s why he didn’t put them on. He also made it a point to mention the various things he that hated on my guitar. After reluctantly adjusting the guitar he had me play the it and asked how it felt. It was still not to my liking - He refused to raise the action as he “had already done so once and didn’t want to raise it anymore.” My interaction was so incredibly uncomfortable that it made me feel sick. This was my prized instrument (51 AVRI ii) that took a lifetime to acquire - he treated it like trash! It was incredibly intimidating to see someone so angry rough with my 2K+ instrument. I felt bullied and belittled. It is absolutely one most uncomfortable situations I've ever been in. The owner (after much bantering from him) agreed to give me a refund (which is more than deserved) but would not acknowledge his workers extremely unprofessional behavior. My guitar played and was in better condition before I brought it in. Now I need a new nut plus a competent luthier to fix the dent in the neck and the lacquer chips behind the nut. I estimate trusting my instrument to this place will set me back $250. I couldn’t have dreamed my experience would be this bad. I do my own setups but have never done nut work, so I took it to the most (so called) reputable outfit in town. I left a poor review and no response. What would you do ?

A lesson learned!Obviously his own ''Self opinionated egotistical attitude'' over ruled your own requests,hence the poor end result!
Find a more competent tech etc.I ''suspect'' he treats others the same...So other similar complaints will soon follow his negatively given ''reputation''

 

[Thebluesman]

I once had a similar situation to yours, actually almost identical, to cut a long story short he didn't do what I wanted at all, he also refused to give me back my own property, I got him to change a bridge and he flat out refused to give me the original one back! I should have refused to pay him there and then, he was also well known for doing weed and was baked/high as a kite on one occasion when I turned up, I started doing my own setups from then on.

would you have faith in a stoned doctor=I don't think so!

 

[KyAnne]

I see both sides of this situation, I fix guitars as well as play them. Unfortunately there are good and bad setup technicians (a "luthier" builds guitars). An important question for me is exactly what you said in your instructions and how he responded. Did he in fact adjust your guitar to fender factory specs (or whatever you listed), if not its pretty easy to ask him to do it over. If he did then maybe you need to evaluate your request.

Damage to a guitar should never happen but it does, it should have been disclosed and negotiated. If you furnished strings (or told him exactly what you want) he should have used them, but if he has a reason for not liking them he should of discussed that with you.

Most techs or shops will give you an estimate and some sort of work order before you start, I think its important to know what was said. I do this after the evaluation phase of the setup, I list the "as found" measurement and the target values, what will be done to get there and we both agree before I do anything. I'll also tell someone when I'm not comfortable doing something and frequently not do it.

Four weeks is a long time to be without a guitar but many shops are that far behind. I frequently will make minor adjustments to get a guitar playable while the time slot opens up, and I always try to turn it around in two weeks or less (or I give a realistic estimate to the owner).

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend this person or his work. I think you have a legitimate complaint and should not have accepted the work or paid for it. Register your complaints, let him give you a proposal to rectify it, then never go back. There are others looking for your business and learning to file nut slots is not unreasonable.

Warn anyone and everyone you know about this butchering. Post it anywhere you can without actually giving the "shop name", but point the arrow in the tennis court of their business location.
No telling how many guitars he's effed up.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Luthier-
A maker of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars.

Guitar Tech-
A rando person who works on guitars.

…there is a difference.
_________________________
Now, you can have good and bad examples of both, but they are different. Training and experience can vary widely.

And Yelp reviews are about worthless in the service industry today.

I have given up having most work done at shops unless it’s major surgery. The tools and information out there and the shop rates these days have led me to take this route. I realize it’s not for everyone, but I enjoy experimenting and learning. YMMV.

 

[ponycar]

I take pride in working on someone's musical instrument.
I also derive a sense of joy when they play it.
This guy? Not OK.

 

[Holy smokes]

It depends if your guitar was actually damaged. Or just adjusted wrong. You say the owner refunded your money. So if no damage occurred. Move on and find a tech that you can talk to before you hand them your guitar . Most good techs I know want to see you play first. Everybody is different. Everybody

 

[MichaelD83]

It depends if your guitar was actually damaged. Or just adjusted wrong. You say the owner refunded your money. So if no damage occurred. Move on and find a tech that you can talk to before you hand them your guitar . Most good techs I know want to see you play first. Everybody is different. Everybody

Refunded the price of “Setup.”

These were definitely not there before I brought it in.

 

[Deeve]

Maybe I should send my guy a card.
Thanking, again.

 

[Mowgli]

I feel for you.

Two comments:

Like a lot of people (and I suspect you are one of these people) I possess “spheres of competence” in multiple areas of life, including basic guitar set ups, truss rod adjustments, changing pickups, minor fret work, etc. But feel anxiety about tackling work where I have limited experience AND, IMPORTANTLY, recognize that one seemingly benign act (like a single extra pass of a nut file) could wreck the intonation or cause the string to buzz where the fix isn’t easy.

My point? I applaud both your efforts to research exactly what you wanted and researching as best as you could the repair person who had the reputation for providing that service.

Unfortunately, many claim expertise and/or competence when their real gift is convincing others that they are “gurus” when they really just want to get into your wallet. I’ve seen this in many other walks of life!!!

This is why many people, me included, “wet nurse” off the teats of more learned guitar and amp contributors here and elsewhere. These voices are ones of encouragement; so I second their advice. Take some steps, buy a book or two and start learning how to expand your existing sphere of competence.

FWIW, I’ve only had four great experiences with luthiers and guitar techs over several decades; two in NC, one of whom passed away several years ago while the other retired, John Carruthers in Venice Beach, California and the other is Tom Barkstrom in the Nashville, TN area.

Others have been disappointing to say the least. The last disappointing “guru” convinced me to start expanding my limited sphere and I’m glad I did. The costs of the necessary tools and materials took several years to recoup. You can do it! Just go slowly and be deliberative. And when you make a mistake, understand that we all have made them; let them be one of your teachers!

Good luck.

 

[badinfinities]

My last bad experience was about 5 years ago. I took a Strat to have pickups swapped and have some fret issues resolved (choke outs at the 5th and 9th fret.)

He swapped the pickups, but he didn't resolve the fret issues. He just raised the action. He kept a Stew Mac shim I had installed and he put a super rough notch in the pickguard so he could access the truss rod at the heel. It looked like someone chewed the guard with their granny's dentures. It was that bad.

I was livid.

I haven't been to a tech since then. I just started buying the tools to do my own work. So far so good.

And I fixed the fret issues on the Strat with some spot leveling and re-crowning. And it was the very first time I attempted to do either task.