Ethical Question

[Canard]

I dropped the guitar off today and signed the first round of paperwork.

The guitar is on its way to becoming an artefact.

There is only one more hurdle to jump. It may take a month or two, yet.

 

[merlin6666]

This is a long thread and I didn't read it all but figured that the bad guitar was donated to museum. In many countries such donations can be tax deductible, so hopefully a receipt will be issued reflecting the value that can be used for tax purposes (as it is the time of year to think about stuff like this).

 

[chazmo]

Good luck, Canard!

 

[Canard]

The formal, final, and irrevocable paperwork has been signed and submitted.

The guitar is no longer mine. It is now officially (and safely) an historical artefact.

If/when it is ever displayed, it will look very pretty.

 

[adorshki]

A new line to try on wife while blasting away on acoustic, best shouted "I'm altering the molecular structure of the wood, creating a richer, sweeter, and louder tone." Maybe leave out the part about louder.

I'll post results after working up the nerve to try it, if I can still type.

Well?

 

[adorshki]

I have received a reply from the museum's head of acquisitions, a reply which is generally favourable in its tone.

She says that the donation offer will go before the acquisitions committee this coming Wednesday, and then she will get back to me.

Fingers crossed.

Remind me not to offer those guys a horse.

 

[adorshki]

Well, the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly but they do turn.

My donation offer has now passed the first few hurdles.

I am to take the guitar in at the end of March for "temporary deposit." It will be examined, and sometime later, probably in May, the higher powers will make a formal decision about the donation. I suspect this process will be a rubber stamping, since my contact indicates that the lower level administrators do want the guitar. Then, assuming all goes well, the final paper work will have to be done, and guitar will no longer be mine.

Yeesh. Like trying to figure out how to unload some toxic waste.

 

[jedzep]

What a story! What a nasty deal! My sympathies for your financial loss, and any angst you've endured. I have no idea what kind of 'museum' would even consider it as a display item, having no historical or reputational value, unless there's a Museum of Ripoffs somewhere.

You're a good dude. I think I would drive it to the builders doorstep, leave it there, and skewer them on every available medium.
I am not that nice a person.

 

[adorshki]

The formal, final, and irrevocable paperwork has been signed and submitted.

The guitar is no longer mine. It is now officially (and safely) an historical artefact.

If/when it is ever displayed, it will look very pretty.

A good presentation really helps.

 

[GGJaguar]

Thus ends an epic story.

 

[Canard]

I have no idea what kind of 'museum' would even consider it as a display item, having no historical or reputational value, unless there's a Museum of Ripoffs somewhere.

Both the maker and the instrument model do have historical and reputational value, whatever the value of the particular guitar in question may or may not be.

The guitar was made by a smallish, once local, boutique maker which has grown into a largish international concern. The guitar was made here in the city where the museum is located. The model was once their top of the line classical guitar. The guitar is a definite anomaly, a dud among their otherwise lovely instruments.

The guitar will serve well as an exhibit piece in a glass case. It looks absolutely lovely. The woodwork is superb.

The donation does not take an excellent instrument out of circulation; it only takes what should have been an excellent instrument but isn't out of circulation.

This is all good. Players are not being deprived of anything. The general guitar buying public at large is now protected from this instrument. Win/win.

The guitar will be appraised. I will get a tax receipt. Another win.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I think returning it to the builder is a great idea, Fro. I'd explain why you dislike it the way you did here, and see what goes down.

Yup. Best idea of anyone's.

You might end up empty-handed, or you might end up with a free rebuild. Even somerthing in between would be nice.

 

[Canard]

Yup. Best idea of anyone's.

You might end up empty-handed, or you might end up with a free rebuild. Even somerthing in between would be nice.

Moot point now because it is gone.

If I had been the original purchaser/owner, the instrument's lifetime warranty would have had me covered.

I did contact the maker about the guitar by email. They are now far away. The response of absolute silence, i.e. no response at all, was deafening.