I just returned from the repair shop where my D55 has been for the last FIVE months. Got a neck reset, new frets, new bridge plate and bridge re-glue. I am not thrilled at all that this work had to be done but am quite excited that my baby is back in my arms, healthy again. I am now ready for the weekend. Bring it on!!
Finally Back From the Shop
- Thread starter Firebird
- Start date
West R Lee
Venerated Member
How does she look Firebird? And how does she sound?
Happy for you,
West
Happy for you,
West
charliea
Senior Member
Congratulations on the safe return. How much was the bill?
For the last five months, I've been playing a friend's old rosewood Yairi, a very nice guitar indeed. But I sure was glad to grasp that perfectly shaped Guild neck again.
If you recall, I had the neck reset two years ago but have never been satisfied with the results so I took it back for a re-re-set. The top seems more resonant now because of all the bridge work I had done.
If I could do the work myself, I certainly would.
The guitar (bottom left in picture) looks and sounds like a 30 year old Guild should......Great.
If you recall, I had the neck reset two years ago but have never been satisfied with the results so I took it back for a re-re-set. The top seems more resonant now because of all the bridge work I had done.
If I could do the work myself, I certainly would.
The guitar (bottom left in picture) looks and sounds like a 30 year old Guild should......Great.
Firebird said:
Just curious Firebird; who did the work? Same luthier both times? As everyone know here (hey, I try not ot harp on it too much), my beloved D50 has been in Nashville for almost six months now for a neck reset. The thought of it coming back and me not being happy with it (requiring a re-reset) just horrifies me. :shock:
GardMan
Enlightened Member
I'd also be curious who did the work. One of these days, my old D-35 is going to need a reset, bridge reglue, and new bridge plate. No one here in SLC will handle work of that magnitude... and the biggest delay in having it done is my fear of the potential consequences (this one is priceless to me!). Dave
FNG
Enlightened Member
FNG said:
And those the guys that messed it up the first time? It bothers me, because I've found out that my D50 was never really right from the start. I never really had much of a frame of reference other than one bad Martin that I sold in the '80s. Now that I own some really nice guitars, I think I have a much better idea of what "good" really is. I'm afraid that the D50 will some back and I won't like it, and I can't even stand the thought of that. The two of us have been through far too much together.
We'll see.
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Who'd you send yours to Sandy?
West
West
West R Lee said:
Fender in Nashville, West. Maybe I haven't been harping on it enough. :lol:
playsvintageguilds
Member
Sent my '67 D40 in for a neck re-set.
You guys are saying it is appropriate to wait 5-6 months for this to be completed???
That is insane!!!
I am being charged $350 and it's gonna take...how long!!!!
Where's my gun!
I would sooner force this work to be done at gunpoint in 6 hours or less for $350,than to sit back and allow someone to hold my vintage guitar hostage for 5-6 months!
Arrgghhhhh!!!
~ Raj :evil:
You guys are saying it is appropriate to wait 5-6 months for this to be completed???
That is insane!!!
I am being charged $350 and it's gonna take...how long!!!!
Where's my gun!
I would sooner force this work to be done at gunpoint in 6 hours or less for $350,than to sit back and allow someone to hold my vintage guitar hostage for 5-6 months!
Arrgghhhhh!!!
~ Raj :evil:
playsvintageguilds said:
Did you send it to Nashville Raj? Jazzy waited ten months for his, which admittedly had a lot more work done. Yeah six months seems pretty typical for a neck reset. Had I known I would have sent it to my guy and would have been playing it for the last five and a half months. :shock:
Never again, and I don't care how good their work is.
playsvintageguilds
Member
Neck re-set:
http://www.guitarspecialist.com/neck.htm
Trust me.
If you think you need it,you do.
Minimum time allowed,15 months.
Minimum cost $4,000.
End result: Questionable.
Best bet: If you are in your 60's, spend $2,000 on a good guitar and play it until you die! :lol: :shock:
~ Raj
http://www.guitarspecialist.com/neck.htm
Trust me.
If you think you need it,you do.
Minimum time allowed,15 months.
Minimum cost $4,000.
End result: Questionable.
Best bet: If you are in your 60's, spend $2,000 on a good guitar and play it until you die! :lol: :shock:
~ Raj
Great memory FNG. Bill Tippin did the work both times. He is an outstanding builder of fine instruments but I'm thinking now that being a great builder doesn't automatically qualify you as a great repairman. Most luthiers take on repair work to keep up the cash flow between builds. The problem I had was that as soon as the next build project came along, the repair work stopped. I think a guy that does only repair work might be more focused. Tippin was expensive and took too much time for work I wasn't totally satisfied with the first time around. I guess taking 5 months was his way of teaching me a lesson for questioning his work.
Firebird said:
OK, I get it. If it helps any, I've already learned my lesson about sending a guitar to Nashville and expecting it back anytime soon.
FNG
Enlightened Member
He did some work on my DV-73. It plays great and sounds even better, but I was frustrated with the line of crap he kept feeding me on the status of the repair. When I asked him to ship my guitar back bacause I was tired of waiting for him to even start, he finished it up, but I think he was rushed, because he put some indentations around the bridge that weren't there before. When I asked him about it, he said he stood by his work, blah blah, but I sure wasn't going to ship it back. Plus there was an ever-changing story of what he thought needed repaired..first he said I needed a new bridge plate, and I was interested in getting a new maple one, then later when under the gun, he didn't replace it. I got the feeling I was getting smoke blown up my butt.
I wouldn't use him again. I wouldn't buy one of his new guitars either. Not sure why it's a common theme for it to take so long with repair shops. If they are up front about it, cool. If I call, then they should say, you're number X in line, I'm going to start on yours next week etc etc.. I hate sending a guitar for a repair, and the guy tells you it will take 6 weeks, then 3 months later you're still sitting at home wondering how long 6 weeks is on their planet. I have another guitar in the shop...and it's seems to be the same deal. I'm the best, 6 weeks, I'll fix it right up, sent it right over. Once they have your guitar....Dead air....grrrrrrr....at least shoot me an email letting me know whats going on.
Rant over!!! :lol:
I wouldn't use him again. I wouldn't buy one of his new guitars either. Not sure why it's a common theme for it to take so long with repair shops. If they are up front about it, cool. If I call, then they should say, you're number X in line, I'm going to start on yours next week etc etc.. I hate sending a guitar for a repair, and the guy tells you it will take 6 weeks, then 3 months later you're still sitting at home wondering how long 6 weeks is on their planet. I have another guitar in the shop...and it's seems to be the same deal. I'm the best, 6 weeks, I'll fix it right up, sent it right over. Once they have your guitar....Dead air....grrrrrrr....at least shoot me an email letting me know whats going on.
Rant over!!! :lol:
FNG said:
I feel your pain Effin. I went through a few luthiers that I was less than happy with until I found Mike, He's the best of the best, and I wish that I'd have known about him first. I sent the D50 down to Nashville naively thinking they'd cover the repair for free. After the final $285 plus shipping both ways, I'd have been way ahead of the game bringing it to Mike, who quoted $350-$400. Oh well. :roll:
West R Lee
Venerated Member
twocorgis said:
I've never heard of anyone having sent a guitar to the "Custon Shop" and not getting back a guitar that was like brand new. They may take a while, but I'll lay you odds you'll be blown away when you get her back.
West
West R Lee
Venerated Member
FNG said:
Kind of like going to the doctor's office.........If you'd have told me up front I wouldn't get in for two hours, I'd have been here 2 hours later. It's like they're afraid 5 seconds is going to go by and there's not going to be something, or someone waiting for them.West
West R Lee said:
I've never heard of anyone having sent a guitar to the "Custon Shop" and not getting back a guitar that was like brand new. They may take a while, but I'll lay you odds you'll be blown away when you get her back.
West[/quote:235qj2wz]
I sure hope you're right West!