Adee Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I bought a Guild B-301 off Basschat about three months ago and it needed a re-fret. So I looked up my local guitar repair people, I had a couple to choose from. Being on a tight budget, I went with the cheaper quote and dropped the bass off and gave him the instructions . . . . that was 10 weeks ago. He said it would take about 2 weeks max, unfortunately during the first 1 week he broke his arm !. He'd started the job so I decided to leave it with him but give him 6 or 7 weeks before I rang him again. After an agonising 7 weeks I gave him a call and he said he was ready to start work again. and it would be ready by the end of the week, It wasnt and he went on holiday for a week with out even telling me !. Once he got back he said I've only got 2 frets to do and the set up, so I gave him another week and went to collect it on Sunday. I was faced with a complete pile of rubbish, the workmanship was crap at best the last two frets looked like they had been put in by a 2 year old, none of the frets had ben levelled and you could drive a bus under the strings ! When I pointed this all out to him, he was surprised and shocked ! He tried to set it up but because the frets were so badly done there was no chance at all to get a bass that was playable let alone a pleasure to play. He decided to let me have the bas back and take no payment, which was fair enough but now I have taken the bass to another local chap (Paul at Arrowhead) YES I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH PAUL TO START WITH , I'M STUPID, VERY STUPID If any one wants to know who the other guy is so they can avoid him, then drop me a PM. So dont go by websites or what someone tells you they can do. Look at their work and speak to their customes before you leave your prize guitar with a BUTCHER ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Interesting story - Sorry you had to go through the mill to find out as well. It's true, at the end of the day, you get what you pay for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Sorry to hear that Adee, there are some total charlatans out there. I hope he didn't do any damage that isn't repairable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Sorry to hear that.... Always worth looking at the luthier and repair list here first. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26654"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26654[/url] Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxblues Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I have just had my prized Ibanez Musician Bass re-fretted and I got an amazing job, fabulous workmanship, even the nut was remade to the original spec with a brass liner. I had this work done by: The Guitar Shop in Worcester, owned and run by Stuart Field, I cannot recommend highly enough. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassaussie Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Unfortunately, this seems to be a story I've heard over and over in relation to guitar repairs. It seems bassists in particular are susceptible to rubbish service, as a lot of repairman are OK with handling a guitar, but haven't got the first idea how to set up a bass. I think what you've said near the end is correct, it's important to see the work the guy has done recently to get some idea of what his skills are like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringbassist Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Martin at Sei basses charged me £130 to fret a fretless bass, that included a perfect setup. It took him two days to cut the fret slots by hand, the neck was bound and he didn't want to damage the binding. He did a fantastic job. My advice is this....if you can't afford to have it done by a professional like Martin, then wait a few weeks until you can. It'll be cheaper in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Unlucky mate, it sounds like a nightmare. I guess the moral of the story is that the cheapest option is not always the least expensive… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 [quote name='6stringbassist' post='456396' date='Apr 7 2009, 01:52 PM']Martin at Sei basses charged me £130 to fret a fretless bass, that included a perfect setup. It took him two days to cut the fret slots by hand, the neck was bound and he didn't want to damage the binding. He did a fantastic job. My advice is this....if you can't afford to have it done by a professional like Martin, then wait a few weeks until you can. It'll be cheaper in the long run.[/quote] Not just tat, those chaps at The Gallery do a basic set-up at a very competitive rate and with a quick turn-around time. If it's as cheap, quicker and better, why go anywhere else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adee Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 Cheers Guys The Bass is now with Arrowhead, I know Paul will do what is required to make the bass as good as possible. Can't wait to get it back ! I've waited 10 week so whats another 2 ! Ade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleal Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 [quote name='6stringbassist' post='456396' date='Apr 7 2009, 01:52 PM']Martin at Sei basses charged me £130 to fret a fretless bass, that included a perfect setup. It took him two days to cut the fret slots by hand, the neck was bound and he didn't want to damage the binding. He did a fantastic job. My advice is this....if you can't afford to have it done by a professional like Martin, then wait a few weeks until you can. It'll be cheaper in the long run.[/quote] Martin at the gallery (sei bass) is the only guy i would trust, i've even had him replace two fingerboards for me, one on my wal & another on my warwick thumb nt6, both were fretted originaly & now they're both plain ebony fretless basses, his work is 2nd to none Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_C Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 [quote name='Adee' post='457732' date='Apr 8 2009, 07:20 PM']Cheers Guys The Bass is now with Arrowhead, I know Paul will do what is required to make the bass as good as possible. Can't wait to get it back ! I've waited 10 week so whats another 2 ! Ade[/quote] you only have to wait one week - it's done P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 What sort of cost is a standard re-fret (to a fretted bass)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoe_BillySheehan Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 [quote name='Marky L' post='458322' date='Apr 9 2009, 12:56 PM']What sort of cost is a standard re-fret (to a fretted bass)?[/quote] Seems to be an average of around £120 unless theres extra work to be done. just generally around that price. Z x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adee Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 [quote name='Paul_C' post='457977' date='Apr 8 2009, 11:47 PM']you only have to wait one week - it's done P.[/quote] Wey Hey ! But I'm away until Monday visiting my Moe-and-Law Can't wait too pick it up ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.