My New Rittenberry

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 13 May 2009 12:46 pm

Jeremy,I just got off the phone with Gary.He assured me your steel was set up as he was told. Also anything you need to change it to your copedant will be sent to you and because Gary is not a forum member, any information you need to change it I can help you with it. So let me know what you need.
Gary work's very hard in building a good reputation and the customer satisfaction come's first.

Now on another note, why do some people take every chance to degrade someone.There have been many positive post on here about the Rittenberry Steel with no comments from you Chris or you Roger. This is an issue between Gary the dealer and the customer.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 13 May 2009 1:41 pm

geez...lighten up, bill. i've heard nothing but good about ritties. i was just telling how i would feel if this disappointment happened to me after giving a day to day running account of it's delivery. i think it's super of gary to want to make it right, as he should! in the long run, this just confirms the integrity of this company and it's just too bad about the little mistake.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 13 May 2009 2:43 pm

I agree that the setup should be right out of the box !!...Whoever screwed up , should cover the cost to make it right .... My Excel came all the way over from Japan and it not only had the correct copedant , but the levers were even placed EXACTLY where I wanted them , and the height of the pedal steel was also EXACTLY where I wanted it .... I sat down to my pedal steel and it felt like an old pair of shoes !!....Everything was right there as I sat down ...No reaching , no bending , not contortions at all .....PERFECT !!..... All this with an American to Japanese translation !!!..... I love when a plan comes together !!....Jim

PS ...NO OFFENSE at all to Gary meant ...I'm sure it was not his doing .....I will be ordering a Rittenberry soon myself ...I love these steels !!.....Jim

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 13 May 2009 3:58 pm

Bill

I have no experience of them, apart from having read many very positive comments here on the Forum. If you read my posts carefully you'll see that I haven't singled out the maker at all.

I'll say it again - I feel that, especially given the huge distance this guitar had to travel, and the expense thus incurred, someone should have been more diligent.

And just to set the record straight: I once bought a brand-new steel from a top builder, but, when I got it, I was surprised to find that it wasn't for me. The build-quality was amazing, and it was set-up exactly as I'd asked, but I simply didn't like the tone and I got rid of it anonymously, never hinting here on the SGF at what displeased me about the guitar.

In this instance I was struck by the succession of Jeremy's reports, and felt a real sense of anti-climax myself when he discovered the slight problem; I felt for him.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 13 May 2009 5:32 pm

Roger,and Chris thanks for the comments. The point I was trying to make was this is not Gary's responsability, but the dealer. If Gary knew exactly what Jeremy wanted thats what he would have gotten.
Gary is very upset about the mistake and will do what ever it takes to correct it.
Thanks, I wasn't trying to be rude.
BD

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 13 May 2009 5:44 pm

Usually the builders require the purchaser to put their setups on paper and send them a copy and keep a copy for themselves..that way both the purchaser and the builder have the same information if they have to communicate about something that may not look correct or some mistake that may have been made by the purchaser when he drew up the setup paper. It appears that the trouble, in this case, is that information was transmitted to two people, the retailer and the builder, usually it is between the purchaser and the builder. When I bought my Williams from Bill Rudolph, I could call and speak to him directly about any idea I had...it means a lot if one can talk to the person that is doing the building. When I spend 3 to 4 thousand for a Steel, I want to talk to the builder or I go elsewhere.

Tommy Alexander · Post by **Tommy Alexander** » 15 May 2009 4:40 am

If I know Gary like I think I know him, he has alreay addressed that situation one way or another!!
There are five Rittenberry's in the houston area; one about a year old, four within the last six months and we are not having any problems with them.
It's most likely a communication problem and I dare to say that it is coming out of Cookville, Tn.
If I was a bettin' man, I'd say that this is already been addressed.
I wonder if all of the other builders are building perfect guitars and no problems at all.
I can't hardly wait to see the comeback!!!!

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 15 May 2009 1:24 pm

Roger Rettig, so unless you got cheated somewhere, what is your nose doing in this at all? You are just starting trouble like you do so often?! You must have nothing to do at all.

I promise any of you it's not the dealers fault, probably not Gary's and most likely not the customers fault. It's NO ones fault. A mis- communication most likely.

These guitars can have the setups changed in a matter of fifteen minuets, if all this is over fifteen minuets labor from folkls that have no business in the deal at all I'd suggest they learn to play something besides 5 songs in a Patsy cline show.

Roger, quit trying to play judge and jury and mind your own business, if you have any.

Bobbe

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 15 May 2009 1:35 pm

Sounds like I've touched a nerve somewhere...

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 15 May 2009 1:37 pm

I will peresonally see that any problem with this or any other Rittenberry is taken care of immediately.

Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 15 May 2009 1:44 pm

Yea Roger, you have a way of doing that,

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 15 May 2009 6:38 pm

I was hoping this thread would just float off into the distance....

As Bobbe has said, it may not be any one person's problem - its a simple communication glitch (obviously). And its not that big a deal. The fact that I am half a world away is what makes it a bit more difficult to address. Specifically, getting the right weirdo American-sized allen keys to do the job (I would have needed to get some regardless - we are basically metric over here).

Gary and the wider Rittenberry community have already addressed this problem (such as it is). Thanks, fellas.

The guitar itself is just wonderful. I'm going to get it out and get into some playing today (Saturday) and I'm sure my little brain will be better off for being forced into adaptability in the knee department.

I found it no trouble to switch from the left knees to right when I moved from my Carter Starter to the Pro-1, I'm sure it won't be that much trouble for me to do it on the left again for a while. Then I will have the opportunity to re-evaluate which way I really prefer to have them - which is an opportunity I may not otherwise have been presented with.

So, there is a silver lining. Go in peace, guys.

Wally Taylor · Post by **Wally Taylor** » 15 May 2009 6:41 pm

Attention all personnel.....the Seymour has spoken!!!
Bobbe will make it right, Gary will make it right, the customer will be happy and anyone else who has no dogs in this race should shut the H@ll up! Including me!

Well said Bobbe!!

Wally

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 4 Jun 2009 8:46 am

Help!!!

I'm doing this show up in ND and it's all going well. The only trouble is that I've already exhausted the five songs I know, and they need a sixth...

Bobbe: please send some tab ASAP - preferably something easy!!!!

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My New Rittenberry

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