Question on getting some work done

Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Well this is difficult for me to express, but I am dealing with a high level of frustration and thought perhaps y'all might help.

I recently purchased an Emmons LGIII used and needed to have several of the knee lever pulls changed, a knee lever moved from the E9 side on the left to the C6 inside, and add the PF pedal 4 change. On the recommendation of a long time friend, I sent it to one of the more reputable Steel fixer uppers and we discussed the changes required and the cost and time frame to get it done.

Well it has now been 9 weeks that this individual has had the guitar and I have written and called a number of times. Just last Friday he said it was all done and would call on Monday to get my CC for the return shipping charges....of course no call.

Now, this is the only guitar I have (poor boy here)and I have had to turn down numerous jobs as a result. In my former profession I used the adage you can get it good, fast or cheap, pick two....and I do admit that the charges were what I considered reasonable. But I am feeling like this individual is not being responsive to getting this guitar returned to me. I do want the the best work possible (that's why I sent it to this shop) as his reputation for doing quality work is very high.

So the question is this....is this a reasonable amount of time to change over 5 levers, add a double stop, add a pedal change? Or have I been out of the loop so long that I don't have a feel for a reasonable amount of time to be spent getting the work done?

Don't ask who is doing the work, cause I won't say who....but golly this is bordering on the ridiculous. It just might be that I am getting shuttled aside for the "pro" players or whatever.

Thanks for letting me vent...I am really anxious to get this back and get playing again.

Stephen

------------------
Life is mostly attitude and timing

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Originally 1 week....as it turns out, he said that due to a time period when Emmons made this guitar, some of the parts were no longer available and in order to keep it as original as possible, he had to machine a thing or two, as well as get a reversing lever together that he didn't have (don't know why this was, as it was a LKR being moved to MKR which are both reversing levers).

I guess I should learn how to do my own work, but this is the first all pull guitar I've owned.

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Steve:Maybe he's on a work release program?

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

It's always good to have a second steel available, even if you have to borrow one - and I know that can be hard in many places. But there's nothing worse than relying on one single piece of equipment when it's so important to your livelihood.

I had a friend that waited two months for a lever and a pedal to be added to an Emmons......it was also a parts issue. Waiting for parts can make a timeframe unpredictable, and delays are understandable in this respect. But a lack of communication with the customer is another thing altogether. It is only fair for the technician to inform you of any time/cost changes.

Sorry to hear of your woes. You must be going crazy without a steel around.

Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Chris,

Thanks for the sentiment....I am certain I am leaving out some critical piece(s) of information on what exactly was necessary to get the job done, but alas, this is my understanding.

That said, I started playing steel when I was young (1972) and had a full head of hair (a bit hairing impaired these days), but truth be told, I had been without a pedal steel for about 2 years when I bought this. I have been so excited to play and play out after not having sone so for some time that I am just dog gone anxious to get back to it.

So, are you offering me a loaner? (j/k) I plan on buying a new, made for me guitar sometime in the near future and keep the Emmons as well. Now, if I hadn't of sold that ShoBud Permanent I had early on, or the 66 bolt on that I traded it for, or the custom ZB that Bill in Phoenix built for me when I was playing with Barbie Benton I'd be all set....

Ah the memories of all those wonderful instruments. I need to post a picture of the ZB in the thread to see if anyone knows where it is.....it was a gorgeous one off, amber color with nice mother of toilet seat inlays.

------------------
Life is mostly attitude and timing

[This message was edited by Stephen Silver on 15 November 2006 at 06:32 AM.]

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

Well, I was feeling sorry for him till I read the part about playing with Barbie Benton. Must have been a great view.

[This message was edited by Bobby Boggs on 15 November 2006 at 04:20 PM.]

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

well I can only make a comment based on my own experience. Not long ago I had a D10 Legrande from 1986. I wanted to add a 5th knee lever. I stopped by the Emmons shop in Burlington, talked to Ron jr,, he went into the parts area and got me the knee lever kit. He had the parts right there for a Steel which was basically 20 years old..So I am thinking he probably has all the parts anyone needs for a Legrande III..which is NOT 20 years old , no ?

9 months seems to a bit over the edge for something which was stated to take a week.

I would go get the STEEL, VERY SOON..and start from scratch with someone who will actually do the work.

good luck

t

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 15 November 2006 at 05:19 PM.]

Calvin Walley · From: colorado city colorado, USA

a couple of months ago i took my steel to Mullen on thursday and asked them to move all my pedals to the right 1 space , they called the following Monday and said it was ready !! i picked it up the next day
it was gone just 4 days total

------------------
Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

[This message was edited by Calvin Walley on 15 November 2006 at 05:30 PM.]

Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Ok, you guys are making me feel really bad.

(actually, I am sadistically enjoying the pathos of it all)

And Bobby, it was an entertaining experience working with her. This was at the height of her relationship with Hef and we rehearsed at the manision in LA, stayed at the mansion in Chicago flew around on the bunny jet, and played a lot of Playboy clubs (go figure?) For my first real road gig, it was fun. As to her singing ability, I would say she was a very nice person.
SS

------------------
Life is mostly attitude and timing

[This message was edited by Stephen Silver on 15 November 2006 at 09:21 PM.]

[This message was edited by Stephen Silver on 15 November 2006 at 09:22 PM.]

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

I'm sorry about the problems that you've been having and would be glad to help in anyway I can~ 760-754-2120.

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

Stephen, if your guitar is not finished and you can get it to Jim, if he needs any parts I would have them. Or, they are readily available from Emmons Co. Call on me if you need any help.
Jerry

[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 15 November 2006 at 11:10 PM.]

Paul Redmond · From: Illinois, USA

As a guy who has done repair/revision work on PSG's for almost three decades, my best advice is to send him a certified letter demanding the return of the guitar to be shipped within 24 hours of the receipt of the letter (and you'll know the exact time/date by the receipt from USPS), or face fraud charges. If you don't have a tracking number in that time frame, give your county DA a call and let them handle it from there. You will most likely have to file a police report. Don't even bat an eye. DO IT!! There are unfortunately way too many disreputable slugs out there who just string people along with excuses rather than results. If the dude was worth his damned salt, he'd have custom-made the parts he "couldn't get" in a heartbeat. These hacksaw-and-drill press jockeys make me want to barf. They're usually in over their heads and don't know how to do a simple conversion on a steel, especially if it requires custom machining. It's, after all, YOUR guitar. And the not returning communiqes would definitely raise a red flag with me. This doesn't pass the smell test!! Get your guitar back. Let the dirt fly and worry about it later.
PRR
(Right on Bobby Boggs)

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Since you asked, I will tell you. This is not just bad business practice, this is reprehensible behavior. To keep you anxiously worrying around the clock disgusts me and you should have no qualms about plastering his name all over this forum. If he is on here, or if he does business with members of this forum, you will see some action. Or do as the above poster said. Demand the immediate return of your guitar in the same condition you gave it to him. There are a number of highly regarded people on this forum with sterling reputations that can do that work for you.

------------------
[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

What Jeff said. This is the kind of thing a forum is for - knowledge. People need to know who the good, timely repair/mod people are...but they also need to know who THESE types are. Then the person can either choose to explain, or lose business, and rightfully so.

I've always thought withholding names in situations like this is a disservice to the steel community, and I do not understand the reluctance. The "tech"'s story sounds like a bunch of lies and lame excuses, and players really need to know who this is.

Steven Black · From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA

I do know that after doing my MSA U12, it does take a lot of time to re-rod a guitar and to get all the new parts to work right for a guitar that is designed to have those factory setup, but since he gave you a time frame he should hold you to that.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Steve, I'm really sorry to hear that you have been without your only steel guitar for so long. But in my experience, 9 weeks is not a long time.
Here is how long these guys had my guitars:
Duane Marrs/Jeff Surratt: 44 months
Paul Franklin: 1 month
Bobby Bowman: 18 months (and counting...)

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

I wouldn't wait 44 months for a brand new one.I'm too old. Lifes too short.I take it the Bud and the Emmons are total restorations? Which do take time.But to move 2 knees and add the Franklin pedal,not rodding it the easy way. But the right way.Which means removing a lot of rods so you can hook low in the bellcranks.For the softest pedal action.I would only want 2 days.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Steve:Chuck Back recently put two brand new changers in my Desert Rose,and re-roded the whole guitar in 5 days,and that's major surgery,If you were closer I would lend you my Blanton to play,Stu

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

See later post.

[This message was edited by James Cann on 17 November 2006 at 04:56 PM.]

Paul Redmond · From: Illinois, USA

I stand by my previous post. This should NOT ever happen to anyone!!
PRR
(Again, Bobby Boggs, you're right on!!)
(Been a long time since the Powdersville Opry days in SC!! Sure do miss them!! Best to 'Little Joe', Mike, and 'Lefty' from this country 'Yankee'!!)

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

"But in my experience, 9 weeks is not a long time."

It is when you're told something completely different. How long other peopl,e have taken to work on other guitars doesn't really apply to hitech, who told him it would take a week and then lied about parts availability.

It's a completely different situation, either a sham or the guy doesn't know what he's doing...and the name *should* posted.

Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Here is exactly what I asked for....

My fat knees need a little more room between the LKLO and LKRO…about 1 inch (the riase and lowers of the E strings)

Move the Left Knee Left Inner to the Middle Knee Right (this seems to be where we got stuck as it now needed a reversing lever)

Change the LKLO, LKRO, LKRI, RKL, RKR (moving the e changes to left knees, put a double stop on the 2 lower (RKR))

Add the 4th Pedal changes to the E9 neck
(PF changes)
1" raise kit on four legs and 8 pedal rods

The last communication I had with him was last Saturday. He said the guitar was done and all he needed to do was put a finishing tuning on it. I have not heard anything since.

I will be calling him today to hear what the excuse du jour is.

SS

------------------
Life is mostly attitude and timing

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Locusts?

Forum Index > Pedal Steel	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic