Getting a Vintage Rickenbacker Bass restored ?

[Ashgray]

Only one luthier to avoid at your peril, IMHO - PM me for details...

Ash

[8mileshigh]

+1

[jps]

Ahh.........

[edski]

Why did he (JH) stop posting? Did someone insult him too, or was it just becoming too much?? I always enjoyed his postings.

I've seen him post recently, maybe not here in the bass section.

[cheyenne]

I'm surprised no one suggested Paul W. for the restoration?

Am I out of the loop on something here?

[8mileshigh]

Yes.

[Ashgray]

Yes +1

[jps]

I had PM'ed Scott yesterday.

[Ashgray]

Thanks Jeff - I was going to do the same when I get back from work tonight.

Ash

[Kopfjaeger]

I'm surprised no one suggested Paul W. for the restoration?

Am I out of the loop on something here?

Perhaps that's a thread for another time and place!

[henry5]

I'm surprised no one suggested Paul W. for the restoration?

Am I out of the loop on something here?

Perhaps that's a thread for another time and place!

[DriftSpace]

I think it's probably better for the community if everyone shares their experiences openly, as opposed to just sending private messages.
An open-dialogue about people's experiences also helps luthiers improve their business, provided they have the humility and self-awareness to take criticism from customers.

Paul W. restored my 4003, and the end-result is pretty great. However, we did have our issues, and there were definitely some extraneous circumstances which extended the project a ridiculous amount beyond the originally-proposed time; some factors were completely unrelated to the project, while others were directly related. If there's one thing Paul did do well right off-the-bat: he accepted constructive criticism, and he didn't give-up until everything was right.

[Ashgray]

Given the nature of internet forums in general, I for one prefer not to do my dirty laundry in public.

Ash

[DriftSpace]

Given the nature of internet forums in general, I for one prefer not to do my dirty laundry in public.

Ash

I see where you are coming from, but on the other hand: there aren't any other better venues for consumers to review services like this. If people who had custom work done posted their experiences on places like Angie's List or Yelp, I'd understand, but that's not happening; the people who seek that kind of service come to places like this to find it. This very forum is how I found Paul W., and I could only find positive reviews. If there had been some real-world, candid experiences posted: maybe my experience would have been a little easier or different altogether.

Mark Walker started a thread in this vein while back: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=408633

Ash: even if you doing your "dirty laundry" could help just one person have a better experience, make a more educated decision, and/or help a lazy craftsperson shape-up-or-ship-out ... would that not be worth it? Think about the potential grief you could spare any number of people by merely recounting your experience.

Hypothetically: if you were my neighbor, and I had some guys put a new roof on my house, and they did a terrible job/were awful to work with: wouldn't you have appreciated it if I had said something to you about it before you hired them to do the same job for you?

Sharing experiences is the basis for a community, and the RFF certainly seems like a community.

[Kopfjaeger]

Sean.

I too feel that it's forums like this that help to inform members on many different fronts. It should be a place to freely exchange ideas as well as informed opinions. But... Seeing how badly the recent GC/RIC 4001 tribute bass thread went, I've changed the way I contribute. To recap, that thread caused Mr Hall to feel "ganged up on" and now he no longer posts here. I know several members are all "twisted" up over that. Believe me I'm not happy either but in my opinion, the thread was a civil discussion about the instruments. It never got personal but still it had repercussions and hurt feelings. We are all adults here and we should be able to have disagreements or a difference of opinion. I for one am not going to wade into another polarizing thread that has the potential to cast me as the villian. While I'll sleep well at night if that happens, I do like it here, and wish to remain a member in decent standing.

I do remember Marks post on Chip little. While it was great info, Chip Little is not nearly as respected here as Paul is. You have to sgree that any negativity against such a popular figure here would have very polarizing effects.

Suffice it to say, I'll go on record that I won't be sending any work to Paul to do for me. As I have in the past. He did a great job on my Blackstar but a recent dealing with him has changed my opinion about doing any future business.
Sepp