Mike, if I have a business and provide a service that I'm charging money,and someone is counting on me to do the best job I can I'm going to do exactly that if I knew Dolan was not doing the job I would NEVER used him.
AS for being upset put yourself in my shoes I made EVERY effort to make sure this didn't happen.
As for publicly stating anything to hurt his business-its a warning to us all.
Good thing my bass was there when they did Marc's wings on his bass Dolan told me they had something to go by.
And dude I'm voicing my frustration I mean no harm to anyone.
V63 back from Dolans[boy I'm not happy]
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Ken has a right to be unhappy, and I don't think his comments have been inappropriate for the situation.
This makes me think that it would be better (if possible) to go buy a chunk of maple from Home Despot [not a typo] or a lumber yard, send it to the refin shop before sending the guitar itself, and have them spray a sample burst on said piece of wood. I would think that if the shop adhered to the credo "the customer is always right", it would do that to make sure they got it right.
This makes me think that it would be better (if possible) to go buy a chunk of maple from Home Despot [not a typo] or a lumber yard, send it to the refin shop before sending the guitar itself, and have them spray a sample burst on said piece of wood. I would think that if the shop adhered to the credo "the customer is always right", it would do that to make sure they got it right.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
-
ken_swearingen
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2298
- Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 6:00 pm
Gary,thats a wonderful Idea.
Guys don't get me wrong its a nice paint job [if it were a Fender]Nate hit the nail on the head.
I most certainly asked him the other day while it was still at his shop if it was black around the edges he said no dark brown I said OK.
Now he admits it was to dark???and it was a bad judgment call.
I know they had problems sealing the fretboard that took time to get right,why did they strip the fretboard I have no idea,neither did he?Then they apparently did it too dark and stripped it again, darker then this ?????then they did it again before Mike got a chance to see it before spraying the clear. so Mike just told them to polish it up as is Now all this took three months why????i asked Mike for pics before sending it back which is standard procedure,He wouldn't do it.
When I find a good re finisher I will stick with him,send him all my work and gladly pay for a good job the only thing I ask is work with me ,color is your business,its very easy too send me a pic and ask what do you think too light or too dark Simple as that.
This whole thing could have been avoided if it was handled professionally[with a picure]Some people must think there name is worth its weight in gold I guess they found out they were wrong.
I asked him for pictures on a number of occasions received nothing.I WONDER IN TWELVE WEEKS WHAT THEY WERE DOING????? Ok IM DONE.
Guys don't get me wrong its a nice paint job [if it were a Fender]Nate hit the nail on the head.
I most certainly asked him the other day while it was still at his shop if it was black around the edges he said no dark brown I said OK.
Now he admits it was to dark???and it was a bad judgment call.
I know they had problems sealing the fretboard that took time to get right,why did they strip the fretboard I have no idea,neither did he?Then they apparently did it too dark and stripped it again, darker then this ?????then they did it again before Mike got a chance to see it before spraying the clear. so Mike just told them to polish it up as is Now all this took three months why????i asked Mike for pics before sending it back which is standard procedure,He wouldn't do it.
When I find a good re finisher I will stick with him,send him all my work and gladly pay for a good job the only thing I ask is work with me ,color is your business,its very easy too send me a pic and ask what do you think too light or too dark Simple as that.
This whole thing could have been avoided if it was handled professionally[with a picure]Some people must think there name is worth its weight in gold I guess they found out they were wrong.
I asked him for pictures on a number of occasions received nothing.I WONDER IN TWELVE WEEKS WHAT THEY WERE DOING????? Ok IM DONE.
-
ken_swearingen
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2298
- Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 6:00 pm
Wim,We all wish they still did that.
Actually I wish JH would hire a crew of guys like Mark arnquest,Dale Fortune...that could head a custom and repair shop for Rickenbacker a part of the Ric. factory.
Sort of a one stop shop,we would all be sending our re-fin work,repairs and custom stuff to one place all upholding the same standard of craftsmanship.
Hey when the factory does it it cant be wrong.
They would make a killing and we would be guaranteed factory repairs and finishes.
Actually I wish JH would hire a crew of guys like Mark arnquest,Dale Fortune...that could head a custom and repair shop for Rickenbacker a part of the Ric. factory.
Sort of a one stop shop,we would all be sending our re-fin work,repairs and custom stuff to one place all upholding the same standard of craftsmanship.
Hey when the factory does it it cant be wrong.
They would make a killing and we would be guaranteed factory repairs and finishes.
All - I believe Ken has a right to be ******. I don't believe Ken should threaten people with bodily harm when he gets ******. Given all of the bad press Michael has received, I think some will think twice about using him. I have used Michael and the paint job was excellent whether he did it or not. It was factory perfect and as a refinisher myself, I was impressed. Now I can't say he followed my directions to a T or my '80 Azureglo would have checkerboard binding. I'll live with that though I have plenty of other project basses.
Ken - I know you're a passionate guy about basses. I know there nothing worst than having your babies jacked up. Monty is a hard color to duplicate if it's not sitting in front of you. It is very hard to photograph because the flash or even the room light adds that yellow band between the natural maple and the brown translucent edges. The bass I have has only two colors. The natural maple and brown. I can't tell if your v63 has that or if you even wanted that. No excuse for not getting it right but I'd say they were just guessing from the pics and hadn't seen a real Monty.
In whatever you do, I wish you better luck next time. Try consulting with Paul W. He seems to really know his stuff when it comes to RIC finishes.
Ken - I know you're a passionate guy about basses. I know there nothing worst than having your babies jacked up. Monty is a hard color to duplicate if it's not sitting in front of you. It is very hard to photograph because the flash or even the room light adds that yellow band between the natural maple and the brown translucent edges. The bass I have has only two colors. The natural maple and brown. I can't tell if your v63 has that or if you even wanted that. No excuse for not getting it right but I'd say they were just guessing from the pics and hadn't seen a real Monty.
In whatever you do, I wish you better luck next time. Try consulting with Paul W. He seems to really know his stuff when it comes to RIC finishes.
a couple of Shadows a Blackstar and an Annie.
-
throw_this_away
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 618
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:59 am
- Contact:
I sympathize (but still love the fender-burst). When I get something in my head that I want, I don't settle for anything less. The irony is that I saw monty brown a few months back... but I always though it was too light and wanted a "fenderburst." I was even pondering having my 72' refinished... heresy I know.
I have mentioned it before, but when I first bought my 96' 4003 it needed rewiring. I gave the local music store the bass with the official ric wiring schematics and a few photos also and they still wired it COMPLETELY wrong. They even lied to my face about testing it out first. For the money they were trying to charge me I was ******. In the end they let me keep it (miswired) with a free set of new strings... but I will NEVER go there again for repairs.
I have mentioned it before, but when I first bought my 96' 4003 it needed rewiring. I gave the local music store the bass with the official ric wiring schematics and a few photos also and they still wired it COMPLETELY wrong. They even lied to my face about testing it out first. For the money they were trying to charge me I was ******. In the end they let me keep it (miswired) with a free set of new strings... but I will NEVER go there again for repairs.
I had the store in Moncton (same chain) do my 4001 wiring, which was basically gutted & they did it perfectly according to the RIC schematic, but I think the tech was a Rick fan because he wired it without the cap & said I thought you'd like it better that way. Quite correct.
As far as being picky, I agree with Ken 100%. He certainly told them enough times exactly what he wanted, so no excuse to let it go at "close enough". That's not being anal, it's just stating what you want done. If they can't handle the job, then they should have said so.
Also, the test spray should have been THEIR first attempt/dry run to see just what they're dealing with. We all know Monte is a tricky finish to master, as is FG. It's very subjective, but Ken supplied plenty of pics for reference. They knew he was particular about the exact finish. No excuse.
As far as being picky, I agree with Ken 100%. He certainly told them enough times exactly what he wanted, so no excuse to let it go at "close enough". That's not being anal, it's just stating what you want done. If they can't handle the job, then they should have said so.
Also, the test spray should have been THEIR first attempt/dry run to see just what they're dealing with. We all know Monte is a tricky finish to master, as is FG. It's very subjective, but Ken supplied plenty of pics for reference. They knew he was particular about the exact finish. No excuse.
Plus five minus five!
-
green_us90
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 530
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2004 12:23 pm
I actually would like a 4000, with horseshoe, in either Fiesta Red or Lake Placid blue....Fender colors, to each their own.
I could be wrong but I think the Factory is at full capacity and would not be able to commit to any refinishes on fielded units as they <probably> do not have extra capacity in their plan for such things.
However, what a cottage industry that would be- plenty of business from this forum!
I could be wrong but I think the Factory is at full capacity and would not be able to commit to any refinishes on fielded units as they <probably> do not have extra capacity in their plan for such things.
However, what a cottage industry that would be- plenty of business from this forum!
Gitch-Pang, Gitch-Pang- the RIC trademark
-
ken_swearingen
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2298
- Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 6:00 pm
I have dealt with many people in my life over many different subjects some good some bad this rates probably as #1 for shear blind stupidity,there is no other explanation.
How can you get a color right when your refuse to work with the one person that knows how he wants it to look.
Hey give me your car Ill paint it you want blue oh its a little red here take it anyway.
The chain of events
A]bass is the wrong color.
B]blatantly ignore what the customer says once a week for 12 weeks.
C]Lie to customer tell him its what he wants-tell him its brown when he asks. D]leave all electronics for customer to have to re-wire[re solder] it when he gets it back.
E]Ruin a perfect trc by chipping white paint off the back???
F]Oops I knew we messed up but I thought you might like it anyway.
G]since we nicked up your TRC I thought we would put a few nicks in your case too.HEY I GIVE CREDIT TO THOSE WHO DESERVE IT.I had the option of sending the bass back and would not do it after the lies the blatant disregard for me and what I wanted done,there was no way I was A]going to pay shipping again.B] be without it for god knows how Long.C]you couldn't do it the first time but you can now,I don't think so.
How can you get a color right when your refuse to work with the one person that knows how he wants it to look.
Hey give me your car Ill paint it you want blue oh its a little red here take it anyway.
The chain of events
A]bass is the wrong color.
B]blatantly ignore what the customer says once a week for 12 weeks.
C]Lie to customer tell him its what he wants-tell him its brown when he asks. D]leave all electronics for customer to have to re-wire[re solder] it when he gets it back.
E]Ruin a perfect trc by chipping white paint off the back???
F]Oops I knew we messed up but I thought you might like it anyway.
G]since we nicked up your TRC I thought we would put a few nicks in your case too.HEY I GIVE CREDIT TO THOSE WHO DESERVE IT.I had the option of sending the bass back and would not do it after the lies the blatant disregard for me and what I wanted done,there was no way I was A]going to pay shipping again.B] be without it for god knows how Long.C]you couldn't do it the first time but you can now,I don't think so.
Ken, call Dale Fortune and see if he will redo your bass. I know he's not fond of doing refinish work anymore, but he may do it.
Here's a somewhat decent comparison of my 4002 before and after.
The before picture was taken in bright sunlight.
The after was on an overcast day. I thought he did a fantastic job.
Before
After
Pretty close match, considering lighting conditions, and different angles of the pics.
In person, I can't honestly tell the difference.
Good Luck !
Here's a somewhat decent comparison of my 4002 before and after.
The before picture was taken in bright sunlight.
The after was on an overcast day. I thought he did a fantastic job.
Before
After
Pretty close match, considering lighting conditions, and different angles of the pics.
In person, I can't honestly tell the difference.
Good Luck !
Buy it before someone else does.
-
ken_swearingen
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2298
- Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2004 6:00 pm
I know! Dale, has my 21 fretter right now,I was also thinking of Paul W. for the 21 fret but just not that familiar with his work yet.
I like the fact Dale and Mark Arnquest send pics of the work in progress,I know its a pain for them but in the long run it guarantees against mistakes.
Dave,when I spoke to Dale I asked him to get your bass done by M.A.R.C. if possible.He was going to try.
I like the fact Dale and Mark Arnquest send pics of the work in progress,I know its a pain for them but in the long run it guarantees against mistakes.
Dave,when I spoke to Dale I asked him to get your bass done by M.A.R.C. if possible.He was going to try.