Guitar Repair:Unauthorized Work Performed

[DonW]

Just curious if anyone else has had this occur. I refuse to pay for unauthorized work done to a guitar, that's final. Took a guitar to an area luthier/repair tech who is very good, I've no problem whatsoever with his skills. Problem is he found it necessary (monetarily) to crown & level the frets in spite of my instructions to do a set up only. The last thing that guitar needed was fret work and I was crystal clear, there were no communication problems. I've had several guitars maintained there and bought pedals etc. so I've been a regular customer but what I've found is that he loses customers from time to time by doing them the same way.

No more business or $$ from me. What is it with these types that flake after a bit of decent business practice? I'll never know.

[electronpirate]

Without at least a phone call to you to ask if that was okay, then you're right.

But if he does good work, I don't see any reason NOT to go back to him. I'll guarantee he won't do any more work he isn't specifically instructed to do!

[EricPeterson]

Find the same thing with mechanics, I have refused to go back to a few good ones that would do unauthorized work. I am pretty easy to get a hold of, just call me so I know.

[Jahn]

ayep, had a gorgeous brazilian rosewood bridge on my 60's acoustic shaved down from the top, giving it a crew cut, no call to ask if I wanted an alternative done instead. well, she does play nice and still doesn't need a neck set, but dayam every time i look at that bridge i cry a little.

[GuitarsFromMars]

I speak with my tech regularly around repairs of my instruments (we are personal friends). If he finds some unusual issue, he will call. Generally, I don't need to be called. I have a high level of playability quotient, in my instruments, as well as enough experience with him and the process. If it needs to be done, there is usually a sensibility that I am good for the extra money and he just does it. I might also add I have 8 instruments, and he works on them all regularly, as they need care.

[Luke]

My guy always tries to talk me out of stuff and tries to keep the bill down.

[Jon Silberman]

My main problem with my tech is he charges too little for such high quality work, forcing me to tip him well each time. I'm so resentful.

[bunny]

As a repairman I always do my best to talk the customer out of things not worth doing (and paying for!). Say, just a set up if it's definitely worthless without fret crowning or even refretting or replacing the nut when the truss rod is broken! I explain the reason and refuse to perform it, end of story. Many years ago my teacher tought me never to agree to do anything that can't have sutisfactory results. I mean that I need to return the guitar playable and working ok.

[Ayrton]

This is one of the reasons I started doing my own work. I did/don't mind paying for quality work, but after getting several instruments back in unsatisfactory condition, I gave up.

I once dropped off a guitar with new jumbo frets, and got back a guitar with vintage frets.

[dunara]

Originally Posted by Jon Silberman

My main problem with my tech is he charges too little for such high quality work, forcing me to tip him well each time. I'm so resentful.

Me too, Jon - awkward, isn't it?

[OldSchool]

How does it play now? That would be my only Judgement call........

[mark norwine]

I'm the opposite. I trust my guy 101%. If he said it needed to be done, than it needed to be done.

[cugel]

i had worrse done to me, all unauthorized. brought a '86 sg 62 RI to have converted to left hand: new nut and intonnation. when i got it they had drilled NEW holes in the body and moved the TOM back and filled the old holes with dowls and red felt tip pen.

the owner was trying to convince me that "it plays great" and "i have no lega recourse etc".

i was screwed. pay a lawyer to get compensated on a 1000 dollar guitar???
i told the shop in no uncertain terms to go F' themselevs and thay they knew shit about guitars. i dont know if they are still around. they were on lake union in seattle in the 90s making hair band guitars.

[musicman1]

No reason for unauthorized work to be done... ever... period.

A gtr is not life and death and there are no repair emergencies. In the age of cell phones and texting there is no reason for unauthorized repair work to ever take place. I dont care if its a gtr or a car. Get a new tech...

Unfortunately just telling someone what they can or cant do to your gtr is not enough...if the repair orders are not written down, you will usually get stuck for the repair costs.

I do agree with mark norwine that I trust my tech but I expect a phone call w/a price estimate for any work above and beyond what we discussed him doing.

Im never interested in dropping more money than I have to...

[Ahess86]

I've had it done (twice!!!) unfortunately by a great tech, and good friend. I confronted him about it the first time, but he did it right away again after that. He no longer gets my work, and the friendship is gone.