Neil j dean

**Doug Hoople** · Jul-07-2007, 9:25pm

I haven't sent the private eyes into Vermont yet, but I've been trying to get in touch with Neil J Dean to check on the status of an instrument I had on order. His phone was disconnected, and his website was still showing pre-2007 content. Is he still building? Reachable?

I'd be VERY disappointed if he wasn't building anymore. I'm hoping he just went walkabout into the Vermont woods to search out that perfect slab of maple for my instrument. Probably too much to hope for, but you get the idea. I'm more worried about losing the instrument than the deposit at this point, after a year of dreaming about it.

What's up? Is he just in a long mando-building trance? Hanging out with Peter Mix and getting ready to enter into the carbon-fiber revolution? Playing way too many gigs with that fast, cool Vermont crowd?

If any of you Mandolin Cafe lurkers knows what he's up to these days, drop me a line at doughoople@earthlink.net.

Thanks.
Doug Hoople
Berkeley, CA

**eightstrings** · Jul-07-2007, 10:24pm

Doug- I'm currently having the same exact problem. I placed an order with him for an F-5 a while ago. He didnt contact me for a long time after placing the order, but randomly reappeared early this year and was very apologetic. He even sent me some pictures of an F-5 in the early stages of building, but shortly thereafter disappeared once again. I tried calling him and sent him countless emails, but couldnt get in touch with him. THEN, there was another random Neil J. Dean sighting on April 29, when he sent me the following letter (on a rather professional looking letterhead) :

April 29, 2007

Dear Brett,

Please accept my apology for my absence of communication over the last few months. I have been severely ill which has prevented me from building and being in contact with my costumers. It has been a long and trying year for me and I am still on the road to recovery. I send my deepest apology for the frustration that this has undoubtedly caused you.
This process of healing has set me far behind in my building schedule, and I must, regretfully, refund you your deposit. I hope that you understand that this solution is very painful for me. However, I do feel that it is necessary. I would like to propose that I finish the F-5 mandolin as you ordered it and offer you ‘right of first refusal’ , no strings attached. I understand that this is not an ideal solution but it is one that I feel I can reasonably offer.
Contrary to what people may be saying, I am currently building instruments and will continue to do so. I still find my passion in building and playing mandolins. I just need to get my illness to a point where it is manageable. I let things go undiagnosed for too long and so my recovery is taking longer than expected.
Please contact me via email so that we may discuss your refund of deposit. I am deeply sorry for this inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding.

Respectfully,

Neil J. Dean
neiljdean@hotmail.com

I felt a sigh of relief and emailed him back, but like always, just as soon as I made contact with him, he dropped off the face of the planet. I haven't heard back from him since. I'm really starting to worry because he has over $1,000 of my money and I'm entering a really expsensive private university this fall. I cant afford to lose money like this. Frusturation....:angry:

**cooper4205** · Jul-07-2007, 10:24pm

I have no dog in this, but I do remember a topic similar to this sometime back. I'm sure someone will chime in but you might want to do a search in the meantime.

**ab4usa** · Jul-08-2007, 9:07am

I know 4 cafe members and another (none from this thread) who waited 16 months to over 2 years just to get a message similar to the one posted above. Most, if not all of us are still waiting for a refund on our deposits which ran from $500 - $1500. I actually heard again from him last weekend that my refund had been returned due to a zip code problem and he would correct the problem and re-send it. I'm sure that all of us wish him luck in dealing with his illness, but I would have to suggest that you move on to another builder or be willing to wait a very long time.

**PhilGE** · Jul-08-2007, 10:15am

Originally Posted by (ab4usa @ July 08 2007, 09:07)

I'm sure that all of us wish him luck in dealing with his illness, but I would have to suggest that you move on to another builder or be willing to wait a very long time.

Sounds like sound advice to me.

Neil, if you're out there, best wishes on the road to recovery. I hope you find sound guidance and stick to whatever recovery plan you're working. There will be time for amends when you've recovered.

best,
Phil

**Doug Hoople** · Jul-08-2007, 10:34am

I had no inkling of any illness until this morning. I'm sorry to hear of it.

Neil, best of luck getting back on your feet again, both in terms of your health and in terms of your career. Knowing none of the particulars of your illness, we can't know what to wish for on your behalf, so all we can do is wish you well.

Doug Hoople
Berkeley, CA

**SternART** · Jul-08-2007, 10:47am

From my experience with Neil, he wouldn't put people thru this, but
sounds like it is a case of life jumping up & biting you in the butt.

I feel for those with outstanding orders for instruments, but can't
help but think Neil will do his best to make good.

Get well Mandobro!

**Scott Tichenor** · Jul-08-2007, 11:07am

Here's the previous thread:

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=42674

**Doug Hoople** · Jul-08-2007, 11:11am

I just refined my search and found the other thread from last April, in which Peter Mix broaches the topic of Neil's illness and tells of seeing him regularly, still working on mandos. So my apologies to Cafe regulars, who would have known how to find that.

I've written Neil, and told him that I'll wait for as long as it takes to get my instrument done. At the CMSA convention in Philadelphia in November 2004, I played the "Lyon & Healy-inspired" mandolin that he had customized for his friend Adam. The neck was scaled to Gibson F5 proportions, and the sound ideal was a kind of Loar-for-jazz-classical-and-Brazilian, meaning there was still wood and bite in the chop, but that the overall tone had more finesse, tighter focus, and better balance top-to-bottom. For my part, it's still one of the nicest instruments I have ever played, and it will be worth the wait, if Neil ever gets a chance to finish it.

Again, get better, Neil. We're glad you're still in the workshop! The world is still waiting to see what you're going to send us.

Doug Hoople
Berkeley, CA

**Nolan** · Jul-11-2007, 6:13pm

I haven't had any luck getting a hold of Neil either Doug. #Here's a pic of one he built a while back next to a Dude.

**eightstrings** · Jul-12-2007, 11:11am

Peter Mix- can you offer us any more recent updates?

**ab4usa** · Jul-13-2007, 12:04pm

Just a note that his email told me he would resend the deposit and it has been 9 days.

**eightstrings** · Jul-29-2007, 3:59pm

Anyone heard anything? Peter Mix? Despite trying to contact Neil, I still haven't heard from him

**ab4usa** · Jul-29-2007, 4:08pm

I haven't heard from him and I've sent several e-mails. I know at least one other person who is also waiting to get his refund back and can't get a response either. I had previously (months ago) contacted Peter Mix (twice) who talked to him about responding but that was to no avail either.

**bradeinhorn** · Jul-29-2007, 8:24pm

i did some picking with him at grey fox actually and he seemed to be doing well.

**bradeinhorn** · Jul-30-2007, 6:33am

it wasn't my intention to fuel the fire here.

**DryBones** · Jul-30-2007, 8:48am

Originally Posted by (bradeinhorn @ July 30 2007, 07:33)

it wasn't my intention to fuel the fire here.

noted and I removed my post. I have no personal interest in this other than a friend who is still waiting.

**eightstrings** · Jul-30-2007, 10:15am

Ok, I finally got a response from him last night. He said my refund was addressed and would be sent today. He was extremely apologetic. He said his health is still preventing him from being in contact with his customers.

**Nolan** · Jul-30-2007, 4:13pm

Originally Posted by (bradeinhorn @ July 29 2007, 21:24)

i did some picking with him at grey fox actually and he seemed to be doing well.

Pickin' always makes me feel better too!

What's the best way get in touch with Neil? #I've tried phone and email so far, did his contact info change?