elvisNoir
Aug-23-2007, 12:01pm
I need some suggestions on how to proceed with this situation. I am not sure what is going on with the builder. It seems like anyone who would push this out the door would be disinclined to make it right.
It seemed like he just wanted to get this over with--he previously had to start the top over when he found that the wood he had selected was unsatisfactory, so I can understand not wanting to start a new top when it was chipped, but... not a good fix. As for the overall poor quality of the finish, and the damage to the scroll...
On Monday, I drove a couple of hours to pick up my new mandolin from the builder. As I arrived the mando was layed out on a kitchen table with some sandpaper, tuners, used strings, and the wrong tailpiece (the least of my problems).
The instrument wasn't actually "done", contrary to what he had said #the previous week. He spent almost the whole visit hastily working on it, so I could pick a few notes before I left.
I didn't have my glasses on for most of the visit, and I only had my hands on it for a minute to play it, so I couldn't examine the mando in detail. Into the case it went and away we went. Well, the pictures explain most of this...
I am having trouble with the pictures but I will describe what you will see once I get it figured out. The actual condition is worse than the pics can portray...
1. a chip that was poorly reglued and finished over
2. top and back covered with scuffs and sanding scratches
3. the scroll is poorly finished, and the part that faces the neck is heavily gouged and damaged--parts are just missing.
I could sure use some suggestions on how to proceed with this builder. He is a small but recognizable builder to those on this forum. Help appreciated.
It seemed like he just wanted to get this over with--he previously had to start the top over when he found that the wood he had selected was unsatisfactory, so I can understand not wanting to start a new top when it was chipped, but... not a good fix. As for the overall poor quality of the finish, and the damage to the scroll...
On Monday, I drove a couple of hours to pick up my new mandolin from the builder. As I arrived the mando was layed out on a kitchen table with some sandpaper, tuners, used strings, and the wrong tailpiece (the least of my problems).
The instrument wasn't actually "done", contrary to what he had said #the previous week. He spent almost the whole visit hastily working on it, so I could pick a few notes before I left.
I didn't have my glasses on for most of the visit, and I only had my hands on it for a minute to play it, so I couldn't examine the mando in detail. Into the case it went and away we went. Well, the pictures explain most of this...
I am having trouble with the pictures but I will describe what you will see once I get it figured out. The actual condition is worse than the pics can portray...
1. a chip that was poorly reglued and finished over
2. top and back covered with scuffs and sanding scratches
3. the scroll is poorly finished, and the part that faces the neck is heavily gouged and damaged--parts are just missing.
I could sure use some suggestions on how to proceed with this builder. He is a small but recognizable builder to those on this forum. Help appreciated.