Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

[jgcable]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

I have never even heard of a fretboard veneer. Has anyone else?

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

I would wager that this was outsourced from day one. Even if it was, the guitar bears the name GMW and that makes Lee(guitar shipper) responsible for the outcome of the guitar. As a guitar packer extraordinaire, Mr. Garver should have recognized the fact that this job was sub standard at every point in the process and taken measures to correct it. Sending this guitar to Australia twice with a piss poor neck is inexcusable. [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

Rave on, Vic...you've been had.

[kmanick]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

this doesn't make any sense. Every GMW I've ever played has been a piece of art.
I wonder if now that Lee is so busy that he's got some outside
people doing fixes and minor work "for him" and this was done by someone else on contract and not Lee?

Now don't get me wrong I'm not defending him, even if
something like that is what occurred, then he's got shit
people doing the contract work for him, and it is his responsibility to make sure that all work done under the GMW name is quality work.
Damn I've been foaming at the mouth to order something new
from Lee, but this really makes me question what the hell
is going on over there. I wonder if he's in over his head now. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
I can't believe this guitar is still an issue after all this time.
Man I am truly feeling sorry for you, that thing looked f'n killer when you first got it too. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

[Genebaby]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

[ QUOTE ]
If you're really that upset, I think small claims court is up to $5,000, so you can sue Lee in small claims without a lawyer for your money back on shoddy craftsmanship. I'd write him a letter first. Not sure if they have small claims in Australia, but since it was an American transaction, it should still apply. I'd just let Lee know that you know what he did, stop ranting on this board to avoid libel, be very polite about it, and ask for your money back. If he offers another fix, tell him that it's been four years and you don't want him to do the work ... someone else will. If he's an ethical businessman, he'll refund your money or a portion of it for the new neck work; otherwise, take it to court.

[/ QUOTE ]

What libel? I called him a piece of *&#%$@, that doesn't mean anything, the rest is just facts.

I wrote to Lee and he responded like the warm fuzzy guy he is, told me to get lost, that the guitar "did get a new board".

I wrote to Neal too and he is sorry about the situation, and as most Luthiers would do, he stated he's cut up necks he's not happy with. Bottom line, Lee stuffed up, and I'm paying for his dodgy fix all this time with crappy playing guitar.

[fett]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

I checked the site as well. He charges big bucks and should stand by his, or any of his minions, work. I'm sure he has been clued into our site. I would sure like to be a fly on the wall listening to what he is saying.

[jim777]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

[ QUOTE ]
I have never even heard of a fretboard veneer. Has anyone else?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not in my 33 years of playing have I even heard of such a thing before.

[neilli]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

[ QUOTE ]
this doesn't make any sense. Every GMW I've ever played has been a piece of art. I wonder if now that Lee is so busy that he's got some outside people doing fixes and minor work "for him" and this was done by someone else on contract and not Lee?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think it's that - I had a GMW on order when Vic's first thread appeared which has now been delivered. That guitar is perfect, but (and maybe this is the rub), it's a std GMW strathead, like so many before it.

Maybe the pointy head is the key to the problems with this guitar? That's no consolation to Vic, but maybe GMW aren't set up to make pointy heads, so they outsource - still doesn't defend the hack job that this guitar has been from the start though.....

[StukaJU87]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

At this point I'd be on a plane to Cali. Lee got some 'splaining to do.

[Newc]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

I can't see how the headstock makes a bit of difference. Is it not possible to make a one-piece neck/fretboard and yet still use a scarf jointed head?

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

Newc, Neal Moser makes one like that, doesn't he?

[sevser]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

With all that Vic has gone through over this guitar, my jaw is on the floor that people still defend Lee...I realize that he has made great peices for some of you, but Vic has struggled with him for yeas now and documented it well...Thats fukked up...And people are still saying Vic is overreacting?

[sully]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe the pointy head is the key to the problems with this guitar? That's no consolation to Vic, but maybe GMW aren't set up to make pointy heads, so they outsource - still doesn't defend the hack job that this guitar has been from the start though.....

[/ QUOTE ]

doubtful. lee's parts (bodies, necks) are all outsourced, as is his inlay work. for the most part (and there's nothing wrong with this, imo) lee handles basic paint work (although i believe he has others doing that now), some fret work, and setup/assembly. again, there's nothing wrong with that at all.

another thing about the subcontracting questions; there's a reason why GMW doesn't have any employees. this is meant lighthearted, so please take it that way, but from what i've gathered, lee doesn't want to share more money than he has to. nothing wrong with that, mind you, i'm just responding to a question.

vic, lee told you that he's unwilling to help you? i assume you sent him the veneer picture you posted. it's not surprising; your service experience depends on lee's mood, but it's certainly appalling. i really feel for you. i remember how excited you were when you ordered it and wouldn't discuss the specs.

sully

[Newc]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

So dealing with Lee is about like dealing with Ed Roman, then? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

True, there's nothing wrong with being a money-grubber, it's what business is all about - but the key thing to remember is you have to try to STAY in business so you can grub more money. Screwing a paying customer is not the correct way to stay in business.

[sully]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

the dealings are similar based on mood, yeah. i can say that he's always been really nice to me, but it's probably b/c i'm curt's friend. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

i agree with your business statement, and until his business slows down (who knows when/if that'll happen), i'm sure this kind of treatment will happen from time to time.

sully

[toejam]

Re: Lee Garver is an unethical piece of *&#%$@

[ QUOTE ]
With all that Vic has gone through over this guitar, my jaw is on the floor that people still defend Lee...I realize that he has made great peices for some of you, but Vic has struggled with him for yeas now and documented it well...Thats fukked up...And people are still saying Vic is overreacting?

[/ QUOTE ]
+ 1. [img]/images/graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]