F*ck me runnin!

[Flatpicker]

Thanks, Pianoguyy. I already have a REAL good tech/repair guy a tad closer in Lemoyne. Greg Platzer at BCR Music is one of the best I've worked with but the 1.5 hour/each way drive kills me. I typically don't get guitars serviced regularly, either. However, I will likely be taking the other 2 Hamers from the mile high ego-ed/priced guy along with one other and head out to Lamoyne. Fuck paying 150/hour plus parts. That shit ain't happenin'.

Greg has done some work for me and he is astounding.
Plus a hoot to talk to.

Problem is, It's a 7 hr drive one way. I have family in the area, but unless I'm staying the weekend, it's not something I can use all the time.

But, anybody who needs work, I'd recommend Greg in a heartbeat.

[straycat]

Lefty I compete with GC and Willcutt Guitars.
Willcutt is expensive as hell, last time I checked a set up on an OFR equipped guitar was $125.00.Std strat guitar $80.00.Not sure if they have a per hour charge.
I'll do a little research and see what the tech prices are around town.
I do charge less than Willcutt on a fret job thats the one job I usually charge a per hour fee but that is for set neck or acoustics.Bolt ons are pretty quick and easy so a std charge on those.

[j2379]

That's insane. That guys needs a punch in the mouth.

[leftykingv2]

That's insane. That guys needs a punch in the mouth.

+1 At the minimum.

[vector]

Greg has done some work for me and he is astounding.
Plus a hoot to talk to.

Problem is, It's a 7 hr drive one way. I have family in the area, but unless I'm staying the weekend, it's not something I can use all the time.

But, anybody who needs work, I'd recommend Greg in a heartbeat.

Yeah, Greg is most def. an interesting conversationalist. Guy has more stories and insights!

[j2379]

Very cool, my parents retired not too far from there. Joe was a local Long Island guy too, Bellmore I think. He made some wild shit back in the days. Never really liked his stuff as almost every one I've played was some weird shape that weighed a ton. Tho he did do the coolest paint jobs for back then.

And he does it while I wait. I usually buy him lunch after. Nice guy. He does amps and stuff too. I know he was working on a pedal of his own design. I'm gonna try it out next time I am there and tell him about this site. He lives in Ft. Myers if anyone is in S.W. Fla. 239-245-450

[atomic charvel guy]

I made a comment on another post that I don't change my own strings. Its true. Idon't. But I send this guy a lot of work and he hooks me up. 5 guitars for 75 bucks. Intonation, action, fret polishing, neck adjustments etc...I am always happy and my jap charvels feel better than any guitar I have ever owned. BTW He brags that he designed the Jem for Steve Vai. And his house is full of framed pics of them both

sounds like you have the good fortune of Joe D. doing your weapons detail.

[VitaminG]

Absolutely no chance of persuading him of modifying his prices. This guy is so full on himself. Behold something I found in one of his emails:

I must seriously apologize on the estimate issue. I rarely give estimates. I occasionally give clients my rates, most never ask. I service a rare nationwide clientele. My clients want me as their luthier. They pay me for the time I have worked on their instrument. I'm honored you are back as a client. I bill in 15 minute intervals. I keep a time log card on every job so if I'm interrupted you don't get charged for time away from the project. My billing is very efficient And fair.

wow. If you have to ask, you can afford it. Fancy

This is good though. With his time log card, he'll be able to demonstrate & justify how this simple job took 2.5 hours (assuming the $150/hr rate) for a Master Luthier to complete

[leftykingv2]

wow. If you have to ask, you can afford it. Fancy

This is good though. With his time log card, he'll be able to demonstrate & justify how this simple job took 2.5 hours (assuming the $150/hr rate) for a Master Luthier to complete

+1 I said the same thing. How could this take anyone let alone a master luthier 2.5 hours? None of it seems to make sense. Especially his hourly rate. It's way out of line in my opinion.

[pianoguyy]

I am not going to justify this particular situation.
But, in general...

A person's hourly rate is their hourly rate. It doesn't matter if it is a simple procedure or a hardcore job that only one person in the world can do.
Think about it. We're musicians. Are we going to discount our fee if it is just a 'small, quaint, little wedding ceremony' versus a big night club reception?
That's four hours out of my day that I could be sleeping, or playing somewhere else, my fee doesn't change. Does yours? Maybe some concessions for a small production versus the full fledged sound and lights needed for a typical gig. But for the most part, I drive two hours, I play, I get paid.
I even had someone say 'just play the bridal walk', I asked if I could halt the ceremony to pack up and exit. No, I need to sit there until the end... That is still a time requirement, whether I play or not.


I don't ask a mechanic to pump my gas, replace a headlight*, or change my oil*. It costs way too much for their time to justify a simple procedure.
The asterisk is because I do pay someone (but they have a special lane for it) to do my oil, and the headlight will depend on which car it is.

[VitaminG]

I am not going to justify this particular situation.
But, in general...

A person's hourly rate is their hourly rate. It doesn't matter if it is a simple procedure or a hardcore job that only one person in the world can do.
Think about it. We're musicians. Are we going to discount our fee if it is just a 'small, quaint, little wedding ceremony' versus a big night club reception?
That's four hours out of my day that I could be sleeping, or playing somewhere else, my fee doesn't change. Does yours? Maybe some concessions for a small production versus the full fledged sound and lights needed for a typical gig. But for the most part, I drive two hours, I play, I get paid.
I even had someone say 'just play the bridal walk', I asked if I could halt the ceremony to pack up and exit. No, I need to sit there until the end... That is still a time requirement, whether I play or not.


I don't ask a mechanic to pump my gas, replace a headlight*, or change my oil*. It costs way too much for their time to justify a simple procedure.
The asterisk is because I do pay someone (but they have a special lane for it) to do my oil, and the headlight will depend on which car it is.

true. But given that the guy has finally given vector his hourly rate (apparently most clients don't ask for it), we can work out that this simple job took him 2.5-3 hours (depending on whether he considered this a vintage instrument). He bills in 15 minute increments so clients are penalised for any interruptions. So he apparently spent up to 3 hours of actual benchtime to change a pot & a toggle.

oh, maybe he's a former gynecologist and performed the entire procedure through the input jack! That might account for the extra time

[Shawn Lutz]

Sorry man mistake was not getting a estimate as you mentioned. That is an insane price for minor work you had done. The second mistake may have been taking this work to a "Master Luthier" which is way over qualified for the basic "tech" work you had done.

[leftykingv2]

true. But given that the guy has finally given vector his hourly rate (apparently most clients don't ask for it), we can work out that this simple job took him 2.5-3 hours (depending on whether he considered this a vintage instrument). He bills in 15 minute increments so clients are penalised for any interruptions. So he apparently spent up to 3 hours of actual benchtime to change a pot & a toggle.

oh, maybe he's a former gynecologist and performed the entire procedure through the input jack! That might account for the extra time

+1 again! He should not be charging $150 an hour to change a pot and a toggle switch. $150 an hour is what a master luthier should be charging for a major repair (neck breakage) or a complete custom build and even then those prices are still high. My brother has a Carl Thompson hand made bass and Carl's hourly rate was only $100 an hour. His rates for minor repairs should be completely different and the fact that he's billing Vector for 2.5 to 3.0 hours for such a minor repair shows that he's at the minimum a time thief. I suck at wiring and I could do that job in 45 minutes at the most. I have a friend who worked for Washburn as a master luthier and builder for a long time and I've seen him change a pot, an input jack, a toggle switch and three pick ups in a half an hour. He did it while I was standing there next to him in his basement shop smoking a joint, drinking beers and bullshitting with me. Then he charged me $50 bucks! He's retired and 69 years old to boot!

[dirtyroadie]

I hate hearing stuff like this. There is absolutely no need to pay that kind of money for that kind of repair. I don't care who he normally does work for. It's a good argument for becoming a bit more of a DIY'er though, that's for sure.

[goodwood]

IMO..thats a fukin $50 repair.. 75 tops..

Complete agreement.