RE: Help needed - string tension

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Lutherie >>

Page: << < 1 [2]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Have you found the problem yet?

- What is the difference in humidity between your workshop and the place this guy is storing it? Perhaps this is effecting the percieved tension?

If the guitar has a higher tension feel perhaps it would work better at a lower action? It may take alittle from the trebles though.

Is there a way you could both get together for a trial this is a good way of at least getting an Idea of what he does want.

_____________________________

Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 1 2011 13:49:31

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Conclusion to the story: I lowered the action and he decided to keep the guitar after arriving at an alternative price that he thought was fair. He said it works well with low tension strings.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 12:43:26

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

he decided to keep the guitar after arriving at an alternative price that he thought was fair.

Was this necessary? If the problem was the action, that doesn't warrant a break in the price. That is an adjustment.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 15:12:42

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

I agree with Tom I don't think a price drop was right, perhaps that is what he was looking for all along. You should have pulled a Santos Hernandez and told Segovia to hit the bricks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 15:35:45

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Andy. Dont say it in public, then the next costumer will need a lower action and a lower price as well.

Well, go on. This sounds like a kind of stupid story in my ears but normally we just forget these little things with time.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 15:48:33

sig

Posts: 296
Joined: Nov. 7 2007
From: Wisconsin

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Andy,
Since Anders mentioned it, I need to send my instrument back because I need to have it lowered, not the action, the price

Just kidding!! I love my guitar and you won't ever see it on Ebay.
Sig--

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 16:56:50

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Yes it was probably stupid to post this in public but I genuinely wanted some ideas on how to solve this problem. And I felt like I should mention how it turned out. Obviously I can't get inside this guy's mind to know his motivations. It is amazing how two people's perceptions can differ so wildly on something.
It was either send some money back or take back the guitar and I didn't really feel like trying to sell it even though I probably could have made money (gave him a discount already for promotion).

Blah blah blah please ignore this thread once again.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 20:36:38

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Maybe it is wise if you are a luthier to have a "try period" for the costumer also.
two guitarst of the same measurement can feel very different.
I remember a post from Grisha that ( even He) had played his new guitar for 3 months to get used to.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 15 2011 22:42:04

estebanana

Posts: 9353
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Ahh, poor little Poo Bear Andy has twouble with a customer wustomer and has to cry on Anders and Uncle Stevie's shoulder. There, there sweetie, when you grow up you'll be bitter and grouchy just like the grown up guitar makers. I promise. Now go get a popcicle and watch some cartoons.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2011 5:24:05

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

quote:

ORIGINAL: deteresa1

Conclusion to the story: I lowered the action and he decided to keep the guitar after arriving at an alternative price that he thought was fair. He said it works well with low tension strings.

hey andy.. I am a great comsumer.. i make sure i get the most out of my dollar.. however in this case.. the price should have to bargained before hard... i believe in bargaining as much as we can before a deal.. but after a deal.. no more going back..
you should NOT have given him more discount after he has already received the goods.. I'm sure like the suggestions say.. a small non refundable deposit would be great.. about 200 bucks.. I think that's fair..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2011 10:03:56

estebanana

Posts: 9353
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Poo Bear I've been working all day to come with better nick name for you. I thought of Squidfrets and Snorkelhands, but nothing seems to work. Uptight Cuerdas is too long.

I'm sort of liking Squidfrets, any thoughts?

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2011 1:15:07

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to HolyEvil)

quote:

hey andy.. I am a great comsumer.. i make sure i get the most out of my dollar.. however in this case.. the price should have to bargained before hard... i believe in bargaining as much as we can before a deal.. but after a deal.. no more going back..
you should NOT have given him more discount after he has already received the goods.. I'm sure like the suggestions say.. a small non refundable deposit would be great.. about 200 bucks.. I think that's fair..

Hey Holy, I kind of agree but he kind of had a gun to my head with either taking the guitar back or sending some money. Generating unhappy customers is not exactly what I want to do at this stage in my career...

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2011 1:26:45

Guest

[Deleted] (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

[Deleted by Admins]

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2011 1:52:44

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Guest)

Yes I take his concerns seriously and I'm trying different things to see what I can do about that in the future...

end of stupid story.

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2011 2:41:37

estebanana

Posts: 9353
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

I hope you learned number of things from this.

Don't let work out of your shop unless it's the best you can do.
That it's not in your best interest to compromise on leaving a guitar out there that might not be up to the best you can do.
The customer is always right in public, but in private as a guitar maker you know more about it than they do.
That you should not talk undeserved smack to people that have been doing it way longer than you because schadenfreude is a biting dog.
Careers are not built in six months.
You should have someone who is a much better builder than you guide you on when you're ready to go prime time with your work, or at least check out your stuff as you let it out.
Don't pay a customer (refund) for the "privilege" of working on a guitar you just sold them. Just take your medicine and take the guitar back. Nobody is holding a gun to your head except yourself.

I'm really sorry that episode happened to you, it's painful to think about. When people get stressed out about building, repair work and sales they can be under a lot of pressure. Now that you have a taste of some of the things that can go wrong you might want to think that some of the things others say about problems actually have merit.

As for your prowess as a player and your boastful claim about being able to play circles around me, well you missed the bus. As a maker being able to play means you can evaluate a guitar on many levels and understand if the tension is unreasonably high or low, then act accordingly to moderate the tension.

I think you will become a very top guitar maker if you listen to your heart and keep listening to the best guitars. But when someone takes the time to tell you something heart felt and you throw it back at them without thinking about it deeply you miss a lot of good things. Information comes in strange packages.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2011 4:19:59

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Good story Andy I cirtainly think food tastes better than guitars! In the very early stages I think it was a good Idea to get them out and being played no matter what the cost is. I've felt wrangled out of some dollars many a time but only up until the point I get 5 more orders because of my generrostity to one. There is no right or wrong so don't beat your self up about it. Just laugh if off when when the money starts rolling in!

_____________________________

Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2011 11:30:23

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Help needed - string tension (in reply to Stephen Eden)

Stephen (and Stephen)... I appreciate your genuine comments and advice. Personally I considered that guitar to be the best I have made in basically every way. Differences of opinion happen in every stage of life. I'm over it now because I'm actually more happy that the guitar is out there rather than having to try to sell it. I've actually sold guitars for a little bit less despite the "double discount".