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flyeogh -> Rip off luthiers?? (Sep. 30 2005 8:20:10)
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After recent posts on luthier costs/satisfaction
My Bernal Model F 99 had at least 5 major problems. In its five year history used by a performer in Seville it had had the s**t knocked out of it. Separation of the back, serious cracks from a drop, lesser cracks elsewhere, a deep scratch, etc. From feedback from the gurus on mimf.com it all sounded serious stuff with difficult remedy. The final advice was “Enjoy it while you can”.
Anyway I visited my nearest luthier - Stephen Hills now back in the south of England - and left it with him for a couple of weeks. If nothing else I asked him to replace the beer rusted machine head (under the theory that I could always salvage this before using the firewood). Now some will say £80 is a lot of money but half of this was the machine head. The care and attention really shows. My Bernal has a new lease of life. It looks the part. I think it can look forward to a ripe old age. And it still is the easiest guitar to play that I have ever touched.
Of the four luthiers I have had contact with none were rich and all demonstrated a love of their art. Have I just been lucky or are there Ferrari driving rip off merchants out there?
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