I need some repairs right away on a Brazilian LC-10 and am having a hard time getting Larrivee to want to do it, as they claim they are "short-handed" because of "the economy".....what is this?? I have to send multiple emails to get a response, can't get anybody to answer their phones, and they are trying to turn away my repair requests? I want a couple dings and scratches fixed and some frets replaced....not warranty work, but I am more than willing to pay! I recently acquired this guitar and knew there were some scratches and dings on top, but also found out upon delivery there was some significant fret wear n the first 4 frets, as well as some loose binding. (ya gotta love eBay!) I'd sure like to have these issues resolved where this guitar was born, as I do my other "better" guitars.
I've collected for almost 40 years and never had this experience with any other company....what gives???
Any suggestions???
Not to make trouble here but they've stated that there short handed and cannot do the job.Have you check local for someone who can do the job?
Not all manufacturer's have a full time repair department,some farm it out to warranty station.I don't believe that Larrivee has any but you might ask if there is someone they can refer you too.
It might be helpful to say where you're from so that forum members in your area could suggest luthiers/techs in your area with whom they've had very good experiences; possibly (maybe best through PMs) who to steer clear of.
DAVE
This current economy has caused a lot of Companies to scale back and do many things we have not seen before.
But it is known by many of us on the Forum that Larrivee has cut way back on personnel. The factory in Canada had very few workers when we toured it in March of this year.
I would do as has been suggested above, find someone local through recommendations of other high end guitar owners.
We have many who repair guitars in Austin, some have the top reputations and of course they are booked up all the time. But I know in other towns where guitars are not ''growing on trees" there are good repairmen who can get to you right away.
Let us know how it goes.
I agree with the other suggestions of finding someone local. Let us know where you are and I am sure you will receive some great referrals.
You can probably also ship it to a known luthier just as easily as shipping it to Oxnard.
When I put a scratch on my SD I was able to walk it to the Oxnard shop where they quickly erased my boo-boo.
David Wren just might have some free time since just leaving the Twelth Fret. He is certainly more than qualified. Who knows what he has planned, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask.
DAVE
As I said in the other thread, it's very likely that "they're shorthanded due to the economy". I understand that many employers out there, not just instrument builders, have had to make cut backs due to the economic times. Hopefully, these will be temporary. These businesses have prioritized their work and in the case of Larrivée, it looks like non warranty repairs just fell to the bottom of the list. This is, perhaps, unfortunate for you but I don't think it's anything you can blame on the builder. It is important to remember, correct me if I'm wrong, they never have to do non warranty work. Fortunately, finding someone to do the work you require, shouldn't be too difficult.
I've been lucky to have had a great relationship with the guitars, themselves, and have had a few friendly conversations with Matthew. Nice fellow, in spite of what Mr. Cree claims. Of course, according to my experience, I have only good things to say about them and, as some may know, have made a point of saying them. With that in mind, I have had some pretty major non warranty work done on my '75 L, in Oxnard, two years ago. Results? Personal service, excellent work, very fair price and complete satisfaction. It did take quite a while. I didn't mind at all, though. I told Matthew to take his time. I have several others. :beer
Here's an update....
I took the advice of several members, and went to my own local guy, Ernie of Ernie's Guitar Repair in Minotola, NJ.
Ernie is an in-demand studio musician with his own repair shop and does extraordinary work, and really caters to working musician's, in that a guy like me (mostly collector rather than player, and by no means a gigging musician) gets his work done AFTER the guy who is dependent on his instrument for his livelihood. I have always respected Ernie tremendously for taking that high road, as he will turn down offers of bigger bucks to get ahead in line if it means a guy who needs his axe to get back to work would suffer.
But that double-edged sword means a guy like me has to wait if he wants Ernie's work, and that's perfectly ok with me!
The only reason I wanted to send the Brazilian C-10 back to it's birthplace was my hope that they could restore the cosmetics to pristine (or as close to that as possible) collector grade, which Ernie will not do, as he does not like to touch the finish on the soundboard because of a ding or scratch, which is part of what I need done. But he is going to do the frets and fix the binding, and do what I know will be the best set-up this guitar could ever have.
So, I'll get back a fantastic player and a guitar that someday I may get the cosmetics restored, but not today!
I have to say I am disappointed to hear Larrivee is experiencing such difficulties, and I sure hope the situation isn't so dire they can't survive our decimated economy. I love the few Larrivee guitars I have, and would really be saddened if they can't get through this as that would be a terrible loss to the guitar world.
Sounds like you are going to get one super-sweet guitar back - and I doubt it will take any longer than if you did send it back.
The kind of cosmetic restoration that it sounds like you want is really a specialty. I don't know any techs that specialize in that kind of cosmetic work, since the priority usually pushes appearance way ahead of sound and playability. I doubt the factory would be the best place to send it for that type of work, either.
Look forward to you putting up a few pics when you get it back!
Tad
Quote from: tadol on July 31, 2009, 10:57:48 PM
Sounds like you are going to get one super-sweet guitar back - and I doubt it will take any longer than if you did send it back.
The kind of cosmetic restoration that it sounds like you want is really a specialty. I don't know any techs that specialize in that kind of cosmetic work, since the priority usually pushes appearance way ahead of sound and playability. I doubt the factory would be the best place to send it for that type of work, either.
Look forward to you putting up a few pics when you get it back!
Tad
There is one guy I know of in the Vancouver area who is renowned for cosmetic restoration (take a look at some of the repairs done on his site). His name is Ichiro Shuriya and he's done a lot of work for big name local clientele as well as did a great tune-up on one of my electrics.
Main site
http://www.shuriyaguitarcraft.com/
Restoration pics
http://www.shuriyaguitarcraft.com/ENGLISH/REPAIR/e_repair.html
Quote from: Ruhkukah on August 01, 2009, 12:03:12 AM
There is one guy I know of in the Vancouver area who is renowned for cosmetic restoration (take a look at some of the repairs done on his site). His name is Ichiro Shuriya and he's done a lot of work for big name local clientele as well as did a great tune-up on one of my electrics.
Main site
http://www.shuriyaguitarcraft.com/
Restoration pics
http://www.shuriyaguitarcraft.com/ENGLISH/REPAIR/e_repair.html
Man, thanks for that link. Looking at some of his work makes you realize what is possible when you know what you are doing! Some of the body repairs were AMAZING!
That is truly amazing workmanship - I would love to see his shop and more of his work. And the custom classical on his site! That bridge and saddle design, and the string anchors, it's a gorgeous design.
Tad
Quote from: tadol on August 01, 2009, 12:41:40 PM
That is truly amazing workmanship - I would love to see his shop and more of his work. And the custom classical on his site! That bridge and saddle design, and the string anchors, it's a gorgeous design.
Tad
Here's a link to where his shop is located in South Vancouver.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=shuriya+guitarcraft&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A
Awesome tech work, including repair of finish problems:
Glenn Nelson
Mockingbird Music
Berlin, Mass.
978-838-2344
Check out his own builds on his site!
http://www.mockingbirdmusic.com/