A shady luthier?

StalePretzel

StalePretzel

New member
So this guy posts an ad on craigslist (ahh yea i know what you're thinking but hear me out) claiming to have 13 years of luthiery experience under his belt in restoring and repairing old instruments.

So i give him an email asking for the price to have the nut on my telecaster neck slotted. He replies "I charge 15$ to shape and slot a nut". So i send him a picture and he commends me for getting the right part. I take his email and run it through facebook and myspace. Turns out the bro is 28 years old and works out of his house in wilkinsburg (ghetto side). 13 years experience?

Anybody know how long the slotting and shaping of a nut should take? Not sure i wanna leave a 230$ neck at some random guys house. I know most of you will give me the "take it to a professional" response but keep in mind i don't have $$$ flying out my ass hole right now.

Being craigslist 'n' all, you're bound to get weird people. Just wondering if this guy is running something. Thoughts?
 
Re: A shady luthier?

My gut says no.... I trust it most of the time... Maybe someone on the forum can recommend you to a good well priced luthier local to you? I would always go on a recommendation of someone you can trust, not Craigslist...
 
Re: A shady luthier?

It's a nut. You can stand there while he does it. If he screws up, don't pay him, and have someone else put it on. At least you'll have given him a chance. Maybe he's just doing it for suplemental income, and since he doesn't have the overhead of a shop, he can do things cheaper. Don't ever count out the little guy.

I say give him a chance. The worst he can do is screw up a $5 nut.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

Lucid_Lunatic said:
Means he's been working on instruments since he was 15. That's plausable.
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Very true! I've been messing around with my guitars since I was 15.

$15 to shape and slot a nut sounds a little low to me but I live in So Cal.

Did you ask for references?
 
Re: A shady luthier?

No i didn't. I know a local luthier but i beleive he's retired. Plus he charges an arm and leg for everything. After all, he did service joe perrys guitar..lol..i know..shh..

I'll give him a call. Keep the opinions coming though.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

StalePretzel said:
Keep the opinions coming though.
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learn how to do it yourself? for less than $30 you can get most of the materials you need to do it yourself, and that would include a file, automotive feeler guages, super glue, and some sandpaper(220-320 grit do it for me).
 
Re: A shady luthier?

I'm saving up for luthiery (luthierie?) school. Only have one nut right now. I think i'll give Mr."13 years experience" a try. Then learn how to do it on a spare neck when one comes around.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

$15 to shape and slot a nut????? If he is decent, he can get alot more than that. There is a reason he is charging so little.........
 
Re: A shady luthier?

if that's the case, take the old nut you've still got on the neck and shim it. i cut up some picks and stuck them in the nut slot of my dot studio, glued the nut onto the pick-shim, then carved the slots back down. it works great, though it won't be as pretty as getting a correct sized nut.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

super rad stuff said:
if that's the case, take the old nut you've still got on the neck and shim it. i cut up some picks and stuck them in the nut slot of my dot studio, glued the nut onto the pick-shim, then carved the slots back down. it works great, though it won't be as pretty as getting a correct sized nut.
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New neck..allparts U shape...bought fender nut blanks for it.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

Don't ever count out the little guy.
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+1!

I bring all my guitars to a local guy (about five houses from me) who works out of the basement of his house. But not because he costs twice as less then the guitar shop, but because he's twice as good as the guitar shop... Though unlike your guy, mines around 50 and has been fixing musical instruments for about 30 years...
 
Re: A shady luthier?

Do the arithmetic. Cost up the job.

A guitar nut repair involves materials, labour, workshop overheads, a profit margin and (possibly) local taxes.

You are supplying a blank nut so, material costs to Mr Craiglist Luthier = $0. Unless the guy lives on Welfare, he has to pay himself an hourly rate and cover workshop outgoings. All for fifteen bucks.

Er, how many hours would you work for fifteen bucks? One? Slightly less? Slightly more?

I dare say that anyone could rough shape and slot a guitar nut inside one hour. The fine-detailed work required to finish the job to exactly suit you and your guitar could well take longer.

Seems to me that you are taking a leap into the unknown with your instrument for the sake of saving approximately thirty five Dollars.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

I also take into account that this guy has the confidence to post an ad stating that repairs and restores vintage instruments. I don't think your average jackass would try winging those sort of skills.
 
Re: A shady luthier?

StalePretzel said:
I also take into account that this guy has the confidence to post an ad stating that repairs and restores vintage instruments. I don't think your average jackass would try winging those sort of skills.
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IMO, anyone with the confidence to repair/restore valuable instruments to a professional standard ought to have the confidence in his abilities to charge the proper hourly rate for a skilled trade.

The standard advice to any potential purchaser of a service is to ask to be put in contact with existing satisfied customers. View this guy's work. Talk to his previous clients. If you are happy with what you get to see, go ahead and employ the man.
 
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