Misrepresentation Alert

Quadzilla

Quadzilla

Supporting Member
Feb 11, 2002
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Maryland Burbs (horse-country)
www.thenewromance.com
#1
Hey all,

I just spotted this new seller on Reverb. He has these "artisan" "lutihier made" basses. Some he claims are over 30 years old while others are nearly new.

The "old" ones appear to have bad relic jobs on them. Both old and new ones share the sane build practices on the necks, etc, same modern tuners. The necks, hardware, etc look exactly like many basses I've seen produced out of China and Indonesia.

There are some halfway decent basses being produced out of those countries, but these are being misrepresented as something they clearly are not. Reminds me of that guy that was selling "vintage" Signature brand bass bodies and necks that were clearly modern and not produced in the 80's in the US like he said. Seems we likely have another person misleading people to pay too much for the same stuff they can buy for far cheaper elsewhere.

Anyway, you be the judge... Luca
 
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#5
Quadzilla said:
Hey all,

I just spotted this new seller on Reverb. He has these "artisan" "lutihier made" basses. Some he claims are over 30 years old while others are nearly new.

The "old" ones appear to have bad relic jobs on them. Both old and new ones share the sane build practices on the necks, etc, same modern tuners. The necks, hardware, etc look exactly like many basses I've seen produced out of China and Indonesia.

There are some halfway decent basses being produced out of those countries, but these are being misrepresented as something they clearly are not. Reminds me of that guy that was selling "vintage" Signature brand bass bodies and necks that were clearly modern and not produced in the 80's in the US like he said. Seems we likely have another person misleading people to pay too much for the same stuff they can buy for far cheaper elsewhere.

Anyway, you be the judge... Luca
Click to expand...
In the sellers [ lutihier ] descriptions he does state which part is old and what is new. He is just putting together low cost parts basses , don't think he is misrepresenting or scamming. Just a seller in Italy much like low cost parts bass sellers here like Gamma Bass in NJ.
 
#6
The question is, is he a luthier?
My buddy does this all the time…some of the most beautiful Jazz and Precision basses I've seen in the classifieds, some Fenders with different necks, pickups, bridges, pickguards, etc, and some parts basses…but he doesn't say "Luthier Built" because he isn't a luthier.
 
#8
jd56hawk said:
The question is, is he a luthier?
My buddy does this all the time…some of the most beautiful Jazz and Precision basses I've seen in the classifieds, some Fenders with different necks, pickups, bridges, pickguards, etc, and some parts basses…but he doesn't say "Luthier Built" because he isn't a luthier.
Click to expand...

I just googled luthier and got

  1. a maker of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars


    Seems pretty easy for anyone to use this term. But I think anyone who has a lot of experience putting together nice instruments even if they’re pretty simple bolt on instruments should get to call themselves something.
 
#9
Looks like “Luthier Made” is his business name, a little scammy, the implication being that a bonafide Luthier made them, like implying that a suit bought from the “Tailor-Made Suit Company” was made by an actual tailor, not cranked out in some Chinese sweatshop. The relics, like most, are unconvincing. Anybody can assemble parts like that.
 
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#10
Eh. Not really seeing anything being misrepresented. To be honest, this guy's descriptions are clearer and more detailed than the average seller. For example, the horrendous looking black jazz:

"Used high quality Jazz Bass, artisan luthier (NO FENDER) nitrocellulose black color, heavy relic, solid american "red alder" body 33 years aged, maple neck with new frets, brand new B.C.Rich pickup, brand new TAD electronic, WCS bridge. Weight 4400 grams about."

Very clear about what's what. Putting video demos for each bass is going above and beyond. Seems like a great seller to me, lol...
 
#11
AM Reflection said:
Eh. Not really seeing anything being misrepresented. To be honest, this guy's descriptions are clearer and more detailed than the average seller. For example, the horrendous looking black jazz:

"Used high quality Jazz Bass, artisan luthier (NO FENDER) nitrocellulose black color, heavy relic, solid american "red alder" body 33 years aged, maple neck with new frets, brand new B.C.Rich pickup, brand new TAD electronic, WCS bridge. Weight 4400 grams about."

Very clear about what's what. Putting video demos for each bass is going above and beyond. Seems like a great seller to me, lol...
Click to expand...
Other than selling crappy parts basses at 2-3 times they're worth, nothing wrong at all. Still gets a :thumbsdown: from me.
 
#14
There are many guitar tech’s out there calling themselves luthiers. A number of great luthiers spend their time as guitar tech’s for high profile players. I do not want to start a conflict but I had an opportunity to see up close and play a bass assembled by another one man brand mentioned in this thread (as well as own and gig with another by a player that “builds” and I am sure is active on TB). Like many others on this forum, after years of playing and owning countless basses from name brands and unknowns, I was amazed how this person stays in business. I looked him right in the eye and asked him if he built the basses and he said yes knowing well what these basses were assembled from and the hack job fitting some of the necks (without being able to take apart, the neck pocket said it all). Let’s face it, if you know what you are doing or take some time to learn (there are some great videos online) you can spend a couple of hours properly setting up a kit bass with some minor upgrades if necessary and the result would be a quality bass for a very low investment. This was clearly not the case in my experience. I guess some of these hacks feel justified ripping off people because they spend some time designing a logo on their computer and applying a waterside decal on a headstock...ok my one rant for the decade is hopefully done. All the Bass as Joe Hubbard would say...
 
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