WARNING: Darrin Huff Basses / Zeller Guitars

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#102
slowburnaz said:
You know what I'd like to see? The bass that I ordered from Darrin 7 years ago.
:ninja:
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I'm just so upset with myself for calling Darrin to order a bass. He is just not what he claims to be.

Fortunately for me, there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The first of my basses is near completion, and I will be half out of this miserable experience. He told me in March/07 that this first bass would be done in two weeks, but there has always been an excuse of why things haven't progressed. I will be selling it immediately because I'd rather it go to a good home rather than mine.

I'm sure it will be a good bass when finished, but I just won't be able to stand looking at it because it will remind me of the frustration that I've experienced over the years.
 
#103
7 years??? Dude became his own luthier waiting....you could've gone and gotten a Doctorate degree in that time. Now you've got to be in his own little "club" forum to talk to him. WOW. I would be willing to bet this guy is some sort of drug user. Crackheads may be better bass luthiers. I'm sure you could find a crackhead in any town in the US to build you a bass.
 
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#105
I've been following this thread for sometime and feel now that I too have a story to contribute. I too was once a customer of Darrin's, one of the first 6 or 7 in fact.
I first contacted him to build a bass toward the end of 2001 when I was living in Austin, Tx. At the time I had a '97 5 string Warwich N/T Thumb that in a boneheaded move I decided to sell (wish I still had it now) to fund a build through Darrin. Sad thing is I never would have sold this bass except to finace a custome Huff. I was looking for something a little more individualistic and loved the work I'd seen of his, which at the time was maybe 3 basses. A rainbow bass copy, a green burl nicknamed "snot" and one other. Shortly after sending him the full amount I moved to Seattle, Wa. where I lived a number of years. In this time I met Darrin personally and we became friends. He'd come into Seattle from Spokane for shows quite often and crash at my pad and we shared a similiar music interest. At one time he even scored backstage passes to the RHCP, By the way tour through Mike Watt (whom he'd built a bass for) when Watt opened for them and dragged me along as his guest. He really seemed a great guy at that time (and may still be outside of his business practices, we haven't spoken in years). Anyway, after I was originally quoted 6 months on the bass, heard numerous excuses and 3 years (now in the winter of 2004) had gone by I requested my money back from Darrin. I was moving out of the Seattle area, needed the cash and I'd made a few trips to his home in Spokane and seen little progress if any. As it turns out this was a very wise move and I was extremly lucky it sounds to recoup my investment. He promptly refunded my money, I moved and we lost touch. Last I'd heard he was building an actual shop to work out of and it was completed. Darrin at that time seemed like an extremly trustworthy individual. It really does break my heart that so many of you weren't able get your money back. I do hope as a former friend he's ok but I do agree that this behavior is ridiculous. Have any of you initiated legal proceedings of any type? :eyebrow:

I consider myself very lucky that all I managed to have happen was to be completely turned off of custom builders in general. If you want my money it'll have to be an even exchange from here on out because of my dealings in the situation. :spit: I do wish all of you the best of luck in getting some kind of return whatever that may be. I just thought I'd relate my personal story for some of you to draw whatever you can from it. :scowl:
 
#107
Thanks for your story, Fixer.

I believe that he is a good person - as to why he has treated us this way, I don't suppose I'll ever know.

I am also a customer of Darrin's and ordered my first bass in 2001, with a second in 2002. I've been waiting longer than almost everyone else. He is almost finished with my FIRST instrument. There is progress being made and three of us should hopefully receive our instruments soon. And even after receiving this one, I'm still due for another. It seems like a hopeless situation for all of us, but I'm going to cling onto the hope that I have.
 
#108
I ordered 2 basses from Darrin in 2004 and paid them in full. In 2006, I asked for a full refund. Got some of it back that year but Darrin still has $4000, and he doesn't answer emails or phone calls.

I still love his basses and he's always been a nice guy, but I could really use that money. :meh:
 
#109
FiXeR said:
I've been following this thread for sometime and feel now that I too have a story to contribute. I too was once a customer of Darrin's, one of the first 6 or 7 in fact.
I first contacted him to build a bass toward the end of 2001 when I was living in Austin, Tx. At the time I had a '97 5 string Warwich N/T Thumb that in a boneheaded move I decided to sell (wish I still had it now) to fund a build through Darrin. Sad thing is I never would have sold this bass except to finace a custome Huff. I was looking for something a little more individualistic and loved the work I'd seen of his, which at the time was maybe 3 basses. A rainbow bass copy, a green burl nicknamed "snot" and one other. Shortly after sending him the full amount I moved to Seattle, Wa. where I lived a number of years. In this time I met Darrin personally and we became friends. He'd come into Seattle from Spokane for shows quite often and crash at my pad and we shared a similiar music interest. At one time he even scored backstage passes to the RHCP, By the way tour through Mike Watt (whom he'd built a bass for) when Watt opened for them and dragged me along as his guest. He really seemed a great guy at that time (and may still be outside of his business practices, we haven't spoken in years). Anyway, after I was originally quoted 6 months on the bass, heard numerous excuses and 3 years (now in the winter of 2004) had gone by I requested my money back from Darrin. I was moving out of the Seattle area, needed the cash and I'd made a few trips to his home in Spokane and seen little progress if any. As it turns out this was a very wise move and I was extremly lucky it sounds to recoup my investment. He promptly refunded my money, I moved and we lost touch. Last I'd heard he was building an actual shop to work out of and it was completed. Darrin at that time seemed like an extremly trustworthy individual. It really does break my heart that so many of you weren't able get your money back. I do hope as a former friend he's ok but I do agree that this behavior is ridiculous. Have any of you initiated legal proceedings of any type? :eyebrow:

I consider myself very lucky that all I managed to have happen was to be completely turned off of custom builders in general. If you want my money it'll have to be an even exchange from here on out because of my dealings in the situation. :spit: I do wish all of you the best of luck in getting some kind of return whatever that may be. I just thought I'd relate my personal story for some of you to draw whatever you can from it. :scowl:
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Dont cut yourself off from all other custom builders because of this bad experience.
For every Darrin Huff, there are 5 or more excellent builders out there who are 100% as good as gold. Mike Dolan, Chris Stambaugh, Bud LeCompte, Mike Lull, Nino Valenti, and Tom Clement (my personal favorite), among others, are all wonderful craftsmen who enjoy outstanding reputations around here. (please dont slag me if I didnt mention other luthiers-these guys were the first few names to pop into my head).
 
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#110
Jean Baudin said:
I ordered 2 basses from Darrin in 2004 and paid them in full. In 2006, I asked for a full refund. Got some of it back that year but Darrin still has $4000, and he doesn't answer emails or phone calls.

I still love his basses and he's always been a nice guy, but I could really use that money. :meh:
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Thanks for chiming in, Jean. I respect your opinion, but I'd have to disagree with you about Darrin being a nice guy. He may be pleasant to talk to on the phone, but nice people don't treat customers like this.
 
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#112
Unfortunately, here is what will likely happen right now. Darrin will read this thread and he will start feeling sorry for himself. He will claim that his head is not in the game, and what limited progress has happened over the years will come to a grinding halt for another 6 months.

If I did this to so many people, I would not sleep until I remedied the situation. Every waking moment I had would be spent in the shop building instruments. However, for whatever reason, Darrin chooses not to go this route.
 
#113
Yeah, but sometimes, if people really get to feeling under the gun, rather than moving forward, they "hibernate" and cant really function at all.
Does this guy have another job that keeps him busy? Maybe he's avoiding the production issues with his business and instead focusing on his other gig.
I'm not saying I agree with that, not by any means, but its a possible explanation.

I'm just glad that my first experience with a custom luthier was the polar opposite of this one. Tom Clement is as awesome of a person as he is a builder of great basses!
 
#114
Jean Baudin said:
I ordered 2 basses from Darrin in 2004 and paid them in full. In 2006, I asked for a full refund. Got some of it back that year but Darrin still has $4000, and he doesn't answer emails or phone calls.

I still love his basses and he's always been a nice guy, but I could really use that money. :meh:
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Wow...I had no idea Jean Baudin was in the same boat as the rest of us.
 
#115
I have to say after reading this thread I am both aggitated and relieved. I almost ordered a bass from Darrin in 2005, and after speaking on the phone with him a few times I got an "odd" feeling and backed out last minute. Can't say that it was anything in particular that he said or did....as he was always very nice over the phone....but I just didn't feel right. I had actually already sent him the deposit and fortunately canceled the check before it arrived in his hands. Lucky me I suppose....

I am very sorry for all of you who have lost many years and thousands of dollars waiting on promises and arrangements that may never come. It's one thing to wait 4 years when you are told up front to expect that long (ie Fodera, Carl Thompson) but when you are told 9 months and it turns into 7 years....insane.

Buliders like this tend to give all luthiers a bad name.
 
#117
Bass Viking said:
Thank goodness we have Talkbass so you can warn others.
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Agreed, it's just too bad this info is only coming out now. It is clear from reading the above posts that people were requesting refunds and not getting them in 2005/06. Despite that, it's also clear that Darrin was still taking more deposits from more people to build more instruments back then.

This has turned out to be a Ponzi scheme where some of the earlier refunds were given, but no funds were "available" for the rest of us.
 
#118
I would have to agree with those that say don't let these stories dissuade you from having a custom bass built.

It took me YEARS to build up the courage to order another custom bass, but with resources like Talkbass to help make an informed decision, it has been a great experience so far. I have a bass on order with Cliff Bordwell and his praises are well-deserved. He's a great guy and I would recommend him to anyone!
 
#119
The waiting continues. 6 months have passed since Darrin shipped an instrument. His forum continues to show nice basses so close to completion which, in a capable builders hands, would be finished on a weekend.

Customers are not getting refunds, basses are not being completed, and good people just continue to wait.
 
#120
I have Darrin's Personal Bass. He has offered to build me ANYTHING I want to get it back once he is caught up with his Pre-Paid orders.

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I follow the threads on his Forums, and I've noticed a few things that REALLY slow him down. For example he makes his Bridges from Scratch! Starts with a Block of Steel, and after a month or so he has Bridges. And if anything is wrong with them, back to square one. I dunno. Designing the Bridge is perhaps "ART". But making them is Labor. I had a friend who used to design & Print her own T-shirts. She felt that by Printing them herself ADDED to the Artistic Value of the final product. I have to disagree on both counts.

If Darrin was Bolting Bridges that were Made for him to his Specs/Design/Standards, then he would be able to move on to the next phase in a few moments. I'm sure each bridge would be $200 - $300 each to have made, but what is a Months time worth?

At least I have something to Hold On to while I wait for my Bass to be made. I may never see a replacement. But is that Really a Tragedy? This instrument is Incredable!!!
 
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