wateroftyne

Meh. It's OK, I suppose....

Bargain..?

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1376504256' post='2175154'] I can't make it on the 8th. [/quote] :-( Next time, hopefully!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/212014-tks-engineering-112-cabs-new-to-the-uk-review/"]Something else to consider.[/url] These won't shift anywhere near as much air as a Compact, but if you don't need that... They're ceramic and weigh only slightly more than a balloon. He does neo cabs in slightly bigger boxes, too..

Ha... I can't be as cynical as most when it comes to the old loft ploy, because a few years ago I picked up a 1973 Rick 4001 as part of a job lot of stuff that had been in someone's loft for years. It can happen...

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-1968-Telecaster-Bass-Guitar-2nd-Hand-/330989920531?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d10896113"]Not a bad price, IMO...[/url]

[quote name='martin8708' timestamp='1376518866' post='2175543'] I can't help but thinking those doing the most slagging off are people who have never owned or played an A-C bass and never have any intention of owning one . [/quote] What kind of insight would owning an AC lend to the debate about how Jimmy handled this particular transaction?

Excellent! Buying and selling will be fine.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1376433251' post='2174047'] All academic now, but here's the bass, and the purchaser, before the blow-up, with the photos that sold it... [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/club-alleva-coppolo-part-20-a-928105/index50.html"]http://www.talkbass....05/index50.html[/url] ...the buyer even uses his graphic skills to simulate different pick-guard options. An interesting read. The honeymoon was short, it seems... [/quote] [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/club-alleva-coppolo-part-21-a-1003967/index5.html#post14723476"]Some comments from the OP re Photoshop.[/url]

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1376468478' post='2174204'] Tweeted [/quote] Cheers, hinny!

Bump with a new date :-)

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1376420692' post='2173776'] The response was nothing like this, and I think various OPs were 'told off' for raising the issue by those who might then do exactly the same. Hence I think it should cool off because none of us ultimately know the facts and/or are involved. [/quote] The difference in the current instance is that photographs have been produced to back up claims. Also, the 'accused' is a forum member so a public right to reply was always in the offing. Previous instances I can think of have consisted of vague and occasionally wild accusations away from the gaze of the 'accused', with very little clear information produced to back up those claims. And that shall be my last comment on this particular tangent.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1376420118' post='2173752'] I think ultimately reviews of service will always exist, no matter what people do. If its a bad service, you should be allowed to discuss it but the extent of the AC thread is mind boggling. Threats? Bullying? Far too much. [/quote] It's the internet - idiots are never far away. You just have to ignore 'em.

Random info: The bass part on [url="http://youtu.be/73plLJ91QW4?t=12m39s"]this song[/url] is played on a Starfish EUB.

Someone has just pointed out that the 15th is Great North Run day. I'm checking to see what that actually means as far as routes to the venue are concerned. If it's going to be dodgy, we'll go for another date. [quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1376414401' post='2173649'] And we suddenly have lots of reading guests! Remember that not everyone is on FB, so please post updates on here too. [/quote] Will do! :-) [quote name='skelf' timestamp='1376415329' post='2173661'] I should be able to make this one. [/quote] Ah, it'll be great to see you there with some shiny toys!

Hi all! It's time for the fourth North East Bass bash. Uniquely amongst bass bashes, the NEBB is completely ramshackle - consisting of a (nice) room, lots of bass brothers and sisters, and all their gear. It's always a lot of fun. (Bring your own lunch and pop and that - there aren't many shops nearby)

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1376410932' post='2173575'] That doesn't make it right , though . It just means it's an effective way of bullying . How long until someone without a legitimate grievance does the same thing out of spite or greed and gets a result again st some poor sod slaving away in a workshop hour after hour for less than minimum wage ? Would that be a victory for consumer rights ? It's the bass guitar equivalent of "vigilantes "lynching people who are accused of being sex offenders . Sooner rather than later, innocent people become the victims . [/quote] Eh? Have you never heard of TripAdvisor? Read a review on Amazon? Taken note of feedback on eBay? Or would you rather all this went on behind closed doors?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1376410106' post='2173561'] Trust me , in America there is plenty you can do in that situation . It's the most consumer -orientated and litigious society in the World . [/quote] Alternatively, you can post your experience on Talkbass and have it resolved in about 24 hours for free.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1376409386' post='2173540'] Yes , but as I keep saying , that is only the buyers version of events . He would say that , wouldn't he ? [/quote] Backed up by photos and a timescale that suggests he'd hit a brick wall. When you get to that point, what else can you do?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1376403661' post='2173423'] Why so ? One interpretation of events could be that all Jimmy was doing was fascilitating someone getting their dream bass . [u]If [/u]the buyer had had his eyes open about the real state of the bass and still proceeded , that is . Jimmy says the buyer did know what condition the bass was in , the buyer says he didn't . The truth probably lies somewhere between those two points of view . [/quote] There is one factor here that should remove any element of doubt about the quality of the finished goods: $5000.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1376402170' post='2173371'] Well , that description is open to interpretation , that is my point . The maxim of "let the buyer beware " comes to mind . I am not saying that this is a bass in good repair , but a lot depends on how Jimmy represented the bass to the customer and what was understood by his description . If someone contacts you and says " I want that spalted alder bass really badly , can you help me with that ? ", as apparently happened in this case , then you are entitled as a vendor to try and extract a premium price for your goods . All these comments about "how can you charge $5000 for that piece of junk "are wide of the mark . The same folks should be asking " how can you [u][i]pay[/i] [/u]$5000 for that piece of junk ? " . No one put a gun to the fellas head and forced him to contact Jimmy Coppollo about buying that bass . Jimmy had an enthusuiastic buyer for a one-off bass and had a right to try and get a good price considering those circumstances . The discrepancy comes in what is meant by play wear and dings . With hindsight , the buyer should have asked for detailed photos , but hindsight is always 20/20 , as we all know . Maybe Jimmy understated the wear to the bass , and , again , with the balance of hindsight would descibe it differently . The fact that he has offered a full refund probably reflects that . [/quote] As far as I'm aware, the 'couple of gigs' worth of wear' comment was a direct quote from JC. You couldn't do that amount of wear in a few gigs unless - as one wag commented on TB - you are a gorilla wearing a suit made of sandpaper.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1376396480' post='2173261'] Instead , what we have here is a difference in the interpretation of events and what the agreed contract was between the two parties . It is quite conceivable ( indeed , it looks most likely ) that , whatever the apparent condition of the bass , that Jimmy Coppollo was genuinely and sincerely under the impression that the customer was happy and indeed even eager , to pay $5000 for this rare and special bass even in its' current state . That difference in estimation between the buyer and seller of the value of the builder's work is not in itself a crime or act of dishonesty . [/quote] Does this look like it could be a $5000 bass with "[i]scratches or dings that more than likely will happen on the first few gigs[/i]"..?

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1376391914' post='2173143'] His rebuttal on TB in the face of a lynch-mob is pretty strongly worded and may not be the most PR-friendly way to respond but I can imagine how he felt on discovering that there was a tirade of abuse being fired at him in such a public way and from a bunch of people who'd obviously decided to hang him out to dry. [/quote] Barrie - I appreciate you know the guy personally and on a business level, which gives you a far better perspective then pretty much everyone in this discussion (and across on TB). I'm sure he's a lovely guy with a real passion for what he does. But surely you can acknowledge that the outcry from the community has been pretty understandable, given that one of their own has been sold a $5000 lemon, and then had the shutters pulled down on any resolution? Do you think the OP should have just 'sucked it up', to use a phrase from across the pond, which is what would have happened if 'the lynch mob' hadn't got involved? Jimmy had a chance to put things right, and he didn't. Now he has to deal with the fall-out. (Of course none of this includes threats, personal stuff and bad words, none of which are acceptable IMO)

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1376389307' post='2173076'] The problem is, you often have three-four types of customer service. A. Unbelievably helpful service, followed by after service, which means you go back time and time again. B. You then have the more 'arrogant' aggressive service, which basically means the buyer has little control or say, and some will walk away quite easily, purely because they know they'd have a fight on their hands if an issue arose. C. You then have the more everyday service, who tend to follow the rules and expectations, but won't go beyond anything else. D. Poor service, poor communication, leading to lost sales. There aren't many places who deal with people as per A. [/quote] If you're the Ferrari of the bass world, the only type in this list should be A That's part of the reason people are willing to pay £3300 for one of your instruments.

[quote name='Lew-Bass' timestamp='1376353754' post='2172819'] Jimmy's reply: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/my-horrible-alleva-coppolo-experience-1006426/index36.html#post14719935 [/quote] It's not great, is it? Photoshop? Let's not forget that the only reason this made it to the pages of TB is because the OP hit a brick wall. Ask yourself: If you were £3300 in the hole, and the same happened to you, what would you do?