Thanks, Ned! I am going with your advice...it is exactly what I needed...
La roque and roll on! :-) Warm regards, Brent ----- Original Message ---- From: Edward Mast <[email protected]> To: brentlynk <[email protected]> Cc: David Smith <[email protected]>; [email protected] Sent: Wed, June 22, 2011 12:09:31 PM Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: Lute Repair? Hi Brent, Sad to say, but at this point I think you've done all you can reasonably do. The luthier knows how much you need the instrument, so I remain of the opinion that contacting him too often won't have the desired effect. Patience is required, though mine would be sorely tested in you situation! I am encouraged to hear that your insurance company was so cooperative. I'm sure all here wish you good luck and that you will soon be reunited with your lute. Warm regards, Ned On Jun 22, 2011, at 11:50 AM, brentlynk wrote: > Hello everyone who kindly responded to my request for help! Indeed, you are >all > > wonderful and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! I can say right now > that > > I agree with ALL of you and can see where everyone is coming from!!! (I love >the > > lute community! :-) > > To clarify: > > The luthier is definitely reputable and I totally understand (and have always > understood...) the time constraints on people (including luthiers). I know > this > > is not a "shady" character I am dealing with...no worries. > > The cracked rib and soundboard were totally minor issues -- barely able to > photograph the cracks for insurance purposes because they were so minor. The > luthier informed me that "it is not a big deal." The lute was totally > playable > and in no danger if the repairs hadn't ever been embarked upon (which is why > I > am second guessing whether or not it was a good idea to get them done in the > first place, now! :-) I just didn't like knowing I had those two minor cracks > which I knew would get longer and more severe over time... > > Yes, the soundboard/top will have to be "partially" removed to properly > address > > the issues (thus, the $800 charge...). > > The luthier did NOT ask for, or "require" payment in advance -- I filed an > insurance claim and made sure the luthier was paid asap because I figured the > sooner the luthier was paid, the sooner I would get my lute back. The > insurance > > company knew that I would need the lute for gigs as well, and they did not > want > > to have to pay extra to cover lost revenue (which I am insured for...) so > they > stepped up to the plate, and I can honestly say, they did their job VERY > well! > > > > I now realize (at this point) that paying (having payment made) in advance > was > probably a mistake, and I take full responsibility for it (no good deed goes > unpunished, LOL :-). I was just more concerned about the insurance company > paying than I was about the integrity of my luthier. > > > I must also say that not all insurers are as evil as they are perceived to > be, > because they did pay up when the time came for them to (I had the policy for > 15 > > years as well, and never filed a claim before -- I can tell you that they > have > still made well over $1,000 off of me "after" paying my claim! :-). > > > Indeed, I identify with the comment about the luthier just not wanting to > have > to give a firm delivery date...Probably too busy and such, and I totally > understand. But again, it has been 5 months and I was told that it would be > ready "soon" a couple months ago. > > When I first sent the lute in for repairs, I didn't ask about if for over a > month. Then, I asked a month after that. Then, I started asking every two > weeks and have been continuing to ask every two weeks ever since. I have > always > > been very nice (because I am! :-). > > The ONLY thing I regularly said to my luthier is as follows: > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Howdy, xyz, > > I hope all is well for you and yours... > I am just checking up on my lute's status... > > Warm regards, > Brent > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Hey, I am human and I am flawed, LOL -- I just always try to do unto others > as >I > > would have them do unto me...I realize I might have been being a bit >obsequious, > > or, on the other hand, not putting on enough pressure -- I really was trying > to > > maintain the middle ground. > > As far as having a backup lute, that is a GREAT idea, but I can't afford it. > I > have a huge bass lute and my student lute -- I can't play either in public > because the bass lute can't be used for the music I am usually asked to play >and > > the student lute is just NOT up to par for "public" performance. I also have > a > > hurdy-gurdy, some recorders and crumhorns (LOL, all insured...), but I am a > lutenist first and foremost, musically (just ask my cats -- they freak out > when > > I play the gurdy and crumhorns, LOL!)... > > I last asked for an update about my lute (I affectionately call her "Bertha") > a > > couple weeks ago, and then, I asked again on Monday. > > > Finally, out of frustration, I also (kindly) asked that if the repairs are >going > > to take "too terribly much longer, I would like a letter to my insurance >company > > explaining why it is taking so long so that they will begin to reimburse me > for > > lost gigs, because that is why they paid so fast in the first place, and I > already missed the local renaissance festival, church gigs, restaurant gigs, > etc...but I couldn't ethically file a claim for lost revenue for the past > several months because I knew I couldn't commit if I didn't have my lute..." >All > > true -- honesty is the best policy -- I didn't commit to playing because I > didn't have my instrument/lute (no, nobody wanted me to play crumhorn as a > replacement, LOL... :-) > > > Yes, I have another job, so I am not a lutenist as my "sole" means of > support, > but I still do play for money and I do depend upon that revenue... > > Long story short -- sorry this is so long! > > I was just thinking that in the business world, even dealing with artists, > etc... (I am one, too!), I should be able to expect something more from my > luthier about such an expensive repair (for minor cracks, but I understand > having to pry up half the sound board...) more than "when it's ready, you'll > be > > the first to know." > > Thanks again for all your help. I now realize that I am just going to have > to > sit back, be patient and wait for the master. I respect my luthier, etc... > > Thanks again for tolerating me and for all your help. Again, you are > wonderful > > people and I am glad to have joined this list. So much great information and >so > > many wonderful people... > > God bless, > Brent > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Edward Mast <[email protected]> > To: David Smith <[email protected]> > Cc: brentlynk <[email protected]>; [email protected] > Sent: Wed, June 22, 2011 8:19:52 AM > Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: Lute Repair? > > Hello Brent, > > I think David's reply is on the mark. My sense is that lute makers of any >skill > > are generally very busy trying to fill orders for new instruments. While > feeling obligated to do repair work on instruments they've built, this work > is > secondary to the new work they've contracted for. As frustrating as it is to >be > > without an instrument, I think nothing will be gained by pushing the maker >about > > the repairs, though an occasional polite inquiry should be ok. > > A recommendation, though, since you rely on your instrument for work; if you >can > > possibly afford it get a second instrument. There are many things that can > happen to a lute to make it temporarily unplayable. Having a backup seems > prudent. > > Best wishes, > > Ned > On Jun 22, 2011, at 1:52 AM, David Smith wrote: > >> Hi Brent, >> I have a little experience in both getting repairs and ordering instruments. >> My experience is that luthiers must juggle many different demands on their >> time and repairs are prioritized amongst all their other demands. One year >> ago I had a bridge on a couple of year old 10 course lute come off. I >> contacted the luthier and fedex'd the lute to him overnight with the >> expectation that the repair could be done quickly. It took around 3 months. >> It was done beautifully and I love the result. I did not pay for it until it >> was finished. The communication of expectations on the other hand was not >> done cleanly. The luthier is a master builder but not necessarily a >> fantastic PR person. >> >> In the same vain I have an 8 course lute (from a different luthier) that was >> ordered last October with the expectation that it would be available >> sometime around January. In March I was informed that it was almost done and >> paid the remaining amount. I am still waiting. I have discussed this with >> the luthier and there are many reasons why time does not flow as predictably >> as I would like. This is an internationally recognized luthier with a >> fantastic reputation for quality and reliability. I have no complaints >> except that I expect production line timing from a craftsman - the >> expectations do not match and I get to reset my expectations. >> >> If your luthier is reputable (which I assume he is) then it will happen when >> it happens. I would love it if communication could be clearer but I have not >> seen that. The response you received from the luthier sounds like someone >> under lots of demands and unable or unwilling to provide time estimates. >> This is one of the joys of owning a work of art (and there are really many >> when you consider the living instrument in yours hands created from blocks >> of wood). >> >> So, while I agree that it is getting near time for your repair to be done >> and you are justified in your desire to have more precision in the responses >> it is not surprising to me. >> >> I would approach the luthier with understanding of his constraints but also >> continue, on a regular but not bothersome period, to ask for an update. >> >> I hope my experiences help some. >> >> Regards >> David >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf >> Of brentlynk >> Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 5:15 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [LUTE] Lute Repair? >> >> Hello, >> >> I am new to this list, but I have been playing the 10-course lute for a >> couple decades... :-) >> >> I have a problem and I am not sure how to handle it -- I really need some >> advice and guidance from people who know the lute-world better than I do (I >> play, but am pretty much "solo" secondary to geographical constraints, >> LOL...). >> >> I sent my lute off to a reputable luthier (who built it about 15 years >> ago...) for repairing a cracked soundboard and rib, and I have had some >> difficulty getting it back. It has been five months since I sent it in for >> repairs, and the luthier was paid in advance (over $800) for the repairs... >> >> But when I last asked about getting it back because, like anybody, I want it >> back, and on top of that, I am missing gigs and losing money, the luthier >> simply >> responded: "you'll be the first to know when it is finished." >> >> Well, that response kind of bothered me because I have been so patient and >> the luthier told me that it would be ready "soon" a couple months ago... >> >> I realize that everyone is busy, etc...and I want to be a nice guy -- I >> certainly don't want to burn any bridges, etc...(which is why I am not >> mentioning names!). But I am just wondering what an acceptable amount of >> time is for getting such a repair done -- if it is 10 months and I am >> complaining about it at the 5 month mark, I will be TOTALLY ashamed of >> myself!!!! >> >> Please, anybody who has had experience with such a situation, I need >> guidance! >> >> Warm regards, >> Brent >> >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >> >>
