Hey, Benn..

[WolfeMacleod]

If you can't or haven't made pickups for people in months, quit responding to people who are emailing you looking to buy pickups.

MM'kay? :mad:

[madialex]

Hey Wolfe, hows about trying to stop being the big shot, the overlord of all pickup making M Kay. You have put your self on some sort of higher than though pedastool and you think you run the pickup industry and make all the standards here, go away and mind your own damn business buddy. I dont fuck with you and you dont fuck with me MM Kay!! When did you get to the point that you think you are the industry boss anyway??? So you make good pickups ok, Jason kicks your ass in that respect and I dont see him here telling people what to do and how to do it... Why not come down from your soap box and keep your fucking mouth and nose in your own business...

[madialex]

Further more I am not leaving this place no matter what you do or say. I have been taking names and such from prospective buyers but have not offered to make anything at this time due to the fact that I have orders pending from a good while back, yes I said it, A good while back... I have not ripped anyone off and don't plan to start. I know I owe people pickups and I fully intend to honer those orders. You nor anyone else here knows what has gone on in my life to cause these delays and I wont go into it. I have not stopped winding nor have I planned to rip anyone off. Come to my home and I'll show you every order that I have taken and in what stages they are in to completion. Just because someone emails you about not getting an order from me makes you my keeper now? Not hardly!! My question is why would they email you in the first place, have you been going around telling people you are in charge of the pickup industry and you are policing it?? What business is it of yours. You told me it hurts your business, HOW??? You claim to make a gazillion dollars a year on pickups, you even like coming here to brag about having to waste some of the tons of money you have made for tax purposes. BLAH BLAH BLAH!!! I'm glad you are doing so well. I am quite sure there are a lot of guys here who, Like me cant stand to hear you go on and on about how good you are and how much money you have and what big name is using your pickups now etc>>>>> Wolfe, I'm sure you are liked by some people but if you are like this all the time I really don't see how you have any friends at all. You run your thing and I'll get mine going again as soon as I am able and I assure you not a single order I have will go unmade or un-delivered.

[WolfeMacleod]

Hey Wolfe, hows about trying to stop being the big shot, the overlord of all pickup making M Kay......My question is why would they email you in the first place, have you been going around telling people you are in charge of the pickup industry and you are policing it?? What business is it of yours. You told me it hurts your business, HOW???
[/QUOTE]

Ben, I'm not trying to be a big shot at all, I just want to see people with orders get thier orders filled, no matter who thier orders are with.
You want to know how it hurts my business? When people post on forums saying they'll never go to another custom winder again, THAT'S how it hurts my business. And yes, I do take that personally.
When I have to apologize to people for YOUR issues, I take that personally.
As for why people email me, I don't know why. Maybe it's because they know that I know you, maybe it's because they know that I've offered to fix other people's mistakes and do anything that I can to help someone who was not my customer to begin with.

You told me in PM that you have not wound a pickup in six month, nor have you sold any. The complaints I have gotten, and the ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Truetone-Technologies-Hand-Wound-PAF-Humbuckers_W0QQitemZ320079620923QQihZ011QQcategoryZ22670 QQcmdZViewItem) auctions (http://cgi.ebay.com/Truetone-Technologies-Gold-covered-PAF-Humbuckers_W0QQitemZ320077041858QQihZ011QQcategoryZ22670 QQcmdZViewItem) I've seen, tell me differently, I'm sorry.

As for your statement about Jason kicking my ass "in that respect," who are you to judge? Jason makes good pickups, treats his customers well. We have never, nor will we ever, do a comparison to see which is better.

When you hurt my business, it IS my business.

[refin]

Okay...I hate to have this as my first post on a forum.I have almost 5000 posts on other forums.
Madialex,I don't know you from Adam......you may wind a great product and have many satisfied customers,I don't know.However,in defense of Wolfe,he has personally wound 3 pups for me,and goes out of his way to please.If you are a rewinder/custom winder,you know that it can be a thankless and unappreciated job.Wolfe's work is excellent,and I'm saying that as a satisfied customer,and not a compensated fool.I have never sensed anything but humilty and a sense of awe from Wolfe in the school of winding...maybe I say that for the benefit of those reading this thread.The product is good and the man is real,always looking to improve his craft.
If you follow his lead,you too will be in great demand and a buzzword among musicians who give a hoot about tone.

[corduroyew]

I don’t want to get involved in an argument, but this thread does bring up a question that I have had kicking around in my head for a while.

What is an “acceptable waiting time” for a pickup? I build guitars as well as pickups and I’m still new to the idea of selling the pickups that I make. When I build guitars people usually have to wait a year or so befor they get the guitar. They pay a deposit before I will track down the materials, then they pay half the price of the guitar before I start building and they pay the rest before the guitar ships. Pickups are a lot different though. I seem to feel that I have to have the things out in less than a weeks time. If I’m 2 weeks behind on on a pickup order I feel the need to drop everything in order to get the pickups out the door. Is there any type of industry standard on this? I know it’s always good to get stuff to the customers as quickly as possible, but when you rush things the product isn’t as nice. Anyway… Do you guys have any thoughts on this?

[WolfeMacleod]

What is an “acceptable waiting time” for a pickup? I build guitars as well as pickups and I’m still new to the idea of selling the pickups that I make. When I build guitars people usually have to wait a year or so befor they get the guitar.....Is there any type of industry standard on this?

A year for a guitar is OK. I have waited two years, no problem. I have been having a guitar being built now that has taken well over a year, not a problem.
Why? Because it can take a month easily to build a guitar!

For a pickup, I try to keep it under four weeks. Lately, it's been 3-4 weeks, with a couple people slipping off the radar, and I feel terible when it happens, and do everything I can to finish them as soon as I realise it.
I want to get it under two weeks again soon, and keep it there.
One week would make me very, very happy. We had it down to a couple days, untill November happened when we got really busy with almost 100 orders a week coming in...caused a big backlog that we're still removering from. Almost there.

Last I saw before Lindy Fralin updated his site, his wait was 4-6 weeks.

Someone doing 10-15 pickups a week? maybe 20? The wait should be no longer than a few days

[madialex]

You told me in PM that you have not wound a pickup in six month, nor have you sold any. The complaints I have gotten, and the ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Truetone-Technologies-Hand-Wound-PAF-Humbuckers_W0QQitemZ320079620923QQihZ011QQcategoryZ22670 QQcmdZViewItem) auctions (http://cgi.ebay.com/Truetone-Technologies-Gold-covered-PAF-Humbuckers_W0QQitemZ320077041858QQihZ011QQcategoryZ22670 QQcmdZViewItem) I've seen, tell me differently, I'm sorry.

[/QUOTE]

Hey wolfe, I dont know who that is on the ebay auction, but it aint me. I have not made any gold humbuckers with gold poles in almost a year.

[madialex]

is a good guy. Maybe I'm reading him wrong, if so then my apologies to Wolfe. Just as he may be reading me wrong as well. I know it is not good to make customers wait for an extended period of time, I know that. But when things happen in ones life that cant be avoided or changed what do you do? If I had the money I would refund everyones money who was waiting and still send the pickups as well but I don't have the money. I have parts but that ain't worth a damn if not put together. I am not trying to gain sympathy from anyone just some understanding. And as we all know people make a short time out to be a very long time when they are mad so some complaints should be taken with a grain of salt. Just so Wolfe knows I am getting previous orders done and shipping them as fast as I can humanly get them done. And by the way I don't sell on eBay at all, I have not sold my stuff on eBay in almost 2 years now.

[Possum]

There are no rules for waiting times y'all. I'm told Holmes and some others have a year waiting list, which I think is kinda ridiculous in a way, but there it is :-) My waiting list can go to 4-5 months sometimes more, but no one is building hand made whacko pickups like I do either, like my Fat Charley. There's a ton of hours in one of those things, I am weeding out some like that and not making them anymore for that reason. I am up front with my customers and tell them the wait can be long and that I don't make my primary income from pickups, my primary bucks comes from album design work, am doing a Scott Henderson compilation right now. I don't guarantee a delivery time because every damn time I do it backfires in my face :-) The ones who want their pickups NOW go away when I tell them how long it usually takes, and thats FINE by me because the impatient ones are the ones I don't want to deal with anyway. The really patient ones have always been my best customers and always come back for more.

END OF THREAD OK???? :-) :-)

[Stan H]

I tell my customers that it will be 3-4 weeks but I usually try get them out within two. This makes most of them very happy and my ass is covered if "something" comes up. I like to give myself extra time because pickups aren't all I do. I also build custom passive electronics and wiring harnesses for guitars and basses. I do it all from a little corner in a spare bedroom, kinda like Possum's photo from another thread.

-Stan

[NightWinder]

WHen the shit hits the fan..........
A small viewpoint. I have rewound some pickups from forum members here, big names too. All which have been very well built. Did the tone suck? Not nessisarily. More so, I think that it was a matter of timber and setting up properly, and proper application for the guitar. Maybee their guitars were poorly built. WHatever means......I have a waiting time under a week, and am doing quite well now. Blessed definately. Working continuously. If your upfront with the customer......no worries. Whatever Wolfe wants to say, doing this or that, money to spend.....Huge orders. WHo knows? IS his product the best? No. Different and a signature sound? Yes. His Own? Yes. Is what he puts here true. I don't know. Have I spoke with wolfe personally? Yes. What do I think of Wolfe? Personally, He IS as genuine as anyone, one who is deeply passionate about his product, and a real pleasure to talk too. He also cares about the Black Art Pickup makeing technics and other winders in general. The guy is handleing his thing.....Handle yours. Is it his business how you run you company? Not Nessisarily. How did it end up that your customers are complaining to him? I have read the older post too, and there are issues there, whether wolfe stepped on your toes, contacting your customer, offering to make things right seems out of place to me. I believe his actions were genuine. I personally would have let you go up in flames, its not my business what you do. Things to learn. Let them find you!!! I could care less how you run your business, because when all is said and done....My customers care how I RUN MINE. As far as them being done with "handwinder". It will be a matter of time....They will be back because the product speaks. Maybe not back to you.....But maybe Wolfe instead, because of customer service reports.
Ben.....you seem like a smart person. Think this over. Do you think that a customer gives a fuck about your personal life? What ever the fuck you have going on, who, what, when , where, or how the fuck ya are. Nope!. They want their shit bro. Period. YOU KNOW THIS! I'll tell you what.....If I were your customer, and you told me a 2 week wait, and it turned out to be 3 months.....I'd be one mad Motherfucker. That you would'nt want to see. And your in the public eye to boot. Keep focused and real.....pump that shit out, make some cash, and reclaim your reputation. You can do this! Thats the difference between you and Wolfe, not pickups nessisarily. Thats mutual ground.
PEACE

[madialex]

WHen the shit hits the fan..........
A small viewpoint. I have rewound some pickups from forum members here, big names too. All which have been very well built. Did the tone suck? Not nessisarily. More so, I think that it was a matter of timber and setting up properly, and proper application for the guitar. Maybee their guitars were poorly built. WHatever means......I have a waiting time under a week, and am doing quite well now. Blessed definately. Working continuously. If your upfront with the customer......no worries. Whatever Wolfe wants to say, doing this or that, money to spend.....Huge orders. WHo knows? IS his product the best? No. Different and a signature sound? Yes. His Own? Yes. Is what he puts here true. I don't know. Have I spoke with wolfe personally? Yes. What do I think of Wolfe? Personally, He IS as genuine as anyone, one who is deeply passionate about his product, and a real pleasure to talk too. He also cares about the Black Art Pickup makeing technics and other winders in general. The guy is handleing his thing.....Handle yours. Is it his business how you run you company? Not Nessisarily. How did it end up that your customers are complaining to him? I have read the older post too, and there are issues there, whether wolfe stepped on your toes, contacting your customer, offering to make things right seems out of place to me. I believe his actions were genuine. I personally would have let you go up in flames, its not my business what you do. Things to learn. Let them find you!!! I could care less how you run your business, because when all is said and done....My customers care how I RUN MINE. As far as them being done with "handwinder". It will be a matter of time....They will be back because the product speaks. Maybe not back to you.....But maybe Wolfe instead, because of customer service reports.
Ben.....you seem like a smart person. Think this over. Do you think that a customer gives a fuck about your personal life? What ever the fuck you have going on, who, what, when , where, or how the fuck ya are. Nope!. They want their shit bro. Period. YOU KNOW THIS! I'll tell you what.....If I were your customer, and you told me a 2 week wait, and it turned out to be 3 months.....I'd be one mad Motherfucker. That you would'nt want to see. And your in the public eye to boot. Keep focused and real.....pump that shit out, make some cash, and reclaim your reputation. You can do this! Thats the difference between you and Wolfe, not pickups nessisarily. Thats mutual ground.
PEACE

Point taken.....I know no one cares about my personal problems for sure. And they deserve better than what they have gotten to this point. Whats done is done and my personal problems have been more than a lot, more than most people should ever have to deal with, but yes it is no ones problem but mine and I cant hit the reverse button so here we are. Things are hopefully turning around in my life and I am slowly getting to past work. I have told everyone who has emailed me about any new orders that I am getting back to past orders that need to be done first then theirs if they still want them so I am not trying to take any orders unless they want to wait. I guess I am taking Wolfe in the wrong context, but when he PM'd me saying i'm lucky he and others from this forum didnt come to my home and kick my ass I take that very personal and threatening. I actually at one point wanted to save up some money and go visit Wolfe and talk pickups and try to learn more of the black art of winding but now i'm not so sure about that. Oh well, this is the end of my posting.

[NightWinder]

ahhh dude. Listen. You have right to bitch......You know this. Don't ever back down to reclaim your name. I'm not taking any sides, but I can see whats posted. I read the old posts too. Seems like wolfe blantantly contacted YOUR customer, and offered to fix or rewind your pickups. The post reads that YOur customer was'nt too happy with that either. Backstabing.....Sneaky.....what gives at this point. All I will say is that wolfe is trying, trying to do things his way. If you read the old posts....they speak for their selves. Anyone with a sense Knows whats right. Ben, don't run from this, fix it. Your business, your customers. You belong here, on this forum. Stay here, we have unfinished chats brother........Both you and wolfe I respect and you both have some killer posts with ideas.......fuels the mind.

[madialex]

Not going to leave the forum, just meant that was my last post about this whole thing. I know Wolfe means well, always has. I respect him and his work and his knowledge. Actually me and Wolfe lived in the same small town in middle Virginia and probably passed each other a hundred times and never knew it. I have kept up with Wolfe over the years watching him go from a small winder to a pretty big name. It aint easy doing that. Anyway peace to all and I am going to get it together soon, very soon.

[WolfeMacleod]

I actually at one point wanted to save up some money and go visit Wolfe and talk pickups and try to learn more of the black art of winding but now i'm not so sure about that. Oh well, this is the end of my posting.

Ben, if you should happen to come out here, I won't bite, I promise.
I may seem like I'm coming off hard, am I am...but I only do it because I care. About you...and your customers. And the indusrty as a whole, and I don't want to see that tarnished.

[Zhangliqun]

I do very, very low volume so for me it's obviously still part-time work. I have a few basic models but it's about 95% custom work so it's pretty rare when I have something on the shelf to ship out to a customer right away. (That 95% means I have to build the pu after receiving the order. I prefer to have customers really zero in on what they want, especially those who have a good working knowledge of pickups.)

I come from the point of view of a player who always wanted a pickup with this or that combination of specs that you just couldn't buy off a shelf and got sick of never being able to find what I want -- which is how I got into winding. Even though I don't make a lot of pickups, typical turnaround time is 2-4 weeks because I prefer to encourage customers to let their imaginations run wild (within reason) so I'm almost always doing custom work.

[mick]

+1 , I prefer to let the customer have lot's of input too , it's kind of cool for them being involved plus it's great experience for me interpreting what people want..

Mick

[madialex]

Ben, if you should happen to come out here, I won't bite, I promise.
I may seem like I'm coming off hard, am I am...but I only do it because I care. About you...and your customers. And the industry as a whole, and I don't want to see that tarnished.

Cool no biting, only if it infects me with more pickup knowledge :D I would like to get out there and visit you, Jason and at some point even possum. Not sure what a flight out there would even be. If I ever get rid of my POS wife or ex so to speak I may just get out that way. Long story there.........

[badstrat]

Ugghh, I’d love to remain silent on this, but I can’t, I’m way too involved to let the truth get blurry. I know Wolfe through email and common acquaintances. Some friends of mine have dealt with him and swear by him. In my personal dealings with Wolfe I have found him extremely knowledgeable, helpful and straight forward. Wolfe did not poach nor did he seek out Benny’s customers. One of Benny’s most disgruntled customers sought out Wolfe and kinda sucked him in to this web by sending Wolfe some Truetone pickups for repair. I know this from both parties; the disgruntled customer and I had a couple of email chats about the situation we both faced with Ben. The disgruntled customer, BD, was very angry and a bit over the top with that anger from reading some of his posts on another forum. I hate getting played for a sucker and ripped off too, but threats are completely out of line.

I know Ben from several previous dealings with him, some good, some so so, some very bad. Of all of the pickups I bought from Ben over the years about 50% were excellent, 30% were average, with about 20% being substandard. I recommended Truetone to several people right around the time his customer service went in the toilet, I ended up looking like a schmuck for it.

Ben’s customer service started off absolutely brilliant. It quickly deteriorated to average and declined further in to an absolute nightmare. He’d make all kinds of promises and meet none of them and when he jerked you around to the point where you were really pissed off he just stopped answering your emails. I’ve been lied to by Ben on more than one occasion.

He recovered from his first round of customer service nightmares briefly about a year ago and then quickly fell right back in to the exact same pattern and is currently still in that phase it seems (my first round of problems, delays and tall tales with Ben were in 2005...we ironed it out in early to mid 2006 and the same pattern returned in Nov 2006). He blames it all on his personal problems, most of which I know but out of respect to his privacy will not publish. We all have personal problems to some degree, some of us much worse than Ben. But we don’t all use them as a crutch to treat people poorly and jerk them around while wasting tons of their time. Personally I have sympathy for Ben’s personal issues, but that in no way gives him the right to impose his problems on his customers by wasting hours of their time, taking their money and not delivering pickups.

Ben is still not being completely, ahem, forthright with everyone here. When he tells you all he has not wound a pickup in 6 months, well that would mean the set he sent me in early November 2006 (just over 3 months ago) was made by magic pickup winding pixies ;-)

Just to touch on acceptable wind time, whatever you advertise as your wind time up front, whether it’s a week or two years is acceptable if you stick to it. Unfortunately Ben would tell people 2 weeks or a month and take 6 months or more, this is absolutely unacceptable and dishonest.

Ben, I hope you really are doing the best you are capable of to fix the situation you’ve ended up in, but it’s currently just not good enough. You need to shut down sales of any kind until you’ve filled all your backlogged orders. In fact I’d suggest pulling down your website and going in to “re-tooling” mode for 6 months to a year. You made some good pickups, and some bad pickups so you do have some potential. But you’re just not a great businessman and should probably think of taking on a partner to run the business while you wind pickups. Spending some serious time under an established pickup winder to “hone” your craft would likely not be a bad idea either. I truly don’t mean this as a shot, we all can learn and better ourselves.

All things being equal, I’d be much happier if I had never met Benny…and I’d have about 5 hours of my life back I’ve spent chasing him and being ignored by him for pickups I paid for and were either months behind their promised delivery or just not delivered (I hope you really are going to fix the latter Ben).

I did not post any of this to be vindictive, just to shed a little more light on the truth and as to why Wolfe may seem to be calling Ben out. Ben's not completely beyond hope, but Benny you've got to come clean with everyone, then get to work on fixing the damage you've done not only to your reputation but to small pickup winders as Wolfe mentioned. In business honesty is just as important as customer service and a good product. If your customers can't trust you...you're screwed.

[Zemaitis]

+1 I'll have to say, I have been given the run around... I was told the pickups were wound, but in storage, and they'd be out asap... that was over 6 months ago

The P-90's that Benny wound for me were great... and I really bragged them up... Then I asked for some overwound PAF's to match some originals I use to own... and you know what... I was going thru a hard time myself, but went out and collected aluminum cans to recycle so I could get 'em, could'nt wait to show them off to my friends, cause if the P-90's were great... the PAF's had to be as good or even better...

Needless to say, my buddies have stopped asking if they came in yet...

And I learned a costly lesson..... Sorry Wolfe and you others... but I shy away from the small builders. I did order some Tim's, but he dosn't take your money until your name comes up and he is ready to ship...

As for Benny, I hope you get it together, you wound a great pair of pickup for me... but, looks to be the only pair.... Hope you enjoyed my money...

[Ruel]

Well, in my opinion, it looks like everybody should be concerned more with undelivered promises instead of low-priced pickups out there. For me, bad reviews on several small winders will pull everybody down the drain, more so than low priced merchandize.

I don't know you Benn, I don't even come from your part of the world but hey, I pray that you pull out of this rut and get your act together. Seems like you got a lot of making up to do with your disgruntled customers. You can do it man!

[Stan H]

Hang on guys, it's gonna get rough...again :mad:

[NightWinder]

LOL......Oh Shit!!!

[badstrat]

Hang on guys, it's gonna get rough...again :mad:
In all seriousness, why does it have to get rough? Truths have been told and pretty much everyone, myself included, is pulling for Ben to recover from this mess. Nobody is picking on Ben unfairly, this thread looks more like an intervention to me. Balls in your court Ben, do you want to fess up and get to work repairing this mess?

[Spence]

Rule Number 1 :

never instigate an offer to fix anyone else's pickups

Rule Number 2 :

never shoot a dying man in the back when he's in the same army

Rule Number 3 :

never! never! never masturbate when you look at yourself in the mirror

[Stan H]

In all seriousness, why does it have to get rough? Truths have been told and pretty much everyone, myself included, is pulling for Ben to recover from this mess. Nobody is picking on Ben unfairly, this thread looks more like an intervention to me. Balls in your court Ben, do you want to fess up and get to work repairing this mess?


I'm all for Ben getting his shit back together too. I've heard some very good things about his work...That being said, you apparently never saw the old forum.

[NightWinder]

Well said Spence. Short and sweet. Rule #3 has me stumped....I thought.....

[Zhangliqun]

I don't know Ben from a hole in the ground and I have nothing to say about him one way or the other.

But I remember the slugfest at the old forum and one thing I know for sure is the "BD" guy, apparently a dissatisfied customer, was just flat-out nuts. The guy was just a deranged obsessive. For one thing, there was no aspect of his beef with Ben (or anyone else) that he wouldn't turn into a screaming rant about Bush. He would screech and rip and 'roid rage over the $50 refund he wanted. He even jumped all over Wolfe and a few others who intervened, if I recall correctly, and we all took turns slapping him down because he was just so waaaay out of line.

Even if every bad thing said about Ben's work is true, nobody deserves a customer like that.

[Spence]

For one thing, there was no aspect of his beef with Ben (or anyone else) that he wouldn't turn into a screaming rant about Bush.


I'm starting to think BD is the brother Possum doesn't talk about

[madialex]

This is me fessing up I guess you could say. As stated in previous post I am getting things together finally and things here are soon to improve for the better. I am working every spare second I have to wind quality pickups for customers who have been long waiting. I am also trying to give some sort of refund back when I can and have a little extra to give to try and make things sort of right. I know things are bad for all people at times and I am not using mine as a crutch but like I said some things cant be helped. Ever had your hands tied and cant do anything about it? That was me for a good long while thanks to an evil wife, soon to be divorced ex wife "THANK GOD"!!!!!! Thank you all for the good swift kick in the ass to get my priorities straight, much appreciated.

[badstrat]

This is me fessing up I guess you could say. As stated in previous post I am getting things together finally and things here are soon to improve for the better. I am working every spare second I have to wind quality pickups for customers who have been long waiting. I am also trying to give some sort of refund back when I can and have a little extra to give to try and make things sort of right. I know things are bad for all people at times and I am not using mine as a crutch but like I said some things cant be helped. Ever had your hands tied and cant do anything about it? That was me for a good long while thanks to an evil wife, soon to be divorced ex wife "THANK GOD"!!!!!! Thank you all for the good swift kick in the ass to get my priorities straight, much appreciated.
Good for you Ben, I'm pulling for you! Make good on the promise!!! An update to your web page to either say "No new orders are being accepted right now" or "Current waiting list is approximately 6 months" would be a great start to convincing me that you're serious.

[mick]

" never! never! never masturbate when you look at yourself in the mirror "

OK Spence good point , but is it ok to look at yourself in the mirror whilst masturbating...?

[badstrat]

I'm all for Ben getting his shit back together too. I've heard some very good things about his work...That being said, you apparently never saw the old forum.
A lot of people are/were frustrated with the waiting and lack of communication, I saw the old board, it's actually still available http://www.firebottle.com/fireforum/ff.cgi?cmd=vt&fid=misc&tid=1144020356Z7jWzpC

No arguing that there was some bad behavior in that thread and BD went way, way, way too far. Unfortunately when you screw people around eventually you will run in to a guy like BD.

Here's to hoping that Ben is being sincere THIS time...unfortunately I have the misfortune of going through Ben's run around a second time in 3 years. Personally I won't ever be dragged in again, but I hope he gets his act together and even sends me the pickup I've been waiting for since Nov 06.

[madialex]

Hi Badstrat, truly no more bullshit from me. I cant give an estimated date at the moment but you will see them soon. As far as the website update I would love to update but I had a guy from another forum do it for me for free and I cant find his email addy to ask him to fix it. I hope he is a member here and see's this post and contacts me. If not I will try to figure it out myself and do it if I can. I may have to do a whole new site. Stupid me not adding him to my contacts, lesson learned there. I am trying to get in touch with Andrew about parts. He emailed me a parts list but it wouldnt open and I cant get an answer back from his email to get him to re-send it. I need parts desperately and dont want to go the all parts or stewmac route if I can help it. Hey Andrew you out there???

[badstrat]

Websites are easy Ben. Get yourself a program like Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 and you can edit web pages as easy as creating a document in word. Uploading after setup is nothing more than right clicking on the file. The danger in getting a guy to do it for free is he owes you nothing and often you get what you pay for ;)

[Possum]

OK, I just threw my mirror away, how DID you know??? Sheesh if that were true it would be more like instant flat tire :-)

I think BD is related to the TelecasterMasterBaters forum master bater, er I mean concentation camp. If he was my brother I wouldn't admit it anyway :-)

[Spence]

You mean the forum I got thrown off ( pardon the expression ) when I dared to suggest they might prefer not to get fisted by Butt Cannon for a fee and go somewhere else......

[badstrat]

Just an update to my situation with Ben. After 4 1/2 months (3 1/2 with no contact at all), Ben delivered a functional pickup similar to my requested specs today along with an apology and a full refund. I would have been happy with the pickup or the refund but both was a classy touch. I can't say how the pickup sounds as I currently don't have a suitable guitar for it. Kudos to Ben for making things right. I hope this is the start of a turn around for him and wish him all the best of luck in the future.

[WolfeMacleod]

Just an update to my situation with Ben. After 4 1/2 months (3 1/2 with no contact at all), Ben delivered a functional pickup similar to my requested specs today along with an apology and a full refund. .

Now that is a good thing to hear!

I usually offer a 50% refund if I feel I've taken an excessive amount of time

[madialex]

I am working on it. I started my Welbuterin today and the wife situation is looking like it is gonna be done with I hope by the weekend, meaning she will be gone from my place, I told you its a long story so I wont bother.

I took some time today and visited with Lindy Fralin. He is one hell of a nice guy. He showed me his whole operation, winders, tools etc. He's got 5 winders and 6 guys working with him. He is very down to earth and all around pretty cool. He showed me his guitar collection as well as some really old amps. He is a lot shorter in person, and out of all the guys there he drives the oldest car there, LOL... an 80 something toyota, good car by the way, my uncle has an 84 and still drives it every day and has only put an alternator on it. Anyhoo, thanks for Lindy's hospitality if you are reading this. It kinda renewed me as far as pickups are concerned. Thanks to all.

[NightWinder]

Nice Stuff Ben. Stay solid. Smiling for ya!

[Ruel]

Hope this will be one of those "All's well that ends well" thing. Or is it "And everybody lived happily ever after"?