Brown Note Kits

[mitch]

Anyone got experience with Brown Note 18Watt Lite kits? I ordered one going on 3-months now and I'm still waiting. I can't get any response from them on when it may ship. Are they always like this?

[loudthud]

It took a lot of nagging for them to get me a head box for a D'Lite kit. Not much communication from them, but it finally showed up after a couple of months.

[mitch]

Well that's good news that I will probably receive it. I just hate having to keep e-mail reminding them they have my money. Thanks loudthud

[Scott_F]

Sounds unacceptable to me.

[mitch]

Well don't get me started...I'll end up getting kicked off the forum. Let me just say I will never again buy a damn thing from him. Maybe he's going through some tough times I dunno, but that doesn't excuse all the B.S. answers and non-reply's I've gotten from him. It's not like I've flooded him with e-mails and ridiculous expectations(about 1 e-mail every couple of weeks).
If I did business like that I would be out of work or in legal trouble. I work hard for my money and to have someone sit on it like and just feed you a line of crap makes me burn. Hell I could have mined the ore to make the damn chassis and xfmrs by now.

[valcotone]

Does Moss have a phone number? I've been waiting a couple of weeks now on an email reply from him whether he can sell me a head box for my D'Lite, or refer to a builder who can make one for me.

[mitch]

Send me a P.M. and I'll e-mail it to you if you want... but you sent it a couple of weeks ago? He probably hasn't even read it yet---give it a few more months.

[valcotone]

Send me a P.M. and I'll e-mail it to you if you want... but you sent it a couple of weeks ago? He probably hasn't even read it yet---give it a few more months.

...few more months? Haha... that's nuts.

Anyway, I just ordered a head cab from another builder that should arrive in a month or so.

[mitch]

Yes it is nuts...but that's how it's been working out for me. I ordered a 18watt kit back at the end of Nov and still haven't received it. And when I e-mail him if I get anything back from him it's that he'll get back to me in a couple of days... and then nothing...
Actually I wish I would have known this before I sent him any money,I would of just gotten one from a reputable kit company.
So your better off going with someone else as far as I'm concerned. Maybe I can catch up with him at the next NAMM show down by my house.

[mitch]

Going on 9 months now and still "should be shipping any day now"

[loudthud]

FYI, I tried looking Brown Note up on Google Maps. There is no company named "Brown Note" at the address given on their website, but there appears to be one of those mail box places named "Mail House". There are a couple of companies that could be some kind of shelter corporation (ie xyz enterprises etc). If someone is near zip code 95628, they could go check the place out. 8139 Sunset Ave, Fair Oaks CA, 95628, Suite 161.

[mitch]

I appreciate that loudthud! I looked them up on Goolge also but I believe your right about the address just being some sort of processing mill. I think they are actually in the San Francisco area judging from some of the posts on their Facebook and My Space sites. Guy needs to spend a little more time on business and less time hyping his amps. I'm pretty sure I'd eventually get my order if it goes like other people's experience. I'm just gonna try to get my money back but wanted to put it out there so other new guys don't get sucked in.
I'd been looking at quite a few amp building forums for a few months before I ordered from them, and hadn't seen anything bad about them till I started wondering where my stuff was.

[Easto]

Wow, something with BN must have changed recently. I was reading this post and couldn't believe what I was reading. I was originally introduced to his amps at 18watt dot com. He was a member in fine standing and was doing a good business. I've also been to his room at the LA Amp show 2 years in a row.

If what is being written here is true (and I doubt no one) it is sad to see this happen and read about it.

Just sayin'

[loudthud]

It was not my intent to denegrate the Brown Note Company. I can see where when a company is small, running it out of your garage and having a mail drop would be the way to go. However, judging from their product offerings, it's hard to imagine the company being still in the garage stage. Small companies can run into problems with suppliers, and getting head boxes and speaker cabs made by an outside vendor can be a hassle. Still, it's hard to imagine customer service with issues like this.

[mitch]

Yeah..I can understand having to wait on a product because of vendor issues, happens all the time. But the time frame has been so long any vendor problem should have been sorted out by now or a new vendor found. The lack of customer service or respect is my main grip, I mean after the 3rd time of being told it's shipping at the end of week and then not getting it pretty much tells me they don't give a crap.

[Easto]

The lack of customer service or respect is my main grip, I mean after the 3rd time of being told it's shipping at the end of week and then not getting it pretty much tells me they don't give a crap.

I agree with you 100%. If it is acutally going to be 30, 60 days then just tell me.

[jazzmaster]

uh,

same here, ordered a dlite kit in februar this year. still didnt got it yet.
also barely replys and when he sais parts soon in or checking state of the order.
also he meant in may he want to go to ny amp show but he cant with waiting customers, as we see on youtube he was there...

wonder if i ever get this baby

[stormbringer]

any update? Has your kit arrived?

[jazzmaster]

didnt receive anything yet.

reply from moss on monday, july 19th:
Hi,
I just got this message, let me look into your order and see what's up, OK?

ive replied him to keep me up to date.
well till today i havent heard anything.

i wrote on august 13th again, thats been a month now without hearing anything further and he could had enough time to check whats up. no reply yet.

for me it would be no problem to wait a few months, but i also really miss the customer care (like mitch & loudthud).

see, when ive ordered the kit, moss said it would take at least 3 weeks because he need to get new transformers winded, that was no problem for me.

but now i think its a different level, and seeing others got threaten the same, im asking myself how many peoples are in the queue before my order...

the stuff is all payed in advance 865$ (120$ only for shipping costs) via paypal.

[mitch]

Hey I think Moss most have a form letter he e-mails out - that's just like the ones I always get to a Tee! "Jazzmaster" just sent you a message...I've been off the net for a few weeks.
Brown Note Amps will be at the LA Amp show coming up, maybe he'll bring my amp kit down with him..cause if it takes any longer the kit will evolve and grow legs and then who knows where it will end up? The guy's a Jack Whad as far as I'm concerned stringing everyone out like this and going to industry gigs like he's legit.

[mitch]

Hang in there Jazzmaster....to be fair to Brown Note I need to report that I've received a ship notice from Fed-Ex. Damn that was a long wait.

[Resonator Guy]

Did you ever get your kit? There is a nice article about Brown Note in the October issue of Premier Guitar. I was wondering if it was accurate.

[mitch]

Weird I was just cruising through and I saw your post come up! Yes I did get my kit, minus the rectifier tube. I was suppose to receive it last week but it hasn't come yet...I don't think I'm gonna hold my breath waiting for it. I haven't built the kit yet as it took so long to get here I have other projects I would like to wind up.
The kit is of excellent quality and the chassis is beautiful so in that regard the article is on the money. I don't like being the one to smear someone's business but I would not order from them unless your prepared for a long wait with very little idea when your order will show up. That was my experience and I don't believe I'm alone. There are other 18 watt kit suppliers that can get a kit to you in a reasonable time frame. I know of a couple great kit suppliers..GDS Amps; TRINTY Amps. (I have no affiliation with either of these companies I'm just a hobby guy) Just google "18 watt amp kit" there are a couple more.
Hope this helps.

[jazzmaster]

Huhu Mitch,

was offline some weeks/months.
Glad to hear you finaly received your Kit. That makes me believe i might get it some day!
How loong took it for you? A year?
Im still waiting for mine, in the meantime i heard nothing about it yet.
Im gonna mail Moss again, last words from him are back in may/june.

[mitch]

I placed the order back in Dec 2009, so a little over 9 months. I don't know if they have any sort of normal method of order as far as shipping orders. Some people wait longer,some wait less but everybody waits. I'm still waiting for the EZ81 tube to trikle in. One thing about ordering from Brown Note is, you will never forget them! I've had less frustrating experiences dealing with the State government.

[loudthud]

Hey, I ran across this article about Brown Note:

Builder Profile: Brown Note Amplifiers - Premier Guitar

Turns out Moss Hudson, the owner, reads Ampage. Maybe he should spend more time chasing down parts and filling orders and let his son deal with the email

[RWood]

I chuckled when I read this comment, amidst those from friends and family:

"Dave Jacobs on 06/22/2011
Moss is a great guy and makes a truly unique amp, but I think he really should deliver me the Amp+Cab I pre-payed him for almost 4 (yes, I really mean four) years ago!"

[mitch]

Poor Dave Jacobs...4 yrs! I thought my wait was long! I read this article after Loudthud posted it and been debating on sending my thoughts. I'd rather let sleeping dogs lay but this guy should just fess up about how poor his customer service is..well I guess it really isn't that poor..it has to exist before it's even rated poor. Poor is a step up in this case.

[trem]

You guys are NOT in the minority. TGP had a big thread about Moss Hudson.....the guy is a nightmare.......with all the schematics on line, and the kits available.... no need to ever get involved with him.
Best

[scole]

You guys are NOT in the minority. TGP had a big thread about Moss Hudson.....the guy is a nightmare.......with all the schematics on line, and the kits available.... no need to ever get involved with him.
Best

word up