Restoring Robert's Hyak

[dela217]

.....UPS did their best to destroy the bass,...
 
That is probably the main reason I don't want to ship any of my Alembics back to the factory.
 
So, after that careful restoration, it got screwed up in shipping?!?

[bassilator]

Despite what JBB says, this is still a touchy subject for me.   Here's what has been discovered--  First, during the initial shipping to Alembic, UPS dropped the bass-- HARD.  A chip of wood about 3/8 x 1/4 was knocked out of the headstock, which is why the laminate was replaced.  During the trip home, UPS dropped it again!  A chip of clearcoat was knocked off of the headstock, three dings were put into the body just above the rear strap button, and a pin prick about the size of a ball-point pen tip was put in the top of the body wing right where your forearm rests when plucking the strings.  It is so small, yet SO IRRITATING!!!!!  (About like I'm getting reliving this.  Fortunately, no structural damage was found.  Alembic has really stuck up for me and they filed a claim with UPS.  Unfortunately, I lost.  The plan is to send it back to Alembic for a second refinish.  At the same time, a new case will be designed and built for the bass.  Here's the damage.  What do you think?

[bassilator]

Here's a picture of the back

[bsee]

Whether or not to refinish is entirely up to you, but it seems like the case was inadequate protection for the bass.  As such, that's probably why the claim was refused.    
 
I was discussing the Series II bass currently for sale on eBay with a friend who pointed out that the 20+ year old flight case that is part of the auction may look good, but the foam is probably dried out and no longer protective.  Was the case your bass was shipped in original, and probably in the same boat?
 
If you're going to play the bass heavily, are you likely to ding it up a bit through use?  If so, then I might not go throught the hassle and expense of another refinish.  If you're the type to keep your bass in mint condition, then you'll probably want to send it back.  What's it going to cost you for another run through the finishing process?

[alemboid]

In my years I've enjoyed the privilege of working for Bass Northwest and Sadowsky Guitars. At both companies, we learned the hard way that UPS has a nack for damaging or out right losing basses. Fed Ex on the other hand has been much more reliable.  
 
I am utterly pissed at UPS on your behalf. That they denied your claim is ludicrous, and re-enforces in me that UPS is unable to do a good job.  
 
On the other hand, your bass is beautiful!!!!
 
Alemboid

[bsee]

Not to get into an argument here, but all you're looking at is a bass with a couple marks on it at either end.  You probably aren't looking at the case or the shipping box and I suspect that UPS did in making the decision that the damage wasn't there fault.  I would suspect that most of us don't have enough information to lay blame for this damage at anyone's feet.  One thing that is certain is that it's a shame that this happened to such a beautiful instrument.  
 
Last year, I bought a Baby Blue combo and external speaker cabinet from someone 2/3 of the way across the country.  His packing involved double cardboard and no foam at all.  Do you think UPS should pay for repairs on the broken plastic on the corners from these things banging around hard?  I don't.
 
Oh, and I asked that the bass I bought a couple days ago be shipped via FedEx because I have the same experience and concerns with UPS.  Unfortunately, they estimate it will be in transit for 10 real days by ground because of the holiday!

[bassilator]

Oops!  First of all, I don't mean to open a thread for ripping UPS apart.  Sorry.
 
I made the first call to Alembic about this bass two years ago.  To receive it damaged after all the time and money is still unbelievable to me.  Yes, I am the kind of person who will play it everyday, especially since it is now my only bass.  I usually play lower key gigs-- fusion band, Top 40, soul, etc.. where things usually aren't being tossed around the stage.   I also am the type who is obsessed with quaility and takes extreme measures to protect equipemnt, be it music or otherwise.  For example, I have a three year old mixer that I cover with a couple towels after each use to protect it.  Guess what?  After three years it looks like I just bought it.  It has been with me on the road on several occasions too.  For me, the dings are huge.  I'm just trying to get a feel of how big a deal in the scheme of life everyone else thinks these are.  So far, I'm gathering that there are more important things in life to worry about.  
 
Thanks for all your comments.  I really appreciate them.
 

[bsee]

I know how you feel about maintaining your instruments.  After 8 years and a couple hundred gigs, my Zon still looked like new.  Is there any minor repair that can be done to the instrument?  Something like a rubout and feathered overspray rather than a full respray?  A full refinish would be nice if money and time were no object.  Karma will balance out for you in the end.
 
I definitely would be going for a new case, though, and we should all learn a lesson there from your bad fortune.  Cases (like helmets, but that's another topic) have foam that deteriorates over time.  

[poor_nigel]

Hey Rob.  I would be very upset if I just shelled out a lot of money to fix my old, favorite bass up and a shipper did this to it.  I see no reason why a bass cannot be played daily and still be kept in great shape.  Mine are.
 
I finally figured out how to handle UPS on their poor service and policies concerning ruining my stuff being shipped.  I refuse to use them any more.  I use FedEx exclusively for anything that matters.  I eat the price of Express and insure for full value.  I have never had a need for an insurance claim with them.  Even USPS is better than UPS - better safe than sorry on things dear to you.  
 
I am sorry about your bass.  It was looking fabulous, and still is.  But it would drive me crazy too, having those dings in a bass that should be in perfect shape now.  Just letting you know that you are not the only person around that thinks as you do on this subject.  BTW - I cover my mixboard with a sheet.

[lothartu]

Sorry to read about this Rob.  I've been lurking on this tread and really enjoying the progress of the restoration.
 
If I were in your position I'm sure I would feel the same way.  The damage would be a huge deal to me but as you said there are more important things in life to worry about.
 
- Jim

[poor_nigel]

The more I look at the pictures of the damage on your bass, the more it bothers me.  How did it get damaged like it is?  One would think the strap buttom would have been forced into the body by a hard whack (Dropping on end) to that region, and the damage on the headstock is off centered, too.  It is like someone removed that bass and then bumped into stuff.  Were the ends of the case both broken during its ride home, where broken edges of the case dug into the bass?  Was the bottom strap button forced into the body at all, was the finish even cracked there?  
 
I suppose this is meaningless, as the damage is done and UPS has already denied your claim.  But this seems bothersom to me as to how it got damaged the way it did.  I do hope Alembic can do 'touch-ups' on the damaged areas.  If it was an old, yellowed finish, I know this would not be the case.  I do wish you good luck on getting it back safely and in the pristine condition you deserve it to be in.  BTW - Great bass Rob!  OK, I will stop now.

[dela217]

Rob - This is terrible.  I think I would get it fixed too.
 
I also think that someone opened the case.  I have had it happen to me before too.  When I ship a bass in a flight case, I wrap the case around the latches with shipping tape.  That way I know if someone was poking around in there.
 
If you want, I can post pics of my Hyak.  The finish is much worse.  It may make you feel better!
 
Michael

[bassilator]

Hey all,  
 
Thank you so much for your comments.  I really appreciate the support!  The flight case was packaged in a cardboard box before being shipped.  No one opened the case.  The bass hit hard enough to compress the foam inside the case, which allowed the bass to hit two bolts on either end of the case.  The two bolts hold wires that keep the lid in a vertical position when open and prevent it from falling backwards.  The foam on each end was at its narrowest-- 1.  Now before you hassle me about the foam ,  let me at least say that I have shipped basses in this same case on the airlines to Nevada on multiple occasions, Minnesota, and I even sent a bass in it to Alaska.  I never had any problems with the case before, so it never occurred to me that 1 wasn't enough foam.  In the case, the bass doesn't even move because the fit is so tight.
 
Regardless, the damage is done and thanks to you writing in, I'm feeling a lot better about the situation.
 

[johnnybassboy]

I played the bass today, and it was like butta :-)
A perfect tone for cutting-through rock guitars,
but not quite what I like for funk.  
 
What a beautiful instrument. Congrats Rob!

[squirefan]

I just have to chime in on this one.  In my job, I work directly with all these couriers, including the US Postal Service.  UPS is the absolute worst when it comes to domestic shipping.  Even most of their own employees refuse to send anything with them.  The best I've seen so far is DHL.    
 
I too had a claim (insured at $350) denied by UPS about two months ago and I replied to the denial by advising them that I will never use their services again and that I will be giving my business to DHL from now on.  Within two days, UPS changed their mind and accepted my claim.  I will never call on them again.  It is either Fed Ex or DHL from now on.  
 
You need to realize, it's not only the cosmetics, what other damage has been caused that cannot be seen?  Also, Rob knows how to ship guitars.  He sent my Hyak all the way to Miami, in a soft shell that was packed so well that it nearly took me a half hour to get to it.  So the blame falls squarely on UPS!
 
(Message edited by squirefan on November 26, 2004)