Official Luthiers Forum!

Just curious, did you email him once two years ago and not get a response or have you been trying for two years?

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

Alright. Thanks fellas for the kind words and support and also for the concerns for my current Business Practices. Believe me, no one knows better than I do about the current shortcomings in my business practices. I do the best I can, and will continue to do so until I decide to no longer be in business. The one difference in what I do versus what a guitar maker does has to do with long term supply, I can't just call up and have premium logs delivered and get back at it as I can when looking for guitar making supplies. So if I am down for a couple of years, for whatever reason, the result is a huge back log that will take a LONG time to recover from. Largely because in that period I have depleted my log supply. I processed minimally over the past couple of years but still tried to fill orders when I could, mostly on oppotunity rather than priority, I don't have "favourites". I will be falling a new tree this week, it is huge but I am unsure of the quality until it is down. Still, it will be well into the fall and maybe even winter before these sets are available at any volume, if the quality is right.

Although I don't like airing personal issues some feel they need a list so here it is.
- two years ago my wife had a stroke
- we had to fight to get her driving priviledges back or we would have had to move (and shut down the tonewood thing entirely)
- I took time to address this as there were (and still are) a bunch of questions and sole searching required
- then we took on the "system" to ensure that other families were not similiarly affected
- that was favourably resolved about two months ago
- since that time I have located a new tree, made the applications, have been approved and am in the process of harvesting it
- I remain at this tonewood gig part time and will for the foreseeable future
- my day job has increased tremendously with short staff and a crew that cares about what we do and a huge influx of work in our area, we look after each other and that will take priority, it feeds and clothes my kids

All this to say, I apologize for poor communications, I would like to committ that they will be better over the next short while but I fear they may not. I do have outstanding requests for wood from many of you and from many more who do not participate here. As I get more caught up I will indeed post as I progress and let people know that I back in action. Please remember though that I can only do what I can do. I would love to have the wood volume, time and production capacity to service all of you right when you needed the wood, but in the 10 years now (already!!) that I have been doing this work the past 8 years has been pretty much from some sort of wait list.

I have been a member, a sponsor and active contributor here since the very early days of this forum, I appreciate the community, the individuals and the general respect that exists here, that is why I stay on. I never lay any strong arm tactics to sell any of my products, I try really hard not to oversell what I do and I work hard to produce quality products when I am able to get the time in the shop. At this time that is the only committment I can make.

If you are like Brian and wish not to do business with me because of this, I respect that. It might also help me get to those waiting even faster!

Thanks
Shane

_________________
Canada

Shane, you're a gem. Thanks for keeping us posted!

_________________
Pat

Hi Shane.

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

You still don't get it Shane

The problem is the disconnect between what you offer and what you deliver.

You have a website which implies you have product for sale, invites enquiries, and promises timely communication.
This just leads to expectations which you cannot meet and wastes a lot of time for those attempting to purchase

Nope, I totally get it Jeff, I am a fairly intelligent person. You may not like that I am not processing enough to meet demand and that I am not always able to spend an hour a day responding to emails when I can't even get out to split more billets and I agree that it is not a business model to be proud of, I do get it! Still, I explained my position above and remain respectful of your opinion but that won't get me sourcing and processing more wood sooner, which is what we would all like!

Shane

_________________
Canada

well at least Shane's issues are related to not actually having wood available at any given moment...which is quite different than having it in the shed and being too lazy to ship it out, etc...

To Quote the good Captin Jack...



Listen up dudes

there be only 2 (two) lutz dealers on this planet, both have their issues and like you and me,
they ain't perfect. (well maybe some of you are, ya right.)

Now what you see from them is what you get...
and what you get ain't gonna be gettin much better n what ya see...ya see?

So ...
make your choice, live with it and and shove the bs.

Simple eh.


thus spaketh
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Nope You obviously don't

Shane, thanks for getting back to me. And as far as I can see, the purpose of this post has been fulfilled. And before it turns ugly, Lance might do well to close it.

_________________
michael propsom
www.propsomguitars.com

Good on Shane for responding to this thread with such grace.
However I would like to remind everyone that this forum is not the place
to air your grievances.

7. Platform for Personal Attacks. The OLF is not a pulpit to punish suppliers who you feel have wronged you. This includes Ebay vendors. If you have a problem with a vendor or a purchase please take it up with them. This also goes for personal disputes; the OLF is not the place for such discussions.

I certainly don't mean to sound like a jerk here, I am just reminding.

Thanks LanceK

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks for the reminder Lance. The "Airing of Grievances" is strictly an activity for Festivus. It is to be followed by the "Feats of Strength". You will need one of these:

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Shane's backlog of orders is not unlike a well-established maker who has months if not years of back orders. Shane's operation is an artisan-style affair, similar the operation of many on this forum. You can't just pull an instrument quality Lutz tree out of thin air. It takes a tremendous amount of logistics, back breaking work, tedious re-sawing, and luck to get the two 5mm thick pieces of wood that are in so much demand.
The guitar making world is more fortunate for the efforts of Shane. Before Lutz was being used for guitar soundboards, most of it was going to pulp for paper or dimensional lumber for construction.

_________________
Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

What a perfect analogy!

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Shane,

I for one REALLY APPRECIATE what you do. Not everyone is willing to spend days searching the woods, finding the right tree, dealing with the government to get a permit then cutting it down and hauling tons of wood out of the forest. Not to mention the splitting, sawing and sanding you do.

Actually, I'm just starting to brace one of your excellent tops now.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Best brace wood around, too.

It is James, I just included some on my last order from Shane

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Shane, so glad to hear from you. I hope u won't let one or two negative replies in here affect your desire to work with us here. Your products are top notch and I love dealing with you. I understand what you have been going through. Given your current difficult time and product situations, I want to order three AAA harp tops and 5 tops big enough for Martin J40s (AAA). I don't care when. Just let me know that you have my order. Also, box up some bracing wedges, enough for 10 guitars.

Thanks! And God bless,

Mike (I also want to commend the majority of posters here that have expressed positive stuff for Shane)

What do u have to do? Sit on it?

Shane, thanx for picking out this top for me based on my description, the guy buying the guitar LOVES it and can't wait to get it!

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

No, you silly goose! The unadorned aluminum pole is used to celebrate Festivus!

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Oh. Thank goodness. Was afraid of the answer and that my wife would see it.

Tony' I think I get it. You dance around it In the light of the moon, right? Hum...... But, surely not naked, not even in New York City, right?

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

You have to remember the Seinfeld episode for Festivus? I still remember that one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8g4Ztf7hIM

_________________
jw ( o)===:::

Are there that few Seinfeld fans here? Festivus for the rest of us? Sheesh!

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC