Please - just talk me off the ledge or push me off . . .

[Blueser100]

Originally Posted by gretsch4me

I'd be really pissed too. But, as mentioned it can be repaired with a mahogany plug and refinished so that you won't even notice the damage. What I would do, is get the shop to agree to pay for the repair directly to whom it is doing the fix.

Let us know how it works out for you.

This is the way I would go. I'd be pretty upset as well. But I would opt for a professional plug job vs. a new neck or guitar.

[jkilgour2000]

Small claims court. Call Judge Judy. Record any further conversations with them for evidence. You’re entitled to a replacement guitar.

[ataylor]

OP — while I applaud your attitude and your resolve not to be vindictive, if this shop ends up having to replace your guitar or, at the very least, pay you the cost of a replacement neck repair (whether you choose that route or not), this will be a lesson they’re far more likely to learn from than letting them off the hook by letting them act like they’ve done you a favor by not charging for a $5 strap pin.

Not only will compensation for their error make them far less likely to make this error in the future, but it should also help ensure they’re less likely to take advantage of customers in similar situations. Think of this as something that they need to be given the opportunity to learn and grow from. Replacing your guitar or paying a substantial repair cost might be a short term pain for this shop, but in the long run it will hopefully ensure more careful and caring service and happier customers who are more likely to return.

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by justonwo

Yeah, it won’t be invisible. The inlay idea actually isn’t a bad one.

I like this idea. You not only get a one-of-a-kind guitar, but a great story to go with it.

[lowrider]

I don't like any idea other than a new guitar. This was a 4 month old guitar in perfect condition. If it was me, I'd probably be in jail right now for killing both of those old geezers!

The best solution, to me, is that the shops pays exactly the amount the the OP paid to Maury and takes the guitar to do whatever they want with it.

Then the OP buys another one from Maury, who will gladly throw in a free strap button when he hears this story!

[foxo]

I wouldn't want a replacement guitar under these circumstances. The damage can be repaired by a competent repair person and would not adversely affect the sound or playability.

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by Rixtoy

Thanks. I think I will do this. . .
I also believe replacing the neck would perhaps jeopardize the integrity of the instrument.
I am glad to hear several of you think an appropriate repair would make the pock mark almost invisible. That is something I could possibly live with. I will pursue that and ask the owner of the shop to cover the repair.

As it stands now, I should just tape a picture of my ex-wife's attorney on the neck - that's about equal repulsion.

I think you are in the right track in regards to getting a competent repair job done. I can’t believe they handed it to you in that kind of shape. It looks pretty bad, when it could/should be noticeable but not nearly as shocking and upsetting.

And like many others have said, you did not over react. They underperformed and minimized what they had done, and how bad it looked (“blemish”? ).

[Mr. Paul]

I would leave them 100% out of the loop until it was repaired by a shop of your choosing. At that point you can present them with the bill. If they don't pay it's a slam dunk in small claims court.

[llew]

I believe the guitar can be repaired too the point where it can't even be seen. I'd opt for having it repaired. Especially if I really liked THAT guitar. All that having been said...the shop owner should be responsible for the cost of any repairs made to the guitar. I can't imagine even with his flippant half baked apology he would see the need to make that happen. As someone said earlier, it might require having an attorney write him a letter? It's not my guitar but that's what I would do.

[Rixtoy]

OP Update -

I believe I may be on a path to a good solution . . .

I spoke with a luthier in Wichita who said no one is really qualified in town to do that level of work. But, he did suggest checking with Mass Street Guitar in Lawrence, KS (good 'ol KU - I am a K-State grad, but desperate). Coincidentally, I had received several other independent suggestions to contact them.

Then, I got a nice PM from JKLOTZ of this board who had checked with his own luthier in Atlanta who said it cannot be made to completely disappear, but an authorized Martin Service Center could likely make it very close to new. He said Martin makes sure their service centers have exactly the right mahogany and other materials to do the best match they can on Martin guitars.

So guess who the only Martin Authorized Service Center is in the state of Kansas? Yep - Mass Street Guitars in Lawrence.

I sent a picture to them and they echoed the Atlanta luthier that they anticipate they could do a very nice repair and match. Estimate $150 and 4 weeks to $250 and 6 weeks depending on how long the staining and blending take. I will be sending the original shop the bill for sure with a before and after picture to emphasize the crap they set me home with.

For me, this is an ideal solution and I will be going that route.

I will post before and after pictures when it is done and will probably drive it up this week-end.

Thanks for everyone's input and ESPECIALLY JKLOTZ and his luthier.
Well done, all.

[Dwight]

....the reason I originally said $500 includes depreciated value after repair. No matter how well it's repaired, it will leave some residual mark. Sounds like Mass St. Music is a good choice!

[Goodallboy]

A. I would have done far worse dealing with that than you did, kudo’s for your reserve.
B. Get your legal advice from an attorney, not a guitar player.
C. A talented luthier/restoration specialist can most like make it extremely hard to see.
D. I’d seek legal advice on getting the store that did this to pay for the fix.

[Matt G]

I would want to receive full replacement - a new guitar or the cash to buy one. But there is no way you're going to get that. Maybe a great attorney could wrangle that for you, but then who would pay the attorney fee?

I would probably settle for a good repair job (done somewhere else at the expense of the first shop).

I've tried getting work done at a few places in Utah, and none have been done as well as I wanted. The work included a new guitar setup, a new nut, lifting bridge removed and re-glued, and a broken neck repaired.

The broken neck was done beautifully - 100%. But it was part of getting a new nut, which was so bad I think it must have been forgotten until there was no time left to do it right. It's frustrating to know ahead of time the work will probably be done poorly, and the guitar will come back with a few new scratches.

[roylor4]

Deleted my post as you have updated the action needed and taken.

[Graylocks]

Last year I took my Goodall Jumbo in to a local guitar shop to have a strap button installed. The owner had a slip of the hand and put a scratch on the neck. He owned the mistake immediately. Said he would evaluate to see if he could work with the guitar's finish and make me whole.

Long story short, he decided not to try it and shipped the Goodall back to california where James made it look perfect. Though I didn't have the guitar for about 2 months, I was not out one dime; the shop paid for everything.

That's how a reputable shop stays in business. Shout out to Righteous Guitars in Roswell, GA.