Beardog - Posted - 11/09/2019: 14:36:26
I have recently sold some instruments, and I want to just put the money back into a good fiddle. I don't need another fiddle, I just want to see what is out there in the approximately $1.5K-$4.5K offerings. And, if I find something that is better/more appealing to me than my current main player then, I will buy it.
I would like to try some individual makers, like Bob Kogut, Frank Daniels, Barry Dudley, KC Fiddles, etc., but not limited to, or necessarily one of these guys in particular. It isn't often that you can go to even a large retail store and find one of these on the wall to play. I could have several fiddles shipped to me, and then send them all (or all but one of them) back for much less than it would cost me to traipse all over the four corners of the continental USA trying them out at festivals and individual luthier shops, not even considering the travel time involved.
I know that many of you have had several fiddles shipped at a time from places like Shar to try out, and I did that when I picked out my Coda Luma bow, but what about individual makers/luthiers? For some reason, I feel badly about requesting a fiddle(s) to be shipped to me, and then coming up with a reason to send them back, if all I want to to do is try it out and compare it to others in the same price range. Do luthiers commonly get their fiddles shipped back, or have most people already committed to buy before having a particular fiddle shipped?
I had one maker tell me that he has never had a fiddle shipped back to him, so what happens if I want to send his first one back to him?
Have others dealt with this dilemma? Or perhaps it shouldn't be a dilemma at all?
Will any of these guys (and maybe gals...) think that I am not worth their trouble, knowing in advance that I am shopping, rather than already decided, sight unseen?
Advice/opinions??
Edited by - Beardog on 11/09/2019 14:38:05
UsuallyPickin - Posted - 11/10/2019: 08:27:34
After writing for five minutes and deleting it, all I can say is "luck and patience". R/
captainhook - Posted - 11/10/2019: 15:25:14
"Will any of these guys (and maybe gals...) think that I am not worth their trouble, knowing in advance that I am shopping, rather than already decided, sight unseen?"
Count me in that group. I have never shipped a fiddle to a "possible customer" and don't expect to. How in the world would I ever know which one(s) to send "sight unseen?" I have had people pick out two or more that they like, then take a week or more to narrow it down. I'm not good at guessing what someone I've never met would prefer. If you can find somebody desperate enough to ship you some, you probably won't like them anyway.
Beardog - Posted - 11/10/2019: 18:42:14
Yes sir, I fear that I would feel much the same way in your shoes, hence my questions. Thanks for the post!
quote:
Originally posted by captainhook
"Will any of these guys (and maybe gals...) think that I am not worth their trouble, knowing in advance that I am shopping, rather than already decided, sight unseen?"
Count me in that group. I have never shipped a fiddle to a "possible customer" and don't expect to. How in the world would I ever know which one(s) to send "sight unseen?" I have had people pick out two or more that they like, then take a week or more to narrow it down. I'm not good at guessing what someone I've never met would prefer. If you can find somebody desperate enough to ship you some, you probably won't like them anyway.
