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A funny story about pickups

10/10/2002 7:17 AM
WolfeMacleod	A funny story about pickups Ok, so a few weeks ago, I make a pair of humbuckers for a prototype guitar by Moe Guitars. This guitar was to be taken to a local guitar show somewhere around Seattle. Pickups are delivered, and time passes. I learn that the pickups sounded great, but were a tad dark ( I wasn't familliar with the tonality of the particular woods) Well, yesterday I get a phone call from a good freind of mine who also builds guitars and was at the show...he asks me if I know Moe Guitars...Mike...I confirmed that I did, and that I recently made a set of 'buckers for a prototype at the show. My friend then said something to he effect of "interesting, thanks for confirming my suspicions. I spoke with "Norm" a the show about the pickups and asked who made them. He said he made them" WHAT?!?! E'SCUUZE ME?!?? Now..."Norm" isn't part of Moe Guitars...Norm is a local music store owner who I have not met. The Moe Guitar Proto is currently in Norm's store on consignment... My freind went on to ask "Norm" questions about the pickups...could more be made? At what cost? Norm replied he could make then in runs of 20 pickups. Now, just to be sure we were talking about the same pickups, I described them...sure enough, they were them. So...today I look up Norm's music store...and call him on the phone. "Hi Norm, this is Wolfe Macleod, from WolfeTOne Pickups. I'd like to have a word with you." Norm, nervously "Uhh...uhhh....uhhhh..sure?" >>>BUSTED!!<<< Me, angrily polite "As I'm sure you're aware, I recently made a set of pickups for Moe Guitars' prototype that was at the guitar show. It came to my atention today that you spoke with a friend of mine and claim to have made them, and I'd like to know why." Norm, even more nervous "ermmmahh...uhhh....yes, I said thatt...uhh..." Norm, and I proceeded to have a "friendly" conversation about ethics, misrepresentation, and taking credit where credit is not due, and how that says loads about one's character. I explained to him that I have struggled for several years to make a name for myself and be recognized, and than when someone takes credit for my work, I'm not a happy canis-lupus. Norm explained that he said he made them because my friend was asking for informationa about them (of which Norm knew zilch). My reply was "I'm sure he would have liked to have been given CORRECT information? I'd just like to know how you can claim to have made them..etc...blahblahblah..." I wish I would have taped this conversation! I could listen to it every day and never get tired of laughing at it. I think I might go introduce myself personally. Wolfe

10/10/2002 7:17 AM

WolfeMacleod

A funny story about pickups

Ok, so a few weeks ago, I make a pair of humbuckers for a prototype guitar by Moe Guitars. This guitar was to be taken to a local guitar show somewhere around Seattle.
Pickups are delivered, and time passes. I learn that the pickups sounded great, but were a tad dark ( I wasn't familliar with the tonality of the particular woods)
Well, yesterday I get a phone call from a good freind of mine who also builds guitars and was at the show...he asks me if I know Moe Guitars...Mike...I confirmed that I did, and that I recently made a set of 'buckers for a prototype at the show.
My friend then said something to he effect of "interesting, thanks for confirming my suspicions. I spoke with "Norm" a the show about the pickups and asked who made them. He said he made them"
WHAT?!?! E'SCUUZE ME?!??
Now..."Norm" isn't part of Moe Guitars...Norm is a local music store owner who I have not met. The Moe Guitar Proto is currently in Norm's store on consignment...
My freind went on to ask "Norm" questions about the pickups...could more be made? At what cost? Norm replied he could make then in runs of 20 pickups.
Now, just to be sure we were talking about the same pickups, I described them...sure enough, they were them.
So...today I look up Norm's music store...and call him on the phone. "Hi Norm, this is Wolfe Macleod, from WolfeTOne Pickups. I'd like to have a word with you."
Norm, nervously "Uhh...uhhh....uhhhh..sure?" >>>BUSTED!!<<<
Me, angrily polite "As I'm sure you're aware, I recently made a set of pickups for Moe Guitars' prototype that was at the guitar show. It came to my atention today that you spoke with a friend of mine and claim to have made them, and I'd like to know why."
Norm, even more nervous "ermmmahh...uhhh....yes, I said thatt...uhh..."
Norm, and I proceeded to have a "friendly" conversation about ethics, misrepresentation, and taking credit where credit is not due, and how that says loads about one's character. I explained to him that I have struggled for several years to make a name for myself and be recognized, and than when someone takes credit for my work, I'm not a happy canis-lupus.
Norm explained that he said he made them because my friend was asking for informationa about them (of which Norm knew zilch). My reply was "I'm sure he would have liked to have been given CORRECT information? I'd just like to know how you can claim to have made them..etc...blahblahblah..."

I wish I would have taped this conversation! I could listen to it every day and never get tired of laughing at it.
I think I might go introduce myself personally.

Wolfe

10/10/2002 2:10 PM
Tony @ Mastertone Pickups	Wolfe Now thats a great story.... you should have walked in the shop and carried on with the story and asked him to supply you some pickups without him knowing who you are... Good stuff... Tone

10/10/2002 5:37 PM
WolfeMacleod	Now that's a grea idea....since we never met, he dunno what I look like! I just might make an appearance and start playing with the guitar...inquiries...who made it? what brand of pickups? hmmm...sure, I can be "Mr. Interested normal customer" hmmmm.... My mouth is salivating just thinking about it.... Wolfe

10/10/2002 7:16 PM
Jason Lollar	Even worse, you know how guitar magazines are usually written months before printing so you sell some big mucky muck a set of pickups about a month ago and they love them and you look in the current issue guitar mag that has an interview of this guy that was done 3 or 4 months ago and they are saying that they use Bill Lawrence or some other companies pickups which are no longer in the guitar.

10/10/2002 8:11 PM
Dr. Strangelove	Hi, Wolfe. Good to see you back online. I understand the part about one's good name, ethics and the frailty of some vendors. You may hate the guy, but there is a fine feeling from taking his money after he's grabbed undue credit from your name. It's an opportunity to extract further concessions from "Norm", such as 50% down on a couple dozen pickups, balance on delivery and none of that consignment crap. That way, you get his money, he sells your wares and spreads your name. You might call it "making pickups with a vengeance." Heh. -drh --

10/10/2002 8:11 PM

Dr. Strangelove

Hi, Wolfe.

Good to see you back online.

I understand the part about one's good name, ethics and the frailty of some vendors.

You may hate the guy, but there is a fine feeling from taking his money after he's grabbed undue credit from your name.

It's an opportunity to extract further concessions from "Norm", such as 50% down on a couple dozen pickups, balance on delivery and none of that consignment crap. That way, you get his money, he sells your wares and spreads your name.

You might call it "making pickups with a vengeance."

Heh.

-drh
--

10/10/2002 9:56 PM
WolfeMacleod	Damn...that's a good idea too..."settling out of court" I mean..who knows how many people he spoke to...and agreed to make more of these pickups....what if hesold somebody a hundred sets of "his" pickups? WOlfe

10/10/2002 10:37 PM
Dr. Strangelove	re: settling out of court Chinese saying -- When two men argue over a cow in court, the lawyer gets the milk. Leave out the lawyers and cut yourself a good deal. Look at it this way: Norm thinks so highly of your pickups that he's willing to trade off their reputation. He WANTS to establish a market for them and you're the only one who can make it happen. Depending on your estimate of Norm's character, you may have the opportunity to turn him into an ally and faithful customer. It comes down to whether or not you think he can honor a business contract with you. -drh --

10/10/2002 10:37 PM

Dr. Strangelove

re: settling out of court

Chinese saying --
When two men argue over a cow in court,
the lawyer gets the milk.

Leave out the lawyers and cut yourself a good deal.

Look at it this way: Norm thinks so highly of
your pickups that he's willing to trade off their
reputation. He WANTS to establish a market for
them and you're the only one who can make it
happen.

Depending on your estimate of Norm's character, you
may have the opportunity to turn him into an ally
and faithful customer.

It comes down to whether or not you think he
can honor a business contract with you.

-drh
--

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