I don't doubt that it can be a touch frustrating when a customer doesn't get a rapid acknowledgement of their purchase order. However, I think it was the combative tone of the original posts that I took exception to.

Unlike some posters, I would not presume to speak for any other forum member... but I suspect that some other members of the forum also felt that the original complaint was a little over the top (especially as it was made on... not one thread... not two threads... but three threads).

Sonnyjimslim, you don't say whether you contacted Proteus about your issues with your Tru-Arc. All suppliers can have glitches with their products from time to time. It's easy for a supplier to look fine when everything's going well... but, in my experience, the thing that separates the great suppliers from the OK ones is how they approach remedying an issue when it arises. Did you tell Proteus about the issues with your bridge? If you did, it would make for a more complete story if you mentioned what action he took. On the other hand, if you didn't tell Proteus about your issue... perhaps you've not really given him a chance to show you how good a supplier he is.

Also... if it irks you to read about some members' health problems etc... don't read them. However, dismissing people's concerns about their family's health problems or their concerns about employment... while describing the fact that an order for a few dollars for a bridge wasn't acknowledged quicky enough - qualifies as a 'legit concern'... is a bit surprising to me. Leaves me musing over perspecitives and priorities etc.

No offence meant. Life's too short etc.

I don't doubt that it can be a touch frustrating when a customer doesn't get a rapid acknowledgement of their purchase order. However, I think it was the combative tone of the original posts that I took exception to.

Unlike some posters, I would not presume to speak for any other forum member... but I suspect that some other members of the forum also felt that the original complaint was a little over the top (especially as it was made on... not one thread... not two threads... but three threads).

Sonnyjimslim, you don't say whether you contacted Proteus about your issues with your Tru-Arc. All suppliers can have glitches with their products from time to time. It's easy for a supplier to look fine when everything's going well... but, in my experience, the thing that separates the great suppliers from the OK ones is how they approach remedying an issue when it arises. Did you tell Proteus about the issues with your bridge? If you did, it would make for a more complete story if you mentioned what action he took. On the other hand, if you didn't tell Proteus about your issue... perhaps you've not really given him a chance to show you how good a supplier he is.

Also... if it irks you to read about some members' health problems etc... don't read them. However, dismissing people's concerns about their family's health problems or their concerns about employment... while describing the fact that an order for a few dollars for a bridge wasn't acknowledged quicky enough - qualifies as a 'legit concern'... is a bit surprising to me. Leaves me musing over perspecitives and priorities etc.

No offence meant. Life's too short etc.

Well said, Sir!

I'm sorry but i have to dis-agree with all of you that slammed randolphslinky. I too went thru the same frustrating process when I ordered my tru arc, it took a little over a month to recieve my tru arc and my emails concerning my past due purchase went ignored. I feel that if you are going to advertise a product for sale you better be dammed well able to produce the product in a timely manner being that you already have the buyers money in your pocket. If it is just a sideline hobby for Proteus than he better give it up because it is unfair to the purchaser/buyer. I realize there is a select few members on this forum that feel that they own the forum due to their seniority. We have to hear about their and their family's health problems, thier unhappyness and reluctance to return to a former occupation etc etc etc, and here is a guy with a legit concern and you eat him up. Let me tell you about my tru arc, the post spacing is slightly off which makes so tight when it is mounted on the posts that the possibility of it rocking is all but impossible, in addition the string spacing on the 6th and 5th strings are off, and precise intonation is just a dream, I waited over a month for this, I just threw it in a drawer and forgot about it.

Ahhh. I see. It's a problem when members with direct knowledge reply to the OP in an attempt to address concerns regarding Tim and Tru-Arc™. Numerous replies discussed production & lead-times, detailed explanations of how things work @ Tru-Arc™, and yes, even a few stories of members that experienced delays, too... But in the end, they all heard from Tim, got their Tru-Arc™, and all is well. Even the OP has heard from Tim already.

Overwhelmingly, post after post sought to provide the OP with reasonable assurances that Tim was a stand up guy - just give him a few days - he'll get back to you along with other reinforcing positive statements to ensure the OP would better understand. So, let's see: Reassuring posts. Reasonable explanations. Direct knowledge. A community confirming Tim is a good guy. Current and past customers all saying the same positive thing.

Also, let's not ignore the fact that Tim and the OP made contact within 24 hours of the original post and all is well. Further, Tim's public reply to the OP was courteous and respectful and Tim took full responsibility for the delay -- legitimate reasons for the delay notwithstanding. Hmmmm. How awful, huh? You're right - Tim should "give it up".

However, let's also remember the OP posted in 3 different threads within hours on the same day he became a member. No red flags there, huh? Combined with the OP's accusatory tone and what many here consider to be an unwarranted attack, any defensive tone exhibited by members that know Tim is completely unjustified and undermines the legitimacy of the OP's "concern"? Really?

Given the above evidence in direct contrast to your assertions, you still feel you need to advance the flawed logic that the OP was "slammed" while suggesting Tim should "give it up" because somehow, it's "not fair to the customer"? What? You're joking, right?

With respect to your claim that your Tru-Arc™ has flaws, rather than contact Tim directly to discuss your concerns when the issue first presented itself, you say you "threw it in a drawer and forgot about it".

Now, months later you clearly elect to demonstrate your ability to abandon all reason and sound judgement by slamming Tim & Tru-Arc™ on a public forum, completely undermining your position that somehow members unfairly slammed randolphslinky? WTF? Makes perfect sense.

To conclude, it's good to see you're above it all by harshly referencing members that share their health issues, life decisions and the like on the GDP as somehow "not legitimate" and for some reason, related to the subject matter.

Yup. You're obviously the standard for exhibiting good faith, acting with integrity, and exhibiting professionalism. Can anyone say "Choney"?

NOTE: Want to know something impressive about Tim? Even after your baseless comments and claims regarding Tim and Tru-Arc™, I absolutely trust that Tim will address any concerns you may have with respect to your bridge if you simply contact him.

Just so it's clear: That's how honorable men like Tim act...

sonnyjim, you should have let me know about the problems with the bridge. You can send it back for a full refund.

As far as I've been able to track, around 5% of bridges fit too tightly on the posts. Gretsch (like Gibson) uses at least two "common" spacings, one much more common than the other. I haven't found a sure-fire way to know ahead of time which will be needed. I've had many customers measure the center-to-center between posts (especially if there's reason to doubt the guitar is standard) – but for a number of reasons long-distance measuring by guitarists can be problematic.

We occasionally find post measurements that vary haphazardly from the two standards. I've found them on bridge bases sourced from Gretsch. Whether the spacing differences track back to which factory, which batch, a subcontractor's work – or what – I don't know.

I can usually provide bridge bases (at their usual cost) that fit Tru-Arcs when a customer lets me know he has a problem. In some cases a different hole spacing is required, and we can customize a bridge.

If the bridge fits too tightly on the posts, it kills tone as well as rockability. I don't want them out there under that condition.

But I have to know about the problem to attempt to resolve it.

What's the symptom of the string spacing being off at the 5th and 6th? Have you measured between centers of the grooves...do they not line up over pickup poles...are the strings not centered on the fingerboard? Does your picking hand feel a difference in string spacing?

The way the bridges are made, it's hard to imagine how the string-to-string spacing could be off. It would represent a major failure of both machine and machinist: ReRob the Machinist has to attend to the NCR cutter and its programming for every bridge. He's as meticulous guy. If the cutter went wacky, he'd notice it immediately. Such a bridge would never make it to the next station, much less be polished and sent to me.

If your bridge base is angled too far, or not far enough, or is set at an offset from center – one side of the bridge may not align as well as the other. But the slots just can't be cut out of alignment with each other.

I can believe strings may not align perfectly over the polepieces of your pickups. I've made it a habit of inspecting guitars of all brands for string-over-pickup alignment, and found that perfect alignment is the exception. (TV Jones has addressed this by making the poles of his bridge pickups slightly farther apart.)

If the bridge is offset to one side, the grooves on that side would seem to go progressively out of line with the strings.

It could also be that a different string spacing would give you better alignment. Again, the great majority of Gretsch guitars have a standard spacing – a smaller number have another.

Until these other issues were addressed, I wouldn't even begin to consider intonation. I may not hear from all disgruntled customers, but to my knowledge I've never had a bridge returned for unacceptable intonation on a guitar with a floating bridge base. A few bases have had to be unpinned and readjusted for best results.

No bridges have been returned for poor intonation on fixed bridge posts on Gibson, Epiphone, or other similar guitars. The only bridges I've refunded for intonation were for Gretsch Electromatic solidbodies (and not all Electromatic solids are affected). When I know someone is buying for such a guitar, I always give them a heads-up that they could have a

I don't know what the situation is with your guitar and bridge, but I'd like the opportunity to make the bridge work for you – or refund your purchase price.

See that, sonnyjim? Moments after I posted, Tim was already responding to your concerns. Why? Because that's how honorable men like Tim act...

Our posts crossed, gman. I was apparently writing as you were...

Yup. Saw that, Pro. As always, you handled things with grace and professionalism.

FYI: I hate it when good men with a vision and passion for their product, especially one that has experienced success as evidenced by the adoption of their product by so many professionals, good 'ol guitar pickers and global manufacturers like Gretsch, are unfairly hammered by baseless accusations and unwarranted assertions - completely without merit, IMO.

So call me defensive... It's OK.

Tim, you know I'd take a bullet for you... literally. You have done so much for me that I can never repay. I love you my friend.

Maybe you need a small website with an order form, Tim.

It would prevent spam filter errors and you could state clients may have to wait a bit longer than they might expect in this 24 hrs economy.

These ugly conflicts keep returning and there is no need for them.

+1 Geoff! The trash canning back and forth is not winning friends and influencing anyone. PM can be of service IMO.

There's no doubt about that, Geoff. It's long overdue.

Bear, thank you brother - and I hope it doesn't come to bullets!

People are still on about the threads of peoples health and well being?... Jeez

In another life I build websites, Tim. I'd be happy to build one for you FOC. PM me if you're interested.

Seems to me that RSlinky and SJS aren't actually concerned with what this community thinks of them. If otherwise, then they have an odd way of trying to integrate themselves. I haven't been around here that long (only got back to playing electric two years ago and spent most of my time at another forum until I was called a "thug" by that site's owner for backing up a friend and gear mentor over there). And I'm hardly one who keeps opinions to himself. But I haven't found this place seniority/insider run or cliquish as SJS claims. At all. I've had one or two dust-ups, but mostly of my choosing/making. Not every thread is my cuppa (no, not talking about personal/health/employment/life related threads at all, which I can't understand why anyone would consider them inappropriate). But given the variety of threads and they way they are laid out in topics, it's awfully easy to pick and choose.

My point is that the OP's substantive issue has been resolved, SJS's complaint, however unproductively voiced, has been responded to as well. If these two want positive interactions with members here, it's now on them. And from what I've seen, if they have even minimal social skills, it should be eminently possible. It's a pretty forgiving place when people want it to be.

Just my 2 shekels...

In another life I build websites, Tim. I'd be happy to build one for you FOC. PM me if you're interested.

im not a hard coder or designer, but i do a lot of web content writing/branding/messaging/marketing/PR etc.. If you want help writing or fine tuning the content, messaging and public voice, I'm happy to pitch in, also FOC.

Also, you are aware that there is this site: http://jefjamdesign.com/truarc/history.html that people still come across. Its quite informative and valuable, and could well serve as a starting point for a new one, or just redirect your current domain that has the flat page to the jefjam site and tweak that one.

PM me If I can be of any help.

Popcorn + Cheese = Peace.

Popcorn + Cheese = Gas.

You're both right. I always feel peaceful after passing gas.

People are still on about the threads of peoples health and well being?... Jeez

That is exactly why I am hesitant to do so anymore Jayce. It should be obvious to all that, that comment by SJS was primarily directed at me. I know most of you have urged me to continue to keep you updated on my health, but for this very reason, as voiced by a few others as well, I am reluctant to do so.

Ach, Bear. These are just a few people who barely participate. Compare that to the number of active members here who are interested and really want to support you. Who cares about them. They don't have to read your threads. Don't let the hang-ups of a few people who are out of line (IMO) get in the way of the rest of the community that wants to support you. Not fair to your friends to let these folks impede your friendships. I understand that their comments may be hurtful, especially as they are aimed at things about which you are reasonably sensitive. But please look at the bigger picture. And weigh the support that is offered by many against the annoyance slung by one or two.

Bear- I'll set you up with a free blog if you'd like. In fact, I'll configure things so all you need to do it start posting. Then, you can go in and set the account, change passwords, etc. 100% Free.

Allows you to post anything YOU want, including videos, etc. Your voice. Your rules. Your place.

Just email me if you want to discuss. Happy to do it for ya brother bear.

BTW: I agree with strummerson. Just thought I'd offer.

First off, Bear: Never be afraid to post, most of us care about you and yours.

Secondly: There's people posting here who don't appreciate what a close, tight, dysfunctional family we have here. If you don't like the subject of a post, I have a solution, don't click on it and read it. Oh, and go gently caress yourself.

Can I gently caress myself even if I like the subject of a post and click on it? I mean, not at the same time of course...

I would expect more strumming and less caressing from you. ;p

These aren't mutually exclusive!