Done Dirty by an Amp Builder!

[JerEvil]

So about 2 years ago I traded a forumite my VHT Sig: X for a Titan Custom 100. There were a few particulars that had to be worked out but an accord was struck between me, the forumite and the builder.

I will not go into the particulars of the situation, however I will say, my ability to be fucking cool has gone out the window. I have tolerated and tried to be supportive of the builders situation and even offer advice based on my own personal issues from my life but fuck me!!! Old boy should at LEAST sack the fuck up and tell me to go fuck myself in plain English and not through empty promises.

2+ FUCKING YEARS PEOPLE!

Man am I a fucking idiot to actually take people at face value. Now I am out a VHT, a "custom" amp and $1400 (price of my VHT + upgrades paid to Titan/Zach) of my money. Lesson learned. I have kept my mouth shut. A few of you know the whole story. I think I have been super fucking cool in this but no more.

Any of you all who have dealt with me, sure, I may have taken a few days to get something shipped but I'm a fucking square shooter, straight dealer, etc. Never fucked anyone on a deal.

FUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!

Edit:
So the short is:
Traded juggernaut my Sig for his thrashed Titan that was being rebuilt. Zach agreed to rebuild for me. I paid $250 extra for options that are now part of his dual eq build. Things got tough for Zach personally. Well ... they did for me too but he and I made an agreement. He missed no less than 5 delivery dates and I still have no eta other than "starting soon"

In the same 2 years I separated from my wife, moved out, list 140 pounds, got my shit right and reconciled my marriage. Life happened to me too but I handled my shit and kept my commitments.

Still no amp. I am not the only one who has shitty dealings. I won't drags other names into if but fellow forumites here played nice like me but guess what ... they got their amps even when mine was in queue before theirs.

I was told they were being "pissy bitches" so he knocked this out right quick, but fuck me, right?

 

[charveldan]

Saw this on GAB a week ago. Sorry for ur loss.

I took a chance in 2011 shipping my JMP to North Hollywood to Dave Friedman but i felt i did my homework as much i could.

The whole Friedman experience exceeded my expectations and the amp is one i will have for life *** Thanks Dave !!!

There are tons of builders and alot of horror stories. You always take that risk.

I have no dog in this hunt but i hope the OP is compesated in some way ... good luck.

 

[JerEvil]

Saw this on GAB a week ago. Sorry for ur loss.

I took a chance in 2011 shipping my JMP to North Hollywood to Dave Friedman but i felt i did my homework as much i could.

The whole Friedman experience exceeded my expectations and the amp is one i will have for life *** Thanks Dave !!!

There are tons of builders and alot of horror stories. You always take that risk.

I have no dog in this hunt but i hope the OP is compesated in some way ... good luck.

Thanks man. I am not the only one with the ridiculous turnaround time/bad Titan experience. I know some other forumites here had similar dealings.

 

[maddnotez]

Shitty deal. That's a lot of coin for people like myself. I hope you get your amp..

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

Sucks to hear. I've been ripped off in the past by a cab builder and also a pickup winder. Never got one penny back. I agree about sacking up and being honest. I HATE excuses.

 

[JerEvil]

Shitty deal. That's a lot of coin for people like myself. I hope you get your amp..

Yeah it's plenty o' coin for me as well. I know Zach plans on getting back into the amp game soon. Hopefully mine will get finished.

Just felt the need to finally share my experience. Hopefully no one else will get treated this poorly in his future endeavors.

 

[Anonymous]

All this for a SLOClone...

 

[JerEvil]

All this for a SLOClone...

Mine is actually the model after that. Dual EQ and revoiced. I am sure some if the SLOclone stuff is in there still though.

 

[dooredge]

Titan amps are cursed. Simple as that. I will never own another as long as I breathe.

I've known of your situation for awhile now Jer, and I'm sorry its all gone down hill. Builders like Zach, Jon Wilder, Cameron... they all need a serious ass-kicking.

If the shoe were on the other foot, these douchebags wouldn't nearly be so cavalier with their f you attitudes.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Lame.....feel your pain, dude. That's a lot of cash to just lose.

 

[millhouse]

I propose that anyone that has a problem with dealings like this send an email to Zach at titanamps@gmail.com and tell him to get JerEvil is amp. I just sent mine.

Jason

 

[Steinmetzify]

Is this someone you could initiate legal action against?

 

[JerEvil]

Is this someone you could initiate legal action against?

I'm contacting the Georgia Attorney General Monday.

 

[JerEvil]

I propose that anyone that has a problem with dealings like this send an email to Zach at titanamps@gmail.com and tell him to get JerEvil is amp. I just sent mine.

Jason

Nice! Most importantly, I don't want other people getting jerked around like I have been. The most I expect to get is a head sized box full of rocks. I don't believe he gives two fat figs about getting yours truly anything.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Is this someone you could initiate legal action against?

I'm contacting the Georgia Attorney General Monday.

Nice man....hoping something gets done for you. You are a Zen master compared to me, given the circumstances of this. I'd have lost it 21 months ago. And dude selling amps to other people before mine was done? HELL NO.

I'd like to know exactly who in the hell these small builders think they are. It's guys like you putting food on their tables, certainly NOT the average GC crowd. If they keep working you guys over, pretty soon they're going to jam themselves right out of business.

 

[JerEvil]

Is this someone you could initiate legal action against?

I'm contacting the Georgia Attorney General Monday.

Nice man....hoping something gets done for you. You are a Zen master compared to me, given the circumstances of this. I'd have lost it 21 months ago. And dude selling amps to other people before mine was done? HELL NO.

I'd like to know exactly who in the hell these small builders think they are. It's guys like you putting food on their tables, certainly NOT the average GC crowd. If they keep working you guys over, pretty soon they're going to jam themselves right out of business.

I think there may be enough out there about Titan that his dream of getting back in the game will be short lived. He'd seriously need to change the name and keep his association with the new line under wraps. There are only a handful of builders that can maintain doing boutique priced builds as a living.

 

[Steinmetzify]

The sad thing about it is that enough people have been burned that they won't even barely give a new guy a try.....Steve Henning has amps in stock waiting to ship, exactly as it should be.....he's not taking money for builds he hasn't even started yet.

I've heard horror stories about every boutique modder from people out there, but here's a guy doing it right and no one will even give him a chance. I've been very tempted to just throw one on a credit card and try to do some sick metal clips just to get em out there, but I just can't do it right now.

Sucks, and they're ruining it for everyone else, not just themselves.

 

[Anonymous]

The sad thing about it is that enough people have been burned that they won't even barely give a new guy a try.....Steve Henning has amps in stock waiting to ship, exactly as it should be.....he's not taking money for builds he hasn't even started yet.

From what I understood reading his bio (correct me if I'm wrong), Steve was in a pretty good financial situation before he got into the amp game, which allowed him to R&D and build stuff ahead of time. Lots of small builders can't afford to do that. They can't afford to get 10-20K$ worth of components, build amps and let them sit on the shelf. Construction contractors use the same approach with condominiums: they finish Phase 1, but won't start Phase 2 until they have sold enough units to finance the next construction phases. Kudos to Steve on his business approach still

 

[bionicmark]

The sad thing about it is that enough people have been burned that they won't even barely give a new guy a try.....Steve Henning has amps in stock waiting to ship, exactly as it should be.....he's not taking money for builds he hasn't even started yet.

From what I understood reading his bio (correct me if I'm wrong), Steve was in a pretty good financial situation before he got into the amp game, which allowed him to R&D and build stuff ahead of time. Lots of small builders can't afford to do that. They can't afford to get 10-20K$ worth of components, build amps and let them sit on the shelf. Construction contractors use the same approach with condominiums: they finish Phase 1, but won't start Phase 2 until they have sold enough units to finance the next construction phases. Kudos to Steve on his business approach still

If you can't be professional & conduct yourself in a professional manner, don't go into business. Taking people's hard earned money so you can buy parts, materials , etc. , has proven time & time again a GUARANTEED failed business model. Alan Philips who builds Carol Ann amps takes ZERO deposits. He's the most successful boutique amp builder out there. As you stated , Steve has a great business model as well even factoring in the 7 day return if you're not happy w/ the amp. Too many people getting f*cked out of their funds & an amp.

 

[baron55]

I've heard horror stories about every boutique modder from people out there, but here's a guy doing it right and no one will even give him a chance. I've been very tempted to just throw one on a credit card and try to do some sick metal clips just to get em out there, but I just can't do it right now.

I know you haven't heard horror stories from everyone...... There is too many for that to be true. And there are good builders out there.

First and foremost, you cannot make a living making boutique amps period long term. The margins are too small and the customer base is even smaller. The music industry is a flash in the pan industry, today's best gear and music is tomorrows has-been.

And yes it is a crap shoot on boutique builders, their are very good ones out there and bad ones. You have to do research and sometimes that isn't enough.