I, A LONG TIME AGO, have said and criticized Mang Max for not being 'polido'. Apparently, matagal or mahaba ang learning curve niya. I also said that if your budget (<P10k) is restricted and gusto mo ng custom itsura then he may be value for money though qualified as bulok ang gamit, workmanship and kahoy BUT still value for money. Value for Money does not equate to superiority or a satisfactory job though.
DECLARED BIAS: I would NEVER ever go to Mang Max.
That being said, key learnings from this thread:
1) You get what you pay for (AGAIN, people have to learn the hard way) -- which I strongly agree with a previous poster. No matter how its costed out and that includes the money needed to sustain oneself, put the kids thru college, pay for electricity etc., it is subject to demand and supply and perceived value of the service whether rightly or wrongly priced by the luthier.
2) Valid rin ang TS to EXPECT a certain level of quality which apparently was NOT met but I already forewarned previously. Unfortunately, as a customer, you only find out when you take the plunge. On the other hand, as a luthier, kung minsan hindi ka maintindihan ng customer or hindi sila clear sa expectations at panay yabang lang.
3) Mang Max still has plenty of customers and that shows the budget limitations OR pagka BARAT of other forum members which can either be good or bad. Again, kung gusto niyo BARATin ang gitara niyo its your free choice. Pero warning ko na lang sa mga BARAT at mataas ang expectation, kayo na lang magayos ng sariling gitara niyo dahil libre at magiging mas masaya pa kayo.
4) There are better Luthiers (actually none of them are); they are all just glorified repairmen. Some are more skilled than others though but I think Mang Max charges the cheapest. Apparently, the guy finds the time to give out free stuff on occasion -- so he gives out cheap stuff to artists. (heh heh) Iba kaya quality niya kung artista ka?
5) There are happy and unhappy customers for any luthier/repairman. But the main question is what is the distribution curve of quality and preference? Unfortunately, wala tayong data doon. So, its is but proper for people to post their dissatisfaction in ANY thread regarding unmet EXPECTATIONS no matter how high. BUT it is also the right of people whose EXPECTATIONS -no matter how higher or lower the expectations- were met to speak up.
Bottomline: Welcome to Philmusic -- the forum where nothing is ever resolved and everybody goes on KANYA-KANYA. I had a laugh and enjoyed this thread.
