wickedwahine11
Well-known member
I got my Kamaka uke back from the factory last week, where I had sent it for repairs to a seam that was opening up. They fixed the seam and also refinished it (there had been a bubble in the finish from the last time they refinished it so they fixed that too, as well as some scratches on the back).
I was really happy to get it back but bummed that they had switched out my saddle to a compensated one without asking me, and had left some gritty, white cloudy spots in the finish in places.
I called to tell them and was told, "I don't know what to tell you, you will just have to send it back." luckily, they then put Chris Kamaka on the line and he apologized and said he would buff the uke for me and switch the saddle back. He said I could try buffing the swirls out with my polish kit. I did and it worked so now I just needed the saddle swapped back. Since it cost me almost $100 bucks to ship it last time, I'm glad I am going back to Hawaii next week and can just take it with me.
So I was playing it yesterday and noticed that now the SEAM is coming apart again! Once more, you can feel where the book matched top parts meet. I dont know whether to scream or cry but I am frustrated as hell. They charged me $104 for the repairs, and the uke was delivered back to me only 9 days ago and is already the seam is raised again - I'd say about half the length it was when I sent it in, though it isn't as deep yet.
I don't want to be without it another six weeks, and I certainly don't want to pay again, or pay another $100 to get it shipped back to me. I don't know whether to call and tell them (she will probably just say the same thing again), or just take it in on Monday. I know I'm a pain in the butt to them, but nine days and $104 in fees later and it is already doing the same thing again.
Edit: a friend mentioned it could be due to the hot/dry weather here in LA. I'm hoping that is the case and I have it with a humidifier now. Hopefully that will seal it up again.
I was really happy to get it back but bummed that they had switched out my saddle to a compensated one without asking me, and had left some gritty, white cloudy spots in the finish in places.
I called to tell them and was told, "I don't know what to tell you, you will just have to send it back." luckily, they then put Chris Kamaka on the line and he apologized and said he would buff the uke for me and switch the saddle back. He said I could try buffing the swirls out with my polish kit. I did and it worked so now I just needed the saddle swapped back. Since it cost me almost $100 bucks to ship it last time, I'm glad I am going back to Hawaii next week and can just take it with me.
So I was playing it yesterday and noticed that now the SEAM is coming apart again! Once more, you can feel where the book matched top parts meet. I dont know whether to scream or cry but I am frustrated as hell. They charged me $104 for the repairs, and the uke was delivered back to me only 9 days ago and is already the seam is raised again - I'd say about half the length it was when I sent it in, though it isn't as deep yet.
I don't want to be without it another six weeks, and I certainly don't want to pay again, or pay another $100 to get it shipped back to me. I don't know whether to call and tell them (she will probably just say the same thing again), or just take it in on Monday. I know I'm a pain in the butt to them, but nine days and $104 in fees later and it is already doing the same thing again.
Edit: a friend mentioned it could be due to the hot/dry weather here in LA. I'm hoping that is the case and I have it with a humidifier now. Hopefully that will seal it up again.
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