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First Report of Fraudulent Violin Sale

On January 30, 2008, Country Musik <country_musik {at} yahoo.com> wrote:

Last summer I took the wife and kids to a tugboat show on Lake Union. In the boathouse was a grey-haired old guy who looked entirely honest, selling violins from a card table, with an interesting story. It was Bill Mehess.

On his table was a set of photos of himself in a small woodshop making violins. He said he was retired from the "real world", and now wants to give something back to society. So he builds a few dozen violins each year by hand, and sells them for only the cost of the materials it takes to build them ($80). He said his violins take 40 hours each to make, and he only does it for the pure enjoyment of seeing people become interested in the violin. Such a violin would cost $500-$600 in a music store, but he only has a few to sell and they are all made by hand by him in Oregon, and he attends the show each year to make a few sales of these precious treasures.

I bought one and away we went. Curiously, I was at Kent Cornucopia Days later in the summer and saw a different guy telling the same story. Imagine that...

So today (Jan-30-2008) I came to meet someone who deals with violins as a professional musician, scholar, collector and teacher. He took one look at the violin and knew right away that there is absolutely no way, no possible way, it was made anywhere except China in a cheap factory rushing them out by the thousands with useless materials. Not a chance it's handmade. I won't go into detail, but he pointed out clear examples; the first of which is the lacquer, which could not possibly be applied anywhere but a mass production factory overseas using chemicals not used here. To top it off, he showed me a few real violins, and it's obvious we got taken for a ride. My "violin" can be found all over Ebay for $50. I later found out that he's been banned from other Seattle fairs because in this town we have actual violin makers who have complained.

If you come across this guy, or someone offering the same benevolent BS fantasy, ask them to stop lying. Put away the staged photos and sell it for what it is. That's all.

And as for BIll Mehess I am sure if he's out promoting a new thing, a magnet whatever-it- is, it's a fraud as well. Nobody who can look into a child's eye and tell them a bald-face lie about a "handmade violin" tells the truth about anything.

Second Report of Fraudulent Violin Sale

On January 31, 2008, Country Musik <country_musik {at} yahoo.com> added:

I would be happy to provide a photo but more than that, I will send the violin for free (it's rubbish anyway) to a reputable violin dealer of your choice as long as he or she agrees to post online a review of the violin.

Look, there is no question that this guy is a liar, and not just an ordinary liar but one who will lie to the face of a 9 year old kid (my kid, I was there and listened to the entire schpiel). He brings pictures too, of his phony "workshop" where he is making a violin-- even more egregious. He was banned from the Ballard seafood festival, I know that because someone told me after I discovered I was duped. He has also apparently been banned from Wine Days festival in Oregon, where he is from. He is a real "Sheister".

I also found this online, posted a year ago [Mar. 31, 2007], same story and same guy:

http://www.pissedconsumer.com/consumer-reviews/cons/for-the-love-of-music%10-mitch-and-lavette-mehess-reports-%11-cons-2007033194200.html

Mr. Mehess sells bogus stringed instruments at college campuses and other places. He also has a web page where he advertises his instruments for sale at "phenomenal" prices.

At the campus where I met him,he had a picture of "his dad" making instruments, and he said that he was selling the instruments that his dad had built at great prices, because they wanted to bring the joy of music to everyone. I assumed that the campus checked him out. After a year of contemplating a purchase, I finally took my daughter to the campus, and we picked out a violin for her.

We quickly found out that the instrument was unplayable. This will be backed up by professionals at a music store. The empoyees of the music store said that they have had other people in their store with instruments they purchased from this man and none of them are any good. They said that they do not believe that the instruments are homemade, but purchased on the internet and then resold for more.

I tried to file a police report, but was told that although the man is a sleezeball, there is nothing the police can do. I asked if I should call Fox News Investigators, and was told that that would be an excellent thing to do.

I don't know what it is going to take to put this man out of business, but I am willing to do what I can as a concerned citizen to make sure that he does not sell one more bogus instrument!

Beware! He also has a website that he uses to sell these instruments.

Shelly
Portland, Oregon
U.S.A.

Craig's List Sale of "Mehess" Violin

• Hand Made violin by Bill Mehess - $400 (Backup) - "Brand new hand made violin just bought 6 months ago only used once. it includes the violin, bow, and case. It also includes a how to take care of your violin paper. it is a one of a kind piece from Bill Mehess." (CraigsList; Jan. 28, 2008)

In comparing this case with the one below, note the heart shape in the bottom of the case in image to right.

Ebay Listing of Same Violin

• NEW Teacher Apvd. MAPLE PINK Fulll Size 4/4 VIOLIN! (Backup) - The same style of violin (slightly different coloring), with same case, was listed at Ebay until Jan. 31, 2008. Many others like it show up in a search for "violin" at Ebay.

Violin Instructor Says Mahess Violins are cheap Chinese knock-offs

On July 05, 2008, Dave Prichard <cpdp2401 {at} aol.com> wrote:

Dear Bill,

I teach violin at the Astoria Conservatory of Music and have had three different students show up with the instruments which you provided for about $100- together with a touching story of their production.

I have personally examined and played these and the allegations of fraud are absolutely true. They are not hand made by you. They are not restored instruments. These instruments are nothing but cheap Chinese knock offs readilly available on ebay and from wholesale importers. They are the very bottom end of materials in construction, and components, and come without any professional set-up and are a virtual guarantee of frustration to the beginner student. The case is the nicest part of the deal.

As often as possible I will advise people against wasting their money in this way.

See also

• CORRECTION:Inventor Bill Mehess Does Sell Hand-Made Violins