Centralab Pots Are Being Reissued (Update: Don't Buy Them)

[ReWind James]

It looks like the new centralab pots are out now. Has anyone been able to try them out yet?

https://jacksonelectronicluthier.com/

There's some threads around the internet running for several years long where that seller has stolen money from many buyers and never shipped. I guess, if you have to risk it, go through Reverb and not direct to have some protection.

 

[ChevChelios]

Hi all, this is Sebastian, owner of VIP.

From the looks of it, these are rebranded Alpha pots. I wonder if Rand licensed the Centralab name from WD Music (who own the trademark)? We stopped supplying him with VIPots once we started to get a whole lot of complaints about him - and we will not supply him in the future either.

So please be warned: every JEL listing showing our VIPots will never be made or delivered.

He also blatantly "stole" and modified our data/graph with the custom taper (yes, VIPots are made by Bourns, but they are custom pots with unique carbon tracks and other unique features).

Look familiar?
From his Reverb listing:


From our website


He swears, though, that he made the graph himself with data he collected ... that tells you everything you need to know about this guy. I'll be checking with our lawyer to see if and how we can take action against this.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Getting hard for good hearted guitar players to survive in this current generation of scam and hustlers.

 

[metropolis]

He swears, though, that he made the graph himself with data he collected ... that tells you everything you need to know about this guy.

Even though it's quite blatantly the wrong font used where he pasted over 'VIP pots' on the chart legend?

Thanks for posting the truth over here and keeping this community well informed. Good luck with the battles against shady people!

 

[NickiC]

Getting hard for good hearted guitar players to survive in this current generation of scam and hustlers.

I haven’t had a single bad transaction, cap, pot or switch from RS Guitarworks for over the past 10years. #1 A+

 

[ReWind James]

Looks like those “Centralab” pots are appropriately available from the present owner of the name, WD Music.

Centralab® 550K Audio Taper Potentiometer +/- 9% Tolerance

Centralab® 550K Audio Taper Potentiometer +/- 9% Tolerance

www.wdmusic.com

So, if you want to try the new Alpha pots without giving your money to a seller with a rep for stealing people’s money, and who apparently also took credit for WD’s new product, you can just get them direct from WD.

 

[xxedgexx]

Looks like those “Centralab” pots are appropriately available from the present owner of the name, WD Music.

Centralab® 550K Audio Taper Potentiometer +/- 9% Tolerance

Centralab® 550K Audio Taper Potentiometer +/- 9% Tolerance

www.wdmusic.com

So, if you want to try the new Alpha pots without giving your money to a seller with a rep for stealing people’s money, and who apparently also took credit for WD’s new product, you can just get them direct from WD.

Interesting. I had issues with this person and had to get my money back through Reverb. A bit reassuring to see I’m not the only one to experience issues.

 

[Gregeatworld]

Interesting. I had issues with this person and had to get my money back through Reverb. A bit reassuring to see I’m not the only one to experience issues.

Same here. I had to contact reverb customer support in order to get a refund from him.

 

[Dave P]

Looks like those “Centralab” pots are appropriately available from the present owner of the name, WD Music.

Centralab® 550K Audio Taper Potentiometer +/- 9% Tolerance

Centralab® 550K Audio Taper Potentiometer +/- 9% Tolerance

www.wdmusic.com

So, if you want to try the new Alpha pots without giving your money to a seller with a rep for stealing people’s money, and who apparently also took credit for WD’s new product, you can just get them direct from WD.

If they are as lousy as most WD products, I'll take a hard pass.

 

[garywright]

+1 ?

 

[CK6]

Hi all, this is Sebastian, owner of VIP.

From the looks of it, these are rebranded Alpha pots. I wonder if Rand licensed the Centralab name from WD Music (who own the trademark)? We stopped supplying him with VIPots once we started to get a whole lot of complaints about him - and we will not supply him in the future either.

So please be warned: every JEL listing showing our VIPots will never be made or delivered.

He also blatantly "stole" and modified our data/graph with the custom taper (yes, VIPots are made by Bourns, but they are custom pots with unique carbon tracks and other unique features).

Look familiar?
From his Reverb listing:
View attachment 25624

From our website
View attachment 25625

He swears, though, that he made the graph himself with data he collected ... that tells you everything you need to know about this guy. I'll be checking with our lawyer to see if and how we can take action against this.

Thanks for posting this & good luck with the legal action!

Do you anticipate getting 500k pots anytime soon?

Thanks.

 

[xxedgexx]

Inside of the new “centralab”.

 

[garywright]

something seems suspiciously over the top zealous ?

 

[777operations]

Well, I wish that I'd seen the warnings about Jackson Electronic Luthiers before ordering VIPots last year, he has pulled all the same BS on me as described by others in this thread. I paid for a "preorder" last year, heard nothing for months, I emailed him and heard nothing, so I messaged him on Reverb. He then sends me a snarky message about how I shouldn't use Reverb to message about non-Reverb issues, tells me VIPots are out of business, he won't refund me but he'll send me the new reissued Centralabs pots instead.... So I went looking for info on these new Centralabs pots and here I am.... Really pissed off

 

[777operations]

He's been at it for years: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/buyer-beware-jackson-electronic-luthier.465197/

And clearly, "Zravko Talvi" is yet another Rand Jackson sockpuppet account, doing all the same things described in the thread above

​

 

[Dave P]

I think WD is a wholesaler to Allparts, StewMac and Emerson Custom. Interesting.

I've had too many bad experiences with their products: parts that don't fit, poor quality, etc.

 

[jb_abides]

Alpha Bourns Göldo, oh my!

 

[Tone Ranger Audio]

Regardless of what Mr. Zravko (aka Rand) says, I deeply respect Sebastian. He’s shipped orders on time, sends free replacements, has excellent communication, etc.

It’s beyond what Sebastian says. Jackson Electronic Luthiers is one shady company, and more than enough people can testify to that.

Rand’s excuse for not shipping my harness for 3 months was that his house flooded and his cat died. How were other people getting their orders that entire week and the weeks after?

It’s more of a bad look for Rand to come name calling in this thread while simultaneously pushing his product. STAY AWAY PEOPLE.

 

[777operations]

It goes beyond bad service, the guy is absolutely nuts. This is the latest (and probably last) message I got from him:

 

[Tone Ranger Audio]

It goes beyond bad service, the guy is absolutely nuts. This is the latest (and probably last) message I got from him:

View attachment 25854

Holy moly. Okay report that to Reverb. I'm gonna send an email too. This is getting out of hand.