This is an all too common tale.A custom builder of musical instruments,with a great reputation,suddenly goes off the rails,and doesn't return calls,dosen't ship when they say they will,and just flat out,falls off the face of the earth.I don't condone thievery,lying or fraud by any means,but something is amiss here....
Sometimes,things happen, that adversly effect our lives,things out of our control.Then,the self preservation instinct takes hold,and our once admirable business model....goes out the window,in favor of putting food on the table.....at all costs.
People don't spend years,establishing a good reputation,and then suddenly ,abandon common sense.Go talk to him...face to face,and not in anger.Something ,I sense,has gone wrong in this mans life,and a mutual resoloution is in order.
Steve B