Build quality on 1k+ guitars?

[streethawk]

Went into a well established music shop recently to look at some guitars that I wouldn't usually countenance, financially speaking.

Here's what I found:

A JMarr jaguar with lacquer over-spray on the treble side fretboard, ugly filler in the grain.

A koa tele (over 1500 quid iirc) with corridor sized gaps in the pocket either side of the neck .

Rickenbacker with the nut overhanging one side. Another had flawed cosmetic binding.

A heritage 335 with a horrible file mark running across the nut.

And so on and so on.

If I ran that shop I'd be sending those guitars back the same day they arrived, because people like me would walk away, get one cheaper off the net and set it up themselves (the jag I played was well set up off the peg, it has to be said).

Is this issue confined to the shop or is it down to the manufacturers? If so, who pays over a grand for this crap!?

[Fretwired]

Went into a well established music shop recently to look at some guitars that I wouldn't usually countenance, financially speaking.

Here's what I found:

A JMarr jaguar with lacquer over-spray on the treble side fretboard, ugly filler in the grain.

A koa tele (over 1500 quid iirc) with corridor sized gaps in the pocket either side of the neck .

Rickenbacker with the nut overhanging one side. Another had flawed cosmetic binding.

A heritage 335 with a horrible file mark running across the nut.

And so on and so on.

If I ran that shop I'd be sending those guitars back the same day they arrived, because people like me would walk away, get one cheaper off the net and set it up themselves (the jag I played was well set up off the peg, it has to be said).

Is this issue confined to the shop or is it down to the manufacturers? If so, who pays over a grand for this crap!?

I've never seen the sort of problems you describe, but then my local guitar emporium is pretty good. They check every guitar and send back those that don't make the grade [it's one of their selling points]. I have said before that in my opinion faulty guitars on display says more about the dealer than the manufacturer.

[Bogwhoppit]

A koa tele (over 1500 quid iirc) with corridor sized gaps in the pocket either side of the neck .

Even speaking as a Fender advocate, this as been an ongoing issue with Fender. I collected USA Strats for many years and the majority of them had sloppy neck pockets due to poor alignment. i.e neck slightly adjusted in pocket due to top or bottom E string hanging off fretboard creating a gap. The Japanese Strats never seem to have this problem and the MIMs are a mixed bag.

I recently spent a few hours in Coda music drooling over their CS Strats and many of those suffered from Sloppy neck pockets, I came to accept it as a Fender thing.

[DanD1985]

I recently spent a few hours in Coda music drooling over their CS Strats and many of those suffered from Sloppy neck pockets, I came to accept it as a Fender thing.

For that amount of cash, nothing but an incredibly built instrument should come home with me.

You shouldn't have to "accept it as a Fender thing". All that says is you accept fender has horrendous QC. Until all stores etc send the crap back, these guys won't learn, but if stores start going nah, not this time, QC will improve. I guarantee it!

[paultheoneyoulove]

I've said it before, but an fsr USA thin line in white had hardly any finish on the f hole, and the only finish there was ugly drips and some undercoat. Next to it was a perfectly finish Mexican thin line.

You're right, for 1500 quid it should be flawless, and if not, knock money off. It makes you worry about where invisible compromise has been made.

[Lustycourtier]

Which shop in Manchester? I cant see Tone world or Sounds great having them for sale like that....

Which leaves....Dawsons. Ive seen a 335 in there with the worst finish Ive ever seen on a gibson.

[Guitarmonkey]

Which leaves....Dawsons.

Or PMT? (notionally in Manchester)

Ive seen a 335 in there with the worst finish Ive ever seen on a gibson.

Was it like this one? http://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_es335_custom_skull.htm

[Bogwhoppit]

You shouldn't have to "accept it as a Fender thing". All that says is you accept fender has horrendous QC. !

I dont accept it at the price on the ticket. I would use it to haggle.

My point relates to the time I was buying strats when many were coming out of the factory in this condition. If the dealers returned them there would have been a stock shortage of Fenders. Coda are a good dealer, I've seen worse strats in other dealers. Google 'Sloppy Fender neck pockets' and you'll find from American to Australia its a known issue. I've used it to my advantage to haggle the price down when buying new or used, so for me its an advantage.

I remember hearing a story about Claptons 'Blackie', in an interview with Clapton he stated the bottom E string was nearly falling of the fretboard and was a quirk of the guitar. In response to Fender producing a Blackie replica, a journalist asked if Fender would apply their usual production QC to produce a perfect 'Blackie' replica. I don't know if that's true or made up, but it hits the nail on the head.

[Lustycourtier]

Was it like this one? http://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_es335_custom_skull.htm

Just wow. Theres a guy on facebook selling an epi 335 with the same grafix he's done himself. I see where his inspiration has come from!

[DrBob]

Of my 'expensive' guitars the Tyler & the Music Man are both impeccably constructed, The Heritage, hmmm, lovely guitar and there's some really well executed bits on it but equally there's quite a few bits that shouldn't be there on a guitar at that price point.