It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:37 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Fender Custom Shop Factory Set Up Question
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:19 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:54 am
Posts: 154
Am I mistaken in thinking that Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition guitars leave the factory already set up as far as intonation issues go? Maybe I'm just going on all of the forum testamonials I have read of CS guitars that played like a dream right out of the box. When I got my '52 Telecaster Heavy Relic Limited Release is also played like a dream right out of the box. The neck felt incredible! The action was perfect! The string bends were right on! The vibration of the wood was amazing! But when I tuned the guitar I discovered this intonation problem where all of the strings were going sharp on the first five frets. So now I can't play any open chords or any songs with a combination of open/fretted chords due to this problem. I figured that with a factory set up this perfect the intonation would have been perfect as well. I was told that the slots on the bone nut were too high and that they need to be filed down. Shouldn't this have been done before it left the shop or is just a basic "check" setup done?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:51 am
Offline
Fender Staff

Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:01 pm
Posts: 614
Take it to an authorized repair person to see what's going on.

ME


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:18 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:54 am
Posts: 154
Thanks for responding Mike. That's where I am heading next. So is the intonation usually checked on these guitars before they leave the factory?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:27 am
Offline
Fender Staff

Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:01 pm
Posts: 614
Always.

ME


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:35 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:54 am
Posts: 154
Someone on another forum told me that this could have been due to the fact that the nut on a new guitar should be a little high, to be set up for and by the specific customer. Everybody likes a different string gauge, has a different playing style, and likes a different amount of relief in the neck, and the nut has to be adapted to those factors. There is no such thing as a "good for everybody" factory nut spec.

I totally understand this philosophy and although every other guitar I own has been set up and intonated I just assumed that I wouldn't have to do anything to this one because it played so well right out of the box! Trust me, Mike. I am not complaining about the guitar or the Custom Shop. It just seemed strange that such a perfect guitar would have not-so-perfect intonation. After this fix, now I know it will just be that much better!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:48 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am
Posts: 9034
Location: Louisiana
My CS Gilmour came to me perfect!! 8) Everything exactly how it's supposed to be. I had only to plug in and play. Amazed!! :) :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:56 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:54 am
Posts: 154
Going back over my post, I think that I should clear up the fact that I did not buy this guitar new so I am not the original owner. It was a limited release available only for 2008 and it was purchased from Wilcutt Guitars by a friend of a friend. When it was announced he hunted one down and jumped on it but later on he couldn't justify keeping it. He owns a bunch of other Fender guitars, including some other Custom Shop Teles, and he mostly plays jazz nowadays so that isn't really his guitar of choice. He only occasionally picked it up and he never gigged with it. He never had it set up or had any modifications done to it so it was exactly as it left the factory when I bought it from him six months ago. The Deluxe Tweed case didn't have a mark on it and all of the items inside were still wrapped up in their original bags! I asked him if he was aware of the intonation problem but he said that he never noticed it and that he never touched the nut, neck, frets or bridge. Even so, maybe there were some temperature or humidity issues or something else that slipped his mind. Either way, it's no big deal. This Telecaster is one FINE machine and it will be perfect very soon. My guitar tech guy hasn't failed me in 30 years... :D


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 1:02 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am
Posts: 9034
Location: Louisiana
Mike Eldred - Fender wrote:
Take it to an authorized repair person to see what's going on.

ME


Oh!! In that case do as ME suggested above! Good luck and enjoy your CS!! :wink:
Humidity will cause you some problems, so have it checked out regularly!! :)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:04 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:43 pm
Posts: 9
My CS guitar came perfectly setup, felt so good out of the case that I brought it to a show the same night. The problem was that the bridge height screws were too long and sticking out WAY too much. I tore up the side of my hand by the 3rd song and was bleeding all over the guitar.

BUT, I called Fender and they made it right immediately. I went to an auth Service Location and had it back in one day! I must say I'm really impressed. I have more Fenders than I'd like to admit :) and really never have any issues, so I didn't know what to expect from Customer Service. I'm very satisfied on how they handled everything.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: