I bought a brand new 2011 Fender American Standard Jazz bass 2 weeks ago. Paid $1,200 plus tax. When I opened the factory sealed box I picked it up and started testing it out. I noticed right away the "A" string buzzed and it was no where near being set up correctly. So I immediatley took it to a tech and was informed it had an improperly cut nut. So I paid out of pocket to fix it. At this point I had not even plugged it in. Got it back from tech and the nut had been fixed. Plugged it in to play and it had static BUZZ really loud. Figured it to be a ground issue. Took it back to a tech and learned that the white ground wire had NEVER even been connected. At this point I'm really dissapointed in Fenders quality control or lack there of. If I pay $1,200 for an American Made instrument I dont expect this lack of quality and attention to detail. Ridiculous! I'm really disappointed in Fender. I own several overseas made instruments that don't even come close to this lack of quality and detail. My tech told me it has been a re-occuring theme recently. I hope Fender gets it together. Seems they are not what they used to be but still charge high dollar. Has anyone experienced any issues like this?

When you turn out so many guitars you are bound to get a few duds. However if its actually got things wrong with it then that is what the warranty is for. Did you not check up on that before forking out of your own pocket?

It shouldn't matter if you build one a day or five thousand, it should at least function when you get it, no excuses. They have way more than a few duds. Fender's QC has been really poor lately with their guitars and amps. I have three major music stores in my area that I frequent on a weekly basis and I'll tell you what, I wouldn't have that stuff hanging on my wall.

I've said this a million times. If possible, try the guitar out in person before you leave the store. I've never brought home a guitar or amp on a factory sealed box. I'll never buy a guitar mail order. I know it's done all the time, but I won't do it.

It's not just Fender either. I just bought a Gibson Studio 60's Tribute with P-90's a little while ago and had to play three of them before I found one set up to be set up properly. The sales guy said he could set it up for fifty bucks. I said that would be a deal breaker. So he pulled one from the back and it was perfect. Set issues are one thing, but electronic issues are another. That's totally unacceptable to me.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

This is why I don't like to buy new instruments. Usually if a guitar has been kept around and played for a number of years it's because it works well and has been time tested. I'm not talking about vintage necessarily, I just like to know that a guitar I take out on stage has been road tested and approved by a previous set of hands. And it gives the instrument more history and character.

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David Irelan, Community Leader, http://www.sharemyguitar.com

I'm surprised you didn't just take it back where you bought it. No excuse for the wiring issue but the setup issue should have been done at the store.

Obviously it was bought on the internet:



Cheers

David

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"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."

Maybe he didnt have a shop within reasonable distance.

Today, wiring issues are Fender's problem, not the store owners. When you buy something in a "factory sealed" box, you take your chances. Years ago we always bought guitars off the wall. No boxes involved. The Mom & Pop shops checked them for setup and manufacturing issues. Now if you want one off the wall, you have to worry if little 12 year old Johnny was beating all over it scratching it all up. We were never allowed to just pull a guitar off the wall and start wanking away.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I am 38 and I still ask the shopkeep if I can grab a good guitar off the wall

Had the nut fixed with a set up for fairly cheap. I'm currently using the warranty to get the wiring issue fixed. In the meantime I'm playing my reliable $300 made in China Hofner Galaxie bass. It came solid as a rock and has never failed me.

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It's funny how that sticks with you. I do the same thing and I'm 56.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I love my local small business stores. They're a lot friendlier and don't have shredders (shitters) like GC.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Thats why I order online. Guitar center has resonable prices but very lousey and impersonable service. Plus, there guitars are beaten to hell and back. "Mom and Pop" shops are usually too expensive. Ordering online is cheaper and you get a fresh guitar, but the negative is it may have some issues that need to be fixed by the buyer as mine did. I have bought Fenders online berfore and they were set up perfectly but that was years ago. Never expected the electronics to not be hooked up and the nut to be defective. Oh well, it's a sweet guitar overall. Looking forward to getting it back from tech.

You can buy online from a trustworthy shop, can't you? I'm not saying you shouldn't buy online. My point is you shouldn't buy from any damn shop you haven't heard of.

Cheers

David

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"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."

One of my Mom & Pop shops will match GC and Ash. Most times they're just a tiny bit more. The extra service and product knowledge are worth the price difference to me. Plus I'm supporting small business.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal