I needed to have some warranty work done on my new Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster. The volume pot on the main circuit was giving me issues. I took it in, and the tech flipped the switches a few times and said it was ok. Just before leaving, it acted up again so he said he would have to pull the pickguard. I left it with him and picked it up a few days later. The tech tells me the pot was dirty and he sprayed it with contact cleaner. A few days later the guitar acts up again, worse than the last time. I take it back and I tell him the pot needs to be replaced. Once again I leave it with him. I call yesterday to see if its finished and I go to pick it up. I take it home and check it out. Yep, volume pot has been replaced, but what the F*@K is this?! There is a pea sized ding on the lower front. I call back to tell him and he says that he "doesn't remember it getting bumped but that doesn't mean it didnt happen." He tells me I can bring it back and have them fill it with a sealant and thats all he can do.
I havent really been impressed with this guy for a while. I took 3 guitars to him for set ups and I was unhappy with them, but it was a "buy strings, get a free set up" day, so I figured thats why. I had an amp with a non electrical vibration and all he did was spray it with contact cleaner.
Unless its for warranty work, I don't think I will be bringing anything to him anymore. Even then I will be hesitant.

_________________

Contact cleaner for everything eh? sounds as if he can't be bothered and is going through the motions. Take your tech work elsewhere.

I had issue's with a tech guy here years back where i bought a new strat and the cellophane was still on the scratchplate so i told him to take it off. To get it off cleanly you need to remove the volume and tone knobs to make sure you get it all out and there's no scraps left under the knobs.

Anyway get the guitar back and he's scratched all the scratchplate!!! F----g idiot! i know it's not the most glamourous job to do but to care so little for someone else's stuff that you just gouge a scratch in it is unprofessional to say the least.

Then another time i wanted a set of those Joe Barden pickup's for my tele. So i order them and then i hear nothing, no phone call to say sorry about the delay he's having trouble getting them. I hear nothing whatsoever!

Any guitar work in future will be going elsewhere.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

It sounds like part of your brain was trying to tell you something quite a while ago, but for some reason you didn't listen to yourself. I would have bailed on this guy long before he got around to dinging a new guitar.

There are two kinds of mechanics (including guitar techs) in this world: the ones who just change parts until they find out what is actually wrong and the ones who actually know what they are doing. It sounds like you've been dealing with the former.

And I sure wouldn't take him any more work - warranty or not!

_________________
Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

What would you have done if you'd been me with the scratchplate? would you have pulled him up about it and said what's this? i was going to but the reason i didn't was there was a shortage of good techs round these parts and i didn't have anyone else to do the work. If i'd have pulled him up he'd probably have went on the defensive and said don't come back if you don't like it

It wouldn't happen nowadays that was when i was younger and tended to let things go. Those days are over, if someone scraped a guitar now i'd be unhappy to say the least.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Trying to stay objective about this, the Guitar Center chain at large usually isn't associated with premium techs now is it?

_________________
You dig?

screw the techs

i do all of my own work its pretty easy

Since this was a warranty issue, I don't have much choice. I set up my own guitars now. Thus was at Long and Mcquade in Canada. They guy has been there for years and apparantly has a good reputation...not with me though!

_________________

i try to do everything myself because i am obsessively careful with my things. I worry about taking things in and leaving them with techs because they will never care for my stuff like i do. i am not afraid of getting dings because instruments are made to be played and it happens but i really care for my stuff, it takes me a long time to save up money for my gear so it means a lot to me.

I don't mind if I ding it myself (even though it stings at first!). I don't like it when someone else does it.

_________________

Wow!! There's no way this would be tolerated at any of the L&M's that I have frequented.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

I think I will be calling the manager tomorrow.

_________________

I will only trust a tech until something happens to my guitar. Luckily I do most of my own set ups and string changes myself.

The shop I frequent is an authorized Fender repair shop. I have not had any issues with them to date. However, if I do start to have problems, I will have to stop taking my guitars there for repairs.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Careful! They might try to charge you extra for the RELIC FINISH!

If I were to pick up my guitar fromthe tech's shop and it had a new ding on it, I would add one more ding immediately by whacking him over the head with it.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals