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Post subject: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:23 pm
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I've been playing guitar for over 20 years, but up till now have always played cheaper guitars that I've modified (usually quite heavily). I finally decided to pull the trigger on a new 2012 Am. St. Strat, thinking that "Hey, here is a high end guitar that I won't have to futz with much to make it decent!". So I purchased a Sienna Sunburst maple FB job from Musicians Friend. The guitar arrives, and I plug her in to my Twin and I'm off to the races! Except the B string blows after a few minutes. So I take the time to set it up properly, and throw on a set of coated strings. Off to the races! Except the B string blows after a few minutes, and I'm noticing some dead notes on the neck! So I throw on some Graph Tech saddles (no more strings have popped since), restring, and try again. Yep, dead notes on the A and D strings at about the 9th and 10th fret. Not completely dead, but definitely far less sustain than all the other notes on the FB. And every time I touch the tremolo bar, the whole business goes out of tune! A set of locking tuners helped shore up the tuning stability, but it'll take a fret job to get the dead notes fixed. And I've barely even PLAYED the thing! So screw it, I just played the guitar for about a week, trying to ignore the ever more infuriating dead notes, when the strings start GRINDING on the frets! First only one fret, then another, and now it's 6 or 7 of them. This is officially the worst fret job I've ever had the misfortune of purchasing. My Squier '51 neck is of MUCH better quality than my Am. Strat?! So instead of getting a fret job, I purchased a swanky walnut neck with Birdseye fretboard from Warmoth. It costed plenty, but damnit it works! About putting a total of about 2 grand into it, my guitar finally plays and sounds like it should have when I purchased it. The sole reason I bought Am versus Mx is because everyone talks about how great the fret work is on the higher end guitars. I'm here to tell you, that ain't always the truth!

So is this just a fluke? Was my POS neck a singular incident, or are there others out there in the Fender American world who are angrily stroking Warmoth wood due to shoddy Fender fret work?


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 6:57 am
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As I understand what you read , you have not enough experience to guitar tune-up.

One exemple;

String blow , you don't try to find why , you just replace by another kind of string, after you put Graphtech sadlles.
Yes your string don't blow after this but , sanding , if needed, your original saddles will do the job.

You did not write if you do a complete set up ; neck bow ( truss rod) , intonnation......

You must see a GOOD luthier not anybody , for a good set up .

Or return guitar on waranty if you can


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:01 am
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I'm amazed you didn't send it back, and you're much better off buying from a local shop so you can try and buy. Unless you're a lefty like me there's always lots of Strats available at stores - assuming you're near stores of course, for some folks that's not an option. I have an American Series DELUXE Strat which is amazing in terms of playability, neck setup etc. but never played a straight American series to compare.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:03 am
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I thought I had a lemon with a very similar axe(looked like a possible bad drill on one of the two points). I did a lot of research and of course asked questions on this site. I'm happy to say after a good setup it's playing very nice. And great choice on color, post a pic for us to see'=)

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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:58 am
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stratele52 wrote:
As I understand what you read , you have not enough experience to guitar tune-up.

One exemple;

String blow , you don't try to find why , you just replace by another kind of string, after you put Graphtech sadlles.
Yes your string don't blow after this but , sanding , if needed, your original saddles will do the job.


Of course I knew that the saddle on the B string needed work. Thats why i changed them out. Instead of poloshing the original bent steel saddles, which I don't care for tremendously, I chose to replace them with a type of saddle that I like, and one that I knew would solve the string breakage problem. I don't know how that translates to you as a lack of experience.

Quote:
You did not write if you do a complete set up ; neck bow ( truss rod) , intonnation......
You must see a GOOD luthier not anybody , for a good set up .


I set the guitar up myself, except for the nut slot tweak which was done by my local shop. Even though I've set my guitars up for many years, I'll give credence to the fact that I might just be shite at it. But even a very poorly set up guitar (which this isnt) shouldn't result in fret grinding.

Lefty, I didn't buy at my local shop because they didn't carry exactly what I wanted in an American strat. They only carry two or three Am standards at a time. I guess all things considered, I should have sent it back, but I've never sent back any guitar that I've ever purchased. I just mod them until they work for me. I will see if the warranty will cover a redress of the frets on the neck, because I'd like to use the neck on an EMG loads parts caster I'm building. The Warmoth neck is going to stay on the strat. I like the look of it with my custom pickguard on that sienna finish. And the neck feels great, so form AND function!

Im away from home for the next couple days, but pics to come!


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:53 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
You did not write if you do a complete set up ; neck bow ( truss rod) , intonnation......

You must see a GOOD luthier not anybody , for a good set up .


A brand new guitar shouldn't have complicated issues that need a luthier or tech to set up. At the very least you'll probably adjust the action height, maybe even adjust the relief to your tastes. Anyone past beginner status should be able to do this properly at home with the included allen wrenches.

Unless your luthier or guitar tech knows how you like to have your necks set up, any setup you get will be to their preferences, not yours. I always end up adjusting a guitar, even if I have it sent off for a setup because of complex fret buzzing/neck settling, which shouldn't be an issue with a new guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:55 pm
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I'm sorry but this reeks of troll. :roll:

You bought an American Standard - then put 2 grand into the guitar? After playing 20 years and owning cheap guitars and don't know the answers to these questions or the common sense to send the guitar back?

I call BS on this post. You are just trolling Fender. It's a production line guitar, not a custom shop or handmade, of course QC is going to let a lemon slip past. Duh. Obvious troll is obvious.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:15 pm
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And that's really my point, Xeno. When I buy a cheap guitar (I have several), I expect to have to change out substandard saddles and tuners, and probably even redress the frets at some point. In my mind, these extra costs are simply what you pay in the end for going cheap. But to have these same issues in a higher end American Strat just seems ridiculous to me. I feel like I could have had the same guitar for a lot cheaper if I would have bought a Mexi and done the same mods plus a pickp swap. Besides the idea of quality, the only other reason for buying Am. would be resale value. But I don't buy guitars to sell, I buy guitars to play.

Anyway, gripe session over. The guitar (is it even considered a Fender Strat anymore?) plays like butter, sounds like paradise, and looks custom. I guess that's all that really matters. If Fender redresses the frets on their warranty, I'll be happy enough. I needed another neck anyway.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:25 pm
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Quantum wrote:
I'm sorry but this reeks of troll. :roll:

You bought an American Standard - then put 2 grand into the guitar? After playing 20 years and owning cheap guitars and don't know the answers to these questions or the common sense to send the guitar back?

I call BS on this post. You are just trolling Fender. It's a production line guitar, not a custom shop or handmade, of course QC is going to let a lemon slip past. Duh. Obvious troll is obvious.



Lol, ouch! What questions haven't I been able to answer, exactly? I got terrible fretwork on an American strat. How is that trolling Fender? I chose to buy a replacement neck rather than wait on either A. Sending my guitar back to Musicians Friend, awaiting the funds to return to my account, buying another guitar, and waiting for it to arrive. Or B. Sending my Brand New guitar to Fender and waiting for them to fix it and get it back to me. It's a shite neck. I replaced it. If Fender fixes it for me, I'm happy enough. I wouldnt have even thought twice about the tuners and saddles were it not for the neck. I think you call troll too quickly, my friend. But hey, far be it for a not-fully-satisfied customer to post their story here. Duly noted.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 2:43 pm
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Guitarlord5000 wrote:
Quantum wrote:
I'm sorry but this reeks of troll. :roll:

You bought an American Standard - then put 2 grand into the guitar? After playing 20 years and owning cheap guitars and don't know the answers to these questions or the common sense to send the guitar back?

I call BS on this post. You are just trolling Fender. It's a production line guitar, not a custom shop or handmade, of course QC is going to let a lemon slip past. Duh. Obvious troll is obvious.



Lol, ouch! What questions haven't I been able to answer, exactly? I got terrible fretwork on an American strat. How is that trolling Fender? I chose to buy a replacement neck rather than wait on either A. Sending my guitar back to Musicians Friend, awaiting the funds to return to my account, buying another guitar, and waiting for it to arrive. Or B. Sending my Brand New guitar to Fender and waiting for them to fix it and get it back to me. It's a shite neck. I replaced it. If Fender fixes it for me, I'm happy enough. I wouldnt have even thought twice about the tuners and saddles were it not for the neck. I think you call troll too quickly, my friend. But hey, far be it for a not-fully-satisfied customer to post their story here. Duly noted.


I retract my troll statement, my apologies, it just came across that way as I read your post.

If you purchase a guitar online that you aren't satisfied with, you send it back. Any guitar you buy has the potential to have issues like that. Even though it's a more expensive instrument, it's going to happen, especially non-custom shop guitars. If it's custom, then it will be perfect, you also pay about 5k for that perfection.

Though i think a custom fender is kinda stupid. That's not what Leo Fender had in mind. The American Standard is what Leo Fender envisioned. Production line made guitars.

A 5k custom shop bolt-on Fender guitar goes against the entire point of a Fender.

So yes, nowadays in the age of 5k guitars - a $900 production line guitar will in every case, require a good setup.

Yes, you would be better off going with a MIM or a Squire and replacing it with custom parts. The American Standard is paying more for an American made product to buy an American made product and frankly, Americans are pretty lazy nowadays. Our quality really sucks.

We expect huge salaries and just want to sit around on the internet. We have so many luxuries and distractions nowadays, American made anything is just overpriced, patriot, shoddy, lazy workmanship.

Get a Japanese built guitar and your QC issues disappear. If you buy American, prepare to send the guitar back 5-10 times until you get one that was made by someone who was having a good day, or wasn't feeling entitled or lazy that day.
just my two cents.

As an FYI - my American Deluxe Strat was superb, but I also bought it in town and was able to play it first. The MIM strats in the shop were AWFUL! The AMerican Standard i played...was like a MIM Strat with an American made stamp, it wasn't much better.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:39 am
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Buying by internet ; most of the time you save money , sometimes you loose.


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:32 pm
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Just my $.02 for what it's worth...

I have to echo the other sentiments...your first mistake was buying a guitar from Musician's Friend. Speakers, amps, recording gear...sure...but an instrument? This is just my own personal opinion but I would never buy a guitar without having played it FIRST.

Your second mistake, in my always and ever so humble opinion, was buying into the hype that "because it's American, it must be good"...BS!!!!!! Quite frankly I would NEVER buy a brand new American Strat and I have yet to play one in a store that didn't need SOME degree of work, at least to suit my own personal tastes (sorry but those 2 point trems are just trash in my book and the stock American pickups are just flat sounding). This is a purely subjective opinion bound to p'ss some folks off but I've simply come to the conclusion that the reason (many) folks go on about American Strats is simply as a way to rationalize or justify the money they wasted buying an American instrument. Hey...ya spent twice as much as you would have with a decent Standard so it's GOT to be a better instrument, right? R-U-B-B-I-S-H!

Now those two comments aside, it could be a setup or yea...you could have gotten a lemon. Only you and your guitar tech can really decide. I will say that -any- new guitar these days usually needs a decent setup right out of the box. Here's the thing...yes, they are setup at the factory to factory specs BUT...that instrument was also shipped to a store/warehouse. It's been bumped and knocked around during shipping (especially if it went UPS), it's been in and out of various climates/temperatures/environments, etc.. In the old days with your small ma and pa shops, the owner or tech would usually do a setup on the instruments as they came in the door...most places today don't and you can bet that someplace like MF -NEVER- touched the instrument outside the box! And even if they did...it got shipped again because you bought it online or thru a catalog! Lather, rinse, repeat.....

So could of/should of/would of aside, the way I see it, you really have 2 choices. You can continue trying to doink with a guitar that you're clearly not happy with, knowing that you may very well have a clunker...despite those who like to wave that American banner around, it happens (a dead piece of wood is a dead piece of wood regardless of the country of origin). Maybe you'll get it fixed, maybe you won't. For the price you likely payed though, again I have to echo the other comments...I'd return it for a refund. I do understand the issues...and the disappointment...of being without your new instrument, but let's be honest here; If I were to go out and blow $1000+ on a new flat screen TV, refrigerator, computer or anything else that did NOT perform to my expectations of the product for the price point...it may be a drop in the bucket for some people but that's -A LOT- of money in my book and I'd return it in a heartbeat. Seriously...ya go out and spend $1000 on a brand new 50" flat screen, but you have to stand upside-down at a 37 degree angle with a potato in your left ear just to see the picture. Are you REALLY going to take it into a TV repair shop and pay even more money to see if they can "adjust it" for you? Aren't you gonna haul that sucker back to Best Buy and pitch a serious $@!&* about it and get your money back so you can buy something else instead...something that actually works right? I would. Yea, if I buy a cheapy instrument for $50 and I'm not happy with it, it's easy enough to turn around and sell it again or even just strip it down for the parts, but $1000? I just would NOT screw around with that...

Just my own personal opinions...use them for what they're worth.
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:29 pm
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+1 Iomitus


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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:29 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
+1 Iomitus


+2!

I would've had that sack of crap packed up for return before the UPS guy backed out of my driveway!

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Post subject: Re: Did I just get a lemon?
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:00 pm
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If it's to late to ship it back you just have to make lemonade now.


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