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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:43 pm
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Unfortunately, the repair shop cannot get the truss rod to release. He mentioned clamps and heat guns and some other methods but no dice. I am naturally bummed and waiting for the store to call me back.

Will let y'all know...


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:10 pm
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Alright, here's where I stand. The shop wants to bill me a 20% restocking fee. I was told that I waited too long to contact them about the faulty instrument. As I explained, I am not a tech. I took it to the repair shop because I thought it needed to be set up. When I realized that there was a serious problem, I contacted the shop.

For me to send it back, I will pay them $280 for taking back a damaged instrument plus the shipping $100 and the $150 that I paid at the repair shop. That's $530 out of my pocket to find out that this guitar is unplayable and send it back. It's just wrong. I was told by the shop that their repair guy reviewed and cleared it. It's quite apparent that it was not.

So, I am taking the guitar to an authorized Fender repair shop. I'm going to get an estimate and talk to this shop again. I am still holding on to the idea that these issues will get resolved. Time will tell.


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:10 am
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20% restocking fee? I think that's excessive, especially if the guitar is defective.

But I also think your "luthier" is charging too large for not being able to fix it. $150 for bench time? Come on! If it were me, I'd charge just a nominal fee, or perhaps even nothing, if I couldn't fix the guitar.

But here's an idea. It sounds to me that the truss rod adjustment could be "maxed out". Meaning the nut has run out of thread. "Bottomed out" so to speak. This is seen sometimes with used instruments. A repair for that could be as simple as removing the truss rod nut, and inserting a couple of washers of the proper size at the end of the rod and reinstalling the nut. Make sure the nut is not stripped or worn before reinstalling it. Get a new one if necessary.

Can't find washers the proper size? Make them. File down washers that are close to the proper size. Drill out the center to enlarge the hole in the washer if necessary. The washers fit over the end of the rod and go to the bottom of the hole, and then the nut, since it will not be bottomed out any longer, will have threads to further adjust the neck again. It can be done.

But I would find a repairman who is familiar with Fenders and present this idea to him/her. See what they say.


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:02 am
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I thought the repair cost was high as well. He did review the phasing sound in the pickups so that's part of the cost as well.

I was wondering the same thing about the truss rod being maxed. As soon as I can pick the guitar up, I'm taking it to the Fender auth repair shop. Hopefully, the Fender shop can find an easy, lower cost solution. I do expect the shop that sold me the guitar to pay for the repair.

So, I would like to hear what y'all think about this.

The seller told me that their repair guy reviewed it but he's not a Fender auth shop but rather a Martin guy. Since they hammered me for my repair guy, I was put off that they did not take it to a Fender guy. I feel like they are a shady outfit just trying to avoid having this guitar back in their hands. And let's be honest. If they paid someone to review this instrument, they would have held him liable for it. That's not happening. It never got reviewed or worse, they *knew* it was damaged.

Any thoughts on this matter?


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:34 am
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Yup, get a Fender person to look at it.
If it does have problems, have him put what he found in writing so you can use that as a claim. Have him provide as much detail as he can.

Make sure his letterhead is visible and hopefully states he IS a Fender Auth Tech.

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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:57 am
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ionized wrote:
20% restocking fee? I think that's excessive, especially if the guitar is defective.

But I also think your "luthier" is charging too large for not being able to fix it. $150 for bench time? Come on! If it were me, I'd charge just a nominal fee, or perhaps even nothing, if I couldn't fix the guitar.

But here's an idea. It sounds to me that the truss rod adjustment could be "maxed out". Meaning the nut has run out of thread. "Bottomed out" so to speak. This is seen sometimes with used instruments. A repair for that could be as simple as removing the truss rod nut, and inserting a couple of washers of the proper size at the end of the rod and reinstalling the nut. Make sure the nut is not stripped or worn before reinstalling it. Get a new one if necessary.

Can't find washers the proper size? Make them. File down washers that are close to the proper size. Drill out the center to enlarge the hole in the washer if necessary. The washers fit over the end of the rod and go to the bottom of the hole, and then the nut, since it will not be bottomed out any longer, will have threads to further adjust the neck again. It can be done.

But I would find a repairman who is familiar with Fenders and present this idea to him/her. See what they say.


+100 This luthier stole you if it charge $150 . You are very badlucky , first with this guitar an second with this luthier.

Good luck for a good Fender tech


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:50 am
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My repair guy has offered to set up an acoustic guitar for me since he couldn't get the tele repaired. (He worked on this one about 5 years ago. I'm confident that he can make this one happen.) Anyhow, he did review the electronics so I understand that charge. Basically, with the set up of my acoustic, I feel like he has worked with me. I was going to spend on that instrument too.

Badlucky...ya man, I have been feeling that way. I'll probably write a song about it...


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 4:48 pm
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Alright, here's where I am at.

Auth Fender repair shop went over all my options. Basically, he agreed with the first repair shop and was uncomfortable pushing the truss rod nut any further. He offered some very detailed explanations about the process of sending the neck back to Fender, getting another after market neck, etc. The bottom line - it's going to take another 500 - 800 to get this fixed correctly. So, I called the shop that sold me the guitar and we had a much more civil conversation this time. He offered three options.

1. I keep the guitar, find an aftermarket neck and retain the original neck. They pay for the next neck. It was hazy about the repair work but as I understand it, they help with that part too.

2. I ship it their guy. He fixes it and sends it back to me ready to play. 3 week turnaround.

3. I pay shipping. They review the pickups with a possible charge if something is wrong (there's not so that's good). No restocking fee.

Anyhow, I decided that option 1 is just too much to spend on this instrument and too much time. Same goes for option 2. So, I sent an email accepting option 3. I hope that in the final details and agreement, the numbers do not change.

In the end, I will be out of my pocket between 200-300 bucks. It's a tough pill to swallow for me and I'm sure it's hard on the shop too. Assuming all goes as discussed, I am going to chalk the loss up as a learning experience. I will say that I am very glad that I kept the name of the shop to myself. While it's been far less than ideal and stressfully heated at times, it appears the shop is doing the best that they can do. I doubt they will ever ship another instrument without having it reviewed first. And I will never buy another one without have an authorized manufacturer repair shop provide, in writing, an accurate bill of health.

Sound like a fair ending to badlucky situation?


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:23 pm
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soneedaze wrote:
Sound like a fair ending to badlucky situation?


Did you bring up the 'washer trick" to the auth. Fender repairman?

I can understand not feeling comfortable with tightening the nut any further because its probably close to snapping, but can't it be loosened? If so, maybe, just maybe, a couple of washers might have done the trick. That's .50 cents in parts and some bench time if it would have worked.

OTOH, if the nut is so tight the rod is ready to snap, you'd have to consider that abuse. The threads on the rod might have suffered which could mean further trouble. I don't know if I would want such a guitar myself. Especially at that kind of money. Just send it back and bite the bullet. Sorry this happened to you.


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:59 am
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ionized wrote:
soneedaze wrote:
Sound like a fair ending to badlucky situation?


Did you bring up the 'washer trick" to the auth. Fender repairman?

I can understand not feeling comfortable with tightening the nut any further because its probably close to snapping, but can't it be loosened? If so, maybe, just maybe, a couple of washers might have done the trick. That's .50 cents in parts and some bench time if it would have worked.


+1 ionized
Did this Fender tech know that ? There are many informations we don't know about this truss rod nut. As you say ; " ...can't be loosend ? "
For me authorized Fender service just mean the store is a Fender.... The tech it self ? Not sure. Yes the tech could be honest and good but did he really know ALL about fixing guitar ?


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:42 am
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"The washer trick" works well if the truss rod nut has run out of threads. And it's a good fix if you are keeping a older gigging guitar going ...but not something that I would want to have to deal with on a newly purchased guitar.

There isn't any indication that the rod is "maxed out" in this case, and it is claimed that the nut can't be undone. And without clamping the neck straight, that may well be the case. If the neck is warping to that degree, it is never going to be good. It is attempting to be a tree again! I bet that, were that nut released, that neck would be like a ski jump!

I am sorry that the OP has had such bad luck with this, but I think he has chosen the most viable solution.


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 3:29 am
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Butterscotch wrote:
"The washer trick" works well if the truss rod nut has run out of threads. And it's a good fix if you are keeping a older gigging guitar going ...but not something that I would want to have to deal with on a newly purchased guitar.

There isn't any indication that the rod is "maxed out" in this case, and it is claimed that the nut can't be undone. And without clamping the neck straight, that may well be the case. If the neck is warping to that degree, it is never going to be good. It is attempting to be a tree again! I bet that, were that nut released, that neck would be like a ski jump!

I am sorry that the OP has had such bad luck with this, but I think he has chosen the most viable solution.



You're exactly right.


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:44 am
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I've followed this thread from the beginning. Three thoughts immediately came to mind and still persist:

1. The store definitely knew about this problem to begin and played the odds that they'd get away with it.

2. There's an awful lot of hacks out there posing as techs.

3. The OP may be able to receive a complete refund, premising the store he bought it from is subject to the "Lemon Law".

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:27 am
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Two things to clarify...

First, the shop that sold explicitly said do not have *any* work done on the guitar without speaking with us first. Period. So, my hands were tied when I met with the second tech. I was not a position to let him try anything.

Second, we discussed all of the different options. The tech has been working for Fender for over 20 years. He was detailed about the guitar and possible fixes. To make a long story even longer, the tech was concerned that even if he got it loose and made the adjustment, I could step onto stage somewhere and the neck could pop back into the same position. He just wasn't confident in some of the other fixes.

Now, I am just waiting for the shop to get back to me and confirm the numbers, shipping, etc. I will let y'all know when I find out. The moral of the story...IF you are buying a guitar online, check the reviews (I did. They were positive.) and get the written analysis from the stores or an independent tech. Make sure you know what you're getting into. I had never been thru this process before. In the end, their tech never looked at the instrument and they shipped a faulty product. There are no winners here. Both parties are losing.

Thanks again to everyone for the insights.


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Post subject: Re: Purchased a Used Tele from an online store...
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:26 pm
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Final resolution...

I was returned the $1400 and waiting to confirm that the bank clears the out of state check (not really worried about that).

I paid $100 to my luthier (who is now working on my acoustic as courtesy). Shipping cost to me...$50. Return shipping cost with packing supplies...$95.

Basically, $245 out of pocket. Tough pill to swallow but that's the way this one went.

Thanks again for everyone's input.


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