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Post subject: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 3:04 pm
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I got an American Standard Tele as a gift this year. The guitar is probably the poorest quality musical instrument I have ever owned. It was bought as a gift from Hello Music an online vendor. The intonation was HORRIBLE when I got it. I thought that when I got a chance, I would just get it set up. Well I got it set up and it still sucked. I thought maybe the guy did a lousy job so I took it to someone else. There was lacquer all over the frets so the guy cleaned it up and tried to set the intonation. Still sucks. Now I feel I need to see if I have any warranty I can use to salvage my gift.

Any ideas on how I should proceed?

Thanks,
cw


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 3:08 pm
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Oh. And just to prove I am not some kind of troll I just bought a MINT 1996 Jeff Beck Strat and it may be the best guitar I have ever owned. INCLUDING my old USA Hamers.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:36 pm
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I'm sorry to hear that your Am Std. Strat was so shotty.

I've often wondered about guitars that are purchased online over buying them in a store. I have heard that the guitars purchased online are called, "Seconds." These are guitars that have some sort of defect. I know when I bought my '95 Les Paul Studeo, it played wonderfully out of the box, but has some cosmetic issues. Also, a buddy of mine ordered a Les Paul Std. and it had a short.

When I odered my 2000 EC Strat from Fender, through a music store, it arrived, I took it out of the box, and the neck was on cruckid. I was really bummed at first, but a phillips head, a friend's help and two minutes solved the problem.

I've also played guitar that were new in the store and I could tell that no one set them up when they arrived. They just put them on the floor without a setup--something that should be done the day the store pulls it out of the box.

Again, sorry to hear about your issues.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:46 am
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If you only need a set up where is the problem ? American Standard are very easy to set up and many new guitar need a set up .

Did you know how to do a proper set up ? I guess not .


Buying a guitar without see it and play with it is like to play lotto.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:59 am
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2013 am std teles have 6 saddle bridges, so if the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and the 12th fret to around the middle of the bridge is the same, you shouldn't have a problem with intonation. hell it could be a couple of mm off and still be able to be setup correctly.

is the neck straight, maybe it warped?

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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 6:00 am
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Going to take it to a THIRD repairman and see if he can fix it. Brand new guitar has been on a bench more than I have been able to play it.

Really disappointed. Probably gonna be my last Fender purchase...even though it was a gift.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 6:38 am
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cwgatti wrote:
Going to take it to a THIRD repairman and see if he can fix it. Brand new guitar has been on a bench more than I have been able to play it.

Really disappointed. Probably gonna be my last Fender purchase...even though it was a gift.



Sorry to tell that but setting a guitar is not a rocket science . I never heard or see a Fender guitar you can't set properly . Each time it was a lack of knowledge ot the repairman or the owner.

Don't go to see anybody, find a qualified luthier ,or see a qualified tech , not anybody like you do.

The problem ( if I understand what you write) is not the guitar IT IS THE REPAIRMAN. Almost all guitar new or used, need a set up

Why don't you try the guitar before living the repairman shop . if not right , tell him to do the job , don't pay him .

You'll do a big mystake and it is only you the looser if you don't own a Fender Guitar . It is one of the best , if not the best.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 6:50 am
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I took it to two guys. One of whom is considered "one of the best" by friends and acquaintances. He is actually a luthier. When I left the luthier, the guitara seemed fine. He noticed how poorly the fretboard was finished. I went home and played it. I was getting sharp notes at the 3rd fret low E (G) again. I put it away for a week or two, pulled it out and the intonation was WORSE!!! It is almost unplayable. Unacceptable for a $1000 guitar that is new.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:18 am
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I contacted Fender to see if I can get this resolved. I am not looking to get over on anyone. I mean I have paid twice to try to get a brand new guitar right. Maybe it is as simple as a bad neck.

Hopefully Fender stands by their products and we get it worked out. Because I really want a Fender Telecaster.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:36 am
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Hi cwgatti,
I'm also sorry to hear about your issues and glad you're contacting us.
The one thing I'm struck with is "Hello Music" which concerns me since I do not believe that they are an authorized Fender Dealer. I'm not in the office right now so I can't swear to it, so we'll see what the response is from the guys when they get your communication.

Essentially though, if you buy from an unauthorized dealer, it is then considered second-hand. If you go to Hello Music's Warranty support page, I believe it explains it fairly well.
It sounds like it may be easier to get squared away with them.
I'll subscribe to this thread and keep my eye out.
All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 7:47 am
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Thanks Rob. It was a gift. I reached out to them too. I would like to fix this guitar if I could. I don't mind paying as long as it is a reasonable cost as it was a gift.
But why would you let these guitars out to retailers if they are no good and you don't stand behind them?
If it doesn't work out with them, do you have any suggestions as to how I will get this guitar fixed?


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:11 am
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cwgatti wrote:
Thanks Rob. It was a gift. I reached out to them too. I would like to fix this guitar if I could. I don't mind paying as long as it is a reasonable cost as it was a gift.
But why would you let these guitars out to retailers if they are no good and you don't stand behind them?
If it doesn't work out with them, do you have any suggestions as to how I will get this guitar fixed?


If it is true (and I think it is) that Hello Music isn't an authorized dealer then who knows how they get their merchandise. This Tele sounds like it should have been returned to Fender, but instead wound up for resale at Hello Music.

It seems to me that your best bet is to return it to Hello Music and make them stand behind their sale; it's essentially out of Fender's hands if Hello Music is not an authorized dealer. As Rob says this is treated as a used guitar sale and there is no factory warranty.


Last edited by John C on Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:15 am
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Hi again cwgatti,
What I'm seeing is that it won't stay intonated or won't intonate in the first place?
I kind of agree with the other guys, especially if you paid for a setup......if you paid for a setup....it should be set up and play correctly, or they should tell you why that isn't possible. If they can't tell you that, then they aren't very good setup guys.
If you brought it to a Fender Authorized Service Center.....then I would expect them to set it up or tell you what he problem is.
Quote:
But why would you let these guitars out to retailers if they are no good and you don't stand behind them?


Again, my recollection is that Hello Music isn't an authorized dealer, which means we don't sell to them, which means I couldn't tell you where they got it from or what they may have done to it etc etc etc. I Imagine their prices are pretty ...uhhh...competitive, and that's how they can do that. Like I said, from what I can see on their website, without reading the long version they link, they claim that they will take care of it according to the manufacturer's warranty.....which in this case is a limited lifetime warranty.
I can only guess at what the problem is from your posts, but seems like if the neck went south or something, you should be able to take them up on their support and return and replace it.

At any rate, keep me clued in. .......and quit paying for setups that don't seem to work.
Hold the setup guys accountable too.
All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 8:20 am
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Looking through the thread, I was wondering, when you say it sounds, "Horrible" what exactly do you mean? Is it just the intonation, or are there tuning issues as well? If the neck is warped, you would have fretting problems. If it isn't stating in tune, then it's probably the nut. If you are losing sustain or weird tonal sounds, it could be pickup height.

Whenever I get a guitar set up, I go to my trusted luthier. Every time he sets up my guitar, he checks the intonation, the nut, electronics, patch cord jack, fret height, pickup height, saddle height and the curve in the neck and neck shrinkage (from not enough moisture and causes frets to stick out a bit). Also he has a tendency to have me play the guitar bit so he can get idea of my playing style to see how high he needs to set the strings to.


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Post subject: Re: Major problems with my Telecaster
Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:31 pm
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I'm guessing from the description that it's not an intonation problem as such and that the nut may need filing down a bit on at least that bottom E that you mention.

I have a few Fenders and all of them bought brand new, all have needed attention on purchase, some more than others. I've had one back to the shop and it still wasn't right, (this was an authorized Fender dealer and a very expensive USA made guitar). I'd imagine that the repairman is only prepared to do so much, and when it comes to filing the nut you can go too far with it and mess it up so I suppose they try to get away with not fixing that particular problem.

And here's a video made by Fender telling you how to go about it:




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