guitar problem

garfy117

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone might know where I stand regarding a guitar purchase I made recently.

The guitar was bought online, at a slight discount to RRP due to some cosmetic issues (I don't think this is relevent to the issue but am including for completeness).

When the guitar arrived, it was missing a part. The shop were happy to send a spare part, which I duly fitted. Unfortunately it then became apparent that it had another issue.

Basically, it has a "dead spot". One of the notes has about half the sustain of all the others - it really is quite dramatic. I don't think it's the kind of thing that can be repaired, and if that's the case I'd like a refund.

The problem is that I'm out of the 7 day window for DSR returns, and I suspect it might be difficult to prove the guitar is faulty - it's not that the issue isn't obvious, just that there will always be some variation in sustain between notes and I'm not sure there's much of a benchmark for what is considered acceptable variation!

Anyone experienced anything similar?

vyle

If you bought it within 6 months, it's down to the shop to prove that it isn't faulty, rather for you to prove it is, so that's one weight off your shoulders.

Is it the whole string or just a particular fret that's a bit off? And does it sound somewhat muffled?

garfy117

Thanks, that's good news. Presume I'd need to go through small claims court if the shop/manufacturer don't agree? At the moment I'm still trying to resolve - it's been to the manfacturer to look at (who returned it unfixed), and to be fair the shop have been very good, arranging collection and return for me at no charge.

It's that particular note, rather than a string or fret (so if I retune, for example, the problem moves). From what I've read it seems to be the guitar just "absorbs" that frequency. Apparently all guitars do to some degree (hence my concern at proving it is a fault), but most of the time the frequency is between two notes, or in a seldom-used area - in which case it's not so much of a problem.

[Deleted User]

I can sort of help with the situation .I do know,as a guitarist,what a dead spot is that you are talking about....for others who don't...it's a spot on the neck that doesn't sustain as you said...in some really bad cases it doesn't give a note at all.The only option is to have it refretted,which would probably cost more than what you paid for the guitar.
I recently bought a Mackie PA mixer from PMT online in Southend...after 8 months it blew at a gig.It too was out of the 7 day warranty (but within the 12 month) so no refund.It went back to the shop then back to Mackie who said it was faulty and they offered me a credit which I took up and got something else.So... I'm assuming you can send it back to the shop and they should offer you a credit note.The guitar is not in full working order so they should accept it's return.
Have you spoken to the shop and told them about the neck ?

[Deleted User]

All guitars have a dead spot to some degree is nonsense....
Is it in the same place ? If not the guitar neck is badly fretted. What make and model is it? I had to fork out to send mine back to the shop so you've done ok there them paying.They should still take it back as it doesn't do what it says on the tin !

garfy117

Thanks - a credit note would be an interesting dilemma, as it's only this guitar I really want (they have no more in stock). Yes, I told the shop (and they kindly arranged it's carriage back to the manufacturer to look at (it's since returned with the same issue)).

Glad you got the Mackie problem resolved.

garfy117

I don't think it's a fret issue (if I tune down a semitone then the problem moves to the next fret up, if that makes sense - it appears to be frequency related rather than physical)

I won't mention the type as it's quite specific and I wouldn't want to tarnish the reputation of the shop or brand (or at least not before I know they won't play ball!)

wealdroam

Have you been able to demonstrate the problem to the shop?

Have the shop accepted that there is an issue?

I know you said the manufacturer returned it unfixed, but did they make any comment like maybe...
"we cannot find a problem" or
"yes, there is a problem as you describe but the guitar is performing within specification" or even
"we have now fixed it, see what you think"?

You really need to get someone to acknowledge the problem.

garfy117

I haven't got anything from the shop or manufacturer actually acknowledging the problem (and this is what's making me nervous). The manufacturer let me know what action they'd taken (basic setup stuff), but didn't specifically say they acknowledged the issue or anything like that.

It's not subjective - I can video it playing along to a metronome so demonstrating it isn't a problem, but the "within specification" bit might be - my fear is that I'll end up with a "not a fault, all organic instruments vary like this" kind of line. I presume this will make it much harder to get a result in court?

[Deleted User]

garfy117 wrote: »

I haven't got anything from the shop or manufacturer actually acknowledging the problem (and this is what's making me nervous). The manufacturer let me know what action they'd taken (basic setup stuff), but didn't specifically say they acknowledged the issue or anything like that.

It's not subjective - I can video it playing along to a metronome so demonstrating it isn't a problem, but the "within specification" bit might be - my fear is that I'll end up with a "not a fault, all organic instruments vary like this" kind of line. I presume this will make it much harder to get a result in court?

If..and if...Mark Knopfler bought a guitar from say Andy's in London and it had a dead spot...do you think he wouldn't take it back ? He wouldn't accept it neither would Clapton or Dougie Rees from Tonypandy...so neither should you.If you can live with it though then I wouldn't bother with all the aggro.

bluenoseam

Deleted_User wrote: »

If..and if...Mark Knopfler bought a guitar from say Andy's in London and it had a dead spot...do you think he wouldn't take it back ? He wouldn't accept it neither would Clapton or Dougie Rees from Tonypandy...so neither should you.If you can live with it though then I wouldn't bother with all the aggro.

I'd suggest Knopfler & Clapton would arrange to have their guitar techs fix it as that's what they're paid to do not just to stand about, play Back In Black during the soundcheck & run around with an AAA pass looking big. But yeah, take it back to the shop, explain the problem, demonstrate it & see what they'll do for you.