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Metalgod72

New member
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
3
Location
Virginia
I was lucky enough to get a hold of a BFR JP-6 that was made for a guitar center employee only contest. Long story short, the guy needed money and I got it cheap. Now, the guitar needs a little TLC, the action is not as low as I'd like it and I have taken it to two different techs.

I spoke with Musicman and I have until the middle of the month to get it back to Cali to get it setup again to the tune of $60 per hour, plus shipping both ways.

anyone have any dealings with the factory returns? How long do they keep it? Is it recommend to send it back to them? I LOVE the guitar, but I am hesitant to be away from it and I am worried about shipping it.

any advice? Guitar plays great up to about the 11th fret and then it gets really high. I originally had it set up for e flat with 9's, and then to record some stuff I tuned it up to standard, and all Hell seemed to break loose after I did that. Any help or advice is appreciated. thank you!
 

guitarp77

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
1,094
Location
Santiago, Chile
CS does an amazing job.

Use the search button, there are tons of experiences here related to how great it is for your guitar to be sent back home and get some proper treatment.

However, if it is just a minor arrangement you have to make, then you should take it to a tech and it´ll be fine.

I guess sending a guitar to MM is when there´s something wrong with it that escapes the "normal" problems or dis-adjustements that instruments have.

Welcome, and enjoy your ball...it is a sweet instrument that´ll be great for your senses, and bad for your wallet.
 

BUC

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
404
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
I can't imagine that there's not a qualified guitar shop much closer to you than California. Not saying that it won't get awesome treatment back at the mothership, but I just really don't think that's what's required to setup a guitar that's not hard-broke.

Talk to some players in your area and see who they use. A good shop will hook you up.

I do most of my setup work myself. It's just not that hard. If I have a guitar that's being problematic, then I'll take it in and get it looked at to see if it needs fretwork or neck relief that I can't do. (as an aside, I took one of my guitars in because I was unable to get the truss rod adjusted correctly. They took a look at it, called Fender, and I had a brand new neck sent out under warranty. Now it plays MUCH nicer. Moral of the story is my guitar never left the city and got good treatment).
 

Spudmurphy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Strange that 2 guitar techs can't sort this out? - it's a straight forward floating bridge set up.

On the other hand - seems like you got a good deal - so sending it back to the company will resolve the problem and all in you will probably still be ahead on the deal?

Let us know what happens?
 

jakedawgwhite88

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
327
Location
Turpin, Oklahoma, United States
Sent my Luke back to the factory over a year ago and It came back playing like I cannot explain other than excellence. I like a very low action and I have never touched a guitar with a lower action than my luke. No fret buzz period either. You can just set your hand on it and it plays LOL So yeah I'm all in favor of the custom factory set up. I believed I asked for it lower than stock but I don't know how I came to the height it ended up but it was and still is perfect. I talked to AJ on the phone and he was awesome, very friendly and generally concerned with what I wanted as a customer. Gotta Love EB
 

paranoid70

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
2,647
Location
Long Beach, CA
They do great work and actually have a better turn around time than the local shop I go to. However, the shipping costs make it kind of expensive for what should be a rather straight forward adjustment. But if you want to be sure the job will be done right, EB will do it.
 

Metalgod72

New member
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
3
Location
Virginia
Going to one more tech up near D.C. tomorrow to see if he can straighten it up...can't handle 2+ weeks being away from it, plus the shipping is $60 or so each way, plus the cost of the setup. Hoping it is just a minor truss rod adjustment to get it back to where it was...thanks for the PM AJ.
 

Jack FFR1846

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
2,176
Location
Hopkinton, MA
Setups are not rocket science. They really aren't. I do my own setups and am a lowly electrical engineer. I looked for the setup faq in the EBMM site.....found it......followed it.....and like magic, the guitar is perfect.
 

Spudmurphy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
FWIW - I started getting into set ups around the time I got my first EB MM.
Luckily one of my best friends builds guitars and his bread and butter work is set upsand repairs.

I've been around his workshop most Sat afternoons since and learnt a hell of a lot fro him.

I consolidated my learning by setting up really cheap guitars and then moved on to more expensive guitars.

I'm good with my hands and took to guitar set ups pretty well.

However if you are like my brother who can't even change a lightbulbulb - stay well away and just keep to routine stuff - leave it to the techs. But like I say give it a try and get a good understanding of what reacts with what when you do a guitar set up - a tweek here, a tighten there - it's a fine balance.
 

Metalgod72

New member
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
3
Location
Virginia
FWIW - I started getting into set ups around the time I got my first EB MM.
Luckily one of my best friends builds guitars and his bread and butter work is set upsand repairs.

I've been around his workshop most Sat afternoons since and learnt a hell of a lot fro him.

I consolidated my learning by setting up really cheap guitars and then moved on to more expensive guitars.

I'm good with my hands and took to guitar set ups pretty well.

However if you are like my brother who can't even change a lightbulbulb - stay well away and just keep to routine stuff - leave it to the techs. But like I say give it a try and get a good understanding of what reacts with what when you do a guitar set up - a tweek here, a tighten there - it's a fine balance.

I have been playing guitar since 1980, put it down for a few years because I couldn't get my arms around it, and then got serious about 84 or 85. I have worked in 3 music stores, done many setups on strats, les pauls, acoustics, classicals, etc. but the Floyd Rose/Locking trem has eluded me all these years, not that I haven't tried to set them up, but I understand it is a balancing act and I have no patience, somewhat ADHD, so I have always had techs and pros work on my stuff, when I was on the road back in the 90s I would take 4 or 5 to a guy down in Richmond and get them all road ready and my friend/tech knew enough if something happened. The guitar is on it's way to DC now to get worked on, I will post and let you know how it turns out. thanks for all the great replies and advice.
 

acwild

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2006
Messages
855
Location
Hillsborough, NJ
^

ahhh floyds!!!
I gotta admit - I stay away from them too.

Do not fear the Floyds. You must embrace them. :)
I grew up with Floyds and still have one of the old models. Working with them is second-nature to me so I'm always surprised to see how people think they're a p.i.t.a. Of all the locking trem systems, a good Floyd is still my favorite for feel and reliability. Jmho.
 

Tollywood

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
4,195
Location
Rhode Island
Do not fear the Floyds. You must embrace them. :)
I grew up with Floyds and still have one of the old models. Working with them is second-nature to me so I'm always surprised to see how people think they're a p.i.t.a. Of all the locking trem systems, a good Floyd is still my favorite for feel and reliability. Jmho.

+1 on loving the Floyd Rose!
 

DevRock

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
398
Welcome to the forum. Looking at your username, I'm assuming you're a die-hard Priest fan like myself!
 
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