Luke iii problems

[MikeBarresi]

Luke iii problems (photos added)

Hey Fellow MUSICMANers!!

I've been having some MEGA problems with my recent (3) Luke IIIs.

I've been playing a Luke II since '99 when I first bought one when I was in Grade 10. That has been my go-to guitar for many years. I have other guitars but nothing touches my LUKE. When the opportunity came to get a new sound from a familiar feeling guitar I picked up a LUKE III HH at a Guitar Center in a beautiful Vintage Burst. (I still have the LUKE II)

Amazing guitar but the trem claw screws in the back were stuck and did not move in or out. GC was nice enough to swap for a new guitar. Cool...

Played guitar #2 for a week, began to fall in love all over again!! I was playing one morning after a gig in my front room and noticed that the guitar had 2 major stress cracks on either side of the neck pocket. Back to GC to swap for another LUKE III.

I get guitar #3 and play one gig with it at Ceasars Casino in Windsor Ontario, and the push/push knob won't click back in the off position. It is up for the last 3 songs of the night.

So, Guitar Center has offered to ship all 3 guitars back to Ernie Ball for repair, and I will get the choice of whichever guitar I want. But, I'm coming into my busy gigging season and I'm going to miss a bunch of action with that awesome new sound. Plus, some publishers that I write music for, are really liking that new sound. What would you guys do?

MIKE

 

[Johnny Alien]

Small finish cracks near the neck pocket is a common problem for bolt on neck guitars especially those with tight neck pockets. It causes no harm and is cosmetic only. If that one plays well I would keep that one and not think twice about it. Maybe GC will even give you a discount for it.

 

[mikeller]

Check the knob on the push pull - there is a thread on this forum that talks about a small adjustment to the knob position being a remedy

 

[mikeller]

http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-guitars/55968-new-luke-iii-push-push-pot-fault.html

 

[MikeBarresi]

Hi Mike,

thanks for the help but it did not work. I took the whole knob off and the pot won't catch in the down position. I tried the knob at several different heights and that didn't work.

the thought of having a guitar with two stress cracks makes me nervous as I have never had a guitar that has had them. Although out of the 4 LUKE III's that I've played at guitar center, 3 of them have them. Maybe I'll settle for guitar 2 with the cracks as I think that one felt closest to my LUKE II

 

[mikeller]

Yeah, stress cracks are only in the finish and do not have any effect on the instrument. I have had plenty of guitars with them in the past. You may, as Johnny suggested above, ask GC if they can discount it, never hurts to ask

 

[Tollywood]

I'd go with the stress crack guitar. Anyone who actually plays their guitars will most likely get them. I have some and they don't cause any problems.

Good Luck!

 

[Jorge ven]

My Luke II came with one from the factory, so it's all good...

 

[Johnny Alien]

What is interesting is that I have seen them more often on expensive guitars because they have tighter neck pockets. They can look bad but I have never seen any problems ever arise from them as they are in the finish only. I would take a good guitar with those anytime and not worry a bit about it. Totally ask for a discount and rock that one!!

 

[MikeBarresi]

Thanks everyone for the input. I think I might grab guitar 2 and avoid a long wait to get a guitar and to avoid it being shipped from Michigan to California.

 

[douglasspears]

I'd go with the stress crack guitar. Anyone who actually plays their guitars will most likely get them. I have some and they don't cause any problems.

Good Luck!

Not sure why you'd say "anyone who actually plays their guitars....." he clearly said he's been playing a Luke II since '99.

 

[Big Poppa]

douglas dont fan the fire...ALso I hate custmoer service threads...we have an infrastructure to deal with this.

 

[MikeBarresi]

Sorry Big Poppa.... I did not intent to ruffle any feathers. I just wanted some input from players. These are the first issues I've ever had with a Music Man guitar and I'm sure its some freak bad luck thing. My Luke II is a tank. The first time I touched the truss rod on that guitar was at least 10 years after and hundreds of gigs after purchasing it! That guitar has been an integral tool in my career both on stage and in the studio.

I'm sure the costumer service department is amazing but, being from Canada, it's costly to ship guitars to international locations. I was just looking for some opinions.

Sincerely,
Mike

 

[DrKev]

That's why there are international dealer networks and distributors. Aside from giving a physical presence to EBMM guitars and strings in stores outside the US, the customers are protected with warranties that the store they bought from will honor. That's what Mike's store is doing now. I know it's incredibly frustrating and yes, it is just good old-fashioned freakishly bad luck but it's the correct procedure. I just thank goodness for the consumer protection laws in Europe. Yes, we pay extra for our instruments but if there is a warranty repair or return to be done, the store and distributor cover all the costs, no extra cost to the customer.

As to Mike's original question - what would I do?

I would either keep the guitar with the finish cracks (which don't bother me at all) OR ask if a replacement pot can be shipped to the store or you (the original will be retuned to EBMM) and I'd replace the faulty one myself.

 

[beej]

Just deleted a bunch of comments.

This thread is to discuss a particular forum member's issues. Ily, it's not a personal invitation for you to start bitching about the French distributor ... again. And French Kiss, watch your language here, that was totally inappropriate.

As you were ...

 

[ily]

Just deleted a bunch of comments.

This thread is to discuss a particular forum member's issues. Ily, it's not a personal invitation for you to start bitching about the French distributor ... again. And French Kiss, watch your language here, that was totally inappropriate.

As you were ...

Beej

you said the right thing "French distributor ... again" why again it's the right question

 

[beej]

Ily- you continually mention issues with the French distributor in different threads. We get it. This isn't your thread, and the original poster had real questions. Talking about your issues here is a total hijack.

 

[ily]

Ily- you continually mention issues with the French distributor in different threads. We get it. This isn't your thread, and the original poster had real questions. Talking about your issues here is a total hijack.

Ok

i've no issue with my guitars they work fine ....
i've bought it used in US and maybe one day i'll have to replace some parts and this day i'll be very bad ... to can't do anything
French Kiss is my best Friend and his L III have a problem (push pull) and he can't do something i try to help it

it's not amazing to made this kind of post it's not a pleasure.... i'm 53 years old and other things to do ...more important

i've understand that i've nothing to say more i respect you advice...............

 

[beej]

And yet you continue to hijack this thread ...

Ily, we're DONE talking about the French distributor in this thread. DONE. If you have issues with a guitar, call customer service and deal with them directly.

 

[Big Poppa]

if you buy a guitar in the usa and live in another country you are on your own if you need help...we are here but you have to get the guitar to us. The subject over why things are more expensive have been covered a million times..shipping duty advertising credit promotion service...You cannot expect for someone to help you when you went around them.

French kiss that is the single most offensive post ever made here....None of us will tolerate it.