Help! Majesty 6 BFR, 2019, NOS Quality Problems, What Happened to Quality Control in 2019?

[jmguillaum]

I just purchased a new old stock 2019 Majesty 6 BFR Dargie Delight 3 online from GC and it looks as good as expected, but it has some real quality problems. I can fix these issues, but a new $3,000 plus guitar should never be delivered like this. If it had not been a NOS BFR, I would have handed this one back on the spot. I've worked on and played guitar for 30+ years, this is not my 1st high dollar instrument. I think this will be a fine guitar after I spend a few hours fixing things.

* I do need to locate new Majesty knob grip rings.

Condition on delivery/pickup: Guitar is not ready to play a gig. I realize this guitar may have been in a box for 2 ½ years, but my other 2018 Majesty BFR has not had any of these problems yet (it's the reason I purchased this one).

1. Volume knob/boost push-push function was intermittent locking down. Knob would not lock in down position; moving knob to different positions would allow it to lock. It seemed like it worked better the more I used it, but it didn’t consistently lock down. After spraying cleaner through shaft and working it around it did get better. I noticed the shaft was not springing/going all the way out sometimes which prevented the switch from locking back down. If you pulled out on the shaft slightly it would reset the switch and allow it to lock down. Sprayed it again and keep working it. It locks constantly now.

2. Need a new grip ring for volume knob after push-push volume knob repair. I tried to carefully remove the original ring so I could loosen the set screw, but it snapped.

3. Neck pickup is loose; you can hear it knock around in the cavity as you move the guitar around. Loose mount screws. Next issue is related

4. Pickups are not adjusted for even volume. Bridge is set good at 5/64” from stings when depressed. The neck pickup is 8/64” on both sides with stings against 24th fret and the pickup mount screws tightened just enough to keep the pickup from sliding around. Something is wrong under the pickup. I think it is missing springs or padding.

5. Back plate for tremolo springs has 2 screws not fully seated.

6. Fret ends have a lot of fret sprout, all of them need dressed, very sharp.

7. Fingerboard edges are not rolled, almost a hard corner edge.

Review:

This is not my first EBMM Majesty guitar; I also have a 2018 purchased new from Guitar Center at the store, it was in perfect shape. I expected the same for the 2019; otherwise I would not have ordered it online. The 2019 sure didn’t live up to my expectation of EBMM Guitars! This guitar has the hallmarks of poor quality control, it should not have left the factory like this and Guitar Center should not have sold it like this. If I had purchased it through Sweetwater I think they would have caught and corrected these issues before I received it.

 

[beej]

Well congrats on the guitar and your first post here. But painting all of 2019 as having QC problems seems like a bit of a stretch

I'm going to guess that this guitar hasn't been sitting in a box since 2019, and that's probably the root of your issues. You're probably getting an instrument that's been played at a store and not particularly taken care of. And that's not Music Man's issues- that's Guitar Center's. Fret sprout, in particular, is caused by a lack of humidity - the neck dries out and shrinks, exposing the fret ends. 100% a storage issue. Put it back in an environment with more humidity and it goes away.

If you buy an instrument sold as new or NOS, Music Man will take care of you - just contact their customer service dept (link in my signature). I've been through this myself with a NOS guitar that wasn't look after at a store.

 

[racerx]

I'm going to guess that this guitar hasn't been sitting in a box since 2019, and that's probably the root of your issues. You're probably getting an instrument that's been played at a store and not particularly taken care of.

ding ding ding. GC and MF both commingle inventory and make no distinction between "new = in a box in the warehouse" and "new = hanging on a general public rack in Times Square". Most GCs I've been in don't have any humidity control outside of their acoustic room and fret sprout is very common on many/most of their electric guitars. Aside from that, a guitar like the Majesty is going to attract a lot of attention from employees and customers. For better or worse.

@jmguillaum - I would take it back and see if an employee can call around and visually verify a "new" one exists rather than a floor model. If not, @beej is right - have them facilitate the warranty work with MM and get the guitar sorted ASAP. I agree with you - a premium instrument shouldn't behave that way regardless of the name on the headstock. That said, don't get stuck going down the rabbit hole of chasing one-off fixes only to find out later there may be more wrong. Send it in for warranty work now (and ask about the V2 electronics if applicable too). As for the grips - they are available on the MM Shop here - Rubber Knob Grip for John Petrucci and Majesty Guitars - 3 Pack

MM shouldn't be above scrutiny but the issues you are describing sound more like local shop cowboys banging around on the guitar.

 

[jayjayjay]

I bought my 2018 Axis from a GC in Minnesota (I was living in Oregon at the time), and when it arrived the guitar had serious fret sprout and bad volume pot. GC told me that it was a model that had been on display, and that it was actually a return. In exchange I was able to get it for $1000(!) off list. It still was considered as new.

I don't blame MM for that. It was clearly a storage issue. Of course, it helped immensely that I got it for a screamingly good deal.

 

[jmguillaum]

Thanks for the comments. We all know buying from GC is sometimes a gamble, this one was on sale, so I didn't pay full price. I contacted GC customer service about the condition and they left a voice message last night, they only had a few of these left in stores. I need to return the GC call. This one looked very clean, I don't think it was handled much, but who knows. As a side note about GC, when I asked about fixing the volume pot when picking up the guitar, he said they wouldn't have a guitar tech for a couple weeks. I try to support local Mom & Pop music stores as much as possible for just this reason.

The volume push/push does need replaced, 10 out of 10 fails to lock down when I tried it this morning when using soft pressure. Something is binding internally so you must give slight up pressure while in the up position for the switch lock to reset which will allow it it to lock in the down position. I'm working on who is going to replace the switch. This is a Version 2 switch with the ribbon connection and it is available from EBMM. The solder connections are easy to get to. This is an easy swap compared installing push pull pots for a Jimmy Page mod on a Les Paul. For now its back in the case until everything is worked out.

I have to say the sound of this Majesty is outstanding and should be even better once I can raise the neck PU to its correct height to balance the volume. I love the Dargie Delight 3 color and runway fret markers. It's going to be a great guitar once everything is done!

 

[jayjayjay]

As a side note about GC, when I asked about fixing the volume pot when picking up the guitar, he said they wouldn't have a guitar tech for a couple weeks. I try to support local Mom & Pop music stores as much as possible for just this reason.

I'll give you another reason. A couple years ago I stopped by a GC, and asked the tech there if he had any saddle block springs for a Strat. He looked somewhat confused, turned to the rack of Fender parts behind him, and grabbed a bag of trem arm springs, thinking that was the correct part.

It was at that point I realized I would never, ever, take my guitars to a GC tech, as I likely knew more than they did.

 

[jmguillaum]

Man, your singing my song! I needed a Floyd Rose arm for a used guitar I bought from them and they said they would order it. Later I find out they couldn't get that arm. I ordered one myself and got it in a couple days. It's no wonder they are in debt over their heads. I'll have to say I have never actually lost money on the things I bought from them, but I look things over pretty good before I decide bring anything home.