Question Majesty Spice Melange: second piece, second factory defect?

[Hotwheel]

I think the Spice Melange is one of the most beautiful guitar ever produced, and for me, the sexiest Majesty ever made.

But I seem to be so unlucky with it.

Being so rare in Europe and so expensive (7.3k), after searching it with many difficulties this is the 3rd time I buy this guitar, and the last, because there are no more available.

First one had a big paint defect under the bridge (you can search my topic about, and so returned it).

Second one (seen only in stock pictures, my fault) i didn't even pulled it out from the case when arrived: the top was too flat that it didn't even looked like spalted but more a solid brown color. Returned immediately.

Here is the third, and it arrived with this - ok, very little spot - ding near to the piezo switch.
No other signs around, all is clean, only that spot so I can imagine it happened during the woodworking phase or during the painting job.
It is only visible if you look close there and in some light conditions, ok, but so it is.

Is this tolerable in your opinion for a 7k axe?

I really don't know what to do.

I could still return it but the dream of a Spice Melange will end forever, i can't ask to the seller for another piece, and maybe EBMM will answers negative about (seller sent the pics/video and we are waiting for response).

What would you do in my situation?
Other people maybe would not make a big deal about it, but knowing that spot there, always make me look there.

Even the buffing job is not the same of the EBMM of some years ago, but hey, maybe i am just unlucky.

Love EBMM and love the Ball family, i've only been playing their guitars for almost 20 years, but this is a bit disappointing, please try to understand me.

 

[Rbg]

This can totally be buffed out or touched up and buffed out so it becomes invisible. I mean, you will still know that it was there, so it’s up to you to decide if you wanna keep it or not.

Would it be nice if expensive guitars came absolutely ideal — yes. Things like these still can happen unfortunately.

 

[Hotwheel]

This can totally be buffed out or touched up and buffed out so it becomes invisible. I mean, you will still know that it was there, so it’s up to you to decide if you wanna keep it or not.

Would it be nice if expensive guitars came absolutely ideal — yes. Things like these still can happen unfortunately.

Sorry bro, how could you buff a dent?

Anyway i am very very conflicted.

What would you do in my place?

 

[Sweat]

So this was supposed to be new? Looks like it might have been slightly used or floor stock, ask for a discount!

 

[Hotwheel]

So this was supposed to be new? Looks like it might have been slightly used or floor stock, ask for a discount!

Arrived directly from EBMM to seller, i can assure this because i waited 6 months for it.

 

[Sweat]

OK still ask for a discount, assuming the rest of it is nice and functional

 

[Hotwheel]

OK still ask for a discount, assuming the rest of it is nice and functional

The guitar is insane.
It's only for this damned, little, spot.

Seller told me they didn't noticed before shipping and think there is nothing "we can do".

So it's or keep or return it.

Very conflicted.

 

[Sweat]

Yea, I think they could offer you a peace offering by refunding a fair amount, have you contacted EBMM customer service directly about this, they are very helpful

 

[Hotwheel]

Yea, I think they could offer you a peace offering by refunding a fair amount, have you contacted EBMM customer service directly about this, they are very helpful

First of all, thank you for your consideration man.

So, i tried to contact ebmm cs when i had the paint defect on the first spice melange that I bought last year, and they told me that was not possible that the guitar left their factory in that way so they could not do anything.

This time I asked the seller to forward the question to ebmm, waiting for some news, but time flies fast.

 

[Rbg]

Sorry bro, how could you buff a dent?

Anyway i am very very conflicted.

What would you do in my place?

Don't bro me please . This looks like a little fish eye in the clear as it doesn't look like there is a grain pattern change under that would "suck in" the clear locally.
If you decide to keep the guitar and get everything settled with your story and EBMM I will tell you how you can eliminate it completely or make it almost impossible to see. If you are interested and comfortable to do some very fine grit wet sanding and buffing after. BUT ONLY AFTER you resolve things with EBMM.

 

[PBGas]

That is one beautiful and expensive guitar. Much Congrats!!!
If it was supposed to be brand new then perhaps this small defect was obviously missed?
As a tech, I see all kinds of guitars and the Custom Shop Gibson stuff has all kinds of minor finish issues but it is accepted as being what it is by most.

The questions here are....
1.) Can you live with it and enjoy the guitar for what it is (very rare and limited)?
2.) Do you absolutely love the look, playability and sound from it?

If you answer Yes to both, then enjoy your new guitar and play the hell out of it!

We all see things differently but in all honesty, that would not bother me at all. It is a very, very small issue that no one else would notice if you didn't point
it out.

Now...when you get your first ding on it, that may be a crying moment......

 

[Hotwheel]

That is one beautiful and expensive guitar. Much Congrats!!!
If it was supposed to be brand new then perhaps this small defect was obviously missed?
As a tech, I see all kinds of guitars and the Custom Shop Gibson stuff has all kinds of minor finish issues but it is accepted as being what it is by most.

The questions here are....
1.) Can you live with it and enjoy the guitar for what it is (very rare and limited)?
2.) Do you absolutely love the look, playability and sound from it?

If you answer Yes to both, then enjoy your new guitar and play the hell out of it!

We all see things differently but in all honesty, that would not bother me at all. It is a very, very small issue that no one else would notice if you didn't point
it out.

Now...when you get your first ding on it, that may be a crying moment......

Thank you, yes, i really love this guitar, and after almost 2 years it's a bit sad because i am too much a perfectionist (and that's not a good thing).

I have still some days to think about it, in the meanwhile i am curious about the answer of ebmm.

 

[Hotwheel]

Don't bro me please . This looks like a little fish eye in the clear as it doesn't look like there is a grain pattern change under that would "suck in" the clear locally.
If you decide to keep the guitar and get everything settled with your story and EBMM I will tell you how you can eliminate it completely or make it almost impossible to see. If you are interested and comfortable to do some very fine grit wet sanding and buffing after. BUT ONLY AFTER you resolve things with EBMM.

Thank you, i appreciate but believe me, i am sono noob at these kind of manual jobs, i will damage more for sure...

I still have some days to take a decision, hope to do the right thing

 

[Mace13]

Bad luck for sure. I feel for you...I had a saga with the Honey Butter JP6 20th anniversary and electronics but got it sorted (EBMM took care of the issues, no problem). So, with this ding, can you feel it or is it just visual? I too am somewhat of a perfectionist and this type of defect would bother me for sure. That being said, if it was barely perceptable I would probably end up keeping the guitar.

Also, a millimeter size blemish would be something that could be remedied, if one really wanted to. But, maybe after a couple weeks it will be forgotten as other blemishes appear (assuming you're a player and not a collector).

The Navajo people of the southwest USA would intentionally put a cosmetic or stitching blemish in their rug weavings. Why? When the weaver makes the rug, their spirit is intertwined with the rug; their creation. The imperfection allows their spirit to escape. So, maybe EBMM has the same philosophy with their guitars. A small blemish so that the spirit isn't trapped in the guitar. Yes, I'm kidding, but honestly, life is full of imperfections and these can become more beautiful and acceptable as we get to know them.

 

[fbecir]

Also, a millimeter size blemish would be something that could be remedied, if one really wanted to. But, maybe after a couple weeks it will be forgotten as other blemishes appear (assuming you're a player and not a collector).

Mace13 is right ... after a few months of playing your guitar will have wear marks.
The mark you show on your pictures is really small, thus if the guitar sounds great, keep it.

 

[Ted]

I posted here a couple of years ago when I got my first EBMM guitar and discovered a little cosmetic boo-boo under the paint on the headstock. The nature of the boo-boo irked me at first-- but I loved everything about the guitar, including the particular unique flame pattern on the back of the roasted maple neck. EBMM offered to fix the issue under warranty.

In the meantime while I was deciding what to do, I started writing and recording with the guitar and found right away that this guitar had a ridiculous amount of intangible "mojo" and there was no way I wanted anything to interfere with that. I really had to look hard to be able to see the imperfection, and only then in the right lighting would it even show. I decided to keep the guitar as is-- and I'm very glad that I did so.

Honestly, I think the particular type of factory mistake on my guitar could make it more valuable and collectible (even though I will never sell this guitar).

And like others have said, if you're going to play a guitar-- no matter how much you try to avoid it-- there will come wear and tear and a small ding every now and then.

Also, lets see some more pics of the whole guitar.

 

[DrKev]

My two cents? I know darn well sooner or later I'm gonna hit it off the corner of a desk or make a dent in the finish with the end of a jack so little finish defects don't bother me at all. I never notice when I'm playing (and I have at times completely forgotten what guitar I'm playing until I look down and go "huh, look at that, it's the white guitar!). That's just me.

 

[fbecir]

If you play seriously your guitar, even if you are careful, you cannot escape wear. For instance, the saddles on my Morse (especially the saddle of the low E string ... OK perhaps I should stop doing palm mute ...):

 

[beej]

A pristine guitar is one that was never loved.

That's a crime.

Play it. Scuff it. Love it.

 

[Hotwheel]

Also, lets see some more pics of the whole guitar.