New JP15, pocket is biger than the neck ???

[zzomer]

Hi guys.
Finally after 8 months I got today my quilted JP15.
First thing I've noticed, there is a big gap / space in the neck pocket meaning you can slide in a 4 time folded paper into this space between the body (pocket) and the neck, please have a look at the pics in my cloud: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8zo08pwx870529y/AABZ9WL4cRnasCiuDZjAHcJLa?dl=0

Another issue (and I hope it's only me) is that the guitar sounds trebled, harsh, without "bottom", lack of fullness, she sounds almost like…..thin.
I compared it to a JP6 with Crunch Lab / Liquefier, a basswood / maple Ibanez with the same pickups, Majesty and another mahogany guitar I have, it simply sounds "smaller" or something, the sound just isn’t "there".

JP15 owners, I would like to hear from your experience
Thanks.

 

[SpeakingToStone]

Hey Zzomer,

The gap in the pocket is common and has a very easy fix. You just need to loosen the screws that hold the neck to the body and gently move the neck back into the pocket. This will align the strings better on both the neck and the pick ups. There's a video of how to do this floating around the forum somewhere. In regards to tone, check the batteries, and make sure there is enough relief in the neck so that notes can ring out. The JP 15 should sound HUGE in comparison to both the ibanez and the majesty.

 

[Gas Hed]

I feel bad for you. Not the NGD that you deserve for the $$$ spent. I hope it works out dude.

 

[QuietSpike]

Email/call customer service...

Just looked close at my 15, and looks nothing like your pics. Also, my 15 sounds every bit as full and more articulate as my other 2 JPs with the CL/LF combination.


Get in touch with customer service.

 

[gurtejsingh]

As already mentioned, contact CS about this.

I own a JP15 and that gap does seem a little too much to me. Also, to me the JP15 is a tiny bit brighter/snappier due to the woods when compared to my JP6, but it has all the fullness and mids/low end as my other guitars. As suggested, check your batteries and relief.

Hope you are able to resolve the issues.

 

[MajtasticVoyage]

Holy QC issues, Batman! Sorry about that As far as the sound, open the control cavity - make sure the pups are wired right. My 15 7-string came with the pups wired backwards, but the only thing it affects is what pickup is selected in a given toggle position.

But yea, DEFINITELY contact CS and/or whoever you bought the guitar from. You need a refund/replacement post-haste.

 

[zzomer]

Thanks guys.
The guitar will be examined according to MMEB specs tomorrow over the dealer I have purchased from and then I will know better.
Honestly I hope for the best but I can’t help form comparing to my past experience, I have owned dozens of bolt on guitars during my 30 years of playing. I have never ever see something like this space, the neck was always tight inside the pocket with zero space around.

I will update with the results.

 

[DrKev]

As everybody has said, call CS, this is their job, it's what they are there for. And you have a warranty with GC. A problem with the wiring will be easy to correct.

Looking at those photos, the neck pocket gap looks OK (i.e. not excessive) to me. Standard office printer paper is 0.1mm thick, so four sheets is less than a standard thin-gauge guitar pick, 0.5 mm, which is fine. Cosmetically you might not like it, but me personally, I would not worry at all.

The only real advantage of a tight neck pocket is that the neck won't move if it gets a sideways knock or you swing the guitar around over your head but it will result in finish cracks at the corners of the neck pocket (very common cosmetic issue with bolt-on necks). But a tight neck pocket means no room for the neck and body wood to expand/contract with temperature or humidity which can also lead to finish cracks.

 

[Tazz]

zzomer...
I have had the same issue as yours with my JP15 6 String Quilt.
There was an obvious gap between the neck joint and the body in the bass side of the neck joint when I received it. I presume that either the neck has become misaligned in the neck-joint, or the neck's heel is too small for the neck-'pocket' route in the body. Further examination of the neck, I also noticed the high-E string to be noticeably closer to the ends of the frets than the low-E string, beyond the 12th fret. I also compared the Low E and High E strings and they are not perfectly aligned with the fret board from the Nut towards the bridge. Apart from this, I also feel a slight obstruction in my left palm when I hold the guitar at higher frets owing to the gap. To give the benefit of the doubt to my restless mind and convince myself that perhaps I am over-reacting due to my OCD with guitars, I compared this with my Ibanez Jem and JS guitars, and could immediately see the difference. Their neck joints were perfect.

Was extremely disappointed since this is one of their flagship models and a premium instrument with such a price tag should be nothing less than perfect.

I had ordered mine overseas and sadly even after contacting EBMM, they could only advise that I unscrew my brand new guitar's neck and push it into the slot.

I took it to the one and only decent luthier in my town. he checked the guitar and said the neck cavity on the body has a gap for the neck to fit in snug. To address this he will need to sand the inner bass side to level and then add a shim of maple on the inside and sand the insides again. After this procedure, he will level the base of the neck and neck cavity completely flat to ensure there is a full contact fit.
To address the 2 bolt on screws which are loose, he will drill out the stripped holes and fill them with dowels of maple and drill new holes.

He also recommended a full setup once the neck is reinstalled. These works costed me at a discounted AED600 for parts, labour and setup which translates to approximately $163.36.

So that sorta sorted out the neck joint.

What I like about this guitar, it looks stunnin especially with the maple and the options of boost, the pristine peizo sounds and the trem. Perhaps the best trem system ever.

Sadly this will be my last EBMM guitar. My Japanese Ibanez Prestige guitars are a class above in terms of build and craft.

 

[fbecir]

zzomer...

I took it to the one and only decent luthier in my town. he checked the guitar and said the neck cavity on the body has a gap for the neck to fit in snug. To address this he will need to sand the inner bass side to level and then add a shim of maple on the inside and sand the insides again. After this procedure, he will level the base of the neck and neck cavity completely flat to ensure there is a full contact fit.
To address the 2 bolt on screws which are loose, he will drill out the stripped holes and fill them with dowels of maple and drill new holes.

He also recommended a full setup once the neck is reinstalled. These works costed me at a discounted AED600 for parts, labour and setup which translates to approximately $163.36.

Well, your luthier did a lot of work, made you pay for it ... but I'm pretty sure it's useless.
Just unscrew a bit the neck, align the neck & body, screw the neck ...

Your guitar will not resonate more if the side of the neck touches the body ...

 

[zzomer]

Thanks guys for the tips.
I’m not a newbie, I’m playing guitar around 30 years, semi pro, and I had more guitars than I can remember.
Losing the screws and moving the neck will results of what?….moving the gap to the other side. Not more than that.
It’s not going to change the fact that the dam pocket is too big, its bigger than the neck joint and that is the basic fact.
Just for the record, I slipped (easily) yesterday a 0.8mm pic into this space, seriously, moving the neck is like moving the dirt from one room to another, the dirt is still there!

I examined yesterday 5 of my bolt on neck guitars, Ibanez prestige, Caravel, USA G&L, Jackson Dinky and a custom guitar and guess what, non had this crazy gap, non!

Anyway, it will be examined today by the dealer I’ve purchased from and then we will decide.

I will update here later.
Thanks.

 

[QuietSpike]

So, as Dr Kev said, I checked my Ibanez Jem, and there are cracks in the finish around the neck joint.

You want tight with cracks, or not-as-tight with no cracks? Either way, you got a complaint!

 

[Tazz]

Bro, I tried that, but only applied enough pressure I could without cracking or bending the neck, it did not work and the gap would then increase on the opposite side.

So for it to be aligned, the screw holes on the back of the neck had to be redone.
I cant debate about the resonation, but my Jem has a perfectly snug neck and it resonates beautifully. Have been playing for almost 25 years and love to work on the guitars myself, this was my first ever visit to a Luthier. The other option was to pay expensive shipping costs back to the US.

 

[MesaBeno]

My Japanese Ibanez Prestige guitars are a class above in terms of build and craft.

hahaha

 

[fbecir]

So for it to be aligned, the screw holes on the back of the neck had to be redone.

False

You never worked with wood ...

 

[Norrin Radd]

I think I'd tell the dealer to keep it and get me a replacement. It might take some time, but now you've had a very negative experience with this guitar and even if the gap is narrowed somehow, you're always going to be aware of it. It obviously bugs you (as it would me) and thankfully, you ordered through GC, right? So make them make it right or just return it.

Those of you saying the gap makes no difference, well, that's your opinion and your entitled to it. I don't happen to share it.

This is SO an issue for EBMM CS - LET THEM HANDLE IT.

 

[sanderhermans]

I think I'd tell the dealer to keep it and get me a replacement. It might take some time, but now you've had a very negative experience with this guitar and even if the gap is narrowed somehow, you're always going to be aware of it. It obviously bugs you (as it would me) and thankfully, you ordered through GC, right? So make them make it right or just return it.

Those of you saying the gap makes no difference, well, that's your opinion and your entitled to it. I don't happen to share it.

This is SO an issue for EBMM CS - LET THEM HANDLE IT.

Fully agree

 

[zzomer]

Just to summarize the case.

I went yesterday to the dealer I’ve purchased from and the guitar tech has examined the space according to MMEB specs.
The space is almost 1mm in the beginning of the pocket and enters up to 0.7mm near fret 22 or so. Bottom line is that the space is above the specs (0.6mm) and it is also going diagonal meaning the pocket sides routed not strait, not aligned.
Above all, there is no option to move the neck as the strings will not be aligned to the neck and as I mentioned, moving the neck is useless solution as it’s like moving the problem from one side to another.
So, guitar was returned, purchase was canceled and I’m waiting to hear from my dealer about MMEB decision for this.

Just to clear things, I love MM guitars, I thing the JP series is one of the most great guitars I have ever had and I’m feeling bad for the whole thing as I waited so much time and unfortunately sold my JP6 to finance this purchase and now I’m lose/lose status.

I hope MMEB will have a fast solution as honestly as much as I want the 15, there is not a chance I’m waiting another 9 months for a new one.
Thanks.

 

[Tazz]

Just to summarize the case.

I went yesterday to the dealer I’ve purchased from and the guitar tech has examined the space according to MMEB specs.
The space is almost 1mm in the beginning of the pocket and enters up to 0.7mm near fret 22 or so. Bottom line is that the space is above the specs (0.6mm) and it is also going diagonal meaning the pocket sides routed not strait, not aligned.
Above all, there is no option to move the neck as the strings will not be aligned to the neck and as I mentioned, moving the neck is useless solution as it’s like moving the problem from one side to another.
So, guitar was returned, purchase was canceled and I’m waiting to hear from my dealer about MMEB decision for this.

Just to clear things, I love MM guitars, I thing the JP series is one of the most great guitars I have ever had and I’m feeling bad for the whole thing as I waited so much time and unfortunately sold my JP6 to finance this purchase and now I’m lose/lose status.

I hope MMEB will have a fast solution as honestly as much as I want the 15, there is not a chance I’m waiting another 9 months for a new one.
Thanks.

I concur with this, and glad you will hopefully be getting a replacement. This should have not happened in the first place!! Unfortunately I could not afford the shipping costs to resend it and await for a replacement. The space was not within acceptable standards and I cant forget that it had to go through all those additional fixes.

 

[Norrin Radd]

9 months isn't that long a time in the grand scheme of things. Relax. Let your dealer get you a new one.