Panic

[old_metal_head]

What do you make of this?

I've had this guitar for exactly one week. I was cleaning it as I usually do after I play and I noticed cracks on both sides of then neck pocket.

I'm heart broken.

This is the best guitar I've ever had....

 

[Roubster]

stress crack I guess . It doesnt look that bad in the picture, but still sorry to see that in such a beautiful guitar like that.
Did you recieve it with the crack already or did it develop, after you got it?

 

[ripley]

my Pertucci devoloped 2 cracks identical to that 3 days after I got it. I was pretty freaked out.

they're just in the finish. the wood on mt JP @ the necks is perfectly intact, the paint was the only thing that cracked.

at one time I saw another thread about this and the general notion was that there was no structural damage. over the last year the cracks on my JP haven't expanded any further so I've just left it alone. I'd rather have hairline stress cracks in the finish than go through the trouble of sending it back from the other side of the planet. I also got a good deal on my Jp because some wanker took a big chip out of the paint on the lower horn in the store - sp it wasn't like I ordered it, waited months and paid more than $700 for it.

I hope it gets squared away for you though, man. I've had to start putting a nasty scratch somewhere on my new guitars within 2 days of getting them or I just FREAK out @ the smallest ding.

 

[shuai725]

The same problem!

I just purchased an Axis 3 weeks ago and just got it 5 days ago.
I'm in the exactly same situation as you are exept my model is different.
Two cracks on the both sides,looks the same as yours with my brand new Axis,i'm feeling so frustrated right now!
and the worse thing is my pickup switch is not working at all and i have to get a new switch for my new guitar. Such a bad thing for me.
I really like the top and shipping it back from canada back to US where i bought will be a lot of trouble. So i ll just keep it.

 

[Dugger]

Yeah, that's definitely an enthusiasm killer.

I've owned 8 EBMM's over the past 2-1/2 years. One Axis had a stress crack coming away from one of the studs for the Floyd, and another had stress cracks in the neck pocket just like yours.

Apparently the neck pocket clearance is very tight, which makes it possible to have this on occasion. I want to say I read a post here before that mentioned they had opened up the neck pockets on the JP's to try and avoid this problem.

The good news, is that on each occasion, I immediately contacted EBMM, and they were very helpful and quick to offer me options to resolve the problem.

The cracks are probably nothing more than a cosmetic issue, so I guess you'll have to decide if you can ultimately live with it, or see what options you have to get it fixed. I decided to live with mine, and took a black marker and traced the line, which made it almost invisible.

I hope you get it worked out. Good luck.

 

[blackspy]

For the record... stress cracks around the neck pocket are common on lots of guitars. I've had Ibanez' with them, and I know Strats get them sometimes. Its not unique to EB guitars or their finishes. In almost every case, like others have said, its usually just the finish, and doesn't hurt the guitar any.

Though, I completely understand being a little upset by it. I would be if it were my Axis.

 

[old_metal_head]

I dunno

Well maybe I'm just ignorant but I've never seen or heard of this until now.

I looked it up and it seems it does happen to older guitars.

I've had guitars of all brands, many Ibanez, Jackson, Fender, Caparison, ESP, Gibson, etc.. but I've never seen it before.

In fact, after I noticed the cracks I checked all of my other guitars too.

I don't think it was something I did. The guitar was set up so perfect when I got it the action, intonation, and relief didn't need touched. So all I've done is played it. And when I was not playing it was stored in the case.

I checked the humidifier on the furnace too and it's set to 35 as recommended.

I just feel bad, the thing is __so__ damn nice.

 

[SteveB]

O_M_H,

Your choices are to just leave it be, or call EBMM for a return authorization. This would entail replacing the body though... so you don't know what your new 'top' might look like.

Call EBMM Customer Service and let them help you.

 

[kbaim]

stress cracks *sigh*

It's like dating this really great woman--beautiful, full of life, funny, smart...and on the 4th date (after you slept with her), she develops this hairlip.

What to do, what to do?

Probably a more common problem than we know. For those of us that have cracks (heehee!), I think most just get bummed but then forget about them. While some send theirs back for a new body, which EB willingly does.

BTW That one does look quite a bit longer than the ones on my ernie balls.

 

[old_metal_head]

not again

Your choices are to just leave it be, or call EBMM for a return authorization. This would entail replacing the body though... so you don't know what your new 'top' might look like. Call EBMM Customer Service and let them help you.

I went through this with a Caparison guitar I imported from Japan. The Horus is made in the factory that made the import Jacksons. Anyhow it was a perfect instrument. I even bought some EMG pickups to drop in. Then one day I noticed deep scratches on the back. Since I'm always very careful with my more expensive guitars I tried to figure out what it was from. Turns out there was a tack (staple) holding the case together buried in the lining and when I put the guitar in the case it scratched the hell out of the back.

So I sent Ishibashi some pictures and they paid to have it returned for replacement. Unfortunately they were ot of production and I had to wait forever for them to find me another one. And when the replacement came it was just a big piece of crap. CRAP. There was paint problems, neck problems, tremelo problems. I think it was a leftover reject form the production run. The whole thing felt like sending food back in a resturant.

I dumped it off on ebay... my bad. The guy who bought it said he loved the hell out of it. He should have played the first one.

 

[hbucker]

Yeah, I've never seen this anywhere else either. Not on any of my guitars (including my EBMM). The only guitars I've specifically seen this on were guitars that had been beat up and thrown around a little bit.

I suspect this doesn't apply to old-metal-head and his new guitar.

Even if it is just in the finish, I don't think it's right. I'd talk to the company about it.

 

[SteveB]

Well, the great thing about EBMM is that they really care about your satisfaction, and they deal fairly with their customers. So I wouldn't get too worked up. I'd be bummed out, for sure, but no panic.

 

[Big Poppa]

How about contacting customer service first? This is one of my biggest pet peeves.

One of the reasons why I didnt ship the bongo with a case for the first year or so it was in protest to stress cracks that we encountered in the Pet. The is the first steve morse or y2d that i have seen. There may have been some but not to my knowledge. Most of the stress cracks occur with jostling in the case. The guitar fits so snugple that if there is major shock during shipment of gigging it can develop..something has to give.

We will make it right, no need to compare us to a japanese sweat shop.

 

[NorM]

Yeah that's what I did when I had an issue. I made no mention of it here on the board. Then when it came back good as new I just sang the praises. I do think this is a good place to ask what to do even though the answer is always.
Call Customer Service!
I almost wish I had more problems just so I could call and talk to the coolest people I know (on this planet anyways). The good folks at EB are always a treat to talk to.

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

Call Customer Service!
I almost wish I had more problems just so I could call and talk to the coolest people I know (on this planet anyways). The good folks at EB are always a treat to talk to.

Just an opinion, there ought to be a sticky at the top of each of the forums

"Call Customer Service first for the following:"

1. Talk to the best CSR's on the planet..
2. Other anomolies that have cropped up on the forums that have been identified as CS related..

Alot of people use forums (other MFR's) as their first or last line of resolution from seasoned forumites that have seen these issues before and can supply information. New EBMM converts and visitors are unaware of the Herculean effort EBMM's CSR's will go to help them out. Other manufacturers don't have a CSR staff and policies that come anywhere near to what the Super Hero's in SLO and Indio have.

 

[old_metal_head]

How about contacting customer service first? This is one of my biggest pet peeves..

First let me say I'm sorry for doing that. I thought that maybe I was wrong after posting.

But, I didn't know what a stress crack was until I posted here.

I thought that was what a forum was for...communication. So I communicated here where people care about EBMM guitars. (Not in the Fender, Ibanez, Jackson, or any other guitar-related forum where I'd surely be flamed)

I was not trying to [dis] anyone at EBMM. I wasn't saying MM guitars are inferior. I was trying to figure out what it was.

There is no need for damage control or lashing out at me.

I looked long and hard before I decided to buy another one of your instruments and for that price there were quite a few options (many, many, many, in fact) from competing builders. I waited patiently for the Y2D to become available and I bought one my first chance no questions asked.

I'm sure everyone here all agrees that you make some fine guitars and that's why I spent my [hard earned] money on an Ernie Ball Music Man SM-Y2D.

So if you think I damaged sales because of my post then I apologize.

We will make it right, no need to compare us to a Japanese sweat shop

I made no such comparison (implicitly or explicitly) to EB guitars, employees, customer service, manufacturing, sales, maintenance, etc... I was just relaying experience. If you interpreted that way, again, BP I'm sorry.

Maybe I have to learn how to be a better customer?

 

[ripley]

yeah, for my part I feel the need to say that I was by no means taking a shot @ MM. I didn't even notice the cracks on my jp until I got it off the baggage carosel at narita - I pretty much figured the horror of baggage check was to blame. I took it to a shop in shibuya and they said the wood was intact and unharmed so I just went on my way.

looking @ my overly involved post, it could be percieved as villifying QC or something, so I just want to make absolutely clear that I love my jp and woulden't trade its body for a new one EVER. (unless it spontaniously cought on fire. then I'd want a new body. but I'd be willing to pay. so it's OK.)

 

[5Stringer]

Jerry,

Glad you finally called us here at Customer Service! I can assure you we will take good care of you!

Dan

 

[GHWelles]

The paint is black, right? In situations like that I get one of those permanaent black ink markers and touch up the crack to hide it and that is it. Black marker, the Steinway repair kit.

By the way, my Petrucci has no stress cracks at all, and it was shipped to Connecticut, to the midwest and then to the Desert, almost all the way back home.

 

[Warg Master]

I made no such comparison (implicitly or explicitly) to EB guitars, employees, customer service, manufacturing, sales, maintenance, etc... I was just relaying experience. If you interpreted that way, again, BP I'm sorry.

Maybe I have to learn how to be a better customer?

To me, the "No need to compare to a japanese sweat shop" Part sounded very much like a sarcastic joke.... at least that's how I took it... I laughed when I read that line.