setup problems

[glockaxis]

I went to a mom and pop guitar store where I used to take lessons and took my Axis guitar in for a setup.

They've had it for a month w/ no call back to me so I called them on 3 different occasions. Each time they replied:
1. We'll call you when it's done
2. It must be at the shop cause it's not
here---I'll call you back on Monday
3. It's done and we've done the best we could with the kind of guitar it is.


To say the least I'm pissed off and will be calling today. I have to travel 2 hours to reach the shop (I'm a loyal customer unless something like this happens) so what do you guys think I should do/ask for in return? seriously. I personally think someone screwed it up and they've been covering it up.

 

[bing4sons]

I would pick up the guitar and take it to someone else to have it worked on. A set up is not that hard to do and doesn't take very long. The only reason you shouldn't be able to pick it up the next day is due to a backlog in the repair shop. A month is ridiculous!

Do you have a receipt with serial number on it, from when you dropped it off? If there is any damage to the guitar, I would have them make it right.

Bing

 

[Jimi D]

3. It's done and we've done the best we could with the kind of guitar it is.

wtf?!? This sounds like it stinks to me - go over the guitar very carefully before you walk out with it, make sure they didn't break anything (check the trussrod!) and then refuse to pay full price for the job; a month for a setup is absurd!

 

[EVH_5150]

crock

Sounds like foul play BS to me 2!

Either there way back logged, or idiots, or they messed it up.
Great advise above.

Damn a month without your baby, thats hard time man.

 

[nobozos]

Dude, something is seriously wrong. Absolutely go over that guitar with a fine tooth comb. I have owned three different Axis' that I bought used, and set them all up myself. The first time I ever set one up took me about 45 minutes. The last one I set up was in about 15 minutes, and I learned everything I know about setting up guitars from the Wolfgang owners manual and the PRS website. I would expect anyone who has a guitar shop and does this kind of work for a living would be able to set up just about any guitar in less than a half hour. Considering that Ernie Balls are without a doubt the easiest guitars to set up neck relief on, I would expect it to be on the bench for a maximum of 20 minutes.
Just the statement of "we did the best we could for what it is" would be enough to have me extremely worried that they don't know what in the hell they are doing. What the hell do they even mean "for what it is"? It's not like you broght them a 1983 Hondo with a plywood body.
Be prepared for the worst, and demand compensation for any damage before you take that guitar out the doors of the store.
Hell, even if it's not damaged, I would still demand compensation for making you wait over a month for a job that should have taken them 20 minutes.

 

[koogie2k]

Everyone has given some great advice and I would take of all it into consideration. Go over it 10 times before you remove it from the store. I would plug her up to the amp you like and play until the cows came home. I would purposely tune it up 13 times just to aggrevate the store! lol. Actually, I would definitely play it through a rig of some sort and check your baby over very carefully. Get some strings from them or something. They owe you something definitely! Good luck, hope your guitar is good to go with no problems.

 

[Estin]

any new word on the status or your EB man? were all biting our nails for you.

 

[glockaxis]

Hey guys didn't mean to keep you in suspense. I went yesterday to pick up the guitar (could only go weekends because the place is 2 hrs away). Any way, I took all of your advice and looked it over w/ a fine tooth comb and everything was in order. The setup was done but the guy didn't even have the decency to wipe down the guitar (years ago the old tech would clean the neck and oil it and clean the top etc...just awesome attention to detail) I guess I got spoiled. I did get the setup at no charge and to be honest I was just glad the guitar was there and in one piece so I could take it home.

I try to patronize the "small guy" and I get ripped (so to speak) but I'll still do the same to others. My only worry now is finding a tech that's competent, honest, and skillfull. If anyone knows of one in the Palm Springs/Ontario/Montclair/Upland southern Calif. area please let me know. If you have any other questions let me know. Again, thanks for the support and advice----you guys are the best.

Dom

 

[bing4sons]

Glad everything worked out for you.



Bing

 

[Estin]

me too.

 

[pack-rat]

The setup was done but the guy didn't even have the decency to wipe down the guitar

Wow this is pretty standard thing to do , wipe the guitar down after setup.

What did they actualy do ?

 

[hendmik]

I'd ask EB if they perform setups outside of warantee work.

I had to send my Axis into EB in December to correct some paint problems. Jon set it up (for free) and frankly, set the benchmark for service in the future. The setup was the best I've ever had (he even dressed the frets for free?!?!), it was gone for a little over 2 weeks (mostly as it sat on a UPS truck) and Jon kept me in constant communication as to the status of my guitar, when it arrived, when it shipped out, and even spent a few minutes on the phone with me after I received it, entertaining my dumb questions.

I will never tollerate anything less. I was so ecstatic about my experience with EB, that my wife got sick of me talking about it. When I normally seek warantee work, I'm used to being treated as a criminal or scam artist trying to get something for free or flatly being accused of breaking it myself. Not EB.

I can list 100 companies that could learn what customer service means from EB. I'm loyal for life.

 

[glockaxis]

From what I could tell it was restrung (I could have done that) but the buzz is gone anf the fine tuners were all even on the Floyd Rose so I know he turned those. Maybe next time I should just fed ex it to EBMM----but I don't want to open a can of worms with this, they have enough to do!!!

 

[pack-rat]

Hendmik's story just inforces my decission to get an EB guitar.

 

[hendmik]

Hendmik's story just inforces my decission to get an EB guitar.

The word of mouth I can pass is the least I could do for EB. I'm lucky that the nicest guitar I've ever played, I also own.

 

[pack-rat]

i actualy read your post on VHforums as well Hen

 

[Estin]

ok i'm sure by now we all know that EB fricken rocks when it comes to well...damn near everything! but lets keep talking about it cause its fun.