Why do they DO this to the poor guitars?!?

[elvis2]

I flip a lot of gear, amps and guitars in particular. Pretty much EVERY time I get a used guitar, it's adjusted way out of spec in a bad way. I just picked up a lovely Cutlass RS HSS. It had negative relief, high action, poor intonation, and high pickups.

I get that we all like our guitars set up a little differently. I like super-flat boards and low action. But generally PLAYABLE. I do love that great manufacturers like EBMM make instruments that can be adjusted easily. A quick turn of the truss rod and some other adjustments and it's a world-class guitar. I feel terrible for players who are trying to play guitars that are out of adjustment and wondering why they are not so great.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Sounds like it needed a truss rod adjustment, they didn't know how to do one and changed everything else around it so it would still play. People do things because they don't know any better. Do you know how many people drive a car with no idea how to change the oil or the windshield wipers?

 

[elvis2]

Sounds like it needed a truss rod adjustment, they didn't know how to do one and changed everything else around it so it would still play. People do things because they don't know any better. Do you know how many people drive a car with no idea how to change the oil or the windshield wipers?

Sure. And this is like putting oil in the coolant receptacle. Luckily it does less damage.

 

[nervous]

I flip a lot of gear, amps and guitars in particular. Pretty much EVERY time I get a used guitar, it's adjusted way out of spec in a bad way. I just picked up a lovely Cutlass RS HSS. It had negative relief, high action, poor intonation, and high pickups.

I get that we all like our guitars set up a little differently. I like super-flat boards and low action. But generally PLAYABLE. I do love that great manufacturers like EBMM make instruments that can be adjusted easily. A quick turn of the truss rod and some other adjustments and it's a world-class guitar. I feel terrible for players who are trying to play guitars that are out of adjustment and wondering why they are not so great.

Agreed, and I can tell you that just about every guitar I ever sell leaves me in better, sometimes significantly better, condition than it arrived to me in. Not just just cosmetically but playability, loose and stripped screws, tightened nuts and cleaner.

 

[purpledc]

There are a LOT of people who have a misconception on how these guitars are made and assume that they know how to work on them. It may not even have been the previous owner. They may use a tech at guitar center to set the guitar up and thats like having the oil change guy set up your guitar. I too believe that all guitar setups can vary to some degree but within reason. I can play a guitar that a guy really shreds on with super low action and I will use a lighter touch to evaluate their setup because i have to take into account their playstyle. I have a playstyle that fluctuates depending on what guitar im playing. My seven I am pretty hard on the low B so that gets raised a bit higher than the low E. But i have very little relief. The rest of the action is as low as i can get it without any choking out even if I am heavy handed. But my 7 is my only EBMM. what I love is its the most simplest guitar to really set up. But I did the research beforehand on how they are made so I had an idea of what I needed to do. I feel bad for most used guitars I see. Well in stores I feel sorry for damn near every guitar on the floor. The most expensive are in the hottest driest air. And usually the most neglected. And then floor models are usually in used condition.