MTD - damaged neck in shipping

BassDudeSA · #1 07-19-2009, 10:32 AM

Long story short. Received a returned package by the US post office with a note claiming that they damaged my package. MTD Kingston KZ5 with two tuning pegs sheared 1/2 off and part of the nut shaved off. Like a clean blade jut cut them off. Surprisingly no damage to the wood or anything else. I may want to replace the entire neck or may just need to replace the two pegs and nut. No info on the MTD site, only an e-mail address which I already e-mailed too.

Anyone deal with replacement parts before for a foreign made MTD?

The package was insured for about $100 but the post office admits to being responsible for the damage. Not sure how this is gonna' work but I will fix it one way or another for the buyer. The buyer received the body in fine condition but this was the neck only that was shipped seperately. Damn.

Busker · #2 07-19-2009, 11:09 AM

If you receive claim money can you keep the neck? That's what I would be wondering. If you get the $100, it might be just enough to buy some tuners and get a nut fitted. Check the TB classifieds and ebay- you might be able to find the tuners you need, used, and save more bucks toward the nut fitting. Can you show a pic of the type of tuners it has?

**bass4worship** · #3 07-19-2009, 04:27 PM

Contact the USPS and take pictures of the damage and file a claim. Get a estimate on what it would cost to fix the bass from GC or SA or someone in the business. Sent Picture and estimate with claim. Sometime they will pay for repair since they cause the damage. You can sue them as long as you don't take any payment from them. If the hundred is more that fine.

BassDudeSA · #4 07-19-2009, 09:54 PM

Thanks, I'm taking the package to the post office tomorrow to show them what happened. Looks like it happened at some major distribution center in California, at least that's where the note came from. Check out the damage........

xxpigxx · #5 07-19-2009, 10:32 PM

wth?

dang that is messed up

dmusic148 · #6 07-19-2009, 10:45 PM

Must have gotten jammed under some kind of vehicle and dragged- those parts are ground off. Lucky they stopped when they did, good luck on the repairs.

BassDudeSA · #7 07-20-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Must have gotten jammed under some kind of vehicle and dragged- those parts are ground off. Lucky they stopped when they did, good luck on the repairs.

Not run over by a truck. There were three holes puntured in the box right above where the damage happened. Something came through the box and just cut these parts off clean. I have no idea what kind of machine could have done this. One thing to note, being that it was a neck only, being shipped to Australia, and the box was about the same shape and size to contain a rifle, maybe it flagged homeland security or some kind of special processing. I have no idea, but they could have just opened the package and looked at it. They posted a note on the box saying it got caught in a machine.

202dy · #8 07-20-2009, 07:45 AM

It really doesn't matter how the damage occurred. The focus now is on how to fix it.

This is a fairly simple job. There does not appear to be any damage to the headstock. The tuners should be replaced with like or equal machines. The nut should be replaced. If you are not up to the task, take it to a pro. He can bolt the neck to a surrogate body and cut the nut so that it is right.

Cost is not much of a problem if you swap out the tuners. If you leave that task for your luthier the price could climb a bit. But it would still be close enough that the insurance money would come close to covering it. Any overages can be considered the price of the insurance lesson.

It is a good idea to communicate with your buyer to learn his expectations for the repair. It might be that he is willing to accept delivery of the neck plus the insurance settlement. He could have the work done locally. Or if he has the skill, make the repairs himself.

silen7ce · #9 07-20-2009, 07:53 AM

Saw this the other day on ebay - maybe it helps you?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MTD-5-STRING-BASS-BRIDGE-TUNING-KEYS-KNOBS_W0QQitemZ180382447657QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuit ar_Accessories?hash=item29ffa1b829&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A2122|293%3A1| 294%3A50

Busker · #10 07-20-2009, 09:12 AM

Are those Gotoh machines? I have some Gotoh (Japan) machines from a '92 Fender Jazz Deluxe, or whatever it was called, and they look like that (the buttons and shafts do anyway).

If they are the same and you want them, I'll sell you two of them real cheap, and half of your problem is solved. I'm not trying to push the tuners on you, just trying to help you get it fixed for cheap.

See my thread with photos of the tuners here:

3 Gotoh tuners, 2 P bass pickguards

BassDudeSA · #11 07-20-2009, 06:24 PM

Hi guys, thanks for the tips and offers. This is really starting to suck. Just talked to the post office by phone. Tomorrow I will go down to the local office and file a damage report. That was expected. The problem is that is takes 24 - 60 days to process, probably closer to the shorter end of that spectrum if I do everything right (and they don't screw up). But they say I need to keep the damaged item (the neck) until the process is finished. Since the neck is actually fine other than the nut and two tuning pegs, I wanted to get them replaced (nut replaced by a local pro) with new (or like new) parts quick-like and get this neck to the very cool buyer in Australia. He now has 1/2 a bass. I also need the post office to cover my $51 re-mailing fee. But now they want me to wait and keep everything as is for at least another month? Damn? Fine with me but the buyer will not like that. I'll see what he has to say. So far he is more than cool and very understanding. I sold the bass as a bass in almost new condition, which it was but for minor blemishes. The neck can be restored to that with new replacement parts. No one at MTD has e-mailed yet so I'll call them tomorrow.

I may need to follow up on the leads here for new parts but first I want to see if I can order them from MTD. Might have to just get this thing fixed and send it off and deal with the post office for reimbursement later. I'll take the loss if I have to since I may not wait for this claim to finish, luckily it is not the whole bass damaged here. I just need to make sure the buyer is taken care of.

**bass4worship** · #12 07-20-2009, 06:33 PM

Allways double box when shipping a bass not in a hard shell case.

BassDudeSA · #13 07-20-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass4worship

Allways double box when shipping a bass not in a hard shell case.

Yeah, this box was packed very well. Just one actual box but plenty more layers of cardboard on all sides. No hardshell case would have stopped whatever tool/machine/blade entered this package. Whatever it was cut smoothly and cleanly right through the steel tuning posts, not to mention whatever tough material the nut is made from. I'm curious just what could have done that. And whatever it was, it came though a couple small holes in the box and pretty much bit those pieces right off.