Take it back to repair or do it myself??

Deaky · #1 07-17-2011, 03:51 PM

Hi all

I recently purchased an American Deluxe P bass which I absolutely love. However when changing strings the metal things that sit inside the holes at the back of the bass fell out. It's only the first two that were loose. So question is should I take it back for repair or just use sum adhesive to stick them back in place?

Has anyone had this issue with there deluxe models?

Many thanks

Deak

allexcosta · #2 07-17-2011, 04:17 PM

Quite common...

If you string-through just leave it. The strings will hold them...

If not and it's under warranty, ask them to fix it. Or you can just use a drop of super-glue and fix it yourself.

JLS · #3 07-17-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Quite common...

If you string-through just leave it. The strings will hold them...

If not and it's under warranty, ask them to fix it. Or you can just use a drop of super-glue and fix it yourself.

If this was purchased from a Certain Large Retail Establishment, I wouldn't trust the so-called, "techs", to be able to undertake this without problems...

Deaky · #4 07-17-2011, 04:59 PM

Why wouldn't you trust them out of interest!

frianbisher · #5 07-17-2011, 05:24 PM

You don't need to take it in, super glue will work just fine.

slaphappychappy · #6 07-17-2011, 06:13 PM

huh, are we talking about ferrules, or something else?

walterw · #7 07-17-2011, 08:26 PM

yep, the ferrules on the back of american standard fenders (guitars and basses) have a bad habit of coming loose.

don't use superglue, too big a risk of permanently smearing it on the finish.

on your next re-string, just pull them all out, smear a bunch of wood glue on them, re-install then string 'er up. wipe off the excess, and you'll be good to go.

MusicBear · #8 07-17-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLS

If this was purchased from a Certain Large Retail Establishment, I wouldn't trust the so-called, "techs", to be able to undertake this without problems...

Scary Tech Syndrome - I was out running errands recently and stopped by a few stores to see what they might have new in basses. At one store I pulled a pricey bass off the rack to try then stopped when I noted all of the fret ends sticking out ("ouch"). The store tech tried to tell me that the fret ends would pull back in flush with the edge of the neck once the bass acclimatized to being out on display...

SurferJoe46 · #9 07-18-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicBear

Scary Tech Syndrome - I was out running errands recently and stopped by a few stores to see what they might have new in basses. At one store I pulled a pricey bass off the rack to try then stopped when I noted all of the fret ends sticking out ("ouch"). The store tech tried to tell me that the fret ends would pull back in flush with the edge of the neck once the bass acclimatized to being out on display...

Did he have a broom in his hand? I doubt any 'tech' - no matter how ignorant would make that sort of comment.

But it was Pennsylvania you say? Hmmm. Could be I guess. Look for the Sanforized label on any bass you might want to buy in Pennsylvania.

I lived there and if it's not humidity in the one hundredth percentile, then it's the mosquitoes taking small children to the woods to eat them.

mdogs · #10 07-18-2011, 09:09 AM

Well. I really don't want to defend GC too much, but the truth is that they DO have some really high quality stores and some really high quality people. I have 2 that I frequent, 1 is the type of which most people are accustomed. The other though is an excellent store with an unreal selection of equipment including numerous boutique basses in stock at any point in time. This store absolutely blows away 99% of the mom and pop stores out there. This is one of the original Chicago stores and they are quite proud that they are able to set themselves apart from the other GC's that give them a bad name. And to answer the question, no I do not work for them...

MusicBear · #11 07-18-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Did he have a broom in his hand? I doubt any 'tech' - no matter how ignorant would make that sort of comment.

But it was Pennsylvania you say? Hmmm. Could be I guess. Look for the Sanforized label on any bass you might want to buy in Pennsylvania.

I lived there and if it's not humidity in the one hundredth percentile, then it's the mosquitoes taking small children to the woods to eat them.

No broom. He had a name badge and a title that indicated he should have known better.

The bass in question was built in an area known for many lakes (and sport fishing) so Pennsylvania's humidity should not have been foreign to it.

I thought those mosquitoes were imported.

We met a few like that in Alaska.

jeffbrown · #12 07-18-2011, 10:59 AM

There's a store here that - - oh, never mind.

Those skeeters sound like they must have been transported from our (NH) White Mtns. Have they lost their landing lights on the move south?

grendle · #13 07-18-2011, 04:19 PM

It used to be the really good music stores had in house tech's that set up all the guitars really well. They were also $100-200 more per instrument because of this. They were successful and were where you went for "the good stuff". Now they would be labled rip offs because they couldn't price match the big stores or the internet.

Thaos627 · #14 07-18-2011, 04:25 PM

to the OP just put them back in when changing strings. my vintage fender mustang does that too its not an issue. if they fall out put them back in u could glue them but its just there to protect the wood nothing serious personally i wouldnt even of mentioned it

walterw · #15 07-18-2011, 10:12 PM

...aaanyway, yeah, some wood glue in there and you're good to go.

leaving it unglued is great, until you have to change a string at set-break and a ferrule falls out and rolls under the stage, never to be seen again

john grey · #16 07-19-2011, 10:42 AM

Obviously, you use CARE and apply adhesive in a mindful manner and - you're all done.

The issue of the Large Retail-Chain Musical Instrument stores is a very logical one. They are in business to SELL musical instruments and accessories. They are NOT in business to repair them. Therefore the "tech" is often an individual who assembles musical instruments to a very limited extent.
Keeping in mind that person handles MANY musical instruments of the brands that the store sells, he may have become accustom to treating them in a different manner than the final private-owner. After all it's not HIS thousand dollars (or whatever) that he has in his hands.
This is not a slur toward the Large Retain Chain stores; it's a simple reality. They are NOT in the repair business. They may re-string a guitar, or do some small cosmetic work to get the unit out the door but they are NOT experienced techs. They may have come in contact with other brands on their own but basically they contact what the store sells. They MAY have read some material on repair or they may have made it up as they went along. They may even have learned on customer's instruments.

I would NOT want my musical instrument (no matter it's cost, or if it's a beater) to be worked on by that person. It's only logical that he has no "reputation" to preserve. He has no "business interest" to maintain. And for the most part, his experience would come from OJT and in learning ANYTHING - entails mistakes; occasionally uncorrectable ones.

darkstorm · #17 07-19-2011, 03:23 PM

Ive had a few basses and guitars with that loose ferrulles thing. Id simply use a little bit of elmers wood glue on outside, stuff them back in the holes. Restring. The glue adds enough to make for tighter fit once its dry. Just be careful that you dont put any glue on end where theres hole for strings to go thru in body in case any seeps out once back in place and strings pulling ferrules tight up against body.

littlepope · #18 07-19-2011, 04:14 PM

Would not worry about ferrules too much. Either glue or do not glue, string pressure will hole them in place.

The comment about "acclimatizing while on display" is talking crap. He don't know jack. How long does said model will take?
Lakland takes longer than Ibanez, Fender, Rickenbacker, Alembic, Aria or G&L?
Does 5 string basses take longer?
At what rate are we talking?
How long has this bass been up there?
Does it acclimatize over the weekend or on weekdays?
What body wood takes longer-ash or walnut, alder or basswood?
Which fingerboard wood takes longer-maple or ebony or rosewood?

Basically my guitar never finished acclimatizing. It has been in my house for over a year. It eats, sleeps and watches t.v. while I am at work. And it still gets slightly stiffer in the humid season down south.

The fluff some people will feed you just amazes me to be musician!!!