What the heck is up with Graph Tech?!

Rebop · #1 02-12-2011, 09:38 AM

I work at an online store and we sell a lot of Graph Tech products. What the heck is up with the dimensions on their products? I get so many complaints and returns from customers due to inaccurate measurements listed on their products (half the time it's anal retentive people with digital calipers and unwillingness to shave a little off with a bit of sandpaper; I hate those customers). Then there is also a HIGH percentage of mis-packaged stuff. I've seen a lot of right handed nuts and saddles in lefty packaging (there shouldn't be left handed guitars in the first place, but that's another thread all together). Headaches constantly with these people.
Can they get it together?
Will they ever get it together?

Gravedigger · #2 02-12-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebop

(there shouldn't be left handed guitars in the first place, but that's another thread all together).

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but are you out of your mind.....

Rebop · #3 02-12-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but are you out of your mind.....

I'm a lefty but play correctly. They don't make left handed saxophones and you'd be hard pressed to find a lefty cellist in an orchestra. Aside from one left handed piano I've seen that was built as a novelty, I don't think you'd be able to show me one of those either.

Step · #4 02-12-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but are you out of your mind.....

it's funny that whenever someone says something like "don't mean to hijack your thread" they immediately hijack the thread

I agree on the lefty sentiment, I'm a lefty but play righty and don't feel any worse for it

2-Sticks · #5 02-12-2011, 10:06 AM

I have never had an issue with any of the Graph Tech products I have purchased over the years......and there have been alot them.

Graph Tech is smaller operation, I have been through the facility, I wonder if they may have had some staffing issues as of late. From nuts, to saddles, everything I have ever recieved from them was just as I ordered...just my $0.02.

Gravedigger · #6 02-12-2011, 10:10 AM

Say what you will, I have no choice in the matter.....I play left-handed because I only have a right hand. I wasn't born with the luxery of a left hand, so yeah, I tend to take slight offense to that comment. Honestly, that was not my intent to hijack the thread, I just wanted to make a quick point and move on, but if you want to take a jab at me over it......well, go ahead. I do understand the mentallity for left-handed people to learn and play on right-handed instruments, cost, availability, selection, etc. Just don't say that that there shouldn't be any left-handed guitars, period.

Rebop · #7 02-12-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2-Sticks

I have never had an issue with any of the Graph Tech products I have purchased over the years......and there have been alot them.

Graph Tech is smaller operation, I have been through the facility, I wonder if they may have had some staffing issues as of late. From nuts, to saddles, everything I have ever recieved from them was just as I ordered...just my $0.02.

I have about an issue per week with the products. It seems to have spiked a bit lately so it is probably a staffing issue. This week was a customer saying, "hey this is supposed to be a compensated 3/32" saddle, you sent me the wrong one, grrrr mad comments grrr, correct the problem." So I ship out the correct one, double checking that the correct item is in the package and he takes his digital calipers to it and says "...it measures .108" thick on a digital caliper, whereas 3/32 = .09375."

Ummm. You ever heard of sandpaper, buddy? But of course, I have to be nice and keep those comments to myself.

Steveaux · #8 02-12-2011, 03:07 PM

Standard machining tolerances ...

Fractional = +/- 1/64" = 0.015625"

.XXX = +/- .005"

.XX = +/- .010"

.X = +/- .020"

grisezd · #9 02-13-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Say what you will, I have no choice in the matter.....I play left-handed because I only have a right hand. I wasn't born with the luxery of a left hand, so yeah, I tend to take slight offense to that comment. Honestly, that was not my intent to hijack the thread, I just wanted to make a quick point and move on, but if you want to take a jab at me over it......well, go ahead. I do understand the mentallity for left-handed people to learn and play on right-handed instruments, cost, availability, selection, etc. Just don't say that that there shouldn't be any left-handed guitars, period.

And I'll tell you what's worse that people with digital calipers. One handed people!!

Dude, I'm totally kidding. I'm cool with left handed, right handed, upside down, whatever. I think it's great that you've been able to find an adaptation (left handed bass) that lets you create. I sat in with a band with a lead guitar player that only had the smallest bit of a hand who just killed. He had developed quite a touch, muting, pinch/touch harmonics. Amazing.

There, thread jacked again...

walterw · #10 02-13-2011, 09:02 PM

[attempt to steer the thread back on track]

i've never had anything like these problems with graphtech in years of carrying their stuff, but it's been a few months since i've ordered anything.

i make it a point to tell purchasers of nuts and acoustic saddles that they always have to be sanded and shaped to fit, though.

anybody who thinks enough of their measuring chops to whip out a micrometer should have the skills to sand the things down to where they need to be

[/attempt to steer the thread back on track]

Steveaux · #11 02-14-2011, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

anybody who thinks enough of their measuring chops to whip out a micrometer should have the skills to sand the things down to where they need to be

WalterW .... for the win.

JTE · #12 02-14-2011, 09:07 AM

It sounds like two different problems. First, mis-packaged product from Graph-Tech, second people who don't know enough about instruments. I can't comment on the mis-packaging, but the other I do have some experience with. Too many people think a nut should be able to just drop in and be right. That's simply not true. Witness the plethora of people who have come to accept fret-sprout on "professional" grade instruments. That's caused by the wood shrinking. If it shrinks enough that the metal frets stick out beyond the original CNC specs, then why would any intelligent person assume that the width of a neck wouldn't change at the nut slot?!

Second, nuts on most mass-produced instruments are at best merely acceptable, and quite often cut woefully poorly. They're too high, the slots aren't low enough, and they're not rounded well. Especially the slots aren't cut low enough. To buy an after-market nut and assume you just gotta drop it in and restring is ludicrous. But lots of people buy nuts, either after-market, or say Fender branded, and cant' understand why it needs more work.

John