Glad you finally got it back and I'm sorry it took so long. Sadly, your experience isn't atypical.
Warranty coverage on any item you purchase has value, whether the item is expensive or less expensive. Other than length of the warranty period there should be no difference in warranty service, whether we're talking about a USA or Tribute G&L. I would guess that Chris Robosan is pretty overloaded, otherwise you likely would have had a better experience. He's a good guy whose work is basically unheralded.
So...
Understand that G&L/BBE probably doesn't read this forum, so your disappointment in their performance will go unknown to them. As I mentioned earlier, you can post your experiences over on GuitarsByLeo where Webmaster Craig will see it and (hopefully) alert the proper people that there is a squeaky wheel that needs grease. This won't help you now, but may help others down the road - at least until they get side-tracked again.
A few short years ago, someone posting this sort of problem on GbL would raise a huge and vocal stink from others who have had similar problems. All Hell would break loose and eventually Dave McLaren would step in, quiet down the troops, and take care of the offended party. It's now notably more restrained. Plus, at least on the bass side, there are some folks who just fix things themselves where they can. There were some huge flames, though.
You could contact them the old fashioned way and write a letter. Seeing as how they've barely punched through (kicking and screaming) into the Information Age, they just might understand it.
David C. McLaren
BBE Sound
5381 Production Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Ken...
