From what I have read, it’s a combination of labor shortage, too many boats for available berths, and production fluctuations from COVID. Whatever it is, everything is delayed these days. In June, I ordered a new patio door and was told it would be installed in the first week in August. Now the current ETA is end of October. It is what it is. If it’s not in stock, who knows when it’s coming. But I don’t think G&L’s Q/A is the holdup.
I have to vent a little here, so you G&L devotees may wanna scroll on by...
Holdups aside, based on what I've read here on TB the last couple years, and based on my recent experience, I'm not at all confident in USA G&L QA anymore. I think it's hit or miss with them now. My MJ-4 arrived recently after having a new neck built and fitted under warranty. To their credit they did use quarter sawn maple and they matched the painted headstock, as was OEM. And they completed the job in a timely manner, so there's that.
The neck is straight and the truss rod functions smoothly in both directions (thank God). But the "setup" is poorly done. I've filed the nut slots down a lot to get them to proper spec. If this bass went through a PLEK machine (which I highly doubt), all I can say is they better take a look at that machine and the person running it.
With the nut slots fixed, it's on to the next step...string height. The action can't come down to where it should be without all sorts of frets buzzing. IOW, it needs a good fret leveling, which I'll do myself because I know how and I have all the tools. Should I have to?...I don't think so. But I'd rather just do it myself than deal with those people again.
Also, the bass has no serial number now. That may be standard procedure for a factory neck replacement job, or it may be due to negligence. Dunno, no explanation was given. The bass just showed up unexpectedly sans the tracking info I was promised beforehand.
Nevermind the $118 Fedex shipping I had to pay to get the bass to them because I lost my original envelope with paperwork, build sheet, and
original invoice, which G&L insisted that I produce before agreeing to do the repair. Ordinarily G&L will email a pre-paid shipping label for warranty work. The Bass Place where I bought the bass has no record of the sale, so no invoice copy to be had from them. This, despite the fact that G&L surely has my original warranty card on file. With my back against the wall I agreed to pay the shipping cost "penalty" as a compromise at Memo's suggestion. Okay better than nothing, I thought. That left a bad taste in my mouth right off the bat. In fact, no part of this experience has left a positive impression on me, start to finish.
I feel better now...rant over, sorry. Carry on.
