A little late with the official NBD announcement, as this did arrive after Black Friday... of course, nothing does it justice like the pics from Sweetwater...
Closeout (2015) from Sweetwater, and great price, at that! I ordered the day before Thanksgiving (D'oh!), and it finally arrived the following Tuesday... even ground shipped should have been next day, as I'm only about 4 hours away... FedEx tracking was horrible, as was to be expected, but the delivery box came in great condition, so all was forgiven.
Gave it it's customary 24 hour acclimation period, noticing a few minor annoyances, upon opening (small crease on front side of body, control knobs adjusted low enough to impede their ability to to turn smoothly... one was actually loosening the lock nut... the route for the rear access panel exhibited uneven depth, high in some spots and low in others... 55 point inspection, indeed) and one 'major' nag (intermittent output jack).
My rep (Dan Robinson) at Sweetwater was awesome through the whole process, and gave me plenty of options to resolve my concerns with the bass... as I've told others within this forum, it's not your bass, until you say so...
I didn't want to return it to Ibanez's repair facility, the closest outside Pittsburgh, I believe. Dan even gave me the option of repair reimbursement, with a local tech... didn't want to do that, either. We agreed on Sweetwater sending a replacement barrel output jack to me, and I would repair it. I noted to Dan, in writing, this may void Ibanez's one year warranty, and he reassured me, in writing, that the do-it-myself repair wouldn't void their 2 year warranty... in the long run, it really pays to get this stuff documented.
Finally got the time to make the repair, today. The original output jack...
Desoldered...
I used the original lock nut, as it was more substantial than the new one...
Tested, and works like a charm! Dan also took care of me, regarding additional discount for my patience, understanding, and awesome sense of humor through this process. Pulled the protective coverings off the Bartolini's, and can now proudly claim...
... it's mine.
Have fun, guys and gals!
Spidey
Closeout (2015) from Sweetwater, and great price, at that! I ordered the day before Thanksgiving (D'oh!), and it finally arrived the following Tuesday... even ground shipped should have been next day, as I'm only about 4 hours away... FedEx tracking was horrible, as was to be expected, but the delivery box came in great condition, so all was forgiven.
Gave it it's customary 24 hour acclimation period, noticing a few minor annoyances, upon opening (small crease on front side of body, control knobs adjusted low enough to impede their ability to to turn smoothly... one was actually loosening the lock nut... the route for the rear access panel exhibited uneven depth, high in some spots and low in others... 55 point inspection, indeed) and one 'major' nag (intermittent output jack).
My rep (Dan Robinson) at Sweetwater was awesome through the whole process, and gave me plenty of options to resolve my concerns with the bass... as I've told others within this forum, it's not your bass, until you say so...
I didn't want to return it to Ibanez's repair facility, the closest outside Pittsburgh, I believe. Dan even gave me the option of repair reimbursement, with a local tech... didn't want to do that, either. We agreed on Sweetwater sending a replacement barrel output jack to me, and I would repair it. I noted to Dan, in writing, this may void Ibanez's one year warranty, and he reassured me, in writing, that the do-it-myself repair wouldn't void their 2 year warranty... in the long run, it really pays to get this stuff documented.
Finally got the time to make the repair, today. The original output jack...
Desoldered...
I used the original lock nut, as it was more substantial than the new one...
Tested, and works like a charm! Dan also took care of me, regarding additional discount for my patience, understanding, and awesome sense of humor through this process. Pulled the protective coverings off the Bartolini's, and can now proudly claim...
... it's mine.
Have fun, guys and gals!
Spidey
.
