NBD major fret sprout

[JenderBazzFass]

I had instruments with significant sprout that corrected themselves after normalizing to the FL humidity. I think most things from GC ship from their warehouse in Kansas City where it would be cold and dry this time of year, although sometimes things ship from stores.

 

[BAG]

Agree. Looks like fret end filing skipped completely.

And considering the cost of a Rickenbacker it's really pathetic. If something like this can be missed what might you find under the hood.

 

[H K]

What the F... Never seen anything like this on a Rick. Someone must have been drunk on the assembly line that day, this would NEVER pass a normal QC there.
Maybe the wood wasnt completely dry, or maybe the moisture changes F'd it up along the way, but even still, THAT much?!

Also, idk if its the angle but the whole thing looks slightly off to me.. Like, the body looks a little "too sharp"/"too slab" in certain places. More so than the 4003S's I've handled. Idk, could be the angle.

The 4003SW is on top of my wishlist, but this is scary, especially considering I gotta shell out about 4k USD for one where I'm at.

 

[SharpCat]

So, OP, are you sure it’s not a counterfeit? That’s almost makes more sense than a massive QC fail.

 

[humbuckaroo]

That's not on GC...... that's a manufacturing issue... and one of the worst I've ever seen.

Agreed.

 

[dune]

View attachment 7387639View attachment 7387640View attachment 7387641View attachment 73876422025 Rickenbacker 4003SW.
I can grab the bass by the frets
as you can see in the image.
I will have to return it to Guitar Center.
I don't trust them to do the work.
I will just have to order another one.
They have them in stock at the Guitar Center warehouse in California.
I am not going to bring it to a luthier because I'm not interested in getting anyone else involved except the retailer.

Any suggestions?

The two close up shots look to me like they're both of the same fret end. Are all of the fret ends that bad?

 

[jd56hawk]

View attachment 7387639View attachment 7387640View attachment 7387641View attachment 73876422025 Rickenbacker 4003SW.
I can grab the bass by the frets
as you can see in the image.
I will have to return it to Guitar Center.
I don't trust them to do the work.
I will just have to order another one.
They have them in stock at the Guitar Center warehouse in California.
I am not going to bring it to a luthier because I'm not interested in getting anyone else involved except the retailer.

Any suggestions?

I've fixed fret sprout on half a dozen basses or more, but that’s extreme.

 

[ahbradot]

So, OP, are you sure it’s not a counterfeit?

There is absolutely no indication that this is a counterfeit bass.
It came delivered from GC in original manufacturing sealed packaging provided by Rickenbacker.

 

[ahbradot]

The two close up shots look to me like they're both of the same fret end. Are all of the fret ends that bad?

Excellent question. Yes, you are correct as it's a close-up shot of the exact same fret.
The first fret is the most sprouted of all of them.
The second fret is the second most sprouted.
And every single other fret is sharp as well.

 

[No such thing]

I think its an opportunity to take it to a luthier and get it set up perfectly as well.

I did that with a Sire M7 that you could saw firewood with and its one of my absolute favs now.

 

[Jaycat]

And bill GC for the Band-aids.

 

[Zooberwerx]

The fret, itself, almost appears mangled and not sitting flush with the fingerboard.

Riis

 

[dune]

The fret, itself, almost appears mangled and not sitting flush with the fingerboard.

Riis

It also looks as though the wood directly beneath the tang is pushed out a bit. Makes me wonder if the slots weren't cut deep enough or something impacted that fret to cause to wood to bulge slightly.

 

[roccobass]

Excellent question. Yes, you are correct as it's a close-up shot of the exact same fret.
The first fret is the most sprouted of all of them.
The second fret is the second most sprouted.
And every single other fret is sharp as well.

I was going to suggest trying to get this thing discounted MUCH more than 15%, but the damage is too extensive in my view. This really sucks. It’s a beautiful bass.

I’d say call Rickenbacker CS to give them the low down, but I hear their CS isn’t that friendly. So sorry, my good man. So it’s…

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s back to GC it goes….

 

[Sbassman Scratch]

Rickenbacker should be informed about this.
Send the pictures with a politely worded but firm email to Ric pointing out the obvious and asking what went wrong in an orherwise reputable company (even if the reputation isn't always deserved). Include the serial number and copy of the sales receipt.

I'd ask them to buy it back, but you know how far that would go. GC will just relist it.

 

[ahbradot]

I was going to suggest trying to get this thing discounted MUCH more than 15%, but the damage is too extensive in my view. This really sucks. It’s a beautiful bass.

I’d say call Rickenbacker CS to give them the low down, but I hear their CS isn’t that friendly. So sorry, my good man. So it’s…

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s back to GC it goes….

I feel very fortunate that the GC store is minutes away from me.
It will be a an easy hassle-free exchange.
The bass will have to come from the out of state warehouse again.
I played this Rickenbacker for a few hours last night and I was in heaven even though my the sides of my fingers were dripping blood from the sharp fret sprout

 

[ahbradot]

Makes me wonder if the slots weren't cut deep enough

You're definitely onto something there because especially on that first fret it looks like the fret isn't in deep enough. There's a lip under that first fret. it's not all the way flush against the fret board.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Final quality control was obviously missing at the factory.

The only way to "educate" those people is to return the bass for a full credit. Too bad the customer has to do such things.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

that's terrible.

fortunate that you're able to return without too much inconvenience.

 

[dune]

You're definitely onto something there because especially on that first fret it looks like the fret isn't in deep enough. There's a lip under that first fret. it's not all the way flush against the fret board.

I think that's a HUGE red flag. The only fix for that would be to pull them all, deepen the slots with a fret saw and refret. Given that, sending it back is definitely the way I'd be going.