Would you say that QC issues are mainly an issue with ordering online? Most of your small in store shops from my observation have their basses set up quite well as far as what is on their display wall. I’m sure they get lemons from their distributors that they have to send back or choose to sell as B stock provided the issue isn’t too bad. How many QC issues could actually be shipping issues from where the bass or amp was thrown or kicked around by Fed Ex. I guess a true QC issue would be a misaligned bridge or a dead preamp or even a finish blemish. Fret sprout, etc could be set up issues and easily fixed by a qualified technician. I’ve seen some online basses arrive perfectly in tune or very close which probably means someone looked it over(or someone tried it out). Earlier I mentioned small stores. I’m sure a lot would agree with me in saying that a lot of the employees at guitar center don’t know how to even play an instrument much less recognize a misaligned bridge.
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Quality Control issues
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
I think a lot of store demos and freight damaged equipment gets sold as is. Online retailers usually show pictures. I often use it as a negotiating point if the item isn’t already marked down
I usually fix those items, play it for awhile, and the start over
I usually fix those items, play it for awhile, and the start over
You mention misaligned bridges twice. Never seen one BUT I have run across any number of under-addressed issues which hinder playability: misaligned necks, poorly-cut nut slots, etc. We've pretty much resigned ourselves to correcting any deficits upon receipt & identification. This is complicated by the fact we have some really great and lousy diagnosticians active in the "Repair" forum. I like to think I'm fairly savvy but I have a list of 5 "go-to" guys when flummoxed.
Wish I could guarantee outcomes based on manufacturer / retailer but that'll never happen.
Riis
Wish I could guarantee outcomes based on manufacturer / retailer but that'll never happen.
Riis
A recent experience tells me that it’s a combination of factors. My local luthiers spend many hours each week “straightening” out problems with instruments purchased from Guitar Center. Many times the instruments just weren’t set up properly, in a few cases there was an actual manufacturing flaw that wasn't recognized. Shipping is “the luck of the draw” but if the seller doesn’t over pack the bass.with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and a hefty box, the instrument is in danger of damage right out of the gate. Just my take.
I’ve never seen a misaligned bridge either. I’ve read about them on here though. It’s usually been with Fenders. I have purchased an Ibanez from zzounds where the battery only lasted a week and when I got the bass the battery was dead.
I feel better when companies include a hard case or at least one of the mono cases that come with the EBMM basses.
I have small store horror stories and big store / GC horror stories, it's a long distance crapshoot when people are involved, especially in shipping used gear, no matter what you do or what they say. deal with only the Mgr. and it can still mean nothing. if an individual is going to going to punk out in packaging then I tend to not blame the entire store unless the owner is the root problem. I fully expect to get an item in lesser condition than pictured or described, while paying extra for the special privilege, and that's before an item even leaves the store. if you're lucky and it's a win win then it's in spite of everything. when buying new, things tend to improve in the care dept., but more $$$ means nothing all too often.
Gotcha! Weak import batteries are a minor niggle unless the bass is "killing" name-brand replacements in a similar fashion. In that case, we've got something grounding-out in the control cavity. Errr....I take that back as even a depleted cheap resident 9v alkaline would get the radar spinning. Fender holds its lion's share of the market which is why they're so glaringly visible....usually the neck install / alignment and we have a fix for that. Those 8th grade shop skills start to come in handy!
Riis
That Ibanez wasn’t exactly cheap either. It was definitely something going on in the control cavity. I swore off Ibanez for a long time because of that. I gave them another try and have had no issues
I start with the presumption that setups, at the fine end, are particular to the player, so a "perfect" in store setup is rare, even if a "proper" in-store setup should be standard operating procedure. That said, I've gotten great setups and overall QC from online/shipped vendors, and I've gotten lousy setups and QC from small local brick-and-mortar places. Even the local highly-respected place tends to set up their basses with too-high action across the board, so even their generally-good QC doesn't save me setup work post-purchase. A lot depends on the person doing the intake/shelving, I think, and I think they put consignment and used stuff on the floor as-is.
Guess that's a long way of me saying that I don't think small/local vs online/big is necessarily a reliable or consistent differentiator for QC.
Guess that's a long way of me saying that I don't think small/local vs online/big is necessarily a reliable or consistent differentiator for QC.
I have never had issues with hardware. Sometimes basses arrived with bad setup, but it is not an issue for me as I can fix it by my own.
The issues that I faced several times with basses were “dead spots”. All those basses I bought online from abroad as brand new. I know that almost all basses have them, but I think it is unacceptable when they are on E string, usually 5th or 6th fret.
The issues that I faced several times with basses were “dead spots”. All those basses I bought online from abroad as brand new. I know that almost all basses have them, but I think it is unacceptable when they are on E string, usually 5th or 6th fret.
I think it’s a lot more likely that you just have the opportunity to avoid QC issues when you shop in person vs online. The manufacturer’s defect rate is the manufacturer’s defect rate, that’s probably not going to change much by sales channel.
I purchased a Steinberger five string last summer. The neck was twisted and two of the tuners were no good. I needed pliers to turn them. I returned it and purchased another one from a different dealer. This one had sharp unfinished frets so I returned it. I now have an Ibanez SRH505f that is eating batteries like candy. I bought it last Sept and the original battery died within two weeks. I figured maybe it was a weak battery to begin with so I replaced it with a Duracell. That one lasted just over three weeks. I just put another Duracell in and made an appointment with a luthier who specializes in electronic problems. I am hoping it's just a bad jack or something simple. If not then it goes back. Three basses in a row, different brands, all with QC problems. I hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.
With Guitar Center, I've noticed a high level of low-quality-checked Fender instruments. Guitar Center doesn't vet instruments upon arrival/receipt and relies 100% on Fender's QC. Problem is Fender knows GC won't return lesser instrument, so rather than trash them at significant cost, guess who all the basses with wonky necks and fret-sprout get earmarked for.
Contrast this with Sweetwater, which inspects every instrument and returns lower-QC'd ones to the manufacturer.
Contrast this with Sweetwater, which inspects every instrument and returns lower-QC'd ones to the manufacturer.
Every time I go to GC I encounter basses that are, in my estimation, un-playable I don’t know if they will set them up for you if you buy? They should. But I’ve never bought one at GC, and I probably never will. If I can’t experience the bass (or guitar, or whatever) at its best so I can judge, I’m not going to buy and hope for the best.
Outside of special promotions, GC does not provide free setups upon purchase. They charge extra.
I'm with you, BTW - other than one-off used basses and guitars, I haven't bought a new instrument from Guitar Center since 1984.
Sounds like a short in that preamp. Piezo pre's can be pretty hot, have a high drain rate and fairly high output, but assuming you unplug when not playing that is just a short somewhere. Your tech should be able to trouble shoot it.I purchased a Steinberger five string last summer. The neck was twisted and two of the tuners were no good. I needed pliers to turn them. I returned it and purchased another one from a different dealer. This one had sharp unfinished frets so I returned it. I now have an Ibanez SRH505f that is eating batteries like candy. I bought it last Sept and the original battery died within two weeks. I figured maybe it was a weak battery to begin with so I replaced it with a Duracell. That one lasted just over three weeks. I just put another Duracell in and made an appointment with a luthier who specializes in electronic problems. I am hoping it's just a bad jack or something simple. If not then it goes back. Three basses in a row, different brands, all with QC problems. I hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.
Yeah, I wouldn't ask for one of their set-ups either, you have better luck taking it to a tech you trust to get set-up. I have bought two basses from GC, online, both Ibanez SRs. The Premium SR came very well set-up from the factory. I have not had to change anything yet, and it's about 18 months old. The budget SR fretless was not well set-up and required changes to intonation and bridge height. As delivered it was chewing the end of it's board at the 24th fret line, and intonation was sharp at the 12th.
The basses I picked up to try at GC store were so poorly set-up it was hard to gauge their true playability.
Any instrument, not matter the price, will settle and move once it leaves the controlled environment of the factory. Higher priced instruments MAY settle less than lower priced instruments, but they are not immune to environmental changes. I have seen mistakes from everyone from the lowest cost import makers all the way up to Alembic. (I only saw ONE from Alembic, but it did happen - the bridge was not lined up with the neck so the strings angled down the fretboard. [back in their days with LD Heater]) Most stores should try to do a basic job of inspecting instruments and setting them up, but it is always prudent to have a knowledgeable person who can set instruments up to your specific preferences. Just like getting fine clothing tailored to fit YOU.
There was a time, long ago, that GC actually catered to pro-level local players. They don't even try anymore.
