Should I return my acoustic? (I may have OCD)

cryptochiral · #1 07-26-2017, 02:35 PM

Hello there,

Some time ago I asked you guys about a solid top all-mahogany acoustic. A couple of you mentioned Ibanez AC220 as a recommendation, and after a while I was able to spot it in a nearby shop. (thanks again for the input, it really helped me decide) I liked it very much, but since I am a dreadnought man, I wanted to try the AW54 from the same Artwood series. Unfortunately, no shop had it in stock. Because I was really impressed with the AC220, and the AW54 also had great reviews, I decided to blind order the dread online.

I absolutely love its tone and looks, but I was able to spot some defects. Maybe they are there because of poor shipping (it has taken 5 days instead of 2 and the days were hot - it could matter)

What I noticed (everything in the pictures):
- some frets are lifting up (no buzzing but some notes are kinda damped I think)
- there is a very slight bump on the right side behind the bridge (left side of pictures - hard to notice)
- I was able to stick a very thin piece of paper beneath just the one corner of the bridge (the gap is minimal, not even visible really)

My question is, should I return it or maybe send it for a repair? (does the warranty cover my issues?) Or maybe I have OCD and shouldn't ask for a perfect guitar for so little money? [emoji14]

Thanks for any help

ii Cybershot ii · #2 07-26-2017, 02:38 PM

Well I'd also wonder what else is wrong, or could go wrong. With this shoddy level of craftsmanship anything could happen. The guitar is not worth enough to sink even a single penny into repairs in the future IMO.

billyfamilyvide · #3 07-26-2017, 02:39 PM

I've yet to hear of a bad one.

If you love the tone and look, perhaps you can get a discount and have the repair work done free of charge. Contact the dealer and ask for options.

I do not feel you are being OCD. I also feel that you can expect not to have to deal with these issues for the price paid.

Please keep us updated with how it plays out.

Denny B · #4 07-26-2017, 02:39 PM

Those frets are obviously out of place, and you can slide a piece of paper under the a corner of the bridge?

Even a relatively inexpensive guitar shouldn't be shipped to a customer with such obvious defects...

Send that puppy back...

Goat Mick · #5 07-26-2017, 02:41 PM

Normally I'm not too picky with an inexpensive guitar, but in this instance I would contact the dealer to arrange a return. If it was something like a little over spray or a finish blemish, I'd say to keep it and go on but the lifting bridge concerns me some. Raised frets are a pain, but can easily be tapped back down if you support the neck properly. Contact the dealer and give them your concerns and see what your options are.

jmjohnson · #6 07-26-2017, 02:41 PM

New purchase? Return it.

Jimmy Recard · #7 07-26-2017, 02:43 PM

I'd return it.

beninma · #8 07-26-2017, 02:53 PM

I think at this stage I'd return that too.

But I had an Alvarez up until last month that had some frets like that, maybe not as bad as your pics but bad enough to make it impossible to play certain notes. They were fixed in > 5 minutes for $0 when I showed the guitar to a luthier. I showed it to him over other issues and then mentioned the frets as a side thing and he just fixed them free on the spot.

But after that experience I'm more careful now.. no buying guitars I can't see and play and I look for these details now.

So if you like it otherwise just go get it fixed.

psychojohn · #9 07-26-2017, 02:56 PM

Given that your love the tone so much in this guitar with obvious construction issues, I'd return this and have them ship another one out at their expense and keep doing it until you get one that's right all around. If it sounds that good with construction issues, how good will one without those issues sound if it's right in all ways ?!

John

Gasworker · #10 07-26-2017, 02:58 PM

You probably don't have OCD. You should send the guitar back if it's bothering you.

TBman · #11 07-26-2017, 03:02 PM

As our fellow member Chicago Sandy would say - Life is too short for bad coffee and crappy guitars (or something like that).

Send it back.

Rodger Knox · #12 07-26-2017, 03:03 PM

The frets do need a little work, but the top and bridge look fine to me. It's not unusual to be able to get a piece of paper under a corner of the bridge, the glue doesn't get all the way to the edge. If it will go under more than 1/8", there may be a problem.

aknow · #13 07-26-2017, 03:50 PM

What Denny B. said
Frets are completely unacceptable....

rogthefrog · #14 07-26-2017, 04:16 PM

Frets lift. It happens. It's happened to me on a much more expensive made in USA guitar.

I don't see a problem with the bridge.

This is a 30-minute tweak at the shop that sold you the guitar.

People in this thread are way overreacting. This is a $199 guitar.

Earl49 · #15 07-26-2017, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Knox

The frets do need a little work, but the top and bridge look fine to me. It's not unusual to be able to get a piece of paper under a corner of the bridge, the glue doesn't get all the way to the edge. If it will go under more than 1/8", there may be a problem.

I agree with this. Seating the frets is no big deal for a decent repair tech or a luthier, but they will likely need to be re-leveled too. You have to decide how much slack to give the retailer, and how much hassle it is to get it either fixed or replaced.

I have a whole different set of expectations for perfect construction when spending $2K and up for a guitar, and can tolerate more QC issues when the price is under $500.