Flyer91 Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 This is tad off topic, but is meant as a follow up to my contributions to an EPI G-1275 thread, where I had to send the 1275 back due to shipping damage. As you may have read, I had some bad luck with a G-1275, double neck, 6/12 string Epi ... that I received with serious cosmetic damage. But also after playing with it for more than the typical store tryout period, I found it was just a tad too uncomfortable for my taste, as it 'really' wore on me after some time. Even sitting and playing it was more .... weird ..... than I like. So, it went back for a refund, and I ordered up an Ibanez Artcore AS7312 12-String Semi-Hollow electric, along with a $99 Gator case which I got from Sweetwater, that fits it perfectly. They both arrived yesterday, and although the case is fine ... this 12 string also got itself a "trav'lin boo-boo" :( ... but not near as bad a the Epi G-1275. Here are some pic's of this Ibanez 12 string .... And finaly ...... the trav'lin boo-boo .... I'm sort of conflicted on what to do about this because the total damage area is significantly less than the size of a dime, with the chip being a tad larger than a grain of rice (although right on the rear top edge of the guitar) but the rest of the guitar, and the wood grain, is really nice. So I don't know if I will return it for replacement or take a partial refund and stick with this one. I still need to restring it because one of the strings was broken upon receipt. But so far it sounds wonderful and the action is really low with no fret buzz. In any case ..... the the Chip, Dent and Cracked pic shows the detail in the binding of this guitar, and that is indicative of the quality and workmanship throughout it. I got it as a sell-out for $400 delivered (about $100 less than street) from Midwest Drum and Percussion. It was double boxed, but evidently needed more bubble wrap ....... I let them know about the issue, and we'll see how they respond ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slk Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 I would let them have it back. You will never be satisfied with a chip out of a new guitar. You don't know how hard it was hit either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vomer Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 What slk said. Nice looking guitar, would be a shame to start out with a ding, particularly one where paint is removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer91 Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Yeah ....I think you guys are right. Even if I can't get the same deal, at $100 more from another shop, it's probably money well spent. The only fly in the ointment might be if I have to pay return shipping. That can add another $30+ ... I would imagine. I don't really know because I'm not typically sending guitars, just receiving them ... to the total delight of my wife. :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Well, here's my two cents. I'd send it back as has been stated. I just looked at Sweetwater's page, and they carry this guitar, although it's not in stock at the moment. When I bought my Elitist Casino a few years ago, it was also backordered, and after a few months I got a call from my rep saying it was in, and was being sent down for their "checklist". Well, later that day I got another call and some email pics with a ding on the back, very similar to yours only not near the binding. They gave me a choice of a discount or wait for another. I opted to wait, much for the reasons stated above (you'll never be happy with it). That's a pretty sweet looking 12 string. I recently bought a Gretsch 54225tdc 12 string and it was about twice the price of that Ibanez, so even at SW's $499 price tag, it still looks like a pretty good deal. And I'd complain if I had to pay return shipping on what is essentially damaged goods. You don't ask, you don't get!! Good luck on whatever you decide, and pics if you replace it LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slk Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 I would ask them to send you a shipping label for a return. Hey if you paid for it with a credit card you can dispute the charge and they pretty much have to take it back. The card company will see to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 If the ding really is from shipping, that cost should be covered by the shipping firm, not the retailer. I'd check with the retailer as to how to handle that if returning it is your wish. Me, I'm pretty well beat up over the years so frankly, my concern is more whether a "new" guitar is playable. The last instrument I got was a flattop 12 AE that I got almost at theft prices. All the electronics were perfect, etc., and the actual playability was very good. But there was a bit of a bash on the top. Nothing big, although bigger than our OP's experience. The instrument actually was in better shape than I expected. So... some superglue to hold the little bash from becoming a big one... I gigged with it on an afternoon "cowboy music" outing and nobody noticed anything about the guitar except that "Hey, is that a new 12?" and I had a blast. So... maybe if I were a cupla decades younger I'd have a different perspective. But now? Even the minor cigarette burn where I've stacked a smoke gigging in saloons of the good old days on my old early '70s Guild simply makes me appreciate her more. m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer91 Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 The folks at the shop got back to me and requested I send them a pic of the damaged area, and for some of the shipping materials too. So I emailed all that to them. Their manager is off for the weekend, so I won't know until Monday how they propose to handle it. Thanks for all the support and suggestions. I'll tread water until I hear back from the retailer. This thing really is a sweetheart to play tho. So if offered a fat refund I 'might' just ... go on, take the money and run ..... @ Dennis, yeah .... I have too a Gretsch 5422TDCG Electromatic, but in a 6 string (it's 3'rd from the left in the pic below ). This Ibanez is 'very' comparable in quality to it, and in some aspects ... actually better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer91 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 I got a return UPS label from the retailer, and am sending this Ibanez Artcore 12 string back tomorrow for a full refund. I've also ordered another one from AMS (they have stock as does zZounds). I called them to see if they would deal and they gave me 5% off, so @ $475 delivered it's only $75 more than I paid for this one ... and I'm happy with that. In other news .... I ordered a Bigsby B7 with the B7 Vibraplate (both in gold) to convert my new Epi Les Paul Black Beauty 3. I'll try and get some shots when I do the conversion, and post them here. I'm also 'so really' far behind on posting any NGD pics. I'm hoping to get those up over the next few days. Although it's 12 more guitars (added to the picture above) over the past month, it really wasn't a "12 days of Christmas thing" ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 so many damaged guitars, such a shame...I might think by now that all guitar manufactures like Gibson/Epiphone/ Ibanez... would have by now, made better packaging besides glued, stapled, taped and printed on flimsy corrugated cardboard boxes for their fine instruments, or ship them in a hard case. Small price to pay for a bit of added protection that may eliminate such occurrences ...too bad, so many inappropriately damaged guitars from completely inadequate packaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 so many damaged guitars, such a shame...I might think by now that all guitar manufactures like Gibson/Epiphone/ Ibanez... would have by now, made better packaging besides glued, stapled, taped and printed on flimsy corrugated cardboard boxes for their fine instruments, or ship them in a hard case. Small price to pay for a bit of added protection that may eliminate such occurrences ...too bad, so many inappropriately damaged guitars from completely inadequate packaging. Good point(s). I guess that I've been fortunate in that I've probably bought near a dozen guitars online and have not had any arrived damaged. The one that did have a ding (my Elitist Casino) was discovered during Sweetwater's inspection, so I waited for the next one. I've also been "perplexed" in that when the good guitars I've bought that have included a HSC, the case was shipped in a separate box. I'm guessing package size has something to do with it, or in the case of most of the onliners, they just grab a box off the shelf and ship it. Wondering if at some point, the "damaged goods" aspect starts to impact profit and the light bulb goes on to package/deliver better...Nah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 The folks at the shop got back to me and requested I send them a pic of the damaged area, and for some of the shipping materials too. So I emailed all that to them. Their manager is off for the weekend, so I won't know until Monday how they propose to handle it. Thanks for all the support and suggestions. I'll tread water until I hear back from the retailer. This thing really is a sweetheart to play tho. So if offered a fat refund I 'might' just ... go on, take the money and run ..... @ Dennis, yeah .... I have too a Gretsch 5422TDCG Electromatic, but in a 6 string (it's 3'rd from the left in the pic below ). This Ibanez is 'very' comparable in quality to it, and in some aspects ... actually better. Great looking studio. I lived in the park for a few weeks, 44 years ago, lol. Was a nice vacation, up in the hills there. What a beautiful area that is. I remember the huge evergreen trees and the huge pine cones. Yosemite valley and the river. Also Big Sur coastline. Some day I'll return... Also, how do you like the Explorer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARI2 Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 I saw you have a Gator case for the AS7312 12-String Guitar. I been looking for a case for mind. What's the Model # of the case. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Potts Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 (edited) I ordered one from Reverb. Came the other day, and is one of the 8 ,12 strings I have. I tuned it and when I play a "D" chord, it is way off! I tuned it again, and it is still sharp every time I play the D chord and when I plug it in, I get a bunch of static. The cord is fine with all my other guitars. I have asked for a refund. Ever have that problem? It is the exact same model as this one! I think as far as your guitar goes, I would ask for a partial refund and keep the guitar if is plays well and stays in tune!! Get some touch up paint and you'll never know it. Edited August 22, 2022 by Marty Potts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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