AJE Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 recently purchased this piece at a guitar center. Fourth LP I have owned always happy with them. Guitar center performed a set-up. cannot tune the instrument. everything dissonant. Brought it in to a very reputable dealer here on Staten Island for a set-up. a slight improvement, but the instrument is very difficult to tune and doesn't stay in tune. Many important frets are just buzzes. It's possible the nut slots are too deep. Would Gibson possibly be helpful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Take it back to GC and ask them to replace it. That is not acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJE Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 GC will not replace. Even here in NYC it is hard to find instruments that play true, especially Gibson's. This is why people do not want to spend money. I guess I will have to deal with warranty stipulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar dog Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 GC has always had a 30 day "no questions" return policy. Has that changed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proparch Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 I agree - it should either be fixed or replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tachymetres Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Check string winding on tuning posts. Very important to loop under on the first wrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibSinCity Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Traditional Pros have Grover locking "Tulip" tuners. Similar to the Kidney Bean type shown on Grovers site: http://www.grotro.com/Mainlockingroto.html "ROTO-GRIP LOCKING ROTOMATICS The newest addition to the Grover family, these locking machine heads utilize the famous 18:1 Rotomatic design with a thumb screw mechanism which locks the string into place. Insert the string through the post hole, wrap around once, then lock by tightening with the thumb screw." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat-o-steve Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 That neck has been plek'd, which I know is by no means an end-all to fret / nut woes, but it is better than what they sent out before! Gibson's have been notorious for poorly cut nuts, usually too high, but sometimes too low. The frets SHOULD be relatively level due to the recent manufacture and the Plek process......that being said, for the buzzing frets a proper setup with some relief in the neck and a reasonable string height should get you making beautiful music! About setup......From owning $100 - $3000 guitars I have learned one thing.....A guitar, ANY guitar, you have to be reasonable with your expectations, because more money doesn't mean lower action. :D Maybe I'm a heavy handed picker, but all of my guitars will buzz if I dig in. For your case, if nobody can set the guitar up to play right, then there is a problem, and if it is brand new, Guitar Center should take it back - no questions asked! If you like the guitar in the respect to it's tone and the feel of this particular neck, then it might be worth it to you to let a GOOD repairman/luthier make a new nut, replace the tuners and set it up right! :D Good luck ! Hope someone gets you back up and rockin' soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJE Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 What a mistake. Guitar center will not honor warranty because Mandolin Bros performed a set-up. I'm going to have a new nut installed and replace these "locking" tuners. If that doesn't help it's ebay time the instrument is mint condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfgreen Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Super sorry to hear about your experience. I bought one about 3 weeks ago, and it's just heaven. Maybe not all "plek's" are created equal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 What a mistake. Guitar center will not honor warranty because Mandolin Bros performed a set-up. I'm going to have a new nut installed and replace these "locking" tuners. If that doesn't help it's ebay time the instrument is mint condition. How would GC know anyone did a setup on it? Sumpin's not right with this story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondJig Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I would call my credit card company and disput the charge, saying GC wont honor there return policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdMan57 Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Man,sorry to hear about such a disappointing situation.I guess that I should feel fortunate that my new Tradional Plus plays,sounds and stays in tune so well. Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theroan Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 If you bought it new, I would take it back. Gibson always has good ones and bad ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJE Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 How would GC know anyone did a setup on it? Sumpin's not right with this story. Simple, I told them (GC) about it. The piece has been on a stand ever since. I don't care about the money, just want to make it playable or get rid of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyVader Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Guitar center performed a set-up. cannot tune the instrument. everything dissonant. Brought it in to a very reputable dealer here on Staten Island for a set-up. Guitar center will not honor warranty because Mandolin Bros performed a set-up. Err...so Guitar Center did a setup? Or was it Mandolin Bros? If Guitar Center set it up first surely they are to blame? How did it play before anyone "messed" with it? Eg out of the factory with the Gibson setup? Not all luthiers are created equal..if it aint broke, don't fix it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Something isn't right here - new locking tuners don't slip and somebody set it up probably wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xinnix Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 That neck has been plek'd, which I know is by no means an end-all to fret / nut woes, but it is better than what they sent out before! Thats debatable! I digress.. You need to start working up the old ladder. Talk to the store Manager and be firm. They sold you a lemon and its their responsibility to fix it or replace it. Having someone other then GC try to setup the guitar doesn't void any warranties! Especially if GC tried and failed! Call your local BBB. Make a formal complaint. You would be amazed how this can help. Get ahold of the GC Regional Manager. Flood them with letters. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE IN and DON'T GIVE UP! Hell, I'd even go as far as to stand in front of their store with a sign telling everyone who goes in that they won't honor warranties! Throwing it on eBay will only screw some innocent buyer and probably cause you more headache's then its worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giuseppe1 Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Before u replace the nut and tuners.....give those fresh strings a stretch, (you may already know how to do this or have done this before) anyway, after I put on a new set of strings il bring the guitar to tune and lightly pull each string up away from the fret board at the 12th fret, now the tuning will be flat, re-tune the guitar back to pitch then heavily strum chords, do some bends around the fret board etc., check the tuning, if its out of tune repeat the process until it stays in tune. I usually repeat the process twice until my strings settle... and buzzing? if your action is low it is going to buzz a bit, if you can hear the buzz through your amp then there is an issue. Break that thing in man, play the **** out of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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