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I had a new and expensive guitar shipped to me by an experienced builder. The guitar was shipped as the builder always ships his guitars (not a hard shell case), but somehow the bridge pickup got pushed in and the screw broke the housing. The builder is sending a replacement pickup housing (the part that broke). It's not the builders fault, so I don't want to post pictures.
My point, what if more is wrong with this guitar that I can't yet see. It broke the housing, so there had to be some incredible pressure on the box.
Any suggestions as to what I can do in regards to FedEx?
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02-18-2024 06:14 PM
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Fed Ex managed to crack the top of my PRS Archtop. Those tops are quite thick. That took some doing. We figured someone kicked the box with while trying to lift it.
Took a while, but they finally came through.
In my case they kept the guitar and gave us the money.
Worth a try.
Good Luck
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Wouldn't it all be the builders responsibility since he was the "shipper" I think he is the one to put a damage claim in.
Originally Posted by eh6794-2.0
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Is that the case? No pun intended Originally Posted by skiboyny
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This is the builder's liability. You as a consumer are not liable for any shipping damage. A consumer is entitled to receiving the item they purchased in the condition they agreed to purchase it. Usually I am understanding and if it's a small fix I can do myself, no problem. But if the reason for the damage is a careless builder improperly packing an expensive instrument, I have very little patience.
If I were you, I'd send it back to the builder and have them repair it and guarantee there is no structural damage. The builder should cover any incremental shipping costs.
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Let me ask you, since it's just the housing of the bridge pickup, is it overkill for me to send it back? And, do you think I should be concerned about other damage that I can not see? Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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A new and expensive guitar? Sure, the builder would get it back completely unless you happen to know all about the guitar, and guitars and are absolutely certain nothing else. But the key word here is new and expensive. Originally Posted by eh6794-2.0
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This is getting ridiculous with these gorillas at FedEx and UPS.
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You are probably talking about the pickup bezel, ring, mount or surround- pick your term. That's a cheap replacement that would require loosening the strings quite a bit or removing them. Pickup Rings — Allparts Music
Installing is easy, but you may want a guitar tech to do it and ask the builder to cover the charge. I imagine we're talking $25-30 if you liberally loosen the strings ahead of time. I've done it in 15 minutes. I use the sanding technique.
Depending on the pickup and how well it was packed, it likely was from the guitar being dropped. If the guitar was tight in the case and it is a heavy pickup (humbucker) and the guitar was dropped flat on its back, the momentum of a pickup going 30 mph to 0 in 0.01 seconds with no give from the packing in the case can crack the mount, just like tapping the pickup cover with the tap of a hammer. It is very unlikely there is any more damage unless you can see a crack in the wood.
Cracks most commonly occur midshaft on the mounts over time. A screw hole break means either the guitar was dropped on its backside or crushed from the top. The screw springs won't help stop the stress on the plastic either way.
The guitar should function well, and I would make sure of that and that the wood isn't cracked. If all else is okay, the pickup mount replacement is easy.
You can have FedEx handle it if you want, but you'll spend more time than you want. Have the luthier pay someone at Guitar Center for the work and have the tech show you how it's done. See one, do one, teach one!
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Not shipped in a hard shell case?!
You should see how Mark Campellone packs his guitars.
Unless I am missing some information, this is on the builder to make right. Hopefully it’s just the pickup ring and nothing more serious.
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This!!!
Originally Posted by bluejaybill
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Here is what I would do. First, because the plastic pick up ring broke, that probably took the brunt of kinetic energy and likely spared the structural wood of the guitar. Especially if there's no mark on it. The scenario described above of getting dropped flat on its back resulting in the momentum of the pickup itself causing the crack is reasonable.
Second, I'd contact the maker and described what happened and see how he or she wants to proceed. If I was the luthier, what I would have you do is take it to a local tech to examine it, take the pickup out and look underneath for any signs of structural damage (cracked or loose brace, for example). That would be cheaper and faster than having it shipped back, looked at by the luthier and returned to you. And I'd pay for it; after all, as the shipper, it's my responsibility to make sure the guitar is properly packed. I'm a little astonished that a hard shell case was not part of that process.
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To OP : is this guitar the VB15 you have been waiting for ?
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I agree. Shipping it back and forth is tempting fate for a crushed top. Originally Posted by Cunamara
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This. Originally Posted by skiboyny
And this. Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
OP, it is not on you to make this right. It is on the shipper to make it right for you. Improperly packed is improperly packed. I would ask for a new guitar or my money back. If and when you sell it on, how are you going to explain this to the prospective buyer? You should not have to live with doubts. I have seen folk return guitars to and ask for a refund from the seller because he failed to pack a wad of something between the tailpiece and the top with the result that the tailpiece made a small depression mark just on the lacquer from shipping. You have a broken pickup ring here from who knows what impact.
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