return guitar or not?

[Harmolodics]

So you just received a guitar via UPS, dealer assured you it "played great" and was in "very good" condition.
It is a somewhat rare (vintage MIJ) and good looking example from photos.
You come to find string tree issue is hurting tuning and you can't get the action to an acceptable level without dropping the E saddles all the way down (removing outer grub screw) or shimming the neck. It sounds amazing but plays poorly. It may have a replaced pick guard. The pots are noisy. Someone clearly scrubbed all the shine off the maple board with steel wool.

Do you return it or keep it and live with the issues (putting in time and possibly money to fix up)

 

[Morpeli]

Return it! Life is too short!!

 

[mschafft]

It would have to be a good deal.
I can fix neck angles in general.

 

[E2942]

I guess it depends on whether I paid a primo price for it, or got a deal.
Shimming the neck only takes about 22 minutes, if you have the tools & parts.

Potentiometers can be replaced, too.

 

[Harmolodics]

I was specifically not given a deal based on assurances so...

 

[Strummerfan]

If it's a guitar that you like, and you would have a hard time finding another, it's no issue. Bolt on necks are shimmed all the time, pots can be cleaned or replaced, and fretboards can be polished. If you are purposefully buying a "vintage" guitar, you have to expect some things to need attention, if that's not what you are after, return it and buy brand new. Then you have a reason to be dissatisfied if the guitar isn't up to standard.

 

[mrdavey2shoes]

id ditch the pig

 

[the-trooper]

Return.

 

[Guitarworks]

I can clean pots. I can buff the shine back into the lacquer. I can adjust the neck joint. I can put a set screw back into the saddle for corrected height and action. I can eliminate the tuning issue with the string tree.

The question is: Do I feel like the price of the guitar is reasonable in exchange for all the work I need to do? If yes, I move forward with the deal. If not, I get more money taken off the price before or handed back to me after the sale, as I state that the issues were not clearly shown in photos or disclosed in the ad copy. If I can't get agreement from the seller, I walk, or I return it. I've yet to have to return a guitar for such matters. I present my case, and we agree on a number. I think there are some sellers out there who aren't necessarily on a mission to rip anyone off, but they will just gently try their lazy luck to see how easily satisfied a buyer will be, or won't be.

 

[chrisjnyc]

I would say to keep it. Sounds like it needs a bit of work, but most guitars will need a good setup after you take it out of the box.

 

[crosse79]

So you just received a guitar via UPS, dealer assured you it "played great" and was in "very good" condition.
It is a somewhat rare (vintage MIJ) and good looking example from photos.
You come to find string tree issue is hurting tuning and you can't get the action to an acceptable level without dropping the E saddles all the way down (removing outer grub screw) or shimming the neck. It sounds amazing but plays poorly. It may have a replaced pick guard. The pots are noisy. Someone clearly scrubbed all the shine off the maple board with steel wool.

Do you return it or keep it and live with the issues?

Now here's the thing "very good" is subjective. Did you ask all those questions before you got it shipped over? If yes and the dealer is not being honest - ship it back. However if you did not ask and just assume that "very good" is a very specific term that both of you already magically aligned and understood - then the fault's with you. However you could still return it.

 

[monty]

Sounds like you aren`t bonding with it, ship it back it isn`t the guitar for you.

 

[Al Pastorius]

If you think you got a good deal, really like the way it sounds, and would have trouble finding another that would check the boxes for you, I would keep it.

While the condition being different than described is aggravating, fixing some of those issues isn't a big trade-off for a guitar that you really love. Sometimes pots are noisy- it's a relatively small problem. Needing a neck shim doesn't mean the guitar is somehow broken or incorrect. You'll have to figure out how much value you assign to things like the fretboard issue and the replaced pickguard.

I would recommend shimming the neck, setting the action and just evaluating how the guitar plays.

If I found a guitar that sounded amazing and I loved the way it played, I would gladly accept those "problems" as part of the deal.

EDIT: I'll say that the biggest dealbreaker for me is a guitar needing fretwork. That's a big thing that I can't do myself. Every time I play a guitar I'm thinking about buying, I ask myself, "Is this something I would be cool doing a SS refret on?" I don't get a lot of bang for my buck with a standard level/crown so I just bite the bullet and get SS on my necks. So if I received a guitar described as in very good condition and it had no fret life, I would send it back because that's a bigger investment than something like a scratchy pot.

 

[Tone_Terrific]

Fret wear, level and neck condition i.e. can it be set up properly even if a shim is needed, are primary questions.

 

[Ozone Baby]

You were lied to.

Return it ASAP.

 

[lostpick]

I've found in the 'return/keep' threads, it's almost always overwhelmingly return.

The fact that someone has to ask means it's not right.

 

[audiomo]

So you just received a guitar via UPS, dealer assured you it "played great" and was in "very good" condition.
It is a somewhat rare (vintage MIJ) and good looking example from photos.
You come to find string tree issue is hurting tuning and you can't get the action to an acceptable level without dropping the E saddles all the way down (removing outer grub screw) or shimming the neck. It sounds amazing but plays poorly. It may have a replaced pick guard. The pots are noisy. Someone clearly scrubbed all the shine off the maple board with steel wool.

Do you return it or keep it and live with the issues?

I'm extremely curious who the "dealer" is because I can think of one in particular that has a track record of this specifically with Japanese guitars.

 

[andyk]

As long as you have the option of a full refund, TAKE IT! If you wait, and decide in a month the guitar is not for you, then you sell it used and lose $$!

 

[Harmolodics]

I have about 3 guitar related projects ongoing, I don't want another. I genuinely have a hard time believing anyone would play this and say it plays well.
The frets are ok but really low, the neck angle is shim-able, I will try it tonight. The wonky tuner is a bummer and the string tree needs to be replaced. I'll let ya know how it goes. I have 6 days left to initiate a return so I will work on it tonight.

 

[GilmourIsGod]

If you have any doubts, return it before it's too late.