Check this out,now I'm Pi$$ed

[martyb1]

Well I got this neck in late Oct.Ya I paid too much for it but it was a really cool birdseye neck.I got it to match the wood on my build thread.
Well I wasn't to sure on how to store a guitar neck so I posted a thread to our buddies at TDPRI and got some tips.
OK,this thing has been stored,on a shelf,nothing on it,in the heat,only taken down for the odd pic and then returned.
I went and grabbed it tonight to fit it into the body.I set it on the bench and noticed something,you couldn't help but notice

This is sitting untouched on the bench







This is holding the headstock flat on the bench



Now I'm going to go cry

[Rich]

Man.. Thant's enough to piss off the Pope. I'd rather not put the manufacturer's name in print here, but I wonder whose neck it is, also it appears to be new (from what I can see in the pics). Did you buy it from somebody reputable? That's an ugly twist, for sure. I wonder if you have any recourse.

[Rich]

OK.. Now I know who made that neck. (I spotted you thread over at TDPRI)

A couple of things come to mind.. If you got it through a dealer, they may be willing to help you. If not, then some pics sent directly to the manufacturer would be in order, along with a level-headed assessment of the damage- along with a description of where you got it and how it has been stored.

This may be a help, and may not be.. kind of depends on how you state your case. It looks like it was very pretty, and I've heard their QC has improved as of late, but this is not the first one I've seen from them in similar condition. In our conversation the other night I believe I mentioned that those necks can be hit-or-miss, thus I simply avoid them. Lots of folks swear by them, I'm not among them.

That twist is fugly, and excessive. Most likely due to improper seasoning of the wood. Trouble is, if there is no finish or sealer applied the warranty may be void. I don't think any amount of humidification will bring it back. First I'd try to talk to the person you bought it from. Hopefully, they will want to be straight with you. The best thing you can do is to subtract emotion from the equation. Stick with cold, hard facts. They will respect your candor more if you don't go nuts on them. If you spout anger, your recourse is over.

We've only run across one neck that wound up in the fireplace, and it went in with a heavy heart... pricey fire, for sure...

[martyb1]

Thanks Rich
I will keep my head on.I have contacted the seller and the manufacturer so we will see what happens.As for finish,this thing is finished in satin poly.You can see the wood has shrunk also.The fret ends were a bit sharp before but are like knives now sticking out the side.
Too bad too,this thing had some wonderful eyes in it.Really makes you wonder if I want a replacement.

[martyb1]

Hmmm
Could I be getting the runaround
Got an email back from where I purchased it telling me it is an invalid #
So I sent him the transaction #,paypal # and his invoice #
Lets see his squeek out of it now

[martyb1]

HEre was his first response

In a HEATED shop is as bad as a COLD shop. These dry out if not stored properly. Regardless of that, this transaction os over 4 months old. What do you expect us to do? If there is an issue you need to let us know within the first seven days. I imagine you checked it out when you got it. It is not our fault you stored it irresponsibly.

This could get ugly!!

[Rich]

I can't say I'm surprised.. Time to go to the manufacturer. A factory sealed neck (in poly) should not twist like that. The wood was obviously not seasoned properly right from the start. That extreme twist would not show up in 7 days. It is a manufacturing defect. Drag City, man. Spend the extra bucks and get better necks in the future. AP will stand behind their products.

[martyb1]

Already emailed the manufacturer
I wont name the seller or the manufacturer here but they are going to get mentioned elsewhere unless something is done.

[Rich]

Yep. As it should be. I read these posts from guys who swear they think this mfr.'s products are great.. Obviously they don't know any better, or have been lucky in a few isolated instances. Most of what I've seen has been middle of the road, at best. I've seen their bodies and necks not fit together, warpage, shrinkage, discoloration in both the woods and the finishes, misdrilled holes, inaccurate routing, etc. etc.

I think I mentioned a few others to avoid (in private), for similar reasons.

Since we warranty our guitars for lifetime, I'm a firm believer in paying the extra money up front for a reputable shop built component. That excludes these guys, and many imports like them. I feel bad for you, and hope the manufacturer is more up front.

[oaklanda]

That is a horrible twist. I've seen a couple of ES-333's that I thought were the worst twisted, but nothing like that.

I had to jump over to that other forum to see who built this...sorry to say I'm not surprised. While I've not had personal experience with them I've heard plenty.

[badams]

It doesnt surprise me. Thats the problem with one piece necks or one piece anythings. They warp. I am sorry to see that it had to happen to you though.

[chris]

That's a two piece neck..