Do you have a new guitar "quality checklist"?

[jmc7581]

The UPS web site has the magic words up: "Out for delivery"!

 

Finally, after 6 and 1/2 months (which I have learned from my betters here on the forum is but a blink of an eye in the broader span of Guitar Waiting Time), my 535 may actually be about to show up. Dark almondburst, beefy neck carve, bone nut, Seth Lovers, black speedknobs, black "Johnny Smith" shaped pickguard: nothing fancy; simple but elegant.

 

So I think I know the first couple of steps of the drill. Make sure to let the box, and then the case, adjust to room temperature (shouldn't be a problem, since it's pretty mild here right now); then open the case; then utter a shriek (or a low moan - my choice) of delight; and then, after that first dazzling moment wears off ...

 

Then what do I do? This is not just my first Heritage; it's my first semi-hollow anything (I've been a Fender/G&L slab-body bolt-on sort of guy to date). Is there anything in particular you check over or look for or do first? Kick the tires? Pry open its mouth to look at its teeth? It's coming from J. Hale Music, and has been through Jeff's standard set-up arrangement with Rauen Guitars in Milwaukee, so it should be pretty close to perfect, but still - I don't want to overlook something that I really should make sure about.

 

Any advice for breathless expectant me?

[smurph1]

Yeah,,Play the DICKENS out of it..No seriously just enjoy it..It probably has Tone Pros hardware on it, which in my humble opinion is DA BOMB..I love the Seth's too..I would say don't overthink it..Just enjoy the TONE!!

[Steiner]

A child should have 4 limbs and 5 digits each; a guitar should have 6 strings and all it's parts. If it plays and stays in tune, you have a good one. Love it and it will give back in spades.

[jmc7581]

Thanks Smurph! And especially thanks for taking the time to share my excitement, with all you've got on your plate these days. You're a generous man. Here's to you, and to a clean lab report! Get through this!

[yoslate]

jmc, there's nothing quite like cracking that case open for the first time! After waiting thirteen months for my Super Eagle, I was so wigged out that, when it finally arived, after unboxing the case, it took me four hours to screw up the courage to pop the latches and take a first look.... Just...savor it!! Congrats!

[smurph1]

your Welcome..and thanks for the good wishes!!

[Gitfiddler]

After your initial GASP of joy from laying eyes on your new git, take a close look at every inch of her.

 

Look for finish issues. Ntiro can have surface cracks due to temperature changes and bouncing around in a delivery truck. Check the nut for a nice cut. Make sure all of the electronics work as designed. Adjust the pickup height to taste. Plug it into your favorite amp.

 

Play it until your fingers bleed.

 

Congratulations!!

[Patrick]

Our quality check list may be very different than your own. Measure the guitar against what you wanted and expected it to be when you ordered it. We don't have to tell you that if something doesn't work properly . . or if there is a blemish or damage, then you do have an issue you need to address. You already know that. I will offer you this . . temper your expectations with the reality that this is a hand crafted instrument. Perfection . . in the truest sense of the word . . . does not exist. However, acceptability is always subjective. Hell, I know a guy that got a Golden Eagle with a crooked stinger on the back of the head stock . . . (Hi Mark). . . and deemed that to be acceptable. You may find a speck of gnat shit on one of the tuners and choose to send the guitar back. Usually, with Heritage, if your expectations are reasonable . . . then they will be surpassed. WOW . . . I really like that last sentence . . I think I'll use that again in the future . . . maybe even trade mark it like Pat Reilly did with "3-peat" when he was the coach of the L A Lakers.

[jjkrause84]

The only thing for me is that I'm conscious of the fact that the FIRST time I play gear I almost always am disappointed. It takes until that second or sometimes third time before the light goes on in my head and then I LOVE whatever it is (amp, guitar, pedal).

 

Keeping this in mind greatly tempers that inital disappointment.

[FredZepp]

Initially...

 

Drink in the visual beauty of the new arrival. Have a camera ready to capture it ...and share.

 

Then.. play acoustically . Feel the essence of the craftsmanship.

 

Finally, plug it in and dial in that tone that you bought this for.

 

Life is Good.

[Thundersteel]

You don't need the added stress of checking over a new instrument. Send it to me, and I'll give it a thorough examination. I should be done just in time to hand it over to you at PSP IV.

[jmc7581]

You don't need the added stress of checking over a new instrument. Send it to me, and I'll give it a thorough examination. I should be done just in time to hand it over to you at PSP IV.

See, this is what I'm talking about. This kind of thoughtfulness is what makes this forum great. My wife says, honey, why do you spend time on the computer communicating with people you don't know, about guitars you don't own? But she just doesn't get it - you all really CARE about me. It's touching.

[yoslate]

- you all really CARE about me.

 

 

Wow.... Sally Field, right here on the HOC....

[Gitfiddler]

Wow.... Sally Field, right here on the HOC....

 

 

I heard that! Pass me another Boniva tablet, please!

[tulk1]

Jeff Hale has some of the best setups going. I'd imagine if there were something to worry about, his buds at Rauen would have caught it. What we've found on most new Heritages is the set up is very generic, requiring some tweaking when it hits home. You've already done that. I say, let the guitar be your guitar. And don't sweat the small imperfections found on your hand made guitar, if you find any. That's just built in mojo. However, I did find that the truss rod oil was low in my H555, and I had to have that topped off. But, again ... small stuff.

[tbonesullivan]

I hate it when the truss rod oil is low. that's the one gripe I always have about used guitars, and most of my guitars are bought used. People just don't know to check it! I got one guitar and it didn't have ANY!!! Thankfully after I filled it back up, it worked fine.

 

Anyway, whenever I'm checking out a used guitar or a new guitar I usually spend most of my time looking at the frets, the overall fit and finish, the nut, etc. Basically the stuff that I can't fix myself. Also, bad setups just ruin my day. If I'm getting a NIB guitar from Gibson, the setup should be close to dead on. With my SG standard, it actually was. the action is nice, the frets are nice, and it plays like a dream. I don't think I've changed the strings on it yet (oops). Also, if I get a guitar used from a store... well the setup should also be good! I can't believe that some stores (like gc/sam ash) put up guitars with such crappy setups. Are they actually trying to sell the guitars? Or just use them as wall candy?

[unikh550]

After checking the action, I'd play it a lot for the first two weeks. If it does not feel right to you, you might have to replace the nut or have the frets filed a little, or something like that. In '98, I had to do these two things and replace a Grover Imperial tuner, which was defective right off the bat. Did not want to return it because it was otherwise so right, and I did not want it damaged in shipment and replaced by a H-550 that might not be as spectacular regarding the curly maple. How the neck feels is so much of a part to an overall fantastic guitar experience. - Charles Bevell

[Patrick]

I hate it when the truss rod oil is low. that's the one gripe I always have about used guitars, and most of my guitars are bought used. People just don't know to check it! I got one guitar and it didn't have ANY!!! Thankfully after I filled it back up, it worked fine.

 

Anyway, whenever I'm checking out a used guitar or a new guitar I usually spend most of my time looking at the frets, the overall fit and finish, the nut, etc. Basically the stuff that I can't fix myself. Also, bad setups just ruin my day. If I'm getting a NIB guitar from Gibson, the setup should be close to dead on. With my SG standard, it actually was. the action is nice, the frets are nice, and it plays like a dream. I don't think I've changed the strings on it yet (oops). Also, if I get a guitar used from a store... well the setup should also be good! I can't believe that some stores (like gc/sam ash) put up guitars with such crappy setups. Are they actually trying to sell the guitars? Or just use them as wall candy?

 

With stores like GC, it's all about the profit margins. If they employ a guitar tech, and his loaded cost to the store is $20.00 per hour, and he/she spends 5 hours out of every week setting up trade-ins . . . extrapolated out 50 weeks that 250 hours . . times $20.00 per hour . . . that's $5,000. Sounds too extreme at 5 hours per week? Cut it in half. It's still $2,500 per year on set ups . . . still too extreme?? Cut it in half again, it's $1,250 per year on set ups. I don't need to remind you how many trade-ins they take each year. Now, consider how many different departments there are in each GC store. If they could shave $1,250 off of the operating costs of each department . . . the store's over all profitability looks considerably better. Store managers are evaluated based upon profitability. So, from business stand point, I get it. Where I'm confused is . . . where's the dip stick to check the oil level in the truss rod

[kbp810]

where's the dip stick to check the oil level in the truss rod

If you print out one of those GC coupons, you can get 10% off dipsticks when you buy a single item of $500 or more (excludes used, clearance, and vintage items; some manufactures are excluded, such as all of the ones that make the stuff we carry )