Jazzpunk Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Ok guys, I need your advice/opinions. Just unboxed my new 575 and upon inspection I noticed a few nicks/dings possibly just wear around the tip of the headstock. Most of it is harmless but the one in the pic is a bit of a concern (upper right corner). I can't tell if it was nicked and than lacquered over (either at the Heritage factory or later at Wolfe Guitars) or if the spot was just missed entirely during production. It appears to be the wood beneath the lacquer finish though it feels there is lacquer over it. It's quite small so it's hard to tell. My immediate concern is how this issue will progress as she ages. Will it get worse? My next concern is the effect it will have on resale value. I don't plan on ever selling her but you never know what the future will bring. So is this a common blemish from the boys on Parsons St? What would you do? Try and send her back and order another or just shrug it off as part of buying a guitar sight unseen?
SouthpawGuy Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Ok guys, I need your advice/opinions. Just unboxed my new 575 and upon inspection I noticed a few nicks/dings possibly just wear around the tip of the headstock. Most of it is harmless but the one in the pic is a bit of a concern (upper right corner). I can't tell if it was nicked and than lacquered over (either at the Heritage factory or later at Wolfe Guitars) or if the spot was just missed entirely during production. It appears to be the wood beneath the lacquer finish though it feels there is lacquer over it. It's quite small so it's hard to tell. My immediate concern is how this issue will progress as she ages. Will it get worse? My next concern is the effect it will have on resale value. I don't plan on ever selling her but you never know what the future will bring. So is this a common blemish from the boys on Parsons St? What would you do? Try and send her back and order another or just shrug it off as part of buying a guitar sight unseen? I can't really make out the area that you mentioned. Maybe edit the pic and put a circle around the area ?
Jazzpunk Posted April 30, 2009 Author Posted April 30, 2009 I can't really make out the area that you mentioned. Maybe edit the pic and put a circle around the area ? Tough to get a detailed pic with my crappy camera! The discoloration is not shine it is actually the wood beneath the finish.
SouthpawGuy Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Tough to get a detailed pic with my crappy camera! The discoloration is not shine it is actually the wood beneath the finish. I can't see the actual spot, I think it's maybe out of focus ?
Jazzpunk Posted April 30, 2009 Author Posted April 30, 2009 I can't see the actual spot, I think it's maybe out of focus ? Are you not able to see the light brown area? It's pretty obvious. Sorry I can't get an actual super detailed pic but it's the best I can do with my camera. It's definitely the wood beneath the finish as it is two entirely different colors. Appears to have been nicked at some point just not sure if it happened at the factory or at the store. There's a couple of other tiny nicks around the pointed parts of the headstock which I'm sure are from handling but they don't bug me much. This one doesn't bother too much but I am concerned about how it will age as well as how it will effect resale value. To be honest I don't plan on ever selling her so ageing is the primary concern. I'll see what Jay has to say and go from there. Maybe I'll just take it to a local luthier to see if it needs to be lacquered over. So this bother anyone if they just sprung for a new guitar or not a big deal for you?
shook494 Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 I don't think it looks like a huge deal. It may be a problem with resale, but I don't think it will get worse.
SouthpawGuy Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 Are you not able to see the light brown area? It's pretty obvious. Sorry I can't get an actual super detailed pic but it's the best I can do with my camera. I'm afraid not, it looks like a light reflection in the photo. Maybe an outdoors shot ?
Jazzpunk Posted April 30, 2009 Author Posted April 30, 2009 I'm afraid not, it looks like a light reflection in the photo. Maybe an outdoors shot ? Never mind than. I'm not going to get a better pic out of my camera...trust me lol. All I can tell you is that the 'tan' part that you are perceiving as a reflection is the natural wood beneath the finish. I'm either going to send it back or just pay someone to touch up the lacquer. I 'll figure it out, thanks.
Thundersteel Posted April 30, 2009 Posted April 30, 2009 I'd be a little miffed as well, especially since it's a new guitar. FYI, every Heritage I bought has had some type of finishing flaw on it--I believe it's just par for the course. You might want to get one of those lacquer touch-up pens. I think Stew-Mac has them. Just a little dab, and it should be as good as new. But if you decide to send it back to Heritage, rest assured they WILL take care of you. They should even pay shipping both ways. At least they did for me--twice!
Jazzpunk Posted May 1, 2009 Author Posted May 1, 2009 I'd be a little miffed as well, especially since it's a new guitar. FYI, every Heritage I bought has had some type of finishing flaw on it--I believe it's just par for the course. You might want to get one of those lacquer touch-up pens. I think Stew-Mac has them. Just a little dab, and it should be as good as new. I hear ya'. I'd already read some stories so I honestly wasn't expecting perfection. I can see some other little nicks around the headstock so pretty sure it happened post Heritage factory. In any event it's really minor and the guitar is just an absolute beauty otherwise. I don't think I can let her go now! Thanks for the tip on those pens. Those color tone pens are really cool and will probably do the trick just fine.
qcvol Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 I'd say if you're attached to the guitar just get it touched up. I believe the big box stores.. i.e Guitar Center has the laquer pens or do like someone else suggested have a luthier touch it up. I would let Jay know what happened so they can avoid damage to other guitars. mark
barrymclark Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 Never mind than. I'm not going to get a better pic out of my camera...trust me lol. All I can tell you is that the 'tan' part that you are perceiving as a reflection is the natural wood beneath the finish. I'm either going to send it back or just pay someone to touch up the lacquer. I 'll figure it out, thanks. No worries. I see it. I ABSOLUTELY would get in touch with them. I am sure they will take care of you on this one. I would be all over this if I spend that much money and there was flaw as clear as that on a new one. I am not one to strive for perfection, but that was is a pretty big 'oopsie'. Now, it might just be the picture, but it looks as though the finish has been knocked off as though it was bumped into something. So, this might not be a Heritage issue but a retailer issue. I would start there first. See what they will do. I think I saw that you dealt with Wolfe. They seem like really good guys. I bet they bend over backwards to help.
Spectrum13 Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 My latest came with a little covered up ding on the point on the back of the headstock and it came directly from the factory. Rather than go through not having your new 575 for a month, I suggest either getting a paint stick and touch it up or ask if Heritage would pay for a local to do it. While they really want you to be happy, they know you will be much happier playing that 575 than worrying about a little "honest" wear.
smurph1 Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 I agree that you should do the laquer pen thing, or have a luthier touch it up..I would be worried about damage to "your baby" in transport as well..Just get her touched up and enjoy the tone..
yoslate Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 I can see some other little nicks around the headstock so pretty sure it happened post Heritage factory. In any event it's really minor and the guitar is just an absolute beauty otherwise. I don't think I can let her go now! Looks like casual "shopwear." Let a good luthier touch it up, and don't look back. It'll happen again, but they'll be your dings, with your history. I think that makes a bit of a difference. Sounds like a beautiful player, just enjoy what that guitar does for your ears and hands. Given the relative proportion of that ding to the overall instrument, it would be a shame to let such an inconsequential cosmetic "flaw" color your experience with a beautiful instrument. Good luck, Jazzpunk!
Kuz Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 Looks like casual "shopwear." Let a good luthier touch it up, and don't look back. It'll happen again, but they'll be your dings, with your history. I think that makes a bit of a difference. Sounds like a beautiful player, just enjoy what that guitar does for your ears and hands. Given the relative proportion of that ding to the overall instrument, it would be a shame to let such an inconsequential cosmetic "flaw" color your experience with a beautiful instrument. Good luck, Jazzpunk! I have seen shop wear like that on PRS. Fenders, even my Mcinturff. Trust me from experience, Wolfe guitars will deny that they did it. I have 150 GT with p-90s and I specifically told them I didn't want it if they didn't point out all the blemishes first (since I was buying over the web). She came in with a weather check, red dye, ect- all very small stuff that was there before they shipped it. Now after a little polishing and love, I can barely see the blemishes even though they are still there. Bottom line is +1000 to Yoslates' comments. Chances are greater that you will do more & worse shipping her to the factory.
Jazzpunk Posted May 1, 2009 Author Posted May 1, 2009 Looks like a reflection to me. I already explained that my camera sucks and I am unable to get a detailed, forensic close up of the tiny ding. The area you think looks like a reflection is actually the natural wood color beneath the finish.
Paul P Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 I already explained that my camera sucks and I am unable to get a detailed, forensic close up of the tiny ding. The area you think looks like a reflection is actually the natural wood color beneath the finish. I find the picture clear and the wear very obvious. All I can say is Bummer. This is the kind of thing that when you do it yourself you say ah, well, things happen, but when you get it from a dealer it's infinitely worse. When I bought my daughter's MIM Strat Jr from Elderly I asked them pointedly if the guitar had any defects. They answered it was new. Had a big dent in it in the middle of the body relief when I received it. To me that is just dishonest. I feel the same way about yours. Wolfe should have told you about it. Like he should have told me that my curly maple guitar had no figure whatsoever.
Jazzpunk Posted May 1, 2009 Author Posted May 1, 2009 I already explained that my camera sucks and I am unable to get a detailed, forensic close up of the tiny ding. The area you think looks like a reflection is actually the natural wood color beneath the finish. Just spoke with the guys from Wolfe (by some miracle, they were able to discern that it appeared to be a 'rub through' and did not suggest the area in question was a reflection). They were sincerely apologetic and said they would pay for the touch up. They have been really great to deal with from the very beginning and I will definitely do business with them in the future. I played my new baby for a couple of hours last night and there is just no way I'm letting her go! I'm going to grab one of those pens and just touch up the little dings myself. Thanks to all for the advice, much appreciated.
Jazzpunk Posted May 1, 2009 Author Posted May 1, 2009 I find the picture clear and the wear very obvious. All I can say is Bummer. This is the kind of thing that when you do it yourself you say ah, well, things happen, but when you get it from a dealer it's infinitely worse. When I bought my daughter's MIM Strat Jr from Elderly I asked them pointedly if the guitar had any defects. They answered it was new. Had a big dent in it in the middle of the body relief when I received it. To me that is just dishonest. I feel the same way about yours. Wolfe should have told you about it. Like he should have told me that my curly maple guitar had no figure whatsoever. Hi Paul, Thanks for the sympathies. I just got off the phone with the guys from Wolfe and I really do feel like it was just an oversight on their part and not done intentionally. Quite honestly, I would've asked them to knock a couple of bucks off the price had I bought the guitar in person but even then, it's not that big a deal in my case. Sorry to hear about your experience with Elderly. I really hope you were able to get your money refunded!
backline Posted May 1, 2009 Posted May 1, 2009 Well it's satisfying to know they acknowledged it and will take responsibility. I would probably go with the self-touchup lacquer pen treatment too. My H-575 has collected enough dings that a minor rub mark like that wouldn't bother me now. Of course it's heartbreaking to open up a new instrument and notice stuff like that from the get go. It must be terrible to be a manufacturer and realize once it leaves your hands the instrument will be subject to shop wear, shipping abuses, and who knows how many trips around the world before it finds its way to an eager buyer. There must be a better way to ship guitars, etc., but I'm not sure when the cost would equal the price of the instrument being shipped. Congrats on a nice H-575 anyway, regardless of the bummer. I wish mine was still prestine, but unfortunately my Manhasset music stand has repeatedly bitten most guitars I've owned. I should dip that thing in rubber.
Paul P Posted May 2, 2009 Posted May 2, 2009 Sorry to hear about your experience with Elderly. I really hope you were able to get your money refunded! Well, it was one of the very last MIM Strat Jr's made and I really needed it for my daughter's birthday so there was no way it was going back. I would probably have bought it anyway if they'd told me. My daughter has since exchanged guitar for singing so I've inherited a very nice travel guitar, which I play through a tiny Vox Amplug and headphones when on vacation. I'm glad you're not letting the spot on your guitar ruin your experience. It seems that we always expect it to be perfect and there always ends up being some minor thing wrong. One reason I had a guitar custom made was I've never understood the situation in which when you buy any guitar in a store it's essentially a demo and has been played on by all sorts of people, careful and otherwise. There aren't many other consumer goods that are sold this way. I've pointed out huge gouges and broken internal braces to salesmen and they just thank me and put the guitar back on the wall.
Hfan Posted May 3, 2009 Posted May 3, 2009 I can see very clearly the ding you are refering to. If I had bought the guitar new it would bother me as well. Looks like a typical shop ding from being taken off the hanger. That said, it may be easier to address it locally, maybe Wolfe will pay the $. The thought of shipping it cross country would cause me more concern than the ding especially if it is easily remedied. I've bought two guitars from Wolfe: a 575 Custom which was 100% (just a tiny binding blemish.. I assume from the factory) and a perfect G&L. IMHO, any guitar purchase, new or used, sight unseen is a leap of faith. I much prefer "meeting" her in person.
dblazer Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 Sounds like it's becoming par for the course, unfortunately. My first three Heritage guitars were flawless but the most recent special order one, the H-137, has a dent that was obviously there before they finished it and a couple of other very obvious minor flaws. IMO the quality control has dropped off in the last 10 years. Somebody's not looking them over before they ship, or they're just not sweating minor imperfections. It's a shame. I was considering ordering a custom 550/575 but no way I'm going to pay that kind of money, wait that time and not know if it's going to be a 'good day' or 'bad day' guitar. On the other hand I don't think it would damage your guitar's resale value or get worse. Just think of it as a "beauty mark" and enjoy your guitar.
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