Codex7 wrote:
OK, I've been in the guitar scene since December 2012, so still very green! ?
But things I have learnt so far (these are MY experiences, not trying to diss anybody or anybody's gear. I have an open mind, so any criticism/comments always welcome ? ):
howdy codex. welcome and all that - you're gonna have a great time here - and on the guitar - if you maintain that open mind, and are happy to accept (obviously constructive!) criticism. so let's start by dissecting your learnings...
1. Do NOT buy Epiphone guitars. My first guitar is an Epiphone acoustic. The fret-work is terrible. On the high E-string, playing the 16th, 17th and 18th fret all play the same note. ? ??? The 19th fret-wire is way higher than the preceding 3. Also G, B and e in general all very buzzy on the higher frets. Look, partly my own fault probably, I bought it when I knew NOTHING about guitars. Still, one would not expect such sloppy work from a Gibson subsidiary (what happened with Epiphone quality control and the store checking it before selling it??). Maybe a warning that I should stay away from Epiphone/Gibson going forward altogether. Any advice on how to fix uneven frets?
first of all, if your epi is as horrible as you describe, you should be able to take it back to the store you bought it from and ask them to do a 'setup' on it. a set up will address a whole bunch of issues and should make the guitar imminently more playable than it seems to be at the moment. some of what is done in a setup includes things like setting the neck (is it straight, does it bow or bend too much for comfortable playing depending on the strings you use), fret dressing if necessary (although on a new guitar this should not be necessary except in extreme cases), setting the height of the bridge, ensuring the strings are a consistent height above the frets so you don't get that horrid buzzing, etc. as you can see, this is quite a process, and not something the average newbie should be doing on his/her own right off the bat - it takes time, knowledge, and practice to get it down, and many a guitar can get messed up in the process if one doesn't know what one is up to.
BUT! as ICM has said, if the store sold it in an unplayable condition, they should either get it playable, or refund you. i think you'll find the law (in the form of the cpa) is on your side here.
in terms of staying away from gibson/epiphone in the future, don't let one experience tarnish a brand/manufacturer for you. on the other hand, feel free to move on and see what else is available - it's your money and your passion after all. i've always said (a lesson i learnt myself) that when looking for a guitar, be brand-blind and budget-bevok. keep yourself within a budget range, let's say around r3000 for the sake of an example. play as many guitars in this price range as you can before you make your decision. and when i say range, don't stick too close to it. play a few quite a bit more, because you might find something really, really worth paying the extra grand or so for, and play a few quite a bit below your price range, because you might find the bargain of the century. (i'm just using r3k as an example - no idea what your price range is.)
all that said, it does sound like you have a bit of a dud. a really good setup should help you out, then again, maybe not. you won't know until you try.
2. Be wary of shops promising great after sales service. Seems to be a lie - sadly. While I was at one, my lesson 1 above was confirmed, checking the prices. You get MUCH better deals second hand. The certain shop lost my business for any future consideration, maybe in any case, as I will never buy new again (hey, but you gotta buy strings and picks now and then ? ). At least one lesson learnt! ?
after-sales service really does, in my experience, and i'm sure many will bear me out on this, depend on two things:
- the specific store (most of all)
- the relationship you build with the store over time
i developed an incredible relationship with the guys at a specific store over a very long period of time, having bought and sold a good many pieces of gear through them. they have now, unfortunately, closed down, and i am battling to replace the experience. there are technicians at other stores in my area whom i know by reputation to be every bit as good as the guys who worked on my guitars before, and my first steup is underway there now, so we'll see, but i'm not concerned. what remains to be seen is what happens when i start to buy gear - the personalities, how those relationships develop, have an effect on the discounts, etc, and whether or not i stay with that store or move on and try someone else.
never forget that you are paying for a service, or for the gear. many stores forget this bit. it is absolutely within your power to walk out of the store without making a purchase - and to tell the manager/owner why. some won't care, but there are those who do, and those are the ones you want to deal with.
in terms of buying second hand, you absolutely get better deals - from a price point of view. but the other side of that coin is you need to have a fair amount of knowledge about what you're buying to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff, to coin an oft-used gfsa phrase. people will go to odd lengths to sell you a perfectly legit-looking piece of gear at a legit-looking price, which has a fundamental flaw you probably wouldn't spot without knowing what to look for. so caveat emptor when buying second hand - or brand new, for that matter - as you and your epi experience can attest to.
3. Learn how to service your guitar yourself (restring etc.) - this I need to now focus on to pick up all the required skills. Any links will be greatly appreciated! ? For really expert technical needs, I am NOT taking my current or future guitars to any shop. I believe there are some great souls on this forum that does excellent work setting up and sorting out problems on guitars?? Would rather use somebody like that that comes recommended by the knowledgeable people on this forum. ?
absolutely. i may have said above that sorting out your own guitar properly takes time to learn to do properly, but the basics - changing strings properly, etc - you should be able to do with your eyes closed.
i'm willing to bet alan or one of the other guys has something here on gfsa on how to do it. if not, search google, or even youtube, and you'll find about a bajillion tips on how to do it.
when it comes to having your guitar serviced from top to bottom, you'll definitely find folks on gfsa who'll do work for you, but you'll also find techs at some of the better stores who'll get high praise across the board.
i think what i'm saying is don't close yourself off to any possibility...
Anyway, those are the lessons I have learnt so far - pretty sure I will learn a few more as I embark on looking for an electric guitar and amp going forward. Oooh yes, and maybe a bass ?. The bug bit me HARD!!! ?
good to hear. enjoy your journey, you're in the company of a great bunch of lads and lasses who will help out wherever they can. i've certainly learned a lot since i joined the forum, and i thought i knew everything.
good luck
dh
