Is anyone writing to FMIC about bad policies?

[excon]

Honestly, I'm a J/C fan but I couldn't care less if they close the doors Monday. I just wish they would pick a direction! If you're going to charge $4K-$7K for a guitar, then step up the quality and make it somewhat worth the investment. If you're not, then bring the prices back in line with what your product is really worth in the market. You can't have it both ways. There are many other builders out there charging less for a lot better quality than J/C is offering.

I do care about Jackson, and I want my guitars to be Jacksons with a Jackson Headstock and the Jackson logo on it just like my favorite guitarists do and did. And, I want to be able to order one to my specifications the way people have since 1980. From what I've been reading, I can’t help but feel that FMIC is killing the Jackson custom shop as we know it. Sure they will keep making standardized models and limited editions, but if FMIC doesn't get the custom shop back on track it may be over as we know it today.

Sorry! Didn’t mean to change to subject, but this is the Jackson/Charvel Forum.

[Bionic]

Watch yer step, Bio, fett was about to buy a quarter mil worth of Fender CS guitars before you started ragging his "birds"....

LOL... Oops! Go Seahawks!

[AK47]

Remember when they first allowed stratheads and no artist similar BS and people like alot of the older strat head collectors and myself were placing orders for full on complete custom shop Charvels for under three grand not retail BTW.

I think they had it down perfect for about six months, reasonable prices no BS policies custom shop orders were rolling in from forum members. Group buys being set up by forum members with open wallets then all of a subben FMIC started making up policies and raising prices, fast forward to now...



I know we cant have Gibson body shapes and stuff but you guys got to let a few orders slide through like the old shop did but thats my opinion.

[AK47]

I wanted to add this post since I did not have time to edit.

FMIC had a perfect price and ordeing structure but still had QC issues when they first allowed strat head orders. If they got the QC right and kept the pricing and ordering structure the same the CS would be back logged till 2010 I would put my two CS guitars on that wager.

[Chrisb]

The thing that confuses me is that I've heard conflicting reports about "masterbuilt" and how its applied to orders. My general feeling is that if I'm ordering a custom guitar and paying between 3500 and 5 grand I should be able to pick most of my options without being slapped with a insane "masterbuilt" upcharge. I've heard the masterbuilt will get slapped on for using things like unusual woods or modified body shapes. For instance a Roundhorn Rhoads or something like that. Or a guitar with a Cocobolo body. I guess what I'm saying is I don't mind the price increase so much, If it was say 25% more thats fine but that masterbuilt stuff has got to go. Hey if someone wants to specify a guitar built by Mike or Pablo thats cool and I can see charging a reasonable premium for that special request but the way it is right now. As long as the custom shop can build the Charvel I want at a price thats not insanely ridiculous then I absolutely would pull the trigger.

[Jack Napalm]

Wow.... This thread got resurrected huh?

I just think it's friggin HILARIOUS that after I smacked down bionic and said he was a liar, and gave you guys the real scoop.... He posted SIX times in this thread after that.... and not a single mention or correction to my "outting" his blatant lies....

Makes ya wonder who's telling you the truth? I think not.... I think you all know....

Isn't it time for your nap again?

[Cygnus X1]

HAHAHAHAA!!!!! NOPE! I feel GOOD! REAL GOOD! I wanted to post the above like a month ago..... and I let it go back then..... been bugging me ever since!

But yeah.... I feel GOOD! Started my new job yesterday... going back into I.T. Is half the distance from home as my last "crap" job.... (not that it was very far) and surprise surprise..... it pays hella lot better too..... and surprise... has plenty of opportunity to move up as well. Those are things I've really missed in the last 3 year nightmare!

Yup! Feeling TOPS!

I'm gonna keep building way better axes at home too though.

**********edit******
Huh.... post number 200..... how many you got bio? AHAHAAHA!

My advice, just me....build guitars and keep quiet. "They" are watching your every move....

[Cygnus X1]

Sound advice! No question there...

However, I will have my own unique headstock shape... one that will fit PERFECTLY right up their ...


BIG SMILE! BIG SMILE! (for some reason I cant access emoticons.... thats why I always type out "HAHAHAHAA!")

Julian
(HAHAHAHAHAA!)

Hit the "post reply" button, instead of "quick reply". The emoticon list will show up.

[AK47]

I guess a good way for JC to get started:

1. Fix pricing structure, it took 50 years to charge Fender guys for "Master Built Strats" so wait 30 more years than stick us JC guys with the "Master Built" upcharge.

2.Fix stupid artist similar policies.

3.Allow options that were allowed in the past no one got hurt over or sued.

4. Fix QC issues, I have a feeling this is because most of the original employees of JC were laid off except for select senoir employees.

5. Watch CS orders roll in and then just deal with wait time complaints.

[neilli]

6. Instead of just dismissing any copyrighted graphics out of hand, just get someone in FMIC Legal to draft a standard letter asking for permission for a one-off project. That standard letter template can then be sent to whichever company owns the copyright to see what response they get.
That way, the 'No' comes from somewhere else, and J/C can say "well, we did try" which looks much better to the customer than an instant "fuck off"....

[AK47]

6. Instead of just dismissing any copyrighted graphics out of hand, just get someone in FMIC Legal to draft a standard letter asking for permission for a one-off project. That standard letter template can then be sent to whichever company owns the copyright to see what response they get.
That way, the 'No' comes from somewhere else, and J/C can say "well, we did try" which looks much better to the customer than an instant "fuck off"....

+10000

That would be great because I personally have tried to get permission to use copyrighted graphics from larger companies and they ignore me because I am just a single consumer so if FMIC did it there would be a better chance of responce.

[excon]

6. Instead of just dismissing any copyrighted graphics out of hand, just get someone in FMIC Legal to draft a standard letter asking for permission for a one-off project. That standard letter template can then be sent to whichever company owns the copyright to see what response they get.
That way, the 'No' comes from somewhere else, and J/C can say "well, we did try" which looks much better to the customer than an instant "fuck off"....

That’s not a bad idea. I’m still super pissed that I can’t get a Jackson explorer or a round horn V made. I’d assume the only way permission would be granted is if there was money in it for Gibson or the “idea owner.” Could you imagine FMIC saying, “We can do that now, but we have to add another charge on top of the other charges we just added.”

[neilli]

I'm pretty sure you won't see Gibson shapes while FMIC owns J/C. I was referring to imagery for graphics rather than other body styles...

[Mr Metal]

Let's look at this from a purely business viewpoint: As things are today, Fender has no business need to go after getting legal permissions for copyrighted graphics, etc........ Custom Shop is already booked solid. People are already paying $3~$4k per guitar. So why spend more money or effort? If sales go down or their sales plans increase, forcing them to go after getting more business, then they may become more receptive to these ideas.......Just my $0.02

[DC_rhoads82]

This really is an awesome thread to read. I will openly admit I am not a Jackson guru like people are here but I have owned a few Jackson USA models and have recently sold off some other guitars so i can buy more Jacksons. I think the MB charge and other nickel and dime charges are crazy. Price increases are understandable to a certain extent but being quoted $7000 for a guitar that would have cost $3500 two or three years ago is a little much. To buy a Jackson customshop model would take me a couple of years to save up for, im a university student and I have to spend $9000 on school every year, so a $7000 JC model is quite unlikely for me. In no way am I bitter, I still support Jackson and will buy used USA models when I can and tell everyone that sees me play that my Jackson guitars are what I swear by, but I couldn't ever justify current JC prices and I'm sure others are in similar positions.