My GMW experience,

[hippietim]

Re: My GMW experience,

Regarding neck shims for non-recessed Floyds. That's total BS. There is no reason for a shim. None. Nada. Zippo. Zilch.

An angled neck pocket is all that is necessary.

It's a standard option from Warmoth.

In fact, I put a GMW Strathead neck I have onto a Warmoth body with an angled neck pocket and non-recessed Floyd. No shim required - and that's with parts from different builders.

[Soloist1]

Re: My GMW experience,

I have a Jackson first fret inlay that looks just like that one Vic. It may be a bit larger. But it isn't straight on the edge just like that. And there are inlays down the board that are shorter than others and they get longer again.

It's nitpicking plain and simple. Those inlays look fine in anything other that a macro shot. All over this forum I hear how CNC machines and all other machines are ruining the hand crafted guitars of the 80's. Well apparently they are changing the standards as well. Lee has someone that does inlays for him. Jackson now has a laser cutting machine that has a software template.

Maybe you would have been happier with a Jackson. Just be prepared to be unhappy with excess glue on the binding, metallic flake that doesn't belong in the paint because they don't clean their guns enough, cheaper wood that requires constant truss rod adjustments and pickups that aren't aligned properly.

There isn't any good reason you didn't contact Lee. Only your own stubbornness.

[quiksilver]

Re: My GMW experience,

Um . . . good thing you clarified in your previous post that you're not trying to bust Vic's balls. Coulda fooled me. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Based on 20+ years of collecting Jacksons, I STRONGLY disagree that excess glue on the binding, errant metallic flake in the paint, cheaper wood requiring constant neck adjustments, and misaligned pickups are hallmarks of Jacksons. [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

I also just inspected my current Jacksons (2001 Made in USA SL2H, 1991 MIJ AT Pro, 2000 MIJ SL4), and the inlays on each are PERFECT. Straight lines, no visible glue or filler. The nuts are centered and installed perfectly, too.

And the "stubbornness" attempt at a jab is nonsense. Genebaby "stubbornly" paid additional $ to a local shop to fix his new guitar? [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

He said he initially thought the problem was too small to warrant flying the guitar back to the States (or placing an international call to complain, I guess), so he turned the cheek and tried to get it taken care of locally. Turned out there were bigger problems than he thought. In hindsight, he should've contacted GMW right away, but I can understand his logic.

I'm not taking sides between Genebaby & GMW, but when I see [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img] like that referenced above flying, I'm gonna say so.

P.S. FWIW, Lee has been great in my dealings with him. Never told me a job was too small, always took time to discuss my proposed projects with me in detail via email, and his work is typically outstanding, as we all know.

P.P.S. On the neck shim issue. Adding a shim to refine a setup is common. Adding a shim to CONVERT a recessed-mount Floyd body (non-angled neck pocket) to a top-mount Floyd body (angled neck pocket) is NOT.

[mulder1966]

Re: My GMW experience,

[ QUOTE ]
Adding a shim to refine a setup is common. Adding a shim to CONVERT a recessed-mount Floyd body (non-angled neck pocket) to a top-mount Floyd body (angled neck pocket) is NOT.

[/ QUOTE ] Good answer! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Model 88]

Re: My GMW experience,

I agree about the Sharkfins that is just sloppy work.It is not nit picking he paid good money for a custom guitar.It should be close to perfect as possible , not ah thats good enough.I would be very pissed if I saw that.I have five J/Cs with fins and none of them have excess glue on them and they all look pretty damn square to me.If my CS Jackson(on order) is like that it is going right back.

[StukaJU87]

Re: My GMW experience,

I agree that this guitar should never have been shipped to a buyer with these issues being present. I just looked over my USA's and the fins have some filler but the edges are crisp and straight. The fret work is fine. No excess glue or any funny business.

My feeling is this though. If I were Lee, I would be hesitant to warranty the guitar because it has been fooled with by another tech. I am not saying that the tech was not competant. But I think having someone else working on the neck would void any warranty from GMW.

Would Ford or Harley or any other manufacturer warranty an engine that was rebuilt by your local unauthorised mechanic? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: My GMW experience,

After reading all these posts my opinion is that a "sub standard" guitar slipped out the door and the manufacturer is washing his hands of it. That stinks. Bigtime. I wonder if the buyer was in the USA would it have been handled any different. GMW must be making a fair profit, I would certainly think they could absorb shipping and replacement costs to satisfy a customer. Especially considering the buyer is an active forum member and being vocal about his dissatisfaction.

[Soloist1]

Re: My GMW experience,

[ QUOTE ]

Based on 20+ years of collecting Jacksons, I STRONGLY disagree that excess glue on the binding, errant metallic flake in the paint, cheaper wood requiring constant neck adjustments, and misaligned pickups are hallmarks of Jacksons. [img]/images/graemlins/bs.gif[/img]

I also just inspected my current Jacksons (2001 Made in USA SL2H, 1991 MIJ AT Pro, 2000 MIJ SL4), and the inlays on each are PERFECT. Straight lines, no visible glue or filler. The nuts are centered and installed perfectly, too.



[/ QUOTE ]

Did I say it's a hallmark? And did I say it's on every guitar for the past 20 years? That's the way my newest custom is. The inlays are perfect because the newer ones are cut by laser. It's a hallmark for the older 89 custom Jackson's I have. But none of them have the glue on the binding problem or the necks that need truss rod adjustments more than the others. If you don't see any fill around any inlays you aren't looking hard enough. All have a degree of fill. Also all the guitars you mentioned above that you say are perfect are laser inlays. I was refering specifically to hand done inlay work. And I don't have one guitar that has the nut centered dead nuts perfect. A millimeter or less off isn't that big of a deal in my opinion. But I'm not the one that is unhappy with that. I'm just making the comparison to a handmade custom shop Jackson. So you can take your little bullshit graemlin and stick it back where it belongs.

[Guest]

Re: My GMW experience,

Lee Garver = guitar shipper, THAT'S IT!
This clown doesn't build anything.. He outsourses everything.. I don't think that guy knows how to install a pickup!
I heard some guy down in Mexico does his inlay work and some guy who used to work at Charvel back in the day cuts his necks and bodies..
Sounds to me like Lee finally took a stab at his first guitar build and this fukked up dinky is the end result.

That guy is a pompous prick anyway.. Maybe he and that Ed Roman guy are evil twins!

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: My GMW experience,

Oh jeez, this isn't going to help is it?

[StukaJU87]

Re: My GMW experience,

[ QUOTE ]
Oh jeez, this isn't going to help is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. Probably not, but it made me laugh. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: My GMW experience,

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Some levity in the middle of the action.

I heard that Lee prefers to be called, Dr. Guitar Shipper.

[StukaJU87]

Re: My GMW experience,

The mexican that does the inlay work for GMW is none other than the famous luthier, Manual Labor.

[VinceV]

Re: My GMW experience,

[ QUOTE ]
The mexican that does the inlay work for GMW is none other than the famous luthier, Manual Labor.

[/ QUOTE ]

Any relation to that slut Mya Palms

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: My GMW experience,

this thread got me a xanax refill from my doctor. 200 pcs.
they never heard of a refill that size at the pharmacy-lol
i just printed this thread and said, "doc, look what i just read", and then he signed the script and said go away.