GMW quality consistency?

[Jack71]

Does anybody know if GMW has had any quality drop off issues, ala Wayne guitars. Are there certain years that were better than others?

[neilli]

None that I know of. I have 3, from late 2000 through to 2005 and they're all really great, top notch instruments. Having said that, like any manufacturer, I'm sure there's the odd guitar out there with issues though (cue Vic!)....

[hippietim]

Jack71 - there is a GMW forum where you'd probably get better answers than here. http://p105.ezboard.com/bccforum

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

GMW build quality is excellent as always!!Great attention to detail!!

After several years of making guitars the few that had any issue could be counted on one hand!!

5....4....3....2....1....!!

[RR05xx]

I have an 02 and 05 GMW. Both rock. Amazing fit and finish and play out of the box just like you think they should. Cant ask for more than that IMHO. I have played serval others and all were great players.

Sorry about what happened to the fellow member and yes, Lee can be "difficult" to deal with (I have not had any problems with him for what it is worth - he actually walked me through a truss rod adj. over the phone complete with me taking the neck off and then re-installing and tuning up - I am not aware with too many companies which will do that).

Just my $0.02

[Riscchip]

I've owned a few. All of top notch quality.

[Subvamp]

It was posted that GMW is just an assembler/paint shop, that they don't do any in-house manufacturing. (I.E. cutting their own bodies and necks) So I imagine that if whoever makes their necks and bodies has good quality, then their guitars would be of good quality. (not taking into account genebaby's situation!)

[Riscchip]

I've hear the above as well. Interesting. When I first learned of GMW (through here) years ago, I asked Lee specifically if they manufactured their parts (bodies & necks) in house or not. I asked because I noticed some of the guitars they were selling were billed has having genuine Charvel necks on them--this lead me to assume they might have been getting parts made by Jackson / Charvel given the relationship between GMW and Jackson at the time (I believe they did repair work for Jackson?). He told me at the time (mid 2000 when I ordered my first GMW), that they indeed make their own parts. This may have changed, but the whole situation confuses me considering what Lee said.

[parntz145]

I just got a new GMW in the mail today.
They make all the bodies and necks there in the shop.
Nothing is done by any other company.

[VitaminG]

nothing? Doesn't Dan Lawrence do their graphics, and Neil Moser do their fretwork?

[neilli]

That's true....

[Riscchip]

Well, Moser is the "M" in GMW, right? Seems that's still pretty in house even if he's at a seperate location. I think a lot of companies source out limited production graphics--Fender used to even source out relic work (Vince C.). Cutting necks and bodies, however, seems like a bigger deal. Not that I'd stress on that much in the case of GMW. The guitars are still killer regardless of who cuts the parts.

That's just how the issue strikes me--I could be talked out of any of this.

[parntz145]

nothing? Doesn't Dan Lawrence do their graphics, and Neil Moser do their fretwork?

Dan and Moser are both part of the GMW company.
Dan also does work for Jackson/Charvel and Moser also has his guitars.
What im trying to say without you getting so technical is that all the necks and bodies are made by GMW and NOT outsourced.

[btx109]

That's not entirely accurate...GMW is solely owned by Lee Garver. Dan and Neal both own their own respective businesses. Neal wanted to make that point clear during the mess with Vic's guitar, that he only installs the bone nuts and does fret dressings for GMW. MCS has nothing to do with any manufacturing processes or business decisions made by GMW.

The way the previous post is worded could be misinterpreted to suggest that Dan and Neal are invested in GMW on a business level. To my knowledge, they are not. Which isn't to suggest anything one way or another re quality issues...

When visiting the shop you'll see that no manufacturing processes occur there. I've seen Lee install electronics and necks and do set-ups there but there are no bandsaws, routers, CNCs, etc. It's a relatively small space, filled to the ceiling with bodies, necks, cases, parts and billets of raw wood. Lee has told me that he does have a paint booth and a shop where manufacturing takes place but its location is separate from the main address.

[parntz145]

I understand what you are saying, and agree 100% with you.
Im just saying that Lee and 3 other guys that he has working for him do make the bodies and necks. They are not made by an outside company. I talked to Lee last night and he told me about his new cnc machine he has bought. I know Dan and Niel both do there own thing and dont hold any stock (so to say) in the GMW company. But these are the guys that have alwyas been doing this work for gmw. Its not like Lee is buying bodies and necks from this guy and that guy.