Should I Send This DK2M Back?

[peacesells84]

Hey everybody.. my name's Nichole, and I'm very new to posting here! I thought I'd share my DK2M story so far... ultimately I am in a position to have the guitar sent back and I have NOT made any purchase. I'd love some feedback!!!

The guitar arrived at the shop and was left alone for 2 days before I opened the box. Its journey was only from AZ to SoCal. It appears that the neck has problems, my boyfriend says it is warped. He did what he could and told me the only thing we could do to really have it play right was to have additional work done on the frets on top of the usual setup.

The tech at the shop made some additional adjustments which temporarily got rid of SOME of the buzzing (not totally gone), if the action got any higher I wouldn't even want it (defeats the purpose!). Within 24 hours the buzzing is back. I'd also like to add that I do not have an extremely agressive pick attack. I felt like I had to "pick on eggshells" to get rid of any buzz just for just running a scale, it's unavoidable w/ chords.

If this thing is set up for low action there is buzzing throughout the whole neck, on every string.. some spots sounding worse than others. I was specifically interested in this guitar because I figured it could be given the typical setup and have lower action than all my other guitars that have much more moderate action. I played it clean through my Peavey XXX and it doesn't sit well w/ me-- I'm positive the buzzing is creating a more muffled tone that has nothing to do with the "boomy" sound people have used to describe the Duncans it comes with.

Did I just get a dud or is this typical of the DK2M? I'm pretty damn sure I'm having it sent back, the bad feeling my gut is too much!!! I'm new to low action-- I've typically had more moderate action, or as low as I could get it without buzzing (on SG's and Squier Strats) It's actually quite a new idea to me that some people tolerate some buzz for low action... I want low action but this buzzing all over the neck screams problems to me.

I'd love to hear from DK2M owners who have low action and virtually no buzzing, and whether they did more than the average setup to achieve it.

-Nichole

[Vass]

I don't think this is particularly a DK2m issue. It is true that if you set the action super low, there's a certain amount of buzzing you're going to have to live with. This doesn't sound like that, however.

I'd send it back- You can get DK2m's used for pretty low coin (and it sounds like that's what you did already?), and a bad sounding guitar at a cheap price isn't cheap.

I would send it back- no way you should be doing fretwork. DK2m's are great, but it's not like it's a San Dimas that you just MUST save because there aren't many out there.

Does your boyfriend know much about guitars? If he does, take is word for it on the warped neck- That's not something that is open to too much interpretation- If he knows what he's looking at and he says it's warped, it's warped.

Oh and welcome Stick around after you get your answer, lots of good info here.

[peacesells84]

It's brand new old stock from 2008, from Jackson. I was told that it isn't even b-stock or a blem, but have I noticed that there is a superficial chip on top of one of the tuners where the screw is... very minor.

Vass, (thanks for the welcome, btw!) I completely agree w/ the buzzing being inevitable w/ what you call "super low" action... After learning most lead technique on a SG w/ action that has more "fight" to it, I figured I wasn't being unreasonable with wanting just slightly lower action than I'm used to on this DK2M. My boyfriend used to set up guitars for a shop we used to work for and he's built his own Warmoth so he definitely knows his stuff.

I'm kinda paranoid about even having another one sent in its place. This guitar is so hot looking and cost effective-- I just need a decent neck!!!

[warlok]

I'd say it's a dud. Not a normal problem, especially a warped (as in twisted, not just lots or negative relief) neck. Send it back and I wouldn't worry too much about getting a replacement. I really think this one was outside the norm.

[guitardudeluke]

jus try n get a replacement like a refund

sounds like a lot of hassle or u could try the truss rod

[Lemon[Nade]]

I would say its a factory defected guitar. I would definitely send it back for a refund or an exchange. Mind me ask where you got this guitar from?

[peacesells84]

I asked the store I teach for to order one for me

[ozzuk1]

Unless you know a tech that you can absolutely trust to not be bsing you for more money to fix a guitar.

That would take most experienced modders/players a few minutes to fix then just get a new one..

if the neck is twisted/warped it would be fairly easy to see, even if the frets need crowning or filing slightly.

Hope the replacement is good...

[sixx_ gunner]

Welcome!

If your just picking this up, and have issues, send it back. You'd be further ahead then to try and track down a great tech and solve the problems that way.

[KBDkaTana]

To be honest, I don't think any of us are in a position to know if it is a dud or not. However, given that the frets buzz across the whole board and on every fret, it seems very unlikely that there is anything major wrong.

Can you describe how the neck may be warped? The are only 2 possibilities that can't be fixed with truss rod adjustment.

1) a twist in the neck - never actually seen this on any guitar.

2) a "snaking" of the neck - quite possible.

I bought a crimson one a few weeks back and posted a "quality control" item. I also had to level the frets, but was due to localised low frets (up to 0.5mm).

What action are you trying to achieve? There is a lot of rubbish talked on forums regarding this. No-one ever defines low and super-low action. Measurements are the only way to tell.

For example, after some work, mine is "almost" buzz free 1.3mm high e, 1.6mm low e at the 12th fret, with 0.2mm neck relief. I would consider that to be only slightly lower than the norn, but very playable.

Also note that if the tech at the shop made an adjustment to the truss rod in the shop, this can take some days to settle down which would explain the fret buzz "return".

If you are not able to work on guitars, it's always best to try before you buy. However, as someone pointed out to me on a furum, when you do work on it, sometimes for hours.....it stops being a guitar, and becomes "your" guitar. Now that's cheesy!!

[peacesells84]

I decided this particular guitar is NOT for me! Thank you all so much for the feedback.

A couple other people playing it at the shop felt like it was fine and said they "didn't hear" the buzz I was talking about. I was also told that maybe I wasn't used to the jumbo frets and my touch was too light for it... I don't really know what to say about that. I believe I'm most familiar with medium jumbo, but I've never heard of fret size making such a huge difference like that.

However, I just found out that someone in my area might be selling a late 80's Charvel... maybe I'll pick that one up instead and continue the story in another thread!!!

[Ben...]

Welcome to the forum. Please do tell if you get the Charvel.

That sounds exactly like a local shop did to me with a saxophone. It was leaking air like crazy and they said it was fine. I took it somewhere else and they found 5 or so leaks. Jumbo frets aren't that huge of a difference. I went from a medium fretted Fender to a Jackson DK2 and it didn't bother me one bit. The only thing that took getting used to was the Floyd.

[RacerX]

However, I just found out that someone in my area might be selling a late 80's Charvel... maybe I'll pick that one up instead and continue the story in another thread!!!

Hi Nichole,

Keep in mind that Charvel will be made in Japan, not in USA. To be absolutely sure, take pics and get us a ser #. We'll ID it fo sho.

Good luck!

[atdguitars]

I've been working on guitars for over 20 years and have never seen fret size,be it medium,mj or jumbo be the sole reason for a player hearing fret buzz. How hard you press down on the frets might effect the intonation of the note from too much pressure but never from pressing to lightly.
I'd write it off as a learning experience and send it back.

[Spivonious]

1) a twist in the neck - never actually seen this on any guitar.

2) a "snaking" of the neck - quite possible.

I had an Ibanez S470 that twisted on me. It was from before they made them with 3-piece necks, and they're so thin that the wood just couldn't hold up.

What do you mean by snaking?