Custom shop flawed guitar, looking for help!!!

[Flatpicker]

I'd really love to hear from a Jackson rep or the dealer directly. The response is horrifying.

They are saying that if you won't accept crooked routes for $4000 they don't want to to business with you. THEY FIRED THE CUSTOMER for an unfixable error on a $4000 piece of wood.

Let that sink in.... THEY FIRED THE CUSTOMER. For asking for straight and proper routes.

Mistakes happen and it's silly to stop using a company because of a few errors, but the customer service response is 100% within there control.

Between the response and the 23 fret Kelly that they wouldn't let the other guy jump in line to avoid the 2 year clock.... Wow, fuck em. I got 7 higher end Jacksons. I guess that's enough.

To be clear, I include ALL new Jacksons. If they treat the highest end customers this way it's a poor sign.

Things go in cycles and they'll either right the ship or disapear. I will come back when shit comes back around.

Again I'd love to hear Jackson's side of the story.

I don't think that ship is going to right under the current ownership.

Sometimes, I am convinced Fender bought these other brands just to shutter them.

[vector]

I don't think that ship is going to right under the current ownership.

Sometimes, I am convinced Fender bought these other brands just to shutter them.

+1
I could see that. FMIC acquired Hamer USA back in 2008 only to shut them down in December of 2012, reportedly because of long declining sales. STORY However, mere months before doing so, Hamer custom shop was allowed to again offer numerous models halted by previous leadership at Hamer. Notably the shredders, the Californian, the Chaparral, Phantoms, Centuras, Scarabs, as well as others. Coincidentally, Jackson just recently began offering Strat style head stocks as an option on their custom builds for the first time in a while. Hmm.

[Dave Rocks]

They used to be done that way in Glendora and in Ontario. The new shop does everything by CNC. Unless it's a true super custom that requires something that is not already programmed into CNC, there is no reason to not use the CNC machines. Fender spent a bunch of money bringing the Jackson USA shop into the 2000's with equipment, machines and technology. But, who knows, no reason not to CNC but just maybe the body not being CNC'd is the reason for the Floyd post holes being drilled off ??? Actually, the more I think about it, you may be right. Using a CNC machine would have prevented these problems.

I have 2 CS's almost done and I know for a FACT no CNC operations where done on any part of the guitars. Your statement about Fender spending money on equipment to make the CS modern is false. Have you been there? I have and it's not modern in anyway and I own a contract engineering and manufacturing company with CNC equipment so I know what I'm talking about.

[Chad]

+1
I could see that. FMIC acquired Hamer USA back in 2008 only to shut them down in December of 2012, reportedly because of long declining sales. STORY However, mere months before doing so, Hamer custom shop was allowed to again offer numerous models halted by previous leadership at Hamer. Notably the shredders, the Californian, the Chaparral, Phantoms, Centuras, Scarabs, as well as others. Coincidentally, Jackson just recently began offering Strat style head stocks as an option on their custom builds for the first time in a while. Hmm.

Actually, from what I've read, Hamer was already struggling a great deal and would have closed shop much earlier if FMIC hadn't got involved. The problem is people simply weren't ordering enough Hamer guitars. It is my guess that the allowing of previously excluded builds was a last ditch effort to see if orders would improve.....and they didn't to a meaningful degree.

I see a parallel situation with Jackson. People have disagreed with me about this (and I AM just speculating), but I don't think Jackson has all that many custom shop builds in the queue. The reason for the 2+ year wait isn't because of demand, but because they are running on just a handful of employees. I'm wondering if the Custom Select option, Stratheads, etc. are efforts to increase demand like they did with Hamer. But I'm not sure that's really working to a meaningful degree. Then look at the regular Select line: how many of those are selling? Who is actually buying guitars that map for $2,500 to $3,000 when they can be bought used in like new condition for $800 to $1,300 on the used market?

I'm wondering if the water is circling the drain....at least on the USA branch of J/C. As mentioned previously, J/C is like a lost stepchild that FMIC doesn't know what to do with. If they don't put money into marketing, employees, etc. the situation isn't going to improve. By the same token, if J/C fans aren't ordering enough guitars it's not going to improve either. These recent builds make it look like FMIC and/or the builders' hearts simply aren't into it, which is actually turning prospective Custom Shop orders away. It's all kinda sad actually.

[lepard]

I have 2 CS's almost done and I know for a FACT no CNC operations where done on any part of the guitars. Your statement about Fender spending money on equipment to make the CS modern is false. Have you been there? I have and it's not modern in anyway and I own a contract engineering and manufacturing company with CNC equipment so I know what I'm talking about.

You misquoted me. I did NOT say "Fender spending money on equipment to make the CS modern", please read what I wrote. I said "Fender spent a bunch of money bringing the Jackson USA shop into the 2000's with equipment, machines and technology." That is NOT necessarily the Custom Shop. And yes, I've been to Glendora and Ontario but not the new Fender shop. By the way, from the beginning of this thread, it is quite obvious that you are affiliated with the dealer doing the deal on this guitar. You made yourself too obvious.

[Dave Rocks]

You misquoted me. I did NOT say "Fender spending money on equipment to make the CS modern", please read what I wrote. I said "Fender spent a bunch of money bringing the Jackson USA shop into the 2000's with equipment, machines and technology." That is NOT necessarily the Custom Shop. And yes, I've been to Glendora and Ontario but not the new Fender shop. By the way, from the beginning of this thread, it is quite obvious that you are affiliated with the dealer doing the deal on this guitar. You made yourself too obvious.

You state "The routes where done by CNC" and I'm saying they are not becuase I've seen what they do and I was suprised as could be. My guitars where 100% hand made and that shocked me.

And, I'm not hiding anything - yes, I used the same dealer and I tried to help Mike only because my experience has been terrific. That's my only affiliation - a good experience. The dealer (IMHO), is not at fault here. The issue is likely Jackson and miscommunication but I don't know every detail on the topic.

[leftykingv2]

I still don't think a "Miscommunication" is a reason for a guitar to be this spooged up. Unless he told them to route it off center and then changed his mind half way through. Also why hasn't anyone named this 'Mystery Dealer?" Regardless of what has or hasn't happened on either end I probably wouldn't order off of him.

[coloradoman25]

Dave isnt "affiliated" with any dealer; what I see is him simply trying to help both secondary parties in this rodeo midget circus clown cluster fuck thats going on here.

I had a custom shop order all drawn up here for the last month and a half and this officially canned it. Congrats FMIC whether or not you care you lost an order.

[leftykingv2]

Dave isnt "affiliated" with any dealer; what I see is him simply trying to help both secondary parties in this rodeo midget circus clown cluster fuck thats going on here.

I had a custom shop order all drawn up here for the last month and a half and this officially canned it. Congrats FMIC whether or not you care you lost an order.

+1 bro I had the same thing going down with a custom shop Rhoads and it's on hold now. I am not about to drop 4K and get handed something like this. If I did I am telling you man I would be on their fucking doorstep a.s.a.p. with said guitar. I might go GJ2 for a Concorde. It's $300 cheaper and it's only 3 to 4 month wait.

[pro-fusion]

I'm wondering if the water is circling the drain....at least on the USA branch of J/C. As mentioned previously, J/C is like a lost stepchild that FMIC doesn't know what to do with. If they don't put money into marketing, employees, etc. the situation isn't going to improve. By the same token, if J/C fans aren't ordering enough guitars it's not going to improve either. These recent builds make it look like FMIC and/or the builders' hearts simply aren't into it, which is actually turning prospective Custom Shop orders away. It's all kinda sad actually.

I think the continuing crappy economy in the USA has a lot to do with it. It's a pretty big financial commitment to spend $4,000+ on something that doesn't shelter you from the weather or transport you to work. A lot fewer folks are in a position to make that commitment than in 2006.

Also (and oddly despite the economy), a lot of boutique builders have sprouted up in the last five years or so who seem to have a better handle on what current buyers in the metal market want. Jackson is playing catch-up. Their main advantage should be the reliability of being a "real" company with "real" employees etc. By turning out well-publicized, half-assed builds like this and taking 2+ years to deliver, they're ceding ground to the small builders out there.

[coloradoman25]

Anyone link this to Jacksons FB page yet lol? Im not that evil but it might would have handled this differently if it were..

I will go Suhr for my order ultimately I have wanted one anyway and am going that route.

[Tetsuo]

Who here has played a gj2?

[Nightbat]

I think the continuing crappy economy in the USA has a lot to do with it. It's a pretty big financial commitment to spend $4,000+ on something that doesn't shelter you from the weather or transport you to work. A lot fewer folks are in a position to make that commitment than in 2006.

As I stated in the other custom 'error' thread
especially in the current financial situation: if people are willing to spend $4K on a grown up fiddle, you as fiddlemaker should be prepared to deliver the best work
to enable trust in your workmanship and thereby hopefully gather more orders than the competition

the second part is that people spending such amount on luxury are gonna be pretty fucking anal about what you deliver them
$4K would buy them a car or keep it running for a few years,.. or at least enable them to fill up the tank for a lot of miles, so they 'demand' that this ride better be worth it

[leftykingv2]

Who here has played a gj2?

I have a friend who owns a Glendora and an Arete model and they are both absolutely fantastic. Two of the nicest guitars I've ever seen or played. Mind you I am a lefty so I couldn't do very much playing wise but that not withstanding the quality is second to none in my opinion.

[leftykingv2]

As I stated in the other custom 'error' thread
especially in the current financial situation: if people are willing to spend $4K on a grown up fiddle, you as fiddlemaker should be prepared to deliver the best work
to enable trust in your workmanship and thereby hopefully gather more orders than the competition

the second part is that people spending such amount on luxury are gonna be pretty fucking anal about what you deliver them
$4K would buy them a car or keep it running for a few years,.. or at least enable them to fill up the tank for a lot of miles, so they 'demand' that this ride better be worth it

+1