OK, about a month ago, my girlfriend bought me a brand new Epiphone SG in Worn Brown. This is probably at least the 15th guitar I have owned, and I have never seen anything like this issue on a brand new guitar. I finally got around to setting the guitar up the way I like it (as low as possible without buzzing of course), but when I went to adjust the truss rod, I loosened it about an eighth of a turn, and when I went to pull the allen key out, the tight fit of it allowed what sounds like the entire truss rod to slide up about an inch, until it got caught on the raised paint of the headstock. This isn't normal right? No other guitar I've ever had has done this. I've sent a support ticket to Epiphone about a week ago, but no word back yet.
Epi SG truss rod issue
- Thread starter autologic
- Start date
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
I bought a CSB Epi LP STD about 8 or 9 years ago that had a loose and non functioning truss. Sucked cos it was probably the best sounding epiphone I have ever experienced. Took it back, tried some others , nothing was half as good, so I got my money back.
I would take it back if there is still time.
I bought a CSB Epi LP STD about 8 or 9 years ago that had a loose and non functioning truss. Sucked cos it was probably the best sounding epiphone I have ever experienced. Took it back, tried some others , nothing was half as good, so I got my money back.
I would take it back if there is still time.
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
The weird thing is, it appears that the truss rod is working. It was 3-4 days ago that I adjusted it, and it put just the right amount of relief into it. I am probably going to send it back anyway, as I also just noticed that the eleventh fret is really loose, like, I can pull it out with one fingernail loose.
The weird thing is, it appears that the truss rod is working. It was 3-4 days ago that I adjusted it, and it put just the right amount of relief into it. I am probably going to send it back anyway, as I also just noticed that the eleventh fret is really loose, like, I can pull it out with one fingernail loose.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
It's under warranty. Get another one.
It's under warranty. Get another one.
Mr. B
New member
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
I just bought a new Epiphone Genesis when MF blew them out at $200 less than regular price. It had an upbow in the neck that was obvious without even getting down to eye level. All of the strings were bottoming out. The truss rod turned but had no real effect. It looked like dozens of those models were being returned for similar problems. Seems like a bad time to buy Epi's.
I just bought a new Epiphone Genesis when MF blew them out at $200 less than regular price. It had an upbow in the neck that was obvious without even getting down to eye level. All of the strings were bottoming out. The truss rod turned but had no real effect. It looked like dozens of those models were being returned for similar problems. Seems like a bad time to buy Epi's.
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
Update in case anyone cares: Gibson kinda pissed me off a bit. They wanted me to bring it to the nearest warranty service center, which was listed as "The Amp Shop" in Asheville, NC. Well, the guy I spoke to (very professional guy, he just had that air about him. For some reason, I had a good enough feeling about him that if I ever want a classic amp built new, I will probably go to him, but anyway....) told me that he hasn't done luthier work there in years. He referred me to Hughes Stringed Instruments, about 45 minutes away (45 minutes further than I feel I should need to go to fix THEIR MISTAKES). Though they aren't listed on Gibson's site, they are apparently WNC's Gibson warranty people. Well, I tried to call them several times throughout the day, left a message that still hasn't been answered, etc... Well, finally I got a message from Zzounds.com, and called them immediately. Five minutes later, an overnight return shipping label was on it's way, and I will most likely have a new guitar by next week. If it wasn't a gift, I would probably be trying to get at that Goth explorer or maybe a Les Paul Standard (Epi, of course). Anyway, the point of this long, drawn out story is that Zzounds.com is a pretty great site to deal with, and I had a great customer service experience with them.
Edit: I am still a bit bummed, I had already started to bond with this guitar, and had figured out how to get the best sound put of it... hopefully in this era of mass production, the next one will sound and feel exactly the same, but not be broken...
Update in case anyone cares: Gibson kinda pissed me off a bit. They wanted me to bring it to the nearest warranty service center, which was listed as "The Amp Shop" in Asheville, NC. Well, the guy I spoke to (very professional guy, he just had that air about him. For some reason, I had a good enough feeling about him that if I ever want a classic amp built new, I will probably go to him, but anyway....) told me that he hasn't done luthier work there in years. He referred me to Hughes Stringed Instruments, about 45 minutes away (45 minutes further than I feel I should need to go to fix THEIR MISTAKES). Though they aren't listed on Gibson's site, they are apparently WNC's Gibson warranty people. Well, I tried to call them several times throughout the day, left a message that still hasn't been answered, etc... Well, finally I got a message from Zzounds.com, and called them immediately. Five minutes later, an overnight return shipping label was on it's way, and I will most likely have a new guitar by next week. If it wasn't a gift, I would probably be trying to get at that Goth explorer or maybe a Les Paul Standard (Epi, of course). Anyway, the point of this long, drawn out story is that Zzounds.com is a pretty great site to deal with, and I had a great customer service experience with them.
Edit: I am still a bit bummed, I had already started to bond with this guitar, and had figured out how to get the best sound put of it... hopefully in this era of mass production, the next one will sound and feel exactly the same, but not be broken...
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Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
Well, I just got the replacement guitar, and it is seriously just, ridiculously messed up. Every single fret wire has the wrong radius, so they are touching on the ends, and a millimeter up in the center. The fretboard has a bunch of big scratches on the frets AND the wires, it is really just disappointing. At this point I will probably just be asking for a refund. You would seriously think that if something was returned, they would at least GLANCE at the replacement to make sure it isn't completely awful as well...
Well, I just got the replacement guitar, and it is seriously just, ridiculously messed up. Every single fret wire has the wrong radius, so they are touching on the ends, and a millimeter up in the center. The fretboard has a bunch of big scratches on the frets AND the wires, it is really just disappointing. At this point I will probably just be asking for a refund. You would seriously think that if something was returned, they would at least GLANCE at the replacement to make sure it isn't completely awful as well...
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
I set up the action last night, and even though it looks kinda crappy, the action went really nice and low, with almost no buzz. I may keep it, it plays great... With the luck I've had, I'll get another one that looks great, but has an action that can't be properly set up.
I set up the action last night, and even though it looks kinda crappy, the action went really nice and low, with almost no buzz. I may keep it, it plays great... With the luck I've had, I'll get another one that looks great, but has an action that can't be properly set up.
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Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
Just an update: I'm sending this one back too. If it wasn't a gift, I would DEFINITELY be going with a different guitar after the issues with both of these. I will say this, Zzounds guitar guy, Dan, had been very nice through all of this. They do have really good customer service, I just wish they had someone there looking over these guitars before they ship them.
Just an update: I'm sending this one back too. If it wasn't a gift, I would DEFINITELY be going with a different guitar after the issues with both of these. I will say this, Zzounds guitar guy, Dan, had been very nice through all of this. They do have really good customer service, I just wish they had someone there looking over these guitars before they ship them.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
You can request that they check out the replacement guitar before they send it. I did that with a Fender Jazz bass that had wood that cosmetically didn't look so good (but was otherwise fine). They picked out one with nice looking wood and sent it to me. All you have to do is ask. Just because they're a online seller doesn't mean they can't open boxes and give customers what they want.
You can request that they check out the replacement guitar before they send it. I did that with a Fender Jazz bass that had wood that cosmetically didn't look so good (but was otherwise fine). They picked out one with nice looking wood and sent it to me. All you have to do is ask. Just because they're a online seller doesn't mean they can't open boxes and give customers what they want.
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
Mostly the reason I'm sending it back is because of all the scratches on the fretboard and fret wires. Sure, it could be fixed, but I really don't think I should have to do that, it pay to have it done. It's a lot worse looking in real life that it is in the crappy cell pictures.
Mostly the reason I'm sending it back is because of all the scratches on the fretboard and fret wires. Sure, it could be fixed, but I really don't think I should have to do that, it pay to have it done. It's a lot worse looking in real life that it is in the crappy cell pictures.
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
Now that I look again at the photos, it seems like someone (a previous owner) had tried to do amateur fretwork on this. I start to think that any guitar is suspect of having been canibalized by a previous owner which eventually returned it and the seller subsequently tried to sell without even attempting to bury the traces or even get in the trouble of inspecting the damn thing and offering it as a b-stock. Maybe they will keep selling this till someone will keep it.
Now that I look again at the photos, it seems like someone (a previous owner) had tried to do amateur fretwork on this. I start to think that any guitar is suspect of having been canibalized by a previous owner which eventually returned it and the seller subsequently tried to sell without even attempting to bury the traces or even get in the trouble of inspecting the damn thing and offering it as a b-stock. Maybe they will keep selling this till someone will keep it.
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
While that may be true, guitars can and do come from the factory looking just like this. I am contracting with a small business that is importing electric guitars from a big factory in China. My job is to do a complete set-up on all the guitars, which also includes changing out the plastic nut with a Tusq nut and checking over the electronics, fit and finish, etc... Sad to say that I've seen the same issues on some of these guitars that the OP has on his new Epi. I'm guessing that the reason that the fret work is "ameteur" is, well, because it is! I doubt the people at these factories get much training, and if they do, I'm guessing that speed is praised more than accuracy.
While that may be true, guitars can and do come from the factory looking just like this. I am contracting with a small business that is importing electric guitars from a big factory in China. My job is to do a complete set-up on all the guitars, which also includes changing out the plastic nut with a Tusq nut and checking over the electronics, fit and finish, etc... Sad to say that I've seen the same issues on some of these guitars that the OP has on his new Epi. I'm guessing that the reason that the fret work is "ameteur" is, well, because it is! I doubt the people at these factories get much training, and if they do, I'm guessing that speed is praised more than accuracy.
Re: Epi SG truss rod issue
It really looks like something was dragged across the first fret, I believe someone made a mistake, scratched it all up, and just shipped it rather than telling their boss at the factory that they ruined a guitar. If this next one is messed up, I will definitely be trying another guitar, gift or not. I had my eye on the Epiphone Genesis Deluxe PRO since it's the same price as the G-400, but I may go with a whole other brand. ESP has a beautiful guitar for around the same price, so I may possibly go with it if things don't work out with the next one.
It really looks like something was dragged across the first fret, I believe someone made a mistake, scratched it all up, and just shipped it rather than telling their boss at the factory that they ruined a guitar. If this next one is messed up, I will definitely be trying another guitar, gift or not. I had my eye on the Epiphone Genesis Deluxe PRO since it's the same price as the G-400, but I may go with a whole other brand. ESP has a beautiful guitar for around the same price, so I may possibly go with it if things don't work out with the next one.
