So my new gear day did not go very well.

[Bones]

Out of boredom, I decided to put together a low buck rig and order it from AMS to have some new toys while I recover.

I ordered Squier VM Custom in 3 tone burst. I had tried one of these a while ago at GC and liked everything about it.

For an amp I ordered an Excelsior.

Got a Boss FDR-1

And I got a nice Fender HSC.

The Tele custom was beautiful, whatever the mystery wood is, it has a nice amount of flame on the body, the neck and frets are fine and the weight is good. Also, the bridge pup was DOA

The Excelsior was trouble from the moment I plugged it in, it sounded like I was in a florescent light factory or something, loud whooshing noise that got louder as the volume went up. When playing through it there's a lot of high pitched squealing behind the notes and rattles. The trem also is very noisy.

The case and the pedal are fine, the pedal I really like a lot and think I will get a lot of use out of.

I got AMS on the horn and they said they would overnight me out a new amp but the guitar was now on backorder so the options were exchange it for something else or return it. OR since I'm handy, they would take 20% off the price of the guitar if i wanted to just through one of my own spare bridge pups in it. I thought about it and decided to take the discount and replace the pup with a Nashville bridge pup that I had been saving.

Hopefully, the new amp will be a lot quieter. The main bummer with that is I can't just leave it on the porch for FED EX to take when they drop the new amp off, I have to lug it to the UPS store to send it back, which with the problems I'm having right now is not going to be a fun task.
\

Yeah, yeah, first world problem, I get it.

[rebelwoclue]

Bummer! Good luck with it- I am sure the karma will come around and you'll get a fine outfit!

[Jakedog]

Major bummer, man. It sucks to get excited about new stuff, then have it screwed up when you get it.

Here's the deal with "first world" problems. I'm really sick of that phrase. Yeah, it may be a first world problem, so what? Doesn't make it suck any less for the guy dealing with it. It's all about perspective. If you lived in Bangladesh, on thirty seven cents a month, and your fourteen kids were starving to death, I suppose your current problems might seem pretty silly. But you don't live there, and you don't have those issues, so yeah, it's ok to be upset about this. In your world, this problem constitutes a real issue. It sucks out loud. So gripe away, brother.

[Toto'sDad]

I'm serious Bones if I wasn't clear out in California, I'd pick the amp up and take it to be shipped for you. I'd just say now might not be a real good time to buy lottery tickets!

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Jakedog

Major bummer, man. It sucks to get excited about new stuff, then have it screwed up when you get it.

Here's the deal with "first world" problems. I'm really sick of that phrase. Yeah, it may be a first world problem, so what? Doesn't make it suck any less for the guy dealing with it. It's all about perspective. If you lived in Bangladesh, on thirty seven cents a month, and your fourteen kids were starving to death, I suppose your current problems might seem pretty silly. But you don't live there, and you don't have those issues, so yeah, it's ok to be upset about this. In your world, this problem constitutes a real issue. It sucks out loud. So gripe away, brother.

Yeah, I just put that in there to beat the amateur philosophers to the punch. With the amount of third world pain I have in my leg right now, I deserved a nice trouble free first world day. No biggie, my man joe at AMS is on the case and i already have the new pup in the VM and getting ready to string it up. Like everyone else, I like things to go smoothly, but these glitches happen now and then. One phone call is all it took to make things right and i don't mind soldering in a pup that is probably better than the one that was in there to begin with. The amp, I'm not messing with that, a tube change if that's what it needs is not something I'm willing to pick up the tab on for a $300 amp. Will try the next one.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Toto'sDad

I'm serious Bones if I wasn't clear out in California, I'd pick the amp up and take it to be shipped for you. I'd just say now might not be a real good time to buy lottery tickets!

Thanks man, appreciate the thought. I have always had good luck with mail order gear, guess my number came up this time, but I do like the guitar, I think the VMs get overlooked with the CV craze, but it's really a nice guitar for $300.

[Fink132]

That sucks to hear but it sounds like the company you bought through realizes the annoyances you are going through which is always a good thing.

Good luck!

[kelnet]

Originally Posted by Bones

Yeah, yeah, first world problem, I get it.

This isn't a first world problem. A first world problem is not getting the backgammon channel in high definition.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by kelnet

This isn't a first world problem. A first world problem is not getting the backgammon channel in high definition.

mojo sent

[stnmtthw]

Paying money for something and not having it work when you get it is a problem.

That sucks, Bones. At least they're working with you to get it taken care of.

[Obsessed]

Total bummer about the amp, but it is the nature of amps. I'm very surprised about the bridge pup. Fender should not allow that to happen ... ever. Don't worry about the first world problem guilt. It is only a first world problem if it is not yourself.

There must be another TDPRI soul out there to step up and to assist with mailing the amp back. C'mon, this is family!

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by kelnet

This isn't a first world problem. A first world problem is not getting the backgammon channel in high definition.

Yeah, since when is a crappy Chinese amp a First World Problem?

[Bones]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

Yeah, since when is a crappy Chinese amp a First World Problem?

that's nice.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Obsessed

Total bummer about the amp, but it is the nature of amps. I'm very surprised about the bridge pup. Fender should not allow that to happen ... ever. Don't worry about the first world problem guilt. It is only a first world problem if it is not yourself.

There must be another TDPRI soul out there to step up and to assist with mailing the amp back. C'mon, this is family!

thanks, I have friend that's going to stop by tomorrow and load it on the truck for me, I'm sure the guy at the UPS store will be happy to bring it in for me when he sees my limp.

I too do not see how a guitar that went through even minimal quality control could get through with a totally dead pup, doesn't make sense, but everything else about the guitar is really nice. I think once the amp is squared away, it'a going to be a really cool low buck rig, the Boss FDR-1 really sounds great in from of the amp and should sound better in front of one that is functioning properly.

Here's a pick of the guitar, it's a lot more flamey than the flash pic is showing.

[Dep]

Bones, that is a nice looking git-fiddle you got there! Sorry about all your recent problems. You've heard the saying, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

You are going to be a beast! :)

Dep

[WisconsinStrings]

Just look at it as part of the adventure.

Pretty fun project though. I love the idea of a low dollar rig.

Please post some sound clips when you get 'er all hooked up.

[Bones]

Originally Posted by WisconsinStrings

Just look at it as part of the adventure.

Pretty fun project though. I love the idea of a low dollar rig.

Please post some sound clips when you get 'er all hooked up.

The Boss FDR-1 might be the key piece of the puzzle here, it makes everything sound good so far. I using it on one of my SS Tweed Broncos and it is astounding how big it makes it sound.

[william tele]

Real purty one Bones! We all wish we could help ya out. Heal buddy!...

[String Tree]

Bones, how can you be angry at a guitar that purty?

Hope you are on the mend asap.

[dented]

Didn't know you were ailing. Get fixed, get repaired, play on. (I don't mean fixed in that way) Hope you get your stuff straightened out. Wait, get your gear fixed and straight. Wait, I hope you get better and the equipment situation is resolved. Aw hell, get better. Buy more stuff.