Chinese Parts

[ipfroes]

Everybody knows that there are good Chinese things and a lot of Chinese crap! There are some of us here in the forum who already had some bad experiences with guitar parts Made in China http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...s-vendors.html

Anyway, I was surfing this morning on e-bay and by pure chance found out a vendor from China called: rockcarvings (http://myworld.ebay.com/rockcarvings) selling a lot of guitar parts which seem to be nice... and the customer reviews are very positive, including comments re the quality of the parts.

Did you have any experience with this guy? Any comment about the parts he is selling? They are really cheap, and I was thinking about giving a try... But not before listening comments from you guys! :)

Thanks!
Ivan

[oramac7891]

Some seem cheap and others seem not so cheap. What would concern me is his product list.
Example, 3 different maple 22 fret tele necks, all look the same in the pics, one is 19 buck buy it now, another is 59 , yet another is 110? Where it looks like he sells good stuff, it may be that the cheap stuff are seconds with flaws he is hoping that you don't notice. Most of the sales also say that you will get a product similar to the picture?

[oramac7891]

That. Being said, I am going to save him as a seller and maybe give him a chance when/if I start another build.

[SacDAve]

My take on Chinese stuff is you're taking a chance the land of cheap knock offs. I looked at these tuners ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-6R-Gold-...#ht_793wt_1398 ) $18 dollars with shipping, I've bought some old Honda parts from Bangkok & Thailand with good luck but never anything expensive. The one deal breaker is the shipping charges, so a set of tuners $18 WS I can just imagine the quality.I think if your going to spend hours and hours on building a guitar why use bottom of the line junk.

[glen smith]

Originally Posted by oramac7891

Some seem cheap and others seem not so cheap. What would concern me is his product list.
Example, 3 different maple 22 fret tele necks, all look the same in the pics, one is 19 buck buy it now, another is 59 , yet another is 110? Where it looks like he sells good stuff, it may be that the cheap stuff are seconds with flaws he is hoping that you don't notice. Most of the sales also say that you will get a product similar to the picture?

The lower priced items have a higher shipping cost.

[ipfroes]

Yes, I agree with you guys... thanks for the comments!

[funkymann1]

dont you get it with import charges later in the month when you buy from them???with that said yes some of the prices are OK but that is witout the charge....
keep in ind some of the stuff you should stay away from...friends dont let friends use fake floyds!!!!
also, i would rather spend the money on a good neck then take a chance & be out $50 bucks....

[Kiwanda]

I've given up on Ebay for the most part but have been buying parts from several Hong Kong importers. Sometimes they require large lot purchases (like 10 sets of pickups) but Suntek Store (http://www.suntekstore.com/category-361-b0-guitar.html) sells singles. I've found their gear to be similar/identical to stuff I've purchased from Ebay sellers and US-based online retailers...not "Made in USA" quality, but for the most part serviceable and quite cheap. I've bought several pickguards for about $6 each (Strat mostly), and got a pair of humbuckers for my kid's guitar for $10 that actually sounded pretty good. Worth a look if you're searching for cheap stuff anyway.

Just speaking as a customer, no interest in the company, etc. Shipping from Hong Kong has been quick (usually 8-10 days) and there is no import duty or anything to the US.

I'd be interested in learning about other importers if anyone has some to recommend.

-Kiwanda

[Buzzardeater]

I ran across this site by accident, surfing for tele sites. I was pretty shocked to realize these are unannounced guitars from the factory! Wholesale!

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...6%2C100005663&

[metecem]

This whole imported parts brings a quote from the movie Armageddon into my mind: "American components, Russian components. All made in Taiwan!"

I have been in industry for 14 years dealing with measurement and control systems, pumps, etc before I left the sector for good. Every company I have seen, represented, did business with was in one way connected to Asia or China. IMHO the key point is to remember that you get what you pay for.

Getting a neck, almost done, for ten to twenty bucks and putting a little elbow grease on it to make it perfect isn't that difficult or is it?

[macaroonie]

I don't see why you would bother with all the shipping and import duty etc when you can get Wilkinson tuners from Guitar fetish for 28 bucks.

[musicalmartin]

I paid 30 quid including post for a strat neck from EY parts and its a good neck .Even better after an edge roll.In fact its one of the best players I have at present .The nut was very good too. I agree that Wilkingson parts are the way to go for price and quality .I fit them to my partscasters a lot .

[beltal]

Originally Posted by Buzzardeater

I ran across this site by accident, surfing for tele sites. I was pretty shocked to realize these are unannounced guitars from the factory! Wholesale!

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...6%2C100005663&

You can buy it with Paypal and cheaper price from
http://www.beltal.com/dhgexpress?uri...olesalers.html

[benderb9]

I have bought many parts from China/Taiwan/Korea direct and generally get the same thing I'd get at Radio Shack or expect in an import guitar. I recently put pearl tuner buttons and a Gibson/Epiphone plate (like on an older Epi SG and a 335 Dot I have) and it looks great, really the finishing touch. They're quality parts and with the Graph Tech nut/saddle/end pins I installed and the JJB Electronics transducer system it's definately a keeper now. The pearl tuner buttons look white from a distance but are actually rather translucent and very cool looking. May switch 'em up for ivoroid buttons though, just thinking...I have generally been rather pleased with what I've gotten, but when you draw a stinker...thats really exactly what you get

[musicalmartin]

Originally Posted by Buzzardeater

I ran across this site by accident, surfing for tele sites. I was pretty shocked to realize these are unannounced guitars from the factory! Wholesale!

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...6%2C100005663&

They are using Ebay shop the stratosphere photos

[TeleTramp]

Originally Posted by ipfroes

Everybody knows that there are good Chinese things and a lot of Chinese crap! There are some of us here in the forum who already had some bad experiences with guitar parts Made in China http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...s-vendors.html

Anyway, I was surfing this morning on e-bay and by pure chance found out a vendor from China called: rockcarvings (http://myworld.ebay.com/rockcarvings) selling a lot of guitar parts which seem to be nice... and the customer reviews are very positive, including comments re the quality of the parts.

Did you have any experience with this guy? Any comment about the parts he is selling? They are really cheap, and I was thinking about giving a try... But not before listening comments from you guys! :)

Thanks!
Ivan

I bought a couple sets of machine heads from "rockcarvings" just because of the cheap price and they are solid. Nothing fancy but well worth the price. I didn't run into any hidden customs fees or anything either. That being said, shipping time is loooong. If you have other things on the go and can wait awhile, I recommend them.

[guitarbuilder]

There are two negatives to some of the import tuners and bridge parts I've used. I've noticed on more than one occasion that the backs of the tuners that cover the gears pop out. The other thing is that allen screws tend to loosen up by themselves on bridge saddles. Probably a shot of super glue and thread lock would take care of those problems in both cases. Other than that the parts work fine.

[Bentley]

I bought all my parts from Hong Kong, mostly. I bought good wood and goot pickups, but the rest is basically all knockoffs. I haven't finished the guitar yet, so I'm not sure how great they will perform, but I decided to try it, and if a certain part didn't work well just replace it with a good one. Most of the parts are like 2-10 dollars so how can you go wrong.

[Bentley]

Now that I look at it, I think I bought some of those Wilkinson WHBB and WHBN pickups. They're decent, but not really as much punch as I want. Maybe it's my amp though. One item I would not buy is this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Maple-strat-...#ht_700wt_1185

[benderb9]

that neck looks like it was made in the Mighty Mite factory...just kidding. I've bought necks that were imported by dealers here and have yet to get one that was 'unsalvageable', 54.00 including shipping doesn't seem so bad. Even appears to have a nut. Probably the same neck they put on Squires...