Cracks On New Mexican Tele. Should Warranty Cover? - Page 2

SMPTE · January 30th, 2008, 01:13 PM

Good on Fender!

and thanks for remembering we're not just consumers, we're rabid territorial fans too.

PartridgeTree · April 7th, 2008, 02:18 PM

Hello! I wanted to give you all an update on this issue and once again to thank Fender Customer Service for all its help. I think it's important to demonstrate gratitude for good customer service these days. I also think that Fender has done a particularly fine job because my guitar had been modified and they still took care of me. I have absolutely zero doubt that's what SHOULD have happened, but so often these days it doesn't. Good job, Fender. You have a newly loyal customer/promoter!

Here's the newly-bodied modified Telecaster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nrsoVGbUdo

My new white body was shipped after less than two months. All the work to replace the old body was done with enormous skill, speed, and good humor from the wonderful folks at C&C Music Center in Hazelton, PA. As a crow flies, they're my closest Fender-authorized repair shop and they're 70 miles away.

I can't say enough about how terrific C&C Music's tech was. He actually put a lot more time in on replacing that body in a quality way than he needed to. He did a lot "unbilled" work, essentially, especially in tidying up the electronics (my previous soldering sucked!) and set up.

Anyway, I guess this is called a happy ending.

StuH · April 7th, 2008, 02:43 PM

Wow this is one good story.
Glad all has worked out well, and kudos to fender and their reps.

Murphy Slaw · April 7th, 2008, 08:32 PM

Yep. I love a happy ending.

Now, go beat that guitar up in some bars!

Best of luck.

Murph.

Michael Murphy · April 7th, 2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51tele

It was horrible there must have been about a dozen defects(shellac covered frets)etc...

Not a defect, just standard manufacturing practice.

ALL maple fretboards are completely sprayed over on standard production guitars.

If you want scraped/polished frets from Fender, you gotta go Custom Shop. Otherwise, DIY or pay a third party to do it...

-Michael
Charter Member S. Texas He-Man Emoticon Haters Local #316

PJ · April 7th, 2008, 10:54 PM

That looks more like a wood crack than a finish crack. I have a finish crack on my old '70 and its never caused my any concern. But, if the crack is seen on both sides of the neck pocket, I would take it back to GC - they're an authorized dealer and can send it back to Fender, and offer you a new guitar. If the neck was too big when they assembled the guitar and it caused a stress crack in the wood, that's an issue you want to get resolved. Even contact Fender customer relations. Their link is on their website.

Here's what a 38 year-old finish crack looks like. BTW....very commonn on Fenders made anywhere in the world and not unique to any one model. You'll see these on Strats, Tels, Jags, jazzmaster, MIJs, MIMs...everything. It's common to Fender's design. Interesting, though, more often than not, the finish cracks don't seem to deteriorate over time. Just show a flaw in the paint. But, a wood crack, would concern me more. E-mail your photos to Fender and ask them to help you get your issue resolved. That's what they're there for.

January 30th, 2008, 01:13 PM	#41 (permalink)
SMPTE Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneeeesoooottta Posts: 1,209	Good on Fender! and thanks for remembering we're not just consumers, we're rabid territorial fans too. __________________ '52RI, HW1 Texas Tele, EJ Strat, MIJ JM, Epi Casino (AlnicoV), Gibson '61 RI SG, Steinberger, Squier PBass (heavily modded)

April 7th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#43 (permalink)
StuH Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yukon, Canada Age: 39 Posts: 1,559 20 Photos	Wow this is one good story. Glad all has worked out well, and kudos to fender and their reps. __________________ My music page http://www.soundclick.com/thrucoloredglass

April 7th, 2008, 10:54 PM	#46 (permalink)
PJ Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,182 4 Photos	That looks more like a wood crack than a finish crack. I have a finish crack on my old '70 and its never caused my any concern. But, if the crack is seen on both sides of the neck pocket, I would take it back to GC - they're an authorized dealer and can send it back to Fender, and offer you a new guitar. If the neck was too big when they assembled the guitar and it caused a stress crack in the wood, that's an issue you want to get resolved. Even contact Fender customer relations. Their link is on their website. Here's what a 38 year-old finish crack looks like. BTW....very commonn on Fenders made anywhere in the world and not unique to any one model. You'll see these on Strats, Tels, Jags, jazzmaster, MIJs, MIMs...everything. It's common to Fender's design. Interesting, though, more often than not, the finish cracks don't seem to deteriorate over time. Just show a flaw in the paint. But, a wood crack, would concern me more. E-mail your photos to Fender and ask them to help you get your issue resolved. That's what they're there for. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 7th, 2008, 02:18 PM	#42 (permalink)
PartridgeTree TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: East Coast Posts: 11	Hello! I wanted to give you all an update on this issue and once again to thank Fender Customer Service for all its help. I think it's important to demonstrate gratitude for good customer service these days. I also think that Fender has done a particularly fine job because my guitar had been modified and they still took care of me. I have absolutely zero doubt that's what SHOULD have happened, but so often these days it doesn't. Good job, Fender. You have a newly loyal customer/promoter! Here's the newly-bodied modified Telecaster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nrsoVGbUdo My new white body was shipped after less than two months. All the work to replace the old body was done with enormous skill, speed, and good humor from the wonderful folks at C&C Music Center in Hazelton, PA. As a crow flies, they're my closest Fender-authorized repair shop and they're 70 miles away. I can't say enough about how terrific C&C Music's tech was. He actually put a lot more time in on replacing that body in a quality way than he needed to. He did a lot "unbilled" work, essentially, especially in tidying up the electronics (my previous soldering sucked!) and set up. Anyway, I guess this is called a happy ending.

April 7th, 2008, 08:32 PM	#44 (permalink)
Murphy Slaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Joppa, Il. Age: 50 Posts: 439	Yep. I love a happy ending. Now, go beat that guitar up in some bars! Best of luck. Murph.