BareBones
Tele-Meister
Any experience with Guitar Fetish bodies?
All welcome
Thanks
All welcome
Thanks
Guitar Fetish
- Thread starter BareBones
- Start date
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Anode100
Friend of Leo's
Opinion is that they can be quite hit and miss - in terms of hole placement, and fit / finish.
Their XGP range is meant to be a step-up in quality though.
I bought an unfinished Tele body in their clearance sale a few years ago.
The body is still solid and holding up just fine - but others around here have had less luck.
Their XGP range is meant to be a step-up in quality though.
I bought an unfinished Tele body in their clearance sale a few years ago.
The body is still solid and holding up just fine - but others around here have had less luck.
MonkeyJefferson
Tele-Holic
Out of the three I've purchased, only one had properly placed holes, and even then it cost me a lot in Luthier bills- the neck wouldn't sit flush in the pocket. Don't buy any pawlonia from them unless your repair game is STRONG.
Might be a cool idea to go through all the testimonials.
I want to warn you of something I've detected, which is kind of too bad but you can't really be too surprised.
IF a prominent guitar wizard/builder establishes a pattern of buying stuff from GFS, that wizard will absolutely get hand selected components because GFS wants to make sure that wizard (and their testimonial) remains as strong as possible. The wizard may not even know he's being given massive preferential treatment. The bodies he gets will always be the pick of the crop, and everyone else has to settle for what is left.
Also, GFS is a RESELLER and have virtually no control over the quality of the stuff they shift. The same way when I go to the Farmer's Market and sometimes the beets are tender and fresh and sometimes they're basically compost. But GFS would rather eat nails than pull the bodies it takes in off their website, and they're going to offer the customer something to buy no matter how decent or how crappy the last shipment of bodies from China happens to be. Any time you're in a situation where it makes more sense for GFS to throw the bodies they get that stink into the dumpster (as opposed to sending them back to China).
A story: My cousin has a Machine Shop and sometimes another, younger cousin does the best work of all the employees there, and sometimes he's just out to lunch and the machining he does stinks and he mangles another finger so my older cousin puts him on hiatus and the younger cousin goes camping and gets his mind back together. Or the older of the two of them takes the younger brother out to Casey's and they have some beers and play air hockey or something and they talk about what's going on and the older cousin says "I can't keep you if you keep messing up - are you going to do better?" And the younger cousin does. For a while.
Well, Jay at GFS cannot take even one of these body makers aside and have some beers with him. Jay couldn't identify one of those workers by sight if his life depended on it. He is not in China, except a couple days maybe once a year, and he's got no time for anything like what my cousins do. If the bodies get better it is surely just an accident - then they get worse again.
I want to warn you of something I've detected, which is kind of too bad but you can't really be too surprised.
IF a prominent guitar wizard/builder establishes a pattern of buying stuff from GFS, that wizard will absolutely get hand selected components because GFS wants to make sure that wizard (and their testimonial) remains as strong as possible. The wizard may not even know he's being given massive preferential treatment. The bodies he gets will always be the pick of the crop, and everyone else has to settle for what is left.
Also, GFS is a RESELLER and have virtually no control over the quality of the stuff they shift. The same way when I go to the Farmer's Market and sometimes the beets are tender and fresh and sometimes they're basically compost. But GFS would rather eat nails than pull the bodies it takes in off their website, and they're going to offer the customer something to buy no matter how decent or how crappy the last shipment of bodies from China happens to be. Any time you're in a situation where it makes more sense for GFS to throw the bodies they get that stink into the dumpster (as opposed to sending them back to China).
A story: My cousin has a Machine Shop and sometimes another, younger cousin does the best work of all the employees there, and sometimes he's just out to lunch and the machining he does stinks and he mangles another finger so my older cousin puts him on hiatus and the younger cousin goes camping and gets his mind back together. Or the older of the two of them takes the younger brother out to Casey's and they have some beers and play air hockey or something and they talk about what's going on and the older cousin says "I can't keep you if you keep messing up - are you going to do better?" And the younger cousin does. For a while.
Well, Jay at GFS cannot take even one of these body makers aside and have some beers with him. Jay couldn't identify one of those workers by sight if his life depended on it. He is not in China, except a couple days maybe once a year, and he's got no time for anything like what my cousins do. If the bodies get better it is surely just an accident - then they get worse again.
Endless Mike
Friend of Leo's
I bought one of their XGP bodies a few months ago. The luthier who assembled it for me has seen many GFS bodies, assembled guitars with them, etc. He was really impressed with the one I bought. I required almost no extra work, and what work he had to do was minimal.
Commodore 64
Friend of Leo's
I bought 1 body from them. It was so bad nobody even garbage picked it.
regularslinky
Friend of Leo's
I like lightweight guitars, so GFS' paulownia bodies get my attention.
I have a GFS paulownia Tele body that is fine. I replaced my MIM Esquire body with it. I had to shim the neck, but no problems, light as a feather, sounds great.
I bought another GFS paulownia Tele body a few months ago for a new project. The first body they shipped had a pickup rout that went clear through the body - as in, you could stick something clear through the guitar!
While that would have made for a unique instrument, I wasn't happy. I told them and at first they didn't seem to believe me. I sent a picture and they replaced the body without hesitation. The new one looks fine. Can't even see through it a little bit. I never got around to finishing the project, so that's all I can say.
I don't mean to badmouth GFS - I've purchased pickups and other stuff from them and have been satisfied. But there's a reason their stuff is so cheap. They obviously do not even open the boxes from China before they forward them to customers, so there is zero quality control. Personally, I'm OK with that at such a low price point as long as they don't give me grief about returns.
Feeling lucky?
I have a GFS paulownia Tele body that is fine. I replaced my MIM Esquire body with it. I had to shim the neck, but no problems, light as a feather, sounds great.
I bought another GFS paulownia Tele body a few months ago for a new project. The first body they shipped had a pickup rout that went clear through the body - as in, you could stick something clear through the guitar!
While that would have made for a unique instrument, I wasn't happy. I told them and at first they didn't seem to believe me. I sent a picture and they replaced the body without hesitation. The new one looks fine. Can't even see through it a little bit. I never got around to finishing the project, so that's all I can say.
I don't mean to badmouth GFS - I've purchased pickups and other stuff from them and have been satisfied. But there's a reason their stuff is so cheap. They obviously do not even open the boxes from China before they forward them to customers, so there is zero quality control. Personally, I'm OK with that at such a low price point as long as they don't give me grief about returns.
Feeling lucky?
BareBones
Tele-Meister
Thank you
Ladies, gents and musikins
Guess that'll be the road not taken....
Ladies, gents and musikins
Guess that'll be the road not taken....
harold h
Friend of Leo's
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2004
- Posts
- 2,377
GFS- the opposite of Kenny Rogers Roasters
"Its the wood that makes it not good"
"Its the wood that makes it not good"
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Lead2Fan
Tele-Meister
I don't know much about them but check out "Eden" guitar bodies on Ebay. Colors are what you would expect, Fender Seafoam Green, Surf Green etc. prices aren't outrageous, comparable to GFS. Maybe others here can offer up some advice if they have used them ie. Eden bodies.
I've wanted to buy a body from GFS but the shipping costs have stopped me. To west coast Canada it's brutal.
I have bought a bit of hardware from them and have been really happy with them. In one case where I had a problem part, I contacted them via email. They responded right away. Once I showed them a cell phone video of what I was concerned about they offered a refund or a replacement set, no need to send back the defective parts. I chose a replacement and the new part arrived within a few days.
I'd still like to try one of their bodies. They do look nice.
I have bought a bit of hardware from them and have been really happy with them. In one case where I had a problem part, I contacted them via email. They responded right away. Once I showed them a cell phone video of what I was concerned about they offered a refund or a replacement set, no need to send back the defective parts. I chose a replacement and the new part arrived within a few days.
I'd still like to try one of their bodies. They do look nice.
Ira7
Doctor of Teleocity
Four GFS bodies, one is XGP (my 12-string).
No problem with string-through holes, routs, or neck pockets.
You're not going to get a SUPER quality paint job. Hell, look what you're paying. It'll look just perfect out of the box, but you'll get your chips and dings and flakes with heavy abuse, which my guitars aren't subjected to.
Because, once again...
Hell, look what you're paying.
No problem with string-through holes, routs, or neck pockets.
You're not going to get a SUPER quality paint job. Hell, look what you're paying. It'll look just perfect out of the box, but you'll get your chips and dings and flakes with heavy abuse, which my guitars aren't subjected to.
Because, once again...
Hell, look what you're paying.
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Ira7
Doctor of Teleocity
I bought one of Eden's paddle board necks for my 12-string, totally unfinished.
It was a s-load of work to make this neck work for me, but that was MY problem and not theirs. It was a finishing thing (prepping it for stain and shaping the headstock and drilling tuner holes for 12-string).
So I have nothing to contribute here (what else is new?) about their bodies, but based on their prices and how their stuff is presented, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to give Eden a shot for a body that turns you on.
MonkeyJefferson
Tele-Holic
Played my Esquire that's made from an XGP body (it's the one I got to work at considerable cost) last night, at a gig. It's a good player. My drummer tells me on break how he likes the finish. He thought the runs/orange peeling were the grain showing through the finish- bwhahaha. Like I said, get a good
Neck, and good electronics, and most of all, a real luthier!!!
Neck, and good electronics, and most of all, a real luthier!!!
Pete215
TDPRI Member
I have 2 XGP bodied guitars presently and have built 3 more for clients.I have had zero issues with them. I only wish they would step up their game and start drilling for vintage style bridges! I have had nothing but great luck with any of their products. Count me as a "lucky one"
Ira7
Doctor of Teleocity
I don't think they make Esquire either, right?
Granted, most people's designs involves covering a neck route anyway with the guard, but I'd like the option not to.
lammie200
Friend of Leo's
You might want to try USACG. They are running body specials right now. It might cost you a bit more, but it will be accurate.
JeffBlue
Friend of Leo's
I bought two GFS Paulownia bodies, strat and a tele that was finished in a cream/yellow hard poly finish. These were experiments to find out out if Paulownia is a good tone wood. These are NOT Fender licensed and it was apparent that the holes for the string through on the tele were not perfect. I built the pair of guitars and i was surprised and happy with the tonal results. Both bodies are resonant and sound really good. I installed Edenhaus necks and Seymour Duncan pickups.
brbadg
Tele-Afflicted
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