Unhappy NGD......

[Phalaris]

Hey everyone.

I just picked up another guitar yesterday. It's a used 1999 Gibson Les Paul Studio. Ebony with Gold Hardware. When I was looking at it to buy it, I knew there was some chips in the finish in the body and belt buckle scratches on the back of the guitar. I'm fine with that. But after I got it home, I noticed that the previous owner, obviously had no clue how to wind strings. The low E string had roughly 3/4 of a wrap. Since I had an extra set of string laying around, I decided to change them.

This would give me a good chance to clean the body, get all the dust off. After taking off the strings, I noticed that the tuners were loose. Ok. I'll get out my tools, and tighten up the nuts. Also found that the jack was a bit loose. So, I tightened that as well. So, now that I have all the strings off, let's clean and oil the fretboard. Ummm... That's when I find there's some damage to the fretboard itself.

In the first picture, you are looking at the High E, between the 5th & 6th Fret.



The second picture, obviously is the area between the Nut and the 1st Fret. This photo looks a little worse that it actually is. This damage in localized to the side of the fretboard.



Then, we have the worst one of all. Damage is between the 9th & 10th Fret. It looks like the guitar fell over and hit the edge of a table or something.



The damage does not "appear" to affect playability. But I also haven't had much time to actually play the guitar. I do have 30 days to return the guitar for a full refund. Right now, I really don't know if I should keep it. Part of me says take it back and get the refund. Another part of me say, keep it, and just take it to a shop and have the fretboard replaced. I still have another 45 minutes, before my local shops open. When they do, I'm going to call them and get prices on a fretboard replacement. What would you guys do?

Phalaris.

[Shawn Lutz]

I would send it back, unless you just love it the way it is...if so then re-negotiate and knock off some $$ for the damage not listed.

replacing the fretboard would not cost effective in my opinion...

[gem12]

Send it back right now.

[River side]

If you're big on hitting the low E on the 9th fret, you might want to slap some JB Weld on it and play for days.

Who knows?

Maybe someday, someone will craft a Signature model for you with actual authentic JB Weld...

Otherwise, did you get a great price?

[ToneasaurusRex]

I'd send it back. There are plenty of used Studios out there, it ought to be easy to find one in better condition than that.

Peace

Rex

[BoogieMan_SC]

Send it back. If those things weren't listed....it's plain wrong.

[TinyTerror]

I'd have kept it with the first two photos but after seeing the third i'd send it back

[joesatch]

whoa, looks like someone took a bite out of that neck. send it back!

[tampa898]

Yeah. I'd send it back. That last wound there looks like it might be good for a sliver or two.

[GammyBird]

Send it back...

[adam_v64]

Send it back. A fretboard replacement is BIG money, and not worth it on something you bought new. You simply shouldn't have to spend that on a new instrument to get it up to scratch. I'd only consider keeping it if they knocked off some considerable amount AND you really liked it.

That last photo is horrendous, I've never seen a fretboard that bad

[River side]

Before you send it back... How much did you have to pay?

If you got a killer deal on it, then I could see working around that.

If you paid high retail for it, go find something better.

[Hookandcanman]

I'd send it back too.

[Guitarhack]

Send it back ASAP.

[axepilot]

Originally Posted by Phalaris

Then, we have the worst one of all. Damage is between the 9th & 10th Fret. It looks like the guitar fell over and hit the edge of a table or something.

That's a pretty serious divot.

Send the guitar back.

[brokenarrow5]

El Returno

[Grand Toad]

I'd send it back.

[dleuen]

I'd send it back too. Even if it doesn't affect playability (now) I would think those nicks would bother you for years to come. Its one thing if they are you own doing but paying for someone else's accidents is not a good thing.

[achilles]

Get rid of it.

[Dino Velvet]

Ebony studios are a dime a dozen. Unless you paid $500 for it send it back.
The repair will cost a fortune and I doubt the locals are even capable of doing it.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yeah, the first two are liveable, but that last one, yikes.

[SFK]

Scallop the fretboard.

[scottyk]

Return of course!
If you don't, it'll eat at you forever or at least as long as you own it.
Common guitar, they are everywhere and most in much better condition.

[Sinster]

Sounds like he got it in a private sale.

[Pinkie]

Like stated above it depends on what you paid for it.
Pic two looks like the clear coat chipped off no big deal.
The divot pic is not a hard thing to fix. If you have $300.00 or less in it by all means fix it.
I'm surprised you didn't notice that big chunk out of the fingerboard right away.

[Electric Funeral]

Originally Posted by SFK

Scallop the fretboard.

Personally if I had already gotten a pretty good deal on it and I was able to negotiate a partial refund that would cover the cost, I'd TOTALLY take the opportunity to get a scalloped LP for cheap.

[Tone deaf]

Take it back and beat the sh*t out of the seller (figuratively) on the price. Get it knocked down and we'll fix it, virtually, together.

River side had me spewing coffee out of my nose with the J B Weld comment...but, that's not far off from what to do. We'd need a little scrap of rosewood, as close to the color of the fingerboard as possible and some West epoxy. Build a little form/jig to represent the outer dimension of the fingerboard (i.e. the part he knocked off). Turn the rosewood scrap into some rosewood powder (add more color, if necessary), mix it in with the epoxy and fill the void with it. After it cures, file and sand it into shape (masking off the rest of the guitar) and voila, all fixed.

[budg]

I would send it back.He didnt mention that divot in the fretboard , but did mention some buckle rash? Sounds like he was blowing smoke up your butt my friend.

[barricwiley]

Sounded to me like the op had the guitar in his hands and looked it over before leaving for home with it. If that is the case he won't be sending it back anywhere but certainly should get in thouch with the person he bought it from and go a few rounds with them about it. But also if it is so how did he not see that divot?
Where IS the OP?

[Phalaris]

Ok. So after reading everyones comments about taking it back. I realized that wound would bother me. I found myself looking at the guitar and thinking that I got suckered.

For those that wondered what I paid for it. I paid $500 for the guitar. But I'm glad that they offered a 30 day return on it. Not that it mattered. It went back the very next day. So, here's my new adventure.

I walk back in, carrying the guitar in it's case. The clerk asked me how I was doing, and I told her, not very well. I then pulled out my receipt, and showed her the huge divot. I told her that because of the damage, it was going to need to have the fretboard replaced. She was happy to take the guitar back and give me a refund. When I picked this one up, I noticed an Epiphone Les Paul Ultra. The price they had for it was $599. I asked if they still had that one. And if they would take the $500, since that was what I was getting back.

She got on the computer and said that she would take $500 for it. The Epi is in amazing condition. It doesn't even look like it's ever been played. There is not a mark on it. It still has the stickers over the pickups.





As I was waiting for my new receipts, I was telling her that I really like the Gibson, and would have kept it, if it wasn't such a bad wound, and need to have the fretboard replaced. Then, she asked me what would be cost effective for me. I told her that I wasn't sure what I would be willing to pay, since it needed repair. She then asked me if I would be willing to take the Gibson for $100. I am now seriously thinking about spending the extra $100 and making a project guitar.

So, looks like it truly is a H.N.G.D!!!