01GT Eibach
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2021
- Messages
- 141
- Reaction score
- 228
Ooops, sorry. I missed that part.The workbench pic that came in the case verified that it didn't leave the factory like that.

Ooops, sorry. I missed that part.The workbench pic that came in the case verified that it didn't leave the factory like that.
Dude, GC were giving out 10% discounts like candy. I don’t know if they are still doing that, because corporate has been really cracking down on revenue losses lately.I would be totally fine with a 10 percent restocking fee IF the stores passed that on to consumers in the form of honesty in pricing. It would likely discourage the renters and demo people from buying stuff with little intention of keeping it. Obviously, if there is something actually wrong with the guitar or it got damaged in shipping, that fee should be waived.
maybe we found the culpritBut their guitar tech who didn’t do a damn thing to help, kept coming by and playing it off as completely normal, saying sometimes the pickups get flipped, and it’s super common to see on brand new guitars. I didn’t appreciate that, just seemed dishonest and not genuine.
The pickup would also have to be removed and reinstalled to the ring or it would be backwards as well.I'm imagining some dingleberry watched too much Trogley's, pulled the pups out during a string change to "document" and put the bridge pup back in wrong.
Yeah, that's a bunch of horsecrap - it is actually hard to put a pickup in backwards because of where the lead is attached on both a humbucker and single coil.Appreciate all the responses, help and pictures guys.
I’m gonna post some pics of the back and respond back to everyone as soon as I get back home tonight.
The pickup pictures were reassuring to see, I’m glad to hear that at least they match up.
As for Guitar Center, I don’t mind if my guitar was bought and returned or played in the store, I go in assuming that’s the case when I buy from a big retailer like them. Bring played by someone else is one thing, but I expect the Gutiar they sell me to still be in mostly “new” condition, e.g. no big scratches and no tampering or messing up of the original parts.
The younger manager who worked with me was really helpful and treated me well, took the time to fix the pickup for me and investigate the issue as best as he could. Seemed like an honest mistake.
But their guitar tech who didn’t do a damn thing to help, kept coming by and playing it off as completely normal, saying sometimes the pickups get flipped, and it’s super common to see on brand new guitars. I didn’t appreciate that, just seemed dishonest and not genuine.
Nope. That’s just not true at all. It’s super easy to flip the pickups without unsoldering them. Especially on Gibson USA where they leave more slack in the leads relative to Gibson Custom.Yeah, that's a bunch of horsecrap - it is actually hard to put a pickup in backwards because of where the lead is attached on both a humbucker and single coil.
When the pickup is flipped the lead moves from bottom right to upper left, you then have to fold the lead in an un-natural way to have it go back towards the control cavity. My point is, this is not done by accident and I call BS on the store tech saying it happens all the time. No pickup installer in the factory is doing something that is "more difficult" by accident "all the time" when doing it the right way is easier for them - plus it's their job and they generally know what they are doing.Nope. That’s just not true at all. It’s super easy to flip the pickups without unsoldering them. Especially on Gibson USA where they leave more slack in the leads relative to Gibson Custom.
It is not any harder or easier to install the pickups one way or the other. It’s an easy mistake to make and one most of us has committed back when we started off working on guitars.When the pickup is flipped the lead moves from bottom right to upper left, you then have to fold the lead in an un-natural way to have it go back towards the control cavity. My point is, this is not done by accident and I call BS on the store tech saying it happens all the time. No pickup installer in the factory is doing something that is "more difficult" by accident "all the time" when doing it the right way is easier for them - plus it's their job and they generally know what they are doing.
you would have to be completely clueless to make this mistake, especially if you work in a guitar factory as a pickup installer.It is not any harder or easier to install the pickups one way or the other. It’s an easy mistake to make and one most of us has committed back when we started off working on guitars.
Yet you seem to think the prospect of guitars that have been returned even multiple times being sold as new is somehow good for the consumer? It’s not good if you’re the consumer who ends up with it.Dude, GC were giving out 10% discounts like candy. I don’t know if they are still doing that, because corporate has been really cracking down on revenue losses lately.
What you’re proposing is a business model that potentially takes advantage of consumers. Reminds me a bit of bookstores at universities. Say a guitar gets returned in perfect condition. GC charges a 10% restocking fee, then gives out a 10% discount.
Just an aside, we’re talking about anything at the price of an R9 or a PRS wood library, or higher, we run into a problem. GC has a limit to $500 in discount on any single item.
Anyways, back to the example. Say that guitar gets sold again and returned one CE more in absolutely perfect condition. Again GC charges a restocking fee to that buyer. GC would would have to pass that additional 10% to the next buyer.
Say we’re talking about a LP standard, and let’s round the price to $2,500. GC sells the guitar for the first person for $2,500, but charges that person 250 as restocking fee. Next buyer gets the guitar for $2,250 and returns it. He gets charged 225 as restocking fee and the guitar goes back for $2,250. GC just made $225 on that one guitar without a final sake happening.
This dissuades returns. On something like musical instruments, it is just terrible for consumers. Guitars are things where very little make a huge difference. I rather have more forgiving returns than a measure that penalizes consumers for changing their mind.
He obviously watches Phil McKnight too.The pickup would also have to be removed and reinstalled to the ring or it would be backwards as well.
Edit: I see someone beat me to it.
Z.