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Post by hughesy on Dec 19, 2018 14:18:11 GMT
Since my wife is Norwegian and we spend a fair amount of time here, I had a faith mercury naked shipped to Norway.
It arrived about a week ago but I arrived last night and had a look today.
Frankly, I don't know a lot about guitars and repairs and so on, but there are 2 or maybe 3 hairline cracks in the bridge where the pins are.
One is roughly along the top of the pin holes and extends out as far as the wings. It is slightly wider between strings 5&6 and 1&2 but I don't think I could fit paper into it.
The second is roughly along the bottom of the pin holes between strings 1&6 but does not extend any further beyond the strings.
There is also a possible 3rd one below the pin holes. To me, it just looks cosmetic, although I could well be wrong.
I think could return it but I would have to pay shipping, so I am hoping it will be better if I just get it repaired.
Does anyone know how serious/difficult this is to be repaired? Does a new bridge sound likely or just a bit of glue?
Also, what would cause this? The guitar was shipped with silica gel packs in it which I thought might dry it out. Is that normal to be shipped with silica?
Apart from this, the guitar plays nicely and sounds good, although the nut holes are really deep which I have not seen before, but doesn't seem to cause a problem.
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 19, 2018 14:54:02 GMT
You are probably right that these are cosmetic problems rather than more worrying cracks but you never can be sure. I would be wary, myself, of returning it — if you can find a luthier local to check it over then I would do that. they may be ablate do some magic with some glue! But I'd want somebody I could actually go and talk to! Might be worth somebody looking at the nut as well.
I've never seen a guitar packed with silica gel before but I guess it depends where it was shipped from.
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Post by scorpiodog on Dec 19, 2018 15:07:40 GMT
I'm no expert, but it seems the pin holes may not be the correct diameter. I don't suppose you've taken the strings off yet, but are the pins tight in the holes?
i agree with Andy, best get someone who knows what they're doing to have a look at it. Whether you return it or not, you really should tell your supplier about the problem. Who knows, they may be prepared to do something about it.
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Post by RodB on Dec 19, 2018 18:06:17 GMT
Whilst I’m in no position to advise about the cracks, what I can say is that the presence of Silica Gel packs in the case has not necessarily contributed to this by drying out the guitar. It is a possibility though. Silica Gel can be used to increase Relative Humitity as well as decrease it, and is used in reasonable quantities to buffer against extremes either way, such as museum artefacts. So much depends there on what the shippers intent was, and therefore how they preconditioned the Silica Gel.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,325
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Post by colins on Dec 19, 2018 19:40:44 GMT
Is it possible to post some close up pictures please, there can be a number of causes and degrees of seriousness, which without a picture are impossible to diagnose. Causes can be anything from the wrong grain orientation on the bridge, to 5deg pins being forced into 3deg tapers and a few other causes.
Colin
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Post by jubbo on Dec 20, 2018 10:42:38 GMT
I would certainly get in touch with Barnes and Mullins who run Faith guitars. I have contacted them in the past and they have been super quick and helpful to respond. www.bandm.co.uk/contactThey may point you back to the shop you purchased from, but getting them to see the images and agree if there is an issue will help. James
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Post by hughesy on Dec 20, 2018 11:29:22 GMT
Thanks for the responses. I find Flickr very confusing but hopefully this link works? There are 2 photos www.flickr.com/photos/29809481@N05/45669205824/in/album-72157704829819544/To clarify, the cracks across the pin holes seem worse than cosmetic to me The pins seem tight but I didn't pull them too hard! My only other acoustic guitar (ever) is a painless bridge so I have no experience of pins before this and not sure how they are supposed to be. I have spare strings so happy enough to to take them off to get a closer look
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Post by scorpiodog on Dec 20, 2018 12:19:27 GMT
To clarify, the cracks across the pin holes seem worse than cosmetic to me Looks pretty nasty to me. I think this is either poor quality control or shrinkage due to drying out. I think you need to contact the supplier and ask them to pay the cost of return shipment. If they're good suppliers they shouldn't argue and should be happy to replace the guitar. They should never have sent it out in that state.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,325
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Post by colins on Dec 20, 2018 12:26:30 GMT
Yes looks more than cosmetic to me, if that was a guitar that I had built the bridge would be replaced, well I'd never have used that piece of wood in the first place! The fact that the cracks are linking the pin holes would suggest a lack of structural integrity and wrong grain orientation on the bridge which doesn't bode well for it's future. I'm afraid that you need to contact the supplier for a replacement, I agree that they should cover all costs as this is clearly not of an acceptable quality.
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Post by hughesy on Dec 20, 2018 15:09:01 GMT
Thanks for the advice guys.
Not really what I wanted to hear but not too surprised.
I will see what the retailer says. They actually wrote me an email in advance of posting it saying they would ensure it was undamaged before leaving.
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 20, 2018 17:47:54 GMT
That does not look good for me. I know there is the issue of cost but I’m not sure I’d want to risk sending it back.
If it sounds good then stick with it and save up to find somebody who can put a new bridge on it. I presume - Colin - that is possible?
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Post by hughesy on Dec 20, 2018 19:09:02 GMT
That does not look good for me. I know there is the issue of cost but I’m not sure I’d want to risk sending it back. If it sounds good then stick with it and save up to find somebody who can put a new bridge on it. I presume - Colin - that is possible? I know what you mean. I have emailed the retailer to see what they say. If they are willing to have it picked up at their cost, then it is not too much hassle I suppose. Not sure where the shipping damage risk lies..... Also, I have found a local guitar tech/repairer who seems to come recommended but he is on holiday until the 2nd Jan, so can't get a first hand opinion at the moment. keeping my options open at the moment.
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,325
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Post by colins on Dec 20, 2018 21:34:07 GMT
That does not look good for me. I know there is the issue of cost but I’m not sure I’d want to risk sending it back. If it sounds good then stick with it and save up to find somebody who can put a new bridge on it. I presume - Colin - that is possible? Oh yes it can have a new bridge fitted, it doesn't come without risks though, removing it without damage to the top is always risky, and can be dependent on the degree of runout in the grain of the soundboard, and of course the type of glue used in the first place. The top may also then need refinishing, which is not a trivial matter. Total cost would likely be more than this guitar is worth, as you are paying for hand labour and time to make and fit a new bridge, possibly refinish the top and then set it up again, so for a guitar at this price point it would almost certainly be unjustifiable. As this is a new guitar and being returned as defective from new, the supplier should cover all costs. There is a cheap and cheerful repair that may work for this bridge if it's not an option to ship it back. Take the strings off and wick some CA glue (super glue) into the cracks and allowing it to dry, do this a couple of times. Applying it over the rest of the top of the bridge may let enough soak in to prevent further cracking. This is sometimes done on back and side woods with a tendency to crack like Ziricote or stump wood Brazilian, and can be effective. This should be done in a well ventilated place. My preference would still be to send it back if possible if the cracks are as serious as they appear to be. Colin
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Post by andyhowell on Dec 21, 2018 8:01:59 GMT
A very helpful contribution Colin!
Clearly, the final quality checking at Faith is not anywhere near as good as it should be. Just from the shows I’ve been to this year it seems Faith are ratcheting up production. At the very least this thread profiles the rest of us with a bit of a warning!
Hope you get it sorted.
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Post by hughesy on Dec 21, 2018 10:07:03 GMT
Thanks everyone.
Labour in Norway is also typically more expensive than in UK, so looks like I will be persuing a return.
Thanks again for the advice.
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