frank
Strummer
Posts: 19
My main instrument is: Furch g23 crc
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Post by frank on Feb 17, 2019 22:57:43 GMT
Hi guys i was just wondering what is the best gaurentee you get with a new guitar, the reason I ask this is ,I have just bought a new guitar a Furch GA from a online retailer , it was an after thought to be honest , it should not have been and after thought, but it was,, I was told MAYBE 5 years...... I mean what is MAYBE 5 years , it is 5 years or not , to that I was told if you have a problem let us know and we can fix it for you. to be honest I am not to happy with that I mean where is the gaurentee (I can’t spell that word) should I be worried ? About future problems from this online store ,....... just a rant ....thanks
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Post by Banadog on Feb 18, 2019 0:45:17 GMT
I've found that a guarantee doesn't count for much. I have a Stonebridge(Furch) with a swollen top, despite it always being kept in a case with a dehumidifier. It is not covered by guarantee because it comes under a defect caused by climatic conditions, change of temperature and fluctuation of air humidity. It was bought from one of the main guitar shops which has now closed, so this doesn't count for much either. So most probably if your guitar does develop a problem, you will be told it's due mistreatment or neglecting proper maintenance.
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Post by dreadnought28 on Feb 20, 2019 16:23:18 GMT
Most small luthiers give a lifetime warranty to the original owner. Some will unofficially keep that for subsequent owners.
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Post by pender on Feb 21, 2019 13:27:18 GMT
I think Furch offers 3 year warranty...
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Wild Violet
Artist / Performer
Posts: 3,556
My main instrument is: Symonds OM-14
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Post by Wild Violet on Feb 21, 2019 15:14:34 GMT
Martin used to offer a lifetime warranty to original owners for things not related to playwear, and it included neck resets. This was often accepted as why the original price was higher than the competition, and people were willing to pay knowing they'd have a guitar set for life. Martin has stopped including the life-time warranty, voided this warranty for previous purchasers, and now only offer a 1 year warranty for a neck reset or other structural problems. There has been no reduction in the price of the guitars to offset the lack of any meaningful warranty. I've heard from a Martin tech that almost no work required in the first year will be covered anyway as their new policy seems to be to blame the owner for not keeping the guitar in the correct humidity, no matter what the problem. I'm not sure how they can legally get away with voiding a warranty that was valid at the time of purchase, but get away with it they are.
I have been a lifelong Martin fan, but this whole shambles has made my loyalty wane. I would still like a vintage Martin one day, but I refuse to support the company anymore.
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Post by jangarrack on Feb 21, 2019 16:53:06 GMT
Martin used to offer a lifetime warranty to original owners for things not related to playwear, and it included neck resets. This was often accepted as why the original price was higher than the competition, and people were willing to pay knowing they'd have a guitar set for life. Martin has stopped including the life-time warranty, voided this warranty for previous purchasers, and now only offer a 1 year warranty for a neck reset or other structural problems. There has been no reduction in the price of the guitars to offset the lack of any meaningful warranty. I've heard from a Martin tech that almost no work required in the first year will be covered anyway as their new policy seems to be to blame the owner for not keeping the guitar in the correct humidity, no matter what the problem. I'm not sure how they can legally get away with voiding a warranty that was valid at the time of purchase, but get away with it they are. I have been a lifelong Martin fan, but this whole shambles has made my loyalty wane. I would still like a vintage Martin one day, but I refuse to support the company anymore. Some years ago I bought a new Martin OMC28E that was a huge disappointment for lots of reasons, not least some major quality quality issues. The main one being that in less than 12 months it had developed a very high action with hardly anything left on the saddle to be able to lower it. The strings also seemed very close to the top, which I was later told was probably due to the saddle being shaved from new to get a reasonable action in the first place. I had it professionally checked over and set up as best it could be so that it was playable and was told that it really needed a neck reset to make it right. After several approaches to Martin Guitars, I gave up as the most helpful response I got from them was, "Maybe it won't get any worse." The owner of the shop that sold it to me was very supportive and as helpful as he could be. He referred it to Westside Distribution, the importers in Glasgow, and again they also were totally supportive. They offered to correct everything through their own workshops. I never took them up on the offer as while all this was going on, I had an offer on the guitar from someone who was happy with it just as it was and that enabled to buy another guitar which although second hand was one I was much happier with. It probably didn't sense financially, but at least I was happy with the outcome. The point I'm trying to make is that the warranty offered by the manufacturer was effectively worthless, but the support and assurances offered by the main supplier and local retailer were of immense value and very much appreciated by me.
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Post by vikingblues on Feb 22, 2019 19:28:12 GMT
Here's the text of a post I did nearly 6 years ago elsewhere - it's about a Gibson electric guitar but is indicative of how useless a guitar warranty is.
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Now maybe I'm interpreting some of this wrong but ....
"We would not advise making any modifications on a new guitar as this will void your warranty". (Gibson)
"If you however wish to modify them (the electrics) because of personal preference, your dealer is not bound to extend warranty coverage anymore, nor can he be obliged by Gibson to do so". (Gibson) .. the red wording is put there by me to say what "them" referred to.
"We would suggest that you contact your dealer to inquire if an agreement can be made with them to partially cover your guitar in spite of modified electronics. Possibly they want to agree to extend warranty on the hardware and neck and general construction". (Gibson)
"If you modify the guitar away from original factory spec, you will indeed invalidate the warranty on it". (Dealer)
So - if you change the machine heads you risk losing the warranty cover? How about changing the tone and volume knobs! Or the strap pins? All would be changes from the original factory spec.
I will not go into the fact that certain things are not detailed anywhere, even on the manufacturers website, as being part of the original factory spec.
"The warranty coverage on your guitar is not extended by Gibson Europe, but it lies with the dealer who sold the guitar to you". (Gibson). So the lifetime warranty is only as good as the length of time the shop stays in business then?
Hmmmm. I really get the impression that those of us that like to tinker have to seriously consider how much the extra cost of buying new is not balanced by any benefit. I had always thought at least I've got the extra security of a warranty.
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It was an instance where changing the specification of the guitar by way of pick up and electrics was essential because it was not good enough. That was also when I discovered the printed circuit board instead of traditional wiring inside the guitar. A "feature" that was mentioned nowhere. Best I do not go into it too much after all these years - I got very, very annoyed about it all and I don;t want to dredge it all up again.
Mark
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