Tue Nov 15, 2016 9:41 am
Tue Nov 15, 2016 4:31 pm
Wed Nov 16, 2016 7:06 am
Wed Nov 16, 2016 8:55 am
Wed Nov 16, 2016 11:19 am
Wed Nov 16, 2016 1:51 pm
Temporary Saint wrote:Hey Gang,
Brand new owner of a brand new G&L here.
Hadn't been playing electric for some years, and finally started again earlier this year, using my son's 10-year old bottom-of-the-line Ibanez Gio. It just wasn't cutting it for me so I started my search for something else. After dozens and dozens of YouTube videos I decided on an ASAT Tribute Deluxe Carved Top. Oh so pretty, and sounded great. Found a great deal on Reverb.com and took delivery of it two weeks ago. Definitely going to like this axe.
However...
I gotta say I was quite surprised by the lack of QA in the build quality, specifically the assembly. Here's what I found:
2 of the 4 neck bolts - LOOSE
All of the screws mounting the bridge to the body - LOOSE
The nut holding the output jack to its mounting plate - LOOSE, nearly falling off
Output jack mounting screws - LOOSE
11th fret - not completely pressed into the neck on the bass side
Intonation was WAY off. It looked like no attempt was made to intonate it at all. Had to adjust the saddles a quarter of an inch toward the bridge to get it intonated.
Saddle Lock hex screw - MISSING!
Lastly, while tuning up the high E string it completely unwound - not snapped, unwound - at the bridge. Never had that happen before. According to GbL, D'Addario strings are installed in the factory. Unless these are a special series for G&L I don't think these were D'Addarios because the brass rings used at the bridge end were not color coded.
Now, while none of these problems are difficult to fix (although I'm a little nervous about tapping that 11th fret into the neck - may have a pro do that just in case) I didn't expect so many little things like that to be overlooked in the final inspection. I mentioned it to a couple of friends, and they were also surprised due to G&L's reputation. I realize my guitar was made in Indonesia, probably at a factory that makes instruments for more than one brand, but there were a lot of things that were missed. Furthermore, I contacted my local G&L dealer, who has been selling G&Ls less than year, and asked if I could get a replacement hex screw for the saddle lock, and he told me he already has some on order because several of the instruments he's received also shipped without it! What's up, G&L? Somebody needs to inspect the inspectors.
Has anyone else seen this with their new ASATs?
Anyway, everything has been tightened and intonated, and I'm expecting the saddle lock hex screw any day now.
Play on.
Steve
Wed Nov 16, 2016 1:55 pm
Temporary Saint wrote:No wonder I couldn't find them. Who would have bothered to look under Trem Arm Tension Screw Set?
Thanks very much!
Steve
Mon Dec 19, 2016 10:36 am
Mon Dec 19, 2016 1:25 pm
Temporary Saint wrote:As requested, proof of existence (fret-leveled and intonated with saddle-lock screw installed!).
Steve
P.S. -Well, I can't get the picture to display. I tried all three Preview options, but no luck. Maybe it's Dropbox problem. The image size is 957x1300 if an admin wants to try it.
I swear it exists!
Mon Dec 19, 2016 1:52 pm