650 series...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:05 am

My advice, Ryan:

Since you got it from Musician's Friend, I'd return it for another one. They are very good at handling returns. I'd call first, do a stock check, and get a return authorization number. They will give you a link which will even print out a prepaid FedEx label for you.

Then you wait a week or so and you'll have a perfect one.

If the knob was rattling around in the case, you're going to find some small dings in the finish.

No reason that you should take anything but a perfect new guitar.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:52 am

I agree. You paid for a new one, that's what you should get.

nukebass · Post by **nukebass** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:42 am

Thanks guys. I'll give them a call and see what they can do. I just looked at the web page and they don't have any left in stock at the moment.

nukebass · Post by **nukebass** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:59 am

They aren't expecting any in until later (they think July, but I know they really have no idea). I'm returning it, hopefully today, and I'll check around and see if I can get one without waiting too long for a similar price. Since Ben Hall mentioned earlier that many should be shipped soon, I don't think that'll be a problem. The lady on the phone had no condescension in her voice or anything. Top notch customer service, in my opinion. I had her make a note of where the scratches were so that the return people would know where to look. Back on the hunt!

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:54 am

I sold my 650D last spring to help offset the cost of my 1996, and while I love my 1996, I do miss that 650.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:00 am

Ryan, the oiled natural wood finishes in the 650D and 650S make it easy to remove scratches; before I sold my 650S, I used some fine sandpaper, a Scotchbrite pad, and some tung oil to remove a couple of small scratches on the body - after the work, one couldn't tell that it had even been scratched.

nukebass · Post by **nukebass** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:20 am

Thanks for the heads up, Gary. I followed Paul and Kris's advice because, like they said, I paid for a new guitar and figured I should get one with no blemishes. I want to be the one to put those scratches in it!

mfb · Post by **mfb** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:39 pm

My 650D also had a loose scratch plate with loose screws. I fixed that with a matchstick and wood glue.

You will find that because the neck is simply oiled the fretboard will discolour, but I don't mind that.

In contrast my jetglo 650C purchase new, had a very small ding on it that had been patched (badly) by persons unknown, however it sounded quite good after I set it up so I didn't mind that either, especially after I made that little ding practically invisible.

On another note, I have noticed for some years that the jetglo finish is quite prone to show the underlaying wood, especially at the edges due to the surface tension of the paint I guess, I bought a 660 once and noticed quite a few of those "blems" but nothing that a bit of paint pencil wouldn't fix.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:43 pm

Manuel, using a Scotchbrite pad with tung oil will lift a lot of the discoloration from the fretboard (this has to be done with the strings off, of course). I did this to the 650S, too, and although it took a few cycles (wiping with a clean cloth between tung oil applications), it was amazing to see the grime go away.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:58 pm

Gary, what kind of Scotchbrite did you use. I searched the forum but only saw green and brown, but no reference to a grading. Are they all the same "grit", for lack of a better term?

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:01 pm

It's green - I'll see if I can find the number ... hmmmm, it seems that the blue ones are recommended for wood:

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scotchbrite/products/scrubbing_workwise.html

http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scotchbrite/products/scrubbing_scouring.html

The ones I am using are the green heavy-duty ones. The Rickenbacker manual (http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/manual.pdf, p 7) recommends the Ultra Fine # 7448.

nukebass · Post by **nukebass** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:46 pm

Well, the search has ended. I received a 650S today that I ordered last week and it is great. I know I said earlier I wanted a D, but I found an S for a great price from Dave's Guitars (If anybody wants to know the price, email me. I don't want to violate any unwritten rules). This one has no scratches and tight screws. The gold actually looks better than the chrome, I think, having seen both in person now.

I have to get used to the unfinished fret board. My fingers seem to stick a bit when I try to bend, but that could be because I'm not very good at bending. I also love the seam between the neck and the walnut body, or, rather, the lack of a seam. It is one really solid guitar!

I botched my way through some Abbey Road tunes and Janis Joplin's Summertime and I love the sound. This only increases the anticipation of my Cii BBR more...Humbuckers rule! I'll quit babbling now

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:35 pm

Ryan wrote:
"I have to get used to the unfinished fret board. My fingers seem to stick a bit when I try to bend, but that could be because I'm not very good at bending."

Use Dr. Stringfellow's Lem-Oil Fretboard Conditioner. It works great!

valenti · Post by **valenti** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:45 pm

Ryan
I got my 650 Sierra 3 weeks ago (ordered over a year ago :-)0 and it was well worth the wait.

I also used Dr. Stringfellow per Beatlefreak's recommendation, and can't believe how well my fingers slide up and down the neck! This is easily going to be come my favorite 6 stringer. (Just might have to sell the Strat...)

nukebass · Post by **nukebass** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:18 pm

Seth, I'm going to sell my Casino It is a Korean model and I've never been quite happy with it. Needless to say, I can't justify having both, especially since I'm really a bass player and don't need two guitars.

I'll put some of the Stringfellow on it later this week when I finally check the setup and all. Still, after a week of messing with it, I'm getting used to it and it isn't quite as sticky. I can see this one being around a long time.