Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a question that has been stuck in my craw for 20 years but I never got around to asking it.

Has anyone bought a NEW guitar from a dealer, or MF, or anyone selling it as NEW, then getting it and seeing hairline scratches on it? Not on the pickguard but on the body itself. It doesn't necessarily have to be a RIC, it could be Fender, or Gibson.

Does this sort of thing leave the factory like that?

Any input would greatly be appreciated.

I had a Gibson Les Paul that had a hair line crack down the neck. I didn't notice it until I got home. Also it had a loose wire on it's neck volume pot.
I got the guitar at GC needless to say I sold it there after... After fixing the pot

I think that's pretty common. I bought a Squire Jagmaster at a local chain store and got a little break on the price because it had three HUGE chunks of paint and wood ripped out of the body and edges. They didn't have it marked as "shipping damage" or anything although it must have been.

Our other guitar player bought an American Std Tele from a large shop in Ottawa. He got a decent price cut because the guitar was missing a knob and hadn't been set up. After giving him the deal (over $300 off), the salesman walked over to another Std on the wall, took the missing knob off and gave it to Frank. Then did a set up for him right there.

Not all big "chain" stores have cretins. Kudos the those that care.

...Dean

My first Rick--an MB 660/12 from (dealer name deleted) was bought from an online listing after I googled the guitar, model, and color. They told me, "brand spanking new". I had it sent overnight. It had to sit in the case for two days acclimating.

I opened it up. It was nearly in tune. I tuned it and played it for a minute, and then put it down for a good look--and found pick scratches on the upper guard, marks around the jackplate, some 1mm dings on the edge of the bottom bout, and the bridge was adjusted with a noticeable tilt. There were no keys in the case.

It had obviously been demo'd in their brick and mortar store before being dispatched to me. Serial checked out to be 9 months old at the time I received it, as I recall.

I called them up and they said "send it back and we'll have our tech repair it." I said, "no way", and went to work with wrenches, gauges, and Scratch-X and Zymol, which were both in my car toolbox. Then I replaced the guards and knobs, too, and made a new 5th knob, and bought another MB Rick, and...

Ah, the start of something wonderful...

The start of a family. So THAT's where baby Rick's come from!

I've never had anything remotely like that happen to me, and I've bought well over 30 guitars through the net. From all over the place.

Luck? ... I don't know.