Quality Control - It's probably going to get worse!

Baxter and Jonathan talk about the struggles of manufactures when demand is high and you are behind on guitars.

[ginolamendola]

My last guitar purchase came from Sweetwater, the action was like 3 ml. I sent it back and they went way above and beyond to service it. I was very pleased with there service.

[BellTunnel]

I’m a huge Fender fan. I’ve bought three Custom Shop guitars in the last three years, and I’ll probably buy more in the future. I struggled to intonate the first two guitars, so I had them Plek’d. Turned out, the treble side frets on each guitar were a few thousandths of an inch higher. And the nuts needed to be recut. Now they play amazingly. And I’ll note that the setup is completely standard. One of the guitars arrived with steel wool stuck throughout the pickup poles. It was bought directly from a showcase dealer within days of it arriving at their store. The third, which I bought a few weeks ago is perfect. When I registered the first two with the Custom Shop, I mentioned the issues. I’m disappointed Fender didn’t reach out to me. Would’ve been nice to hear from Customer Service.

[Shiloh]

I haven't heard that saying "rode hard and put up wet" since my dad passed away, he use to say ups Jonathan, that was awsome!!!

[grg-mpgmusic]

This issue is shameful. I am an engineer and worked quality and operations my whole life addressing these type of issues in many industries....it is a culture issue first. When quality and customer satisfaction become the drivers you will see great improvement.

[bleeknoir]

I had a recent Gibson episode, after ordering from a reputable large UK dealer who handled things beautifully, taking the guitar back. It arrived with a big green mark on the otherwise jet black ebony J45. How it was missed, I’ll never know. In addition, the guitar lacked any redeeming qualities. None of the beautiful dry focussed Gibson tone you’d expect, and was so quiet that it sounded like a hollow jazz box when stuffed. Turns out those particular sonic qualities weren’t exclusive to that single instrument, I went to stores trying three other models, all lacklustre and uninspiring.

[markhomiak]

As a UPS package car driver for 11 years, I can totally relate. Thank goodness I drive the big rigs now.

[jaorte]

One of the reasons I began crafting my own custom guitars years ago. I control the quality, shape, neck profile and select and set up the hardware. I choose my favorite frets (6150's) and wind my own p'ups. And can rock them all.

[washingtonbob]

My LGS of 30+ years announced yesterday that they will be closing around June. They simply cannot get enough product to sell to stay open. They were the original PRS shop in our local area and also sell Taylor and Fender. Lots of boutique acoustic brands like Santa Cruz too. Great shop...wonderful employees and owner...but it looks like this Pandemic will claim another business. This makes me sad...but I am happy that you guys are still up and fighting every day.

[johnnymendez]

Thank you for making this video! Sadly QC has gone down. Earlier this year I bought the new American Fender Pro II Strat and I loved it, BUT the neck was completely warped and the finish in neck started cracking on the skunk stripe. I ended up returning it for the PRS Silver Sky and it’s 😍🔥

[coreyevans]

Jonathan needs to use more southern idioms that confuse Baxter!

[bgocked]

"Building in the Dark" - The Gibson Story

[ChrisDeVido]

We've had to make those tuff calls on guitars that are coming in with bad switches or scratches or dings as to whether to send it back or just roll with it. Most of our suppliers have been good at sending replacement parts or crediting us for dings or scratches. Unfortunately, when the large freight orders come in from FedEx Freight and the door opens and the guitars have crashed onto the floor the truck with foot prints on the box sometimes, it can be disturbing. Especially when these are expensive instruments. Shipping costs have gone way up as well, I just wish the shipping companies would treat our boxes with better care. I watch you guys every morning, you guys are the real deal. Holding down the guitar sales here in Anderson, SC at The Guitar Shop.

[smsuperstrat]

28 years @ UPS feel 75. The question is what doesn't hurt today. Couches, beds, bed frames, earth mover parts, all this huge heavy stuff we never used to have in our systems is not good for guitar boxes! Think about it like this; with the exception of packages weighing over 70lbs(they should be loaded on the floor) every other package could be loaded on top of your package all the way to the top of a 53 foot trailer. No pallets, no cushions like your grandma's Buick, it's just packed in a 53 foot trailer ready to get slammed around in a trailer for how many ever miles it goes. Then it hits a hub. Think of the scene in polar express on the belts at the north pole. Now overload the belts with all these huge ugly furnature packages and that's your package going for a ride. Now the bean counters look at the metrics and go oh no Driver B does not have enough crammed into their package car, pull these packages off this car send them through that belt system again to that other car on the other side if the hub. Then your package gets tortured all over again so the CEO can give stock holders another dividend increase. So pack it like it's going to battle, cause it is.

[jmustang]

You guys are spot on. I've seen lots of stuff from everyone here lately. I do the repairs at my shop. I've seen everything from bad switches, pickups not working. Gibson seems to be rushing the buffing and polishing. I've seen lots of finish defects in new Gibson's lately.

[tallthinkev]

Ordered a Taylor GS Mini Bass. It needed a neck reset or the bridge shaving down to make it play anywhere near nice. Things can slip through, it just one of those things. However the retailer didn't didn't even check it, it was still sealed as from the factory, 10 mins to check things would have stopped it going out the door. A close up is on my channel, as is a 'rant ramble' about not getting stuff online.

[shepp]

you guys always go above and beyond and that's why within a week or so I will be down to see you

[mkg]

I haven't dealt with the qc for guitars but I have for amps. I bought a Dr. Z Z Master from Sweetwater and after 6 days of owning it blew a resistor or capacitor and started red plating. Sweetwater didnt want to send me a new one so I took the chassis out and sent it to Dr. Z to have it fixed under warranty. Now I never wanna buy a big purchase like a guitar or amp from Sweetwater ever again because of their lack of help.

[donald-parker]

For anyone serious about guitar it is important to learn some basic maintenance. Intonation, truss rod, fret dressing, simple soldering. Because, no matter how great the guitar is brand new, sooner or later it will need some care. That does not reflect badly on the guitar or the company that sold it too you. Its just a fact of life. To that end, I highly recommend noobs get a good quality budget guitar to practice their skills on (e.g. Squier Affinity). These guitars have "good bones" but most will require some neck adjustments and fret work to see their full "playability" potential. And will benefit greatly from upgrades (PU, tuners, etc.). And are great for experimenting with custom mods. Much less scary to learn fret dressing on $200 guitar than a $2000 guitar.

[YTPartyTonight]

I’m glad I can build, repair and set up my own at least as well with my own tools. Fender has three or four open guitar tune testers/QC positions at the Corona, CA factory right now. They’ve got other openings for factory labor such as Sanders with the most minimal requisite qualifications. I wonder what Fender’s manufacturing personnel job satisfaction level and turnover rate is like.

[timothybedwards]

Even in 1970 I tried at least 25 fender pbasses before I got a good one.