|
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Detroit Rock City | I've received a RMA from the mothership in CT to send in my s771 to have them take a look at it. They said to just put the guitar in the case and put it in a box and send it in to them.
I've noticed there are a few threads here about people getting their guitars serviced/repaired from them.
How did you package up your guitar? What documentation did you include? They told me to just box it up and put an RMA on the front of the box and mail it.
I'm thinking I should at least include a letter explaining what the issue is, right?
They didn't give me any up front estimate, which is fine, but I kind of expected them to ask me for $$ for return shipping. Nothing. Just "send it in".
So, how would you recommend I pack the guitar, and what should I expect from them as far as the process for getting it back? I would hate to mess up at the beginning and make this complicated for them. It's no problem for me to box it and mail it in "blind", but I want to make it easy for them and safe for the guitar.
Thanks |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | If you bought the guitar new, that's all you have to do. If you have specific issues, it wouldn't hurt to stick a note of explanation in the case, but they will go over the entire guitar anyway. They'll probably fix things you didn't even know were there.
Go to guitar center (or most any other store that sells new guitars) and ask for a guitar shipping box. Hopefully it will still have the cardboard cradle and head stabilizer in it. I've shipped quite a few guitars (in the case) with these alone, as they keep the guitar in the middle of the box without shifting, though you can always fill it with bubble wrap or foam peanuts if it makes you feel better.
If all you get is the box, put some bubble wrap padding on the bottom and make sure the guitar is centered, filling all the empty space with something other than peanuts (they settle). Bubble wrap or wadded up newspaper works fine. Some people have been known to use pizza boxes.
The idea is to make sure the case sits securely in the box (no shifting) without packing it in so tight that the box bulges.
Slap the RMA shipping tag on it, black out any other shipping tags or bar codes, and give it to UPS.
If the guitar was bought used, they will notify you of any charges before work is done, after they've had a chance to look it over. Trust them. If anything, they are excessively fair. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Ditto.
If I had the money to send ALL my instruments in to them for a once over, I would do it in a heartbeat. I may do it anyway once the price of the VIP electronics goes down. (: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Very nice Waskelly Wabbitt!
:D ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 325
Location: Texas | I just sent one to the mother ship - I put a note on the case telling them what I wanted plus the # they gave me on the outside of the box.
From everything I have heard - they do great work - I can't wait to see what mine looks like when she gets back - probably 2 months from now.
Hi Mike!!!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Hi Leslie!!!
On the way to the PO.
;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Is it prying to ask what the issue is, or are you sending it in for a neck glossing? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Detroit Rock City | Cool - I'll head to GC and ask for a shipping box today. I personally don't like Guitar Center, but if they have a box, no harm there. Otherwise I'll just have to take it to a packaging store. 2 month turnaround? Yowzers. That's a bit longer than I expected. At least I might get the guitar back for the Holiday Season. 2 months! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Two months is really very short for this kind of thing. I bet other guitar makers are longer than that.
You will be very pleased with the Ovation service department. I sent my 37 year old Balladeer in a couple years ago and they worked wonders on it.
Detroit Rock City???
East side???
I'll be down near 8 mile & Harper for practice tonight. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Detroit Rock City | Yep, East Side. Good guess! I guess I'm just naive on how long these guitar refurbish/repairs take.
I am sending it in because of finish issues. The finish is spontaneously sporting tiny pin-size cracks. Little tiny holes. Really spontaneously. This guitar has been on a stand the or in my lap the whole time I've owned it. Humidifier in the room, the whole thing. I have a Taylor that is also in that same room with no issues.
I took it to Koontz guitar repair in Hazel Park, and he said there was something up with the polyester on the soundboard, and to send it in to the company. I was going to let it go, but then another 2 holes appeared. These holes are in the finish only, not all the way through.
It's really a shame because I really like this s771 guitar. So much so that I had previously bought another one off of Ebay to put away (long story on that experience - that one came damaged and I had a dent repaired by Koontz).
Anyways, I do have two of these guitars, so losing the "good one" for 2 months or so is okay.
While I have the guitar at the mothership, is there anything else I should ask them to do to it? Any upgrades? It has Op30 electonics which is fine for me. The only thing I wish it had were inlays on the fretboard. It's hard to live "without the dots", but man I like the playability of these guitars. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | I received a return authorization from Kim today for a guitar I am sending in. This paragraph was part of the letter:
"Please place any correspondence inside the case with the guitar and include a copy of the original retail sales receipt if the guitar is to be considered for warranty coverage." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 325
Location: Texas | Captain - not sure if you are talking to me but - I need new machine heads - a couple of them oxidized on the back - 27 years old - not surprising - I am going to have them re-fret - the first 4 have fret wear so why not do the entire fret board. I want them to just check out the electronics to make sure everything looks good and maybe put some more sparkle on her - I want her to look "purty" :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Ask them to look it over and offer any suggestions.
Adding inlays??? I dunno... I think all that work is done before the frets are installed. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 325
Location: Texas | slipkid - wonder what that would cost to have inlays - I might be shocked or pleasantly surprised by the bill. :eek: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I might be shocked or pleasantly surprised by the bill.
Yes... you're right.
I've never heard of having inlays added after the fact.
vision... Huber-Breese (14 & Groesbeck), has an open mic night in early October.
Think about it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | And bring your 47-RI |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 107
Location: South Jersey | I had the neck taken off and reset on my Custom Legend (the truss rod was broken), some BIG cracks in the top repaired and the top refinished, and the frets crowned and leveled. It ran me 300 shipped :D The work is obviously second to none and the price is far less than your local luthier.
Jim |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | I think PEZ said he had some inlay work done after the fact. Never hurts to ask for an estimate.
And just to reiterate, anything you want the repair guys to see needs to be inside the guitar case. Otherwise it'll get thrown out with the rest of the packaging. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2007
Posts: 33
Location: Detroit Rock City | Thanks for the good advice here. I wrote up a note and included it inside the case with my guitar. I shipped it off last night. $40 to ship UPS. Ah what are you gonna do? It costs what it costs. I did buy extra insurance. Hopefully I'll get this one back by Novemeber. I'll update with how this process goes for other newbies like me. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Yes I had 2 Neck inlays done at the service dept.
on my Thunderbolt & Tornado.
It was in 1994 and 1995.
I also needed the neck reset on T-Bolt after 18 years of ownership. Since I was the orginal owner
bought new Aug 15 1989 it was in part covered by the warrentee. (I paid $898.95 for the guitar) I came back as close to new as possible. I have been enjoying hand it to other players to try it.
(just to see the look on thier face)
One shim with velcro slightly raising a bass side.
With 1717 Adamas strings it plays like a Gibson Les Paul. No exageration.
At one point I had the frets dressed maybe 9 years ago as well.
Tornado needed the tuning keys replaced and the input jack. Somehow they wore out after 39 years.
The service dept department has always been exceptionally good. Its done right, on time or early, and cost is as quoted or less.
I do not think it could be any better.
In all honesty the only factory service
that was as good Ovations was not a guitar company
it was OF Mossberg the gun maker. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Fleet Quote-- "The only thing I wish it had were inlays on the fretboard. It's hard to live "without the dots",
but man I like the playability of these guitars."
Necessity is the Mother of Invention! :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I sent an old Pacemaker to them. They have it, but I haven't gotten the assessment yet. I neglected to include a note, but I pretty-much want them to tell me what it needs, what they can do, for how much.
(I am not the original owner)
As to what to do while you are waiting for it to come back...
I bought another 12-String. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 97
Location: Chicago | I finally sent my guitar in, and I'm hoping it comes back in better shape!
Per this topic:
http://www.ovationfanclub.com/cgi-bin/ubb/non-cgi/ultimatebb.php?ub... |
|
| |
Mothership Expectations / Procedure?