47 posts
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Post by barnsleyboy on Feb 13, 2020 10:55:10 GMT
Hi all,
After a great deal of pondering I recently ordered an HB-35, which arrived yesterday. The build quality seems very good for such a cheap guitar - definitely comparable to the equivalent Epiphone, so no complaints there. I've primarily bought the guitar to leave in open tuning so that I can hone my slide guitar technique. I'll be setting it up for a high action and putting on a set of chunky strings to help things along. However, a few things that I'm not so happy about:
- The high E string was broken, which for a guitar coming straight from QC I find unusual.
- The stop tailpiece is very rough and unfinished. The quality of the chrome plating is very poor.
- I'm not a great fan of the scratch plate (even though it is a better shape than the previous wonky kidney shaped one), so removing it was always the plan. Surprise surprise, the bolt holding the L-shaped bracket has dug into the top and has damaged the finish.
- There is a blemish in the top, which at first I thought was part of the veneer grain pattern, but the more I look at it the more I am convinced that something has dripped on it prior to the finish being applied.
- The neck pickup has had the plastic protector removed and there are fingerprints on the chrome cover, which is leading me to believe that the guitar may have been a customer return/ B-stock item.
Whilst I appreciate that this is a budget guitar made in the far east, I was hoping that Thomann's QC department would have picked up on some of the issues before dispatching. Am I being too picky? or should I return for a replacement? If anyone has any views on the mark/ waterstain (?) on the top and whether or not this is a natural part of the veneer, I'd be interested to hear them. Also has anybody else experienced the scratchplate damage issue? Is this something that occurs on all of them? or have I been unlucky?
I've uploaded some pics which fingers crossed have come out when I post this.
For the price point, you get a lot of guitar for the money and as long as the guitar construction is sound I see it as a great project for some gentle upgrades. I suppose the alternative is to see if Thomann would consider knocking some money off rather than them taking a hit on the shipping cost back to Germany then posting out a replacement. But I'm not sure if I want to go down that option and always be looking at the blemished top with disappointment.
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thunderbird
Harley Benton Expert
Less purchase, more practice
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Post by thunderbird on Feb 13, 2020 21:29:00 GMT
But I'm not sure if I want to go down that option and always be looking at the blemished top with disappointment.
Sounds like you have your answer. I am sure they have been sent back for fewer issues. That one is probably B-stock status, IMO, which would only get you 10-20 euros back, IME.
If I was living in the free return zone (I'm not sure if England qualifies), I would have ordered two or three and kept the best one.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Feb 13, 2020 21:55:25 GMT
I'd send it back, unfortunately it's not a good one. It's the gamble we all take buying online, I know that's no consolation for you. But if the returns policy hasn't been flecked up by brexit I'd want a replacement of my dough back. Hope you get it sorted one way or another.
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47 posts
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Post by barnsleyboy on Feb 13, 2020 22:45:37 GMT
Thanks guys,
I think I answered my own question really! I've requested a return, so waiting for them to send me a return label. I'm toying with the idea of re-ordering a black version instead which would eliminate the variability of the top and any possible marks and blemishes showing through during manufacture. I think I was unlucky on the stop tail piece finish, but one thing that is still of concern is the pick guard screw damaging the finish. I really don't like the pick guard so if the replacement arrives with the same fault it could be a deal breaker. I wonder how receptive Thomann customer service would be if I e-mailed them when I re-order and ask them to check that the guitar they send out is free of damage?
An interesting idea ordering more than one and keeping the best one - I hadn't thought of that! The fall out from the wife when 3 or 4 boxes arrive on the doorstep would be something to behold - light blue touchpaper and stand well back!!!
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Feb 13, 2020 23:22:51 GMT
To be honest out of the five HB's I've ordered only one had any damage. That was a 450GT the 3way switch was broken, like you I was concerned there might be damage under the pickguard. Thankfully this was not the case Thomann sent me a replacement switch.
Your guitar has more than one issue, unfortunately the finish in more ways than one is not up to standard. I would be very surprised if you got a replacement with similar issues. Sometimes a lemon gets through unfortunately.
Good luck I hope if you get a replacement it's a peach. 🍑
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Post by k2347 on Feb 15, 2020 5:01:55 GMT
If it bothers you that much send it back.Cheap guitars still better get delivered in pristine condition in my book.Cheap or not cheap......what you see on their website BETTER be what is delivered.
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Post by johnnyo on Feb 15, 2020 6:15:20 GMT
If it bothers you that much send it back.Cheap guitars still better get delivered in pristine condition in my book.Cheap or not cheap......what you see on their website BETTER be what is delivered. Mod edit: this post has been removed and a temporary ban issued.
If you read the rules you will see that we have no tolerance for racial, sexual or any other discrimination.
I hope you will finally be banned.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 15, 2020 7:25:35 GMT
An interesting idea ordering more than one and keeping the best one - I hadn't thought of that! The fall out from the wife when 3 or 4 boxes arrive on the doorstep would be something to behold - light blue touchpaper and stand well back!!! Women do this all the time. They order stuff in different sizes or colours, get you to watch when they try them out and then ask you nicely to bring 3/4 of the stuff back to the post office the next day. You could turn it around and have her return the others, to make sure she understands you're not mad after all Note: she won't be looking forward to watching you try them out. Better skip that bit.
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47 posts
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Post by barnsleyboy on Feb 15, 2020 10:31:40 GMT
Mod edit: this post has been removed and a temporary ban issued.
If you read the rules you will see that we have no tolerance for racial, sexual or any other discrimination. Hey, I know I’m new here, but I find this really distasteful. Mods, If this user doesn’t get banned for posting this, then I’m out of here.
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thunderbird
Harley Benton Expert
Less purchase, more practice
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Post by thunderbird on Feb 15, 2020 11:38:55 GMT
Mod edit: this post has been removed and a temporary ban issued.
If you read the rules you will see that we have no tolerance for racial, sexual or any other discrimination. Hey, I know I’m new here, but I find this really distasteful. Mods, If this user doesn’t get banned for posting this, then I’m out of here. I am sure they will ban this person, it's not his first stupid comment.
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