So Something Bad Became Something Good

richardp69

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Sometimes things work out o.k. A while back I'd bought a used DV 52 on Reverb. It was minty and the seller sold it to me for about $900 with OHSC. The seller by the way was a really good guy.

He packed it well and shipped it off to me but when it arrived it had a big crack on either side of the end pin. It was bad. I got ahold of him and sent him pics.. he just said, well this is why I hate to ship anything but it's not your fault so pack it up and send it back for a full refund.

I got ahold of Reverb instead and we dickered back and forth but I ended up keeping the guitar for a total price of $165. I sat on it a bit and then took it to my local Luthier. He glued and cleated the crack. It's absolutely solid for sure and I'll never have a problem with it again I'm sure. I had an extra DTAR Wavelength pickup sitting around so I had him install that as well. he charged me $100 to repair the crack and install the pickup so all in I have about $265 into it.

Although RW guitars likely make up most of my inventory (I haven't counted but believe that to be true) it is not my favorite tonewood. To me they can get a bit muddy and boomy on the lower registers at times. Plenty loud though. But, this one sounds really good and I love this thing and plan to keep it for a long time.

So, a happy ending to a bad event. Her's a few pics.
 

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GGJaguar

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Wow, glad it worked out. I haven't shipped an acoustic guitar in a long time, but I always removed the endpin before doing so for that very reason.
 

GardMan

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Glad it worked out... enjoy your DV-52!
 

wileypickett

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These are, of course, outstanding guitars, but I'm more curious how the refund process worked. I hope the poor guy who shipped the guitar didn't totally take a bath!
 

richardp69

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These are, of course, outstanding guitars, but I'm more curious how the refund process worked. I hope the poor guy who shipped the guitar didn't totally take a bath!

Actually, he didn't lose anything. Because he shipped with the Reverb shipping protection, Reverb took on the task of negotiating/fighting with UPS. I have no idea what deal they struck with them but no, I talked with the seller and he said he lost nothing. Maybe Reverb did, don't know. Even though you (at least I do) get far better rates shipping with Reverb on their account I've gotta believe they don't provide that for nothing. So, likely they can afford to take care of the occasional damage issue and not take a bath on it.
 

richardp69

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These are, of course, outstanding guitars, but I'm more curious how the refund process worked. I hope the poor guy who shipped the guitar didn't totally take a bath!

Also, I really am not a heartless bastard when dealing with others. (although a few exes may disagree with that self-assessment). I made sure the buyer was o.k. with the deal I made with Reverb before I finalized the deal.
 

davismanLV

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So did he ship it with the end pin installed? Just curious as to how that damage happened. When I shipped my D65S to Tom Jacobs, the end pin was in the case but not on the guitar. I was super surprised that it came back to me shipped with the end pin installed!

I will always pay Reverb for their amazing shipping deals, service and let them haggle with the shipper and seller and do what they do best. Sad that the guitar had to be damaged in the first place, but sounds like everyone walked away from that deal happy. (y)
 

richardp69

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Yes, it was installed. Folks, help me out here because I'm about to disclose some more cluelessness. (if there is such a word)

I know the end pin should be removed before you ship. I've never done that on the hundreds of guitars I've sold and shipped and never had a problem (yet). But, I fear I will some day. I pack the heck out of a guitar but still have that nagging feeling my time is coming.

What is the correct way to remove the end pin. I'm always afraid I'll damage the guitar taking it out.
 

twocorgis

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Yes, it was installed. Folks, help me out here because I'm about to disclose some more cluelessness. (if there is such a word)

I know the end pin should be removed before you ship. I've never done that on the hundreds of guitars I've sold and shipped and never had a problem (yet). But, I fear I will some day. I pack the heck out of a guitar but still have that nagging feeling my time is coming.

What is the correct way to remove the end pin. I'm always afraid I'll damage the guitar taking it out.

I always remove the end pin before I ship, and it's normally not hard to remove. Usually a pair of pliers will do the job, but hake sure to wrap the end pin in some kind of cloth to prevent damage to the end pin itself. For acoustic guitars with a pickup installed, you obviously can't remove that, so I just pack a little extra cushioning in that area, and I haven't had any issues.

Glad this story had a happy ending!
 

F312

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Just pull it out in most cases, however I have run a cross some guitars that are hard to come out. Plyers work well, but be careful, never the less, if it was super hard to come out I would use a little penetrating oil. I'd like to see more answers on this.

Ralph
 

Rich Cohen

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I think using a pliers make sense. Just don't wiggle the end pin with the pliers in a back and forth, side to side, rotate slowly and pull out. If it resists, then I would recommend the penetrating oil -- just a very small amount. Let it sit for a few minutes (in extreme cases). That's my two cents for what it's worth.
 

davismanLV

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And this is also why I cringe when someone has an end pin that is loose and they wanna GLUE it in!! NOOOOOOO!!! Get a bigger pin or just put tape around the part that goes inside so it'll snug up!! Richard, the way I've heard you pack guitars I don't think it's a problem, but putting paper wadded up or cotton cloth stuff on each side of the end pin in the case will go a long way to helping should they slam the box on it's end!!
 

amnicon

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The photo shows that it wasn't an end pin, but the output jack. Seems like loosening/removing the output jack would just invite other problems, right?
 

dreadnut

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One heckuva deal on a DV-52 - that damage is highly repairable and is also in an area nobody usually sees.

And what a beautiful blonde top!
 

wileypickett

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I've had many guitars shipped to me over the years. The only one to arrive with a crack to the endblock area was the one that had had the endpin removed!
 

Guildedagain

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I've never removed one to ship, no one's ever removed one to ship to me without any mishaps. The one on my F30 comes right off, but all other acoustic Guild or otherwise has the pin very firmly set in place.

The idea of using oil on wood is not usually one that you hear from experienced repair people. Lighter fluid on the other hand is recommended for many aspects of guitar work, Naptha. It's very good at penetrating tight spaces and will break seals.

When I ship, I just make sure the guitar doesn't move in the case and I make sure the bottom of the case very well cushioned. I don't trust bubble wrap for this job, prefer heavy packing paper, or the inflatable ends Stu Mac sells.

Another related tip, when shipping a Les Paul, unscrew the switch tip and put it in the case pocket. Here's my guitar repair hero packing a guitar.

 

Cougar

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Wow, yeah, bad crack! And what a beautiful guitar! How I love a happy ending!
 

The Guilds of Grot

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The photo shows that it wasn't an end pin, but the output jack. Seems like loosening/removing the output jack would just invite other problems, right?
If I understand the story correctly, the End Pin Jack was installed after the crack was repaired.

Instead of removing the End Pin, I make a stack of packing with a hole in it to fit over the end pin.
 
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richardp69

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You are correct Grot. The end pin was in when I received the guitar. When my guy fixed the crack I had him install the electronics/end pin jack.

Nice idea with the hole in the packing to go over the end jack. I'm gonna start doing that. THANKS!!
 
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