I am both excited and bummed right now.

I just got my first pro line Gretsch. It is a beautiful G6120TM. The finish on the top of this guitar is amazing. The action and tone are even more so. I own a 5120 with TV Jones pickups, and this blows it away in both feel and tone.

Now the bad news. I turn it over and see this:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/pointguard1122/IMG_20120522_165701.jpg
and this
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/pointguard1122/IMG_20120522_165656.jpg

I want to cry. The seller packed the warranty materials under the guitar in the case. I believe this damaged was caused by the papers rubbing against the guitar during transport. What do I do?

*I did try polishing it, but it is in the finish.

I got a great price on this guitar $1600, but it was described as not a scratch on it. I already sold my Sunburst 5120 to help pay for this. I still have my orange 5120 w/TVs. I can live with the damage, but how much does this hurt the resale value?

I sent the seller a message and asked for a 10% refund for the damage. I have 14 days to return the guitar for a full refund. I am sure I could get Ebay to cover the return shipping because of the damage. But I sure love the feel and tone of this baby. Are they ALL this good?

I really could use some advise from you guys here as this is a Major expense for me and I have a 1 year old at home. $1600 is a lot of money to my family. Thanks for any advise.

If you can get the 10% and be happy with it go that route. If not, return it well before the 14 day return period.

Also remember, you love the tone and you got a great price. Plus the scratches are on the back where only your belly button will see them.

That's a shame!!! the ball is in your court...you have 14 days to return...the guitar as advertised as scratch free...if the seller is on the ball he'd be wanting to make this right for you...their packing has created this mess so it should be fixed from their end...can you be happy with some sort of discount...only you can answer that...i'd be wanting more than 10% off...more like 15%..you have 14 days so it may not bother you so much as your disappointment subsides...and any $$$ coming back can go towards the bills.

Wow. I already got a response from the seller. He offered to refund $200 (more than I asked for). He was very sorry and promised it was not there when he shipped it. I doubt I will ever sell this baby unless times get real tough. So I accepted the refund and will give him great feedback. He could have been very difficult about it and he chose to right. I am sad about the damage, but I am greatful there are still quality people like him. I am sure I will love playing this guitar for years. I will post some better pictures later of the good side. I am sure glad the damage is on the back. I couldn't handle it on the front.

Thanks for the quick responces.

Wow. I already got a response from the seller. He offered to refund $200 (more than I asked for). He was very sorry and promised it was not there when he shipped it. I doubt I will ever sell this baby unless times get real tough. So I accepted the refund and will give him great feedback. He could have been very difficult about it and he chose to right. I am sad about the damage, but I am greatful there are still quality people like him. I am sure I will love playing this guitar for years. I will post some better pictures later of the good side. I am sure glad the damage is on the back. I couldn't handle it on the front.

Thanks for the quick responces.

FANTASTIC!!! that's a great result...very professional response from the seller.. $200 seems about right..a great result all round..enjoy your beast!!! cheers!!

If it really bothers you, see if you can gets pro to buff it out for the 200 you got in return. But then again, 200 will buy three days worth of diapers, so weigh it out. Either way you have a guitar that from your explanation plays like the gods sent you their muse, so, seeing how in due time, all guitars get scratches, its the mojo thing, chill out. And Congrats!

Also, give this a try Guitar Scratch Remover (http://www.guitarscratchremover.com/). It works like they advertise.

That guitar is probably worth $1600 WITH the damage.

Happy NGD! Good that you had to deal with a nice guy!

I bet you can have someone to spray the back of the guitar with a thin clear coat!

Wait until your 1 year old be 10-12 and start meesing with the guitars, then I'll ask you about the expences:))

If it really bothers you, see if you can gets pro to buff it out for the 200 you got in return. But then again, 200 will buy three days worth of diapers, so weigh it out. Either way you have a guitar that from your explanation plays like the gods sent you their muse, so, seeing how in due time, all guitars get scratches, its the mojo thing, chill out. And Congrats!

I had a much worse nick in a poly finished guitar and got it repaired by a local luthier. When it was done you couldn't find the repair.

But then again, 200 will buy three days worth of diapers, so weigh it out. And Congrats!

Hey Freddy!!! does he need to weigh the diapers before or after they are used. ..need some clarification!!!:D

Also, give this a try Guitar Scratch Remover (http://www.guitarscratchremover.com/). It works like they advertise.

I can vouch for this too. I recently bought a used PRS that had major pick scratches where a pickguard would normally go. Guitar Scratch Remover & some intensive elbow grease returned it to a high gloss & made all but the worst scratches disappear. I'll bet it could fix the back of this 6120 real nice.

Scott Fraser

Nice guitar with killer flame on it! Buff the scratches and enjoy!

Wait until your 1 year old be 10-12 and start meesing with the guitars, then I'll ask you about the expences:))


My 1 yr old already plays :) I built him a 4 string guitar because he was always playing mine. I was shocked how quickly he learned to hold a pick. That said, he will not be touching this baby. Daddy has his toys;)

I will check out that scratch remover on another guitar with surface sratches first. I can live with these. My main issue was resale value IF I ever NEEDED to sell it. I do not plan to.

Here is my baby's better half
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/pointguard1122/IMG_20120522_201430.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/pointguard1122/IMG_20120522_201533.jpg
I will be putting a clear pickguard on soon.
Here is my other baby:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/pointguard1122/IMG_20120522_201605.jpg

Good looking couple

Here is my baby's better half
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff155/pointguard1122/IMG_20120522_201430.jpg

Tiger Maple is so awesome!

Simply stunning!!!!

Wow!! That is one fantastic looking guitar. If it were me I wouldn't even put a pickguard on it - even a clear one. But I'm a fingerpicker. Anyway, that wood is just too pretty to cover up.

BTW, I think the deal, along with the seller's partial refund is still an excellent value.

Congrats!

I actually took my picguard off, because it didnt fit with the traditional looks of the guitar for some reason. It just seemed like a Tuner-car Spoiler on a Cadillac.

I actually took my picguard off, because it didnt fit with the traditional looks of the guitar for some reason. It just seemed like a Tuner-car Spoiler on a Cadillac.

You are absolutely right. I removed right after my purchased it 14 years ago, but not just food the reason of proper look. It's on the way of finger picking, flat picking and basically everything. I cannot grab the Bigbsy fast enough over the the pickguard, there is no enough space, and cannot push it down enough.

About the damages on the back of the guitar... I went insane when it was scratched first by my bucks, but now it looks like the map of Tokyo from a satellite, and I don't mind it. Make the whole thing personal.

The seller packed the warranty materials under the guitar in the case. I believe this damaged was caused by the papers rubbing against the guitar during transport.


Beautiful guitar, and I'm glad it ended well for you, but there's no way a couple of papers will scratch up a guitar like that.

I do like the look without the pickguard. I might just keep it that way. I certainly do not want it covering up the guitar.

I think you are right about the scratches. I have a couple of mint guitars and I do not play those any better than my old beat up ones.

Hey Pete, I did notice my bridge pickup looks just like yours. It doesn't line up with the highest strings at all. Mine is a 2010 model so perhaps that is just normal. My 5120 with TV Jones Classics lines up perfect. It doesn't seem to hurt the tone any. I actually prefer the Filtertrons. My wife likes the cleaner tones of the Classics. Sounds like a good excuse to keep them both :)

Congrats on a beautiful 6120TM. Buff out the scratches and she'll look good as new. Seeing the pictures with the pickguard removed makes me think about doing the same mine. I play fingerstyle as well but the pickguard doesn't get in my way and the Bigsby sits comfortably in the palm of my hand. But with it off it sure looks amazing!

Wow! Anakin, nice guitar. I have the same instrument but you paid less. They are exquisite guitars. I hope you enjoy your as much as I enjoy mine. Rock on!

PS: Here's a pic of mine.

Hey Freddy!!! does he need to weigh the diapers before or after they are used. ..need some clarification!!!:D

I should have thought about that phrasing while I typed it. I bet babies fill diapers with their open equal body weight every two days, or thats how it seemed to me. he is free to weigh them before or after.

Fantastic looking guitar. And nice resolve with the seller, you couldn't wish for better outcome.

Getting $200 back would make that scratch seem smaller and less significant to me. :)

Enjoy your guitar, she's beautiful.

Beautiful guitar, and I'm glad it ended well for you, but there's no way a couple of papers will scratch up a guitar like that.

Maybe the papers were stapled or paper-clipped together?

SF

There were not any staples or paper clips, but it was a pretty think envelope with all the booklets in it. The envelope was kinda rough and there was also a pick loose in the case. I will definately give the seller the benefit of the doubt. I am very careful to choose my sellers on eBay by reading their feedback (especially on similar items). He had a great history and it showed with his quick resolution.

The truth is, after playing it, I wasn't going to send it back. I would have lived with it even without a partial refund. I own a few high end acoustics, a Les Paul and a Tele. Until nowm the Tele had the best neck and action. Not anymore. This is the best playing guitar out of everything I own. I can't wait to get off work so I can play some more :)

Maybe the papers were stapled or paper-clipped together?

SF

Hmm, that's a possibility. Were they Anakin?

[edit] I need to type faster..:rolleyes:

Thankfully the rash is on the backside. That one V shaped scratch does not look like it came from papers or a pick to me. I would give it a good workout with scratch remover and a buffer as most of them look like they will buff out without any problem. I use McGuire’s ScratchX 2.0 and it works very well with a buffer. It does take a little time to work them out all the way.
The guitar looks great, plays great and sounds great, it is a keeper for sure and good you did get a discount for the damage. Congrats.
Pop's

would turtle wax and elbow grease sort this problem?

All I have tried so far is some Gibson gloss guitar polish. It helped a little. I am considering my options now. I might try one of the products others have recommended here. Turtle wax seems too abrasive to me. I will most likely try the scratchX or the guitar scratch remover. I need to pick up some new microfiber clothes as well. I have an older Danelectro with some hazing scratches as well I can test on first. I will post my results once I try it.

There were not any staples or paper clips, but it was a pretty think envelope with all the booklets in it. The envelope was kinda rough and there was also a pick loose in the case. I will definately give the seller the benefit of the doubt. I am very careful to choose my sellers on eBay by reading their feedback (especially on similar items). He had a great history and it showed with his quick resolution.

Hi, am pleased to hear you're coming to term with those scratches. Think you've got a pretty good deal there and the seller has played ball

However I'm still mystified as to how a guitar in a solid case can get scratched like that from a paper/hard paper package. Doesn't really add up.

End result is a great guitar at a very good price...so (and I do hate the term but) its a no brainer. You did well on that deal, especially as you seem to have already bonded with it. Nice one :D

I get too scared of owning mint guitars, I'm afraid to use them, but if i got an otherwise minty with a ding or a scratch, i'd have no problem.
That guitar is gorgeous and a bargain at that price, well done!

Also, give this a try Guitar Scratch Remover (http://www.guitarscratchremover.com/). It works like they advertise.

++++++++++++1.....this stuff is really good and no silicone

I will most likely try the scratchX or the guitar scratch remover. I need to pick up some new microfiber clothes as well.

You can get the microfiber cloth along with the Guitar Scratch Remover as part of a package deal. I think it was about $20 for 2 different grades of the polish & the cloths. It really worked wonders on the abused PRS I used it on.

Scott Fraser

And BTW the Tiger Maple is awesome!!

Congrats on the TM. We must think alike. I have the 6120TM and the 5120 SB.