Something to think about when buying a new guitar? - the case against fancy smancy and unique.

[michelew]

Well some of you may recall that my Larrivee took a tumble about two months ago and one of the tuning pegs was bend and the end piece shattered to the point where it was IMPOSSIBLE to tune the D string. It's been at the guitar repair shop since that weekend.



Over two thousand possible tuning head sets are available through repairers and NONE of them matched the ones Larrivee have on their OMV-09 guitar line. What's different? Well the orientation of the screw that attaches it to the head for one, it looks like a 6-a side electric guitar set, but you can't use those because it would only work for half of the pegs, the location is mirrored for the other three. The size is different, ... and a couple of other things that I can't remember. I then had to decide whether to go for all black or all chrome. I couldn't have the black and chrome look because it didn't come in the unusual sets that have the correctly orientated screws. Blah, blah blah... 2000 sets and none of them were right. I've settled on a good quality precision chrome set made in Japan. I'm not sure that I'll like the look as much but, I didn't really have much choice.

Larrivee sells a set of antique looking machine heads that I didn't care for. They don't appear to sell the same sets that came on my guitar. Perhaps I should have written to them and checked this out further.

I really like my guitar but unique parts that can't be replace is ... what's the technical term.... yes a major pain in the arse.

So complicate that by the need to import the parts and a two week hold up in customs and the guitar repair shop STILL doesn't have the parts and I STILL don't have my sweet Larrivee.

Oh well. On the bright side I've got other musical friends that I can play with and in fact have been exploring the world of keys. That's SO much fun. In fact, it's so much fun that I didn't play guitar for a month, lost my callouses (yes very careless of me) and now I'm suffering sore fingers while I try to rebuild them. Yes another instrument that I don't have enough time to learn properly... oh well I'm not dead yet so there's time.

So... the question of "Does it have unique parts that will be hard to replace?" probably isn't something that will come to mind when you purchase your next guitar. But, just like imported cars, it just might bite you if you do need to get a new part.


Have any of you experienced a similar thing?

Shel

[AcousticAl]

Haven't played for a month??

I'm going to add this tuner excuse to my list of reasons for having MANY guitars.

thanks Michele!!

[michelew]

Haha! Nice one Al. But, you'll still need to balance it with outfits for the Mrs.

Actually I've got no excuse. I have other sets of strings; nylon, uke and bass...so no excuse at all. I've mostly just been distracted by a new toy and my classical was in its case, in a cupboard and I was concerned I would damage it too. I'm over that now and playing it. If its not out on a stand I tend not to get them out and play them.

But,... Haha! ... It's worth a try. good luck.

How many DO you have now?

M.

[willem]

I am a twin... :laugh: :laugh: B)

I try to play songs everytime the same but I suck..

[michelew]

Even though you're a twin Willem, you're unique. There is only one you. You're irreplaceable.

And NOONE ever plays a piece of music exactly the same way. Only machines are even capable of that. Chaos is a constant companion. Where's the fun in playing exactly the same way anyway? B)

[Hydroman52]

Hi Michele,

I don’t think of these things when I buy a guitar. I usually buy used anyway where the guitar is already well on the way down the road of hard to find parts.

Your instinct about pursuing the route of writing directly to (calling is usually better) Larrivee sounds like the best approach to me. They may not sell them directly, but may have some on a lonely back shelf just waiting to be installed on a guitar in order to prove themselves useful and worthy. It also maybe a standard Larrivee chrome tuner with the tuner button replaced with a black one. This is not uncommon. Regardless, the Larrivee people may have just what you’re looking for. They seem to have a good reputation as a customer oriented company.

If you haven’t already committed to an off-the-shelf set, I vote for going with your gut feelings and talk with Larrivee directly.

Hydroman52

[tovo]

Hey Shel. Hard lines regarding the tuners, that sucks the big one.

I'd back up Hydro. Write to Larrivee and see if they can help you out. Especially if you aren't going to be particularly pleased with the replacements you have been forced to choose. I reckon they will be able to help and you will end up much happier.

[Music Junkie]

Michele:

Larrivee Has a shop about 10-15 miles from me over in Oxnard, CA. I would be very interested to hear what you find out. If there is any way I can help please don't hesitate to let me know. A trip to the factory over there would not hurt my feelings any.....

J

[michelew]

Hydro, Tony, Jason,

Thanks guys. If I'd known it was going to take this long to get my guitar working again I probably would have tried to contact Larrivee directly. I've order the parts which are very specialised so the shop isn't going to take kindly to me changing my mind now; I'm pretty certain I'd need to pay for the parts in full regardless. They've promised that it should be ready early this week. At this point I just want it back in working condition.

I'll live with it for a while, if I find myself feeling dissatisfied with the look after I've had it for a while and playing it less as a consequence, then I'll contact Larrivee and see what they have to offer.

The important thing is that it works right? So I'll just try and get over the fact that it looks different.

Jason, thanks for the offer. And feel free to use my predicament as an excuse if you feel the need to visit the factory.

Thanks for the advice and support.

Shel

[neverfoundthetime]

Feel for you Shel. My nylon Takamine hit the floor on the machine-head (a couple of times... now I always use a stand) after being left leaning against something. I left it unplayed in a corner until a guitar-playing friend decided I need to play it again and took it upon himself to have it repaired (as a B.day present). It arrived back in working order but with horrible new machine-heads on both sides (all 3 each on a bar on each side) but completely the wrong colour and style... the original was gold-coloured. So it works, I play it but I try not to look at it too closely! he same happened to my 12, there's no way I'd accept anything but the original. If tI hope you get your original replaced by an original.