My replacement Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige arrived - What would you do?

[HowieJams]

If you were following my story...
My Ibanez AZ2402 Prestige arrived with a chip in the finish.
I called Sweetwater and they said as soon as the new ones arrive I could have my pick and they owuld do a set-up on it with 9-42s which I prefer to the 10-46s that came with it.
I had changed the one they sent me originally to 9-42s and it is simply amazing, it sounds and plays great.
It just might be my new #1 even over my Custom Shop Les Pauls.
It is 7lbs 9oz of greatness.

My new one arrived and I waited the usual 24 hours to unbox it. This one only weighs 7lbs 2oz.
When I opened it I was looking at another beauty with no chips in the finish, but when I took it out of the case I noticed a spring in the case, obviously a trem spring.
When I took off the backing plate I was surprised to see another trem spring resting on the bridge, there was only one trem spring attached.

I re-attached the other two springs and tuned the guitar up to pitch.
There was almost no tension on the strings before I tuned it to pitch and after I still needed to tweak the action a bit.

To my surprise, it does not play or sound as good as the one that arrived with the cosmetic flawit still is a good guitar, but the other one is magical.
I am going to take the weekend and continue to tweak it, but at this point I am considering keeping the original one and taking the discount for the cosmetic flaw.

I loved the original one so much I was actually thinking of keeping both, one at each of my homes, but if the new one isn't as good I probably will not do that.

What would you all do?

Here are some pics of the new one and a pic of the first one with the small chip in it.
The new one is the one with the 9-42 string box in it.

 

[spawn802]

I would take the discount and keep the one that plays best. I've found I always regret getting rid of a guitar that has "it". Besides, you won't see that chip too often anyways.

 

[HowieJams]

I would take the discount and keep the one that plays best. I've found I always regret getting rid of a guitar that has "it". Besides, you won't see that chip too often anyways.

I agree....
It is barely noticeable, but that guitar is amazing, I would be afraid to part with it.

Here is a demo of the original one

 

[Omnipotent1]

I’m just enjoying the playing.. Howie killin it.

Whatever you decide I’m sure you’ll be adding to the character of the guitar as time goes on.

 

[Drkorey]

if the discount is good/acceptable, I'd keep the character mark (finish chip) that plays and sounds as good as you describe

 

[HowieJams]

View attachment 445002
I’m just enjoying the playing.. Howie killin it.

Whatever you decide I’m sure you’ll be adding to the character of the guitar as time goes on.

Thanks!
I try not to ding my guitars, but good point.
It isn't noticeable anyway.

 

[HowieJams]

if the discount is good/acceptable, I'd keep the character mark (finish chip) that plays and sounds as good as you describe

Even if they didn't discount it, I would probably keep it.
It is too good to pass on.
It has 10 possible tones, 6 that I love, 1 that is decent, and 3 I will never use, but the 6 tones are all great.

 

[phillybhatesme]

Ugh, I hate being a fucking Karen, but I'd at least mention the springs to your rep. I know some of us already know that the 55-point inspection is literally just bullshit; they take the guitar out of the manufacture's box and hand it over to you without doing anything to it, but I think it'd behoove SW to know that we know that their 55-point inspection is bullshit.
In other words, two unattached springs and strings without tension would have been noticed during any kind of inspection of the instrument.

I remember reading in your other thread that they were expecting more than 1, is there any chance you can get a third into the equation? Keep 1, exchange 2 for 3, try 3 in comparison to 1. Keep 1 or 3. Is that an option?

 

[ecalcagnino]

Even if they didn't discount it, I would probably keep it.
It is too good to pass on.
It has 10 possible tones, 6 that I love, 1 that is decent, and 3 I will never use, but the 6 tones are all great.

I really like the dyna-MIX wiring. I picked up a set of Hyperions for another guitar and will probably wire it up this week. The Fortunas in the 2204 are great, too. I know there are some iffy reviews of all the AZ pickups, but I think they suit the guitars very well.