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?

 

[EGW-Eric]

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.

 

[HowieJams]

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?

Actually, they did a full set-up on the guitar and changed the strings from 10-46s to 9-42s.
I think what happended was the tech tuned it down more than the usual full step to "D", probably 2 steps, and that there was not enough string tension and the trem springs came off.
They were cool and didn't charge me $99 for the set-up due to the first guitar being damaged.

The springs probably popped off during shipping.

If I return the new one I am sure they would ship me another, but at this point I know I have a great one already.
If I decide I want a 2nd one as a back-up, I will just order it later and do the set-up and string change myself

 

[HowieJams]

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.

I didn't think you could buy Seymour Duncan Hyperions separately, that is good news.
As for the wiring, I like all the normal 7 configs, just not the 3 with the alter bridge up.
With the Alter switch up I only like single coil neck and single coil bridge, the other 3 I will never use.

I also didn't know the 2204s didn't use Hyperions, thanks for the info.

 

[EGW-Eric]

I didn't think you could buy Seymour Duncan Hyperions separately, that is good news.
As for the wiring, I like all the normal 7 configs, just not the 3 with the alter bridge up.
With the Alter switch up I only like single coil neck and single coil bridge, the other 3 I will never use.

I also didn't know the 2204s didn't use Hyperions, thanks for the info.

You can't buy them new, even as a Duncan dealer I'm SOL. Only if you're lucky enough to find someone that pulled them and is selling, they're pretty spendy though. However, you can pick up the wiring harness and switching from Ibanez.

Yeah, the Fortunas are a little lower output and a bit more modern/vintage voiced. GREAT stratty tones, I like them better that the Hyperions for that kind of thing.

 

[HowieJams]

You can't buy them new, even as a Duncan dealer I'm SOL. Only if you're lucky enough to find someone that pulled them and is selling, they're pretty spendy though. However, you can pick up the wiring harness and switching from Ibanez.

Yeah, the Fortunas are a little lower output and a bit more modern/vintage voiced. GREAT stratty tones, I like them better that the Hyperions for that kind of thing.

That is what I thought.
Sounds like the Fortunas are perfect for the 2204.

 

[chumbucket]

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.

Send back the good one with the chip, so that I can buy it open box from Sweetwater.

 

[napalmdeath]

Call Sweetwater and tell them to get their act together. They obviously didn't inspect the first one, and did a piss-poor job setting up the second one. I'd find it completely unacceptable and would demand some answers. But, that's just me. I stopped buying from Sweetwater because of nonsense like this that I dealt with. Had they done a true professional set-up, you wouldn't have had any issues with the second. Their 55 point inspection is hogwash. This screams to me, "we don't care". I'd personally tell them to shove both up their ass and look elsewhere.

 

[HowieJams]

Send back the good one with the chip, so that I can buy it open box from Sweetwater.

LOL, If I send that back, which I won't, I would advise anyone to grab it.

 

[HowieJams]

Call Sweetwater and tell them to get their act together. They obviously didn't inspect the first one, and did a piss-poor job setting up the second one. I'd find it completely unacceptable and would demand some answers. But, that's just me. I stopped buying from Sweetwater because of nonsense like this that I dealt with. Had they done a true professional set-up, you wouldn't have had any issues with the second. Their 55 point inspection is hogwash. This screams to me, "we don't care". I'd personally tell them to shove both up their ass and look elsewhere.

The reason I buy from Sweetwater is they are on Amazon and I hava ton of Reward Points, I mean a ton.
I did reach out to them and they always make things right.
The 55 point inspection is not anything mechanically, but you can actually see the guitar you are buying and get the weight.
As for the set-up, like many of us they tune the guitar down for shipping, they just tuned it down to much and there was no tension on the trem springs.
The set-up was OK, but not low enough for my taste.

 

[napalmdeath]

The reason I buy from Sweetwater is they are on Amazon and I hava ton of Reward Points, I mean a ton.
I did reach out to them and they always make things right.
The 55 point inspection is not anything mechanically, but you can actually see the guitar you are buying and get the weight.
As for the set-up, like many of us they tune the guitar down for shipping, they just tuned it down to much and there was no tension on the trem springs.
The set-up was OK, but not low enough for my taste.

Yeah, I can understand if you're compelled to buy from them, but I choose not to because they have shady business practices and have trouble being honest. You don't miss a ding during an inspection, (unless it happened in shipping), and you don't down-tune a guitar with a trem so far that the springs fall off. That's just plain ignorant, and lacks common sense. You might as well ship it with no strings on it at that point. That's just dumb and doesn't align with anything a "professional" would do, but then I set my own guitars up.

 

[harddriver]

Keep the guitar that you feel plays, sounds better and that you bond with.

I have found I have never grown into liking how a guitar plays that didn't play, sound, resonate and feel good from the instant that I picked it up.

A guitar that plays well and feels great I think one can overlook a little paint chip especially if Sweetwater compensates you some for the flaw, now it's slightly relic'd.

Since when do tremelo springs just pop out of the trem block??? That could be an indication that the guitar took a severe shock during shipping.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Sounds like you already know what to do - keep the one that feels best, take a disocunt if they offer it, and rock on! Not only will you be happier you chose the one that felt best, but you will feel like you got it for a great deal as well, which just adds a certain sweetness.