View Full Version : Gibson Mandolin Warranty
My good friend an older gentleman, and dedicated church deacon of many years bought an A style Gibson in the early 60s. The top caved in over the years of string pressure. I stayed on him to get it to the great guys at Gibson for warranty repair. Of course he had his original receipt. Back before Christmas he took it in and left it at Gibson in Nashville. A little while later he was informed that the mandolin was not covered by the warranty because the truss rod was broken. Of course all total he had a few hundred mile racked up only to be totally let down. He was told that it would be $1100 to repair it. This mandolin does not even show a great amount of wear. I believe to many NICE people let the big boys get over. I would have been kicking and screaming... I think it is sorry business. If anyone would know how to help in this matter I will gladly provide Names, serial #, dates or what ever. I own two recent Gibson mandos both were bought before this came up. Shame on you OAI!
meyers
May-09-2005, 5:10am
thats pretty weak. I dont know all of the details but i know many of the small builders would take care of customers in this situation for nominal fees if any fee at all.
luckylarue
May-09-2005, 8:14am
Man, this must be "Vent Against Gibson Day". Good luck w/ your troubles.
Big Joe
May-09-2005, 9:56am
I remember the mandolin and the man. He was a very nice gentleman. The top was not the issue. The problem was the truss rod would not adjust. While speaking with him he told us how he tried to adjust it and twisted too hard and it broke. That is not warranty. He understood and was not unhappy with us. What was warranty would have been gladly fixed, but understand that twisting a truss rod till it breaks is not a warranty issue. Thank you.
Devon Headen
May-09-2005, 10:02am
Then why not fix the caved top, and let him decide what to do about the truss rod? Or maybe I'm missing part of the story.Maybe the top wasn't collapsed at all?
Moose
May-09-2005, 10:04am
Thanks for "clearing ther air"... Joe! -(and no disrespect intended but I totally agree with the "resolution" - as it should be). http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Big Joe
May-09-2005, 10:06am
When we talked with the customer he did not want to have the top fixed since he was not going to get the truss rod repaired. One fix would be little good without the other. The final decision on any repair is with the customer. If they don't want someting fixed, it does not get fixed.
Tom C
May-09-2005, 10:36am
I would think the warranty is against defects. A top caving in or neck becoming a bit warped over 50 years (thus the need to adjust truss rod), I would not think fits into the warrenty's policy.
Nathan Sanders
May-09-2005, 10:38am
I recently had a good experience with Gibson warranty. The tailpiece on my F-5G broke. I took it to a local luthier who is an authorized Gibson repairman. I had my original receipt from when I purchased the mando new. No problem at all.
TommyK
May-09-2005, 1:14pm
my 2¢:
Well, if in the interest of saving a few bucks, I replaced the spark plugs on my new car and I stripped the threads in the aluminum head on one cylinder, I'd be hard pressed to ask GM to fix it, no charge.
According to OAI, the customer was understanding of the fact that his twisted truss rod and resultant top problems weren't covered under warranty, because the probem was not caused by OAI or their certified dealer.
Sounds like the guy got a fair shake. Too bad about that mando though. I guess let this be a lesson to all of us. If you're going to do work on your instruments, be sure you know what you're doing. If not, leave it to the experts.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Joe, I will put in a call to Hezzie (the 60s Gibson man). I believe he told me that the bill was going to be $1100. Unless I am mistaken on the price I believe he could possibly have the top repaired under warranty and then sub out the truss rod repair for less, and justify the cost to value. That old mandolin has made a lot of good music ("Over The Waves", 5' 2", "Danny Boy"...) even with the top caving in it sounded good. Hate to see it go in the trash. Thanks, and PS my two Gibsons and two others at the church all sound great!!!
knockwood
May-10-2005, 5:26am
I recently ran over my F-9 with a VW Microbus. I cannot recall what the mandolin was doing in my driveway, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't my fault. Anyway, I ran into the house to grab a camera and a broom and some chocolate milk, and when I returned to the scene various pieces of the instrument had been dragged off by woodchucks. When I presented the pieces to Gibson, they actually tried to tell me that being run over by an owner's microbus and/or stolen by woodchucks are not occurrences covered by the Gibson warranty. I'll see you in court, Gibson. Oh yes indeedy.
WELLLLLLL!!!..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
KevinM
May-10-2005, 9:54am
I've been saying for a while that at these prices those truss rods should be made of titanium.
KevinM Posted
I've been saying for a while that at these prices those truss rods should be made of titanium.
No sir that's not expensive enough. They should be made of 100% pure unobtainium. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
GVD
John Rosett
May-11-2005, 5:37pm
so, big joe, my 1913 gibson A has a label that says "should this instrument, with proper care and usage, go wrong, we agree to repair it free of charge...."
i came home the other night, and it was on the couch, trying to play along with "american idol". if that ain't gone wrong, i don't know what is.
can it be fixed under warrantee?
john
Joe, I will put in a call to Hezzie (the 60s Gibson man). # I believe he told me that the bill was going to be $1100. #Unless I am mistaken on the price I believe he could possibly have the top repaired under warranty and then sub out the truss rod repair for less, and justify the cost to value. #That old mandolin has made a lot of good music ("Over The Waves", 5' 2", "Danny Boy"...) even with the top caving in it sounded good. # Hate to see it go in the trash. #Thanks, and PS my two Gibsons and two others at the church all sound great!!!
This was May 9th, and you guys are still making jokes about him. Any more clever, "I stripped my sparkplug now I want an engine" posts left?
Cogger
May-11-2005, 9:20pm
No sir that's not expensive enough. They should be made of 100% pure unobtainium.
GVD
UNOBTANIUM!!! GVD, are you from New Hampshire?? The only unobtanium mine I know of is in North Woodstcok, NH!
Paul
Cogger, No I before I got into mandolins I was into racing for many years and unobtainium was a euphemism for the latest and greatest high dollar light weight racing material. We all complain about the price of mandos but it's nothing compared to racing gear. There's nothing more frustrating than buying a cyrogenically tempered billet titainium suspension part and have someone put you the wall and wad it up the first time you use it. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
GVD