The Part's On Order (or Tall Tales from Fender)

 

This is from a buddy of mine, Garry, who's a semi-pro musician in a local bay area band and suffering at the hands of what sounds like pretty shoddy customer service from Fender.  Or maybe Roland.  Or both.  I've written about loads of different Fender guitars on this site, and never seen this type of problem.  Still, Garry's out gigging every week using one or another of his 11 Fender guitars, so you'd think they'd want to have a happy customer.  Here's his tale...

I hate the thought of my first story to be a saga about waiting for a replacement part for one of my guitars, but here it is.  I have a Fender Roland-ready Stratocaster that I use as my main guitar in the band I play in. We play about fifty gigs a year. At a gig in late June, the guitar fell and the mounting bracket that holds the 13 pin jack in place broke. I made it through the night using blue tape to hold the jack in place.

The following week, I took the guitar to an authorized Fender dealer, CB Perkins, to show them the part and get a replacement or two ordered. The repairman told me it would probably take four weeks. After about six weeks I called the dealer and was told that they were still waiting! Meanwhile, I’m still playing gigs with blue tape holding my cord to the guitar. A real hillbilly look.

I have been waiting for this part to arrive for months and taping the guitar is getting old. I saw an ad for a used Roland Strat on Craig’s List. I bought it figuring that when the part finally arrives, I could install it and sell the other guitar for what I paid. Right now I have a nice guitar without an input jack.

Screwed by Fender?

At the three month mark I decided to write Fender and file a complaint. I told my story and gave the necessary details. The Fender rep wrote back saying the part was shipped July 11th. It turns out that they sent the 4 screws instead of the actual mounting bracket. Oh boy! The Fender rep told me the correct part was going to be sent right away.

Another month went by, making it four months and still no part. Again I wrote to Fender and now I’m told that there’s a back order on this part. Presumably guitarists all over the country are waiting for Roland to deliver this part! Unbelievable.

Now, I’m not a big name musician playing in arenas, but I play a lot of gigs and I expect my equipment to work properly. And I would expect two companies like Fender and Roland to have their stuff together enough to be able to supply the average player replacement parts in less than six months.  

What do you think?  Is Garry asking too much? Or should he just buy more blue tape?  Anyone had any similar problems dealing with Fender?  Somehow, I can't help but think Jeff Beck gets better treatment than the average musician.  Post comments and let me know what you think...

• GuitarVibe: John Mayer Signature Strat, Squier Telecaster, Squier Strat

Comments

[Mark L]

My nepehw in Montreal (Canada)has the same problem with his Korean made Strat. Thing is, he uses white hockey tape. Looks great against the red painted body ! The way I see it, Gary needs to ease off the complaint pedal a little. Doesn't he know that Fender and Roland are struggling right alongside the "Big 3" in these hard economic times. The "big wigs" at Fender have way bigger fish to fry than to look for a silly old mounting bracket. 5 rolls of white hockey tape go for 6.99 at Costco...

Mark L

[Guitar Rock]

I would think that Fender would take care of this no problem. It is the least they can do. Just crazy!

[Garry M]

After seven months of waiting, the input jack arrived. Guitar and owner are resting comfortably.