Advice on a new guitar issue

[mattwood]

I would appreciate some advice on a new guitar that I just took delivery of. It's a Larrivee C-03R-TE that was in pristine condition. Unfortunately, "was" being the operative word. The original owner had changed out the tuners and when I opened the guitar, one of the original tuners had found it's way out of the case compartment and was sitting on the top of the guitar near the very bottom in between the case and the top binding. I couldn't see any major dents or dings on the soundboard though on closer inspection there might be a very, very minor dent. As I pulled the guitar out, low and behold, several other tuners had found their way underneath the guitar body and below the headstock and the strap button was there as well. I did find three dings on the top side of the neck and one on the side of the headstock. All in all, there was very little damage from what there could have been with loose heavy tuners jostling around. I didn't know if the strap pin had been installed and was loose due to a hard drop or what. I have talked to the original owner who states he never installed it. Now to the questions. When I tried to install the strap pin it just pushed the sleeve it screws into back towards the inside of the guitar. When I pushed it a little more with a pencil it fell into the inside of the guitar. Should that sleeve be that loose if it hasn't ever been installed? Also, do you just screw it in by hand when you install it or is there a tool that you use? I'm just hoping there wasn't a drop that was heavy enough to jar it out of the wood. Also, what would you think would be fair to ask for due to the dings? It was in absolute new like condition and still has the Larrivee tags from the factory on the case. I will likely call Larrivee but would appreciate some thoughts. Thanks.

[B0WIE]

If it's previously owned, there's no reason to call Larrivee as you have no warranty and they don't do non warranty work or repair appraisals.

Regarding the pin, that's a tough one as it's hard to pin that on the pervious owner. I think that's one of those risks you have to eat when buying used.

You are definitely owed compensation for the damage though. Extremely careless to leave loose metal objects in a case, even if they were in the compartment. If they give you a hard time insist on a return. Hard to say what it might be worth without seeing pics. I usually ask for a bit less than what it would cost to repair, and repairs aren't cheap these days. Because you'll never get the finish right on an 03, repair isn't an option, so go with what the resale value is now (the devaluation based on the damage). The main concern here is that going from "like new" to "dinged up" is a big leap in value. If you don't feel they are being fair, insist on a return (which PayPal or your bank can help you with).

[Queequeg]

Any time you're shipping a guitar with parts in that little flip-top stowing box under the neck, place them in a paper or plastic bag along with some stuffing material so that they don't get separated and this situation described above will be quickly and cheaply and safely avoided.

[mattwood]

I realize there is no warranty as I bought it used.  The main thing I'm concerned with is if the end pin sleeve being loose enough to slide out is an issue or if it's just because it has never been installed.  The dings are pretty small and I don't think trying to repair them would be worth the cost so I'm trying to come up with a fair dollar amount to ask to be taken off the original selling price.

[Mikeymac]

That's odd about the endpin, as I recently received a brand new C-03R-TE, and the endpin was already installed.

I believe they do "screw in" to the rubber insert, using an Allen wrench.

[mattwood]

That's odd about the endpin, as I recently received a brand new C-03R-TE, and the endpin was already installed.

I believe they do "screw in" to the rubber insert, using an Allen wrench.

I called Larrivee and they told me that they all ship out with endpins installed so at some point it must have been taken out.  The original owner states that he never installed it so I can only assume that the dealer he bought it from may have taken it out to ship it.  They did tell me how to install it so I'll give that a shot over the holidays.  Mikey, how did you get your pickguard up?  The top end of the one on my guitar is coming up and I'm going to need to take it off to reattach it which I will only do if there is a noticeable  tan line underneath.

[Queequeg]

You can lift that pickguard off if you are very, very careful with a hairdryer and a plastic pan scraper. But you will not be reattaching it. If you decide that you want a pickguard on it, you will be putting a new, unused pickguard down in its place.
By the way did I say be very careful with that hairdryer?
Take it slow, take your time, don't rush.

[Manothemtns]

You can also use dental floss or fishing line. Get a corner up just a bit and slide the line under the guard and with heat, use a horizontal back and forth motion to saw/separate the guard's adhesive from the guard and guitar's top, soundboard.

Go slow and gentle like and it should come off just fine.

Good luck!

[mattwood]

Here are a couple of pics of the dings on the side of the neck and headstock.  All in all it's not terrible but it sure is disappointing to have a pristine guitar dinged before you ever get it.

[ducktrapper]

The ones on the neck would be unacceptable to me.

[Mikeymac]

The ones on the neck would be unacceptable to me.

I agree. These are a current model, so you should be able to find another one in mint condition with no issues - I would also just return this one (you have plenty of justification for doing so), and seek out a different one.

Regarding removing the pickguard - be extra careful. When I removed mine, I also used the hair dryer/floss method (and used a plastic spatula to hold the edge up as I moved along).

Somehow, I still managed to pull up a small (1/2" to 3/4" circle) of finish from the top... I suspect the matt finish on these is softer than the gloss finish guitars, and it may have gotten too hot, or I just found a spot that wasn't as cured/attached to the top under the pickguard. From some angles, it's not noticeable, from others it is. I still like the guitar much better with the p/g off; just looks "right" to me.

[mattwood]

The only reason I'm not thinking of returning it was that I got a very good deal on it or otherwise I probably would have not sought buying this particular model.  The pictures make the dents look more pronounced than they are when you have the guitar in your hands so I'm trying to come up with a fair price to ask for in compensation in order to keep it.  Part of my decision will be on getting the endpin installed without an issues, but if there aren't any problems there I plan on keeping it with some financial reimbursement which the owner has already said he would be willing to do.  I just don't know what to ask for.

[mike in lytle]

Part of my decision will be on getting the endpin installed without an issues....

It is easy to do, since the inside part is a friction fit in the hole. It is intended to be removable when installing an end-pin jack for a pickup, and all Larrivees are shipped with them installed. They cannot just loosen or fall out.
See pic (from the Larrivee site), this is what you should have. A T-nut with a clear tube covering the T-nut sleeve and the metal end pin.
Loosen the strings so you can remove the ball ends from the bridge.
You can now push the T-nut into the end pin hole from the inside (tube end first) with a pencil, then screw the end pin from the outside, thru the tube and into the threads on the T-nut. By hand. No tools. Not real tight. You will sense when it is tight enough.
The T-nut part does NOT penetrate the wood of the guitar.
Mike

[mattwood]

Thanks Mike.  I got instructions from Larrivee but they didn't tell me that the T nut doesn't penetrate the wood.  I thought it did and was loose because of a drop or something.

[mike in lytle]

Thanks Mike.  I got instructions from Larrivee but they didn't tell me that the T nut doesn't penetrate the wood.  I thought it did and was loose because of a drop or something.

I am happy you brought the subject up, since many of us have aftermarket pickups installed, but may not do the work themselves unless it is a sound hole pickup.
The Larrivee end pin provision is odd, yet sort of elegant. It is obviously intend only to be removed, and replaced with an end pin jack.
Mike