Any experience of Fender warranty in UK?

Talk about all other types of guitars. Jazzmasters and basses go here!

Moderated By: mods

User avatar
NickS
.
.
Posts: 13769
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:08 am
Location: Down at the end, round by a corner

Any experience of Fender warranty in UK?

Post by NickS »

The bridge pickup on my "new" (2008) USA Strat always semed a bit weak, and it semed to vary quite a lot with what it was going into. I finally got around to sticking a meter on the jack socket. Around 6k on each of the other pickups, around 36K on the bridge. What's so annoying is that it's been like this since new, about 2 years ago. Damn, damn, damn. Now I have to decide whether to try to get it fixed under some sort of warranty (parts only by now, I guess, so I'd have to shell out for labour) or sort it myself.

Anyone had any experience of Fender warranty in the UK?
Personal pronouns he/him
User avatar
Rox
.
.
Posts: 1283
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 5:41 am

Post by Rox »

Not in the US but I know they suck in the US . My name plate came off my Hot Rod Deville and they wanted to put me through so much shit to get another one that I told them to keep their fucking plate and got one on E-bay . If I were you I'd just order a new pickup.
User avatar
NickS
.
.
Posts: 13769
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:08 am
Location: Down at the end, round by a corner

Post by NickS »

Turns out I bought my guitar 13th Dec 2008 so it's still under full warranty for a couple of weeks. I might take it into the shop and speak to them. In parallel I'll check prices for pickups (could be a bad solder joint on the switch too).
User avatar
othomas2
.
.
Posts: 4026
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:35 pm
Location: London

Post by othomas2 »

It would have been covered for a years warranty from the shop you bought it from.... they may still tackle out of warranty failures but most shops wont. If they do it'll probably be a chargeable repair along with shipping etc etc. Unless of course you have some kind of extended warranty. Your best bet may just be to buy a new pickup and fit it yourself, I'd imagine there would be a few out there as a lot of people swap them out. You could also contact Fender themselves and see if they'll help you out direct. If not, the shop will be able to buy one in for you. From my experience in a guitar shop they're pretty good to deal with.
User avatar
NickS
.
.
Posts: 13769
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:08 am
Location: Down at the end, round by a corner

Post by NickS »

Fender's UK website says it's covered for 2 years, take it back to the shop (they're an authorised Fender dealer) and they'll send it to Fender. (Of course, they may want me to pay carriage)

I checked for pickups on eBay and if I want the real thing it's a full set for about £80 BIN or about £140 new - no single Fender AlNiCo V bridge/neck pickups last night.
User avatar
aen
Turdscreamer
Posts: 7698
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 5:07 am
Location: ELECTRIC WARRIOR
Contact:

Post by aen »

Fender Warranty = LOLLLERCOASTER.


"Fender lifetime warranty on the whole guitar, except: All the parts."
High quality, low popularity Ecstatic Fury
User avatar
NickS
.
.
Posts: 13769
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:08 am
Location: Down at the end, round by a corner

Post by NickS »

Fender UK say they pay for carriage. Yay. I'll take it down to Guitar Village today or tomorrow. It's a shame Matt has strung his Squier Strat for baritone, it might have been a laugh to use that in the meantime.
User avatar
GreenKnee
.
.
Posts: 650
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2009 5:23 pm
Location: Sheffield

Post by GreenKnee »

I had a problem with my HotRod Deville, and they couldn't gave been any better. They came to pick it up, repaired it within 1 week, and returned it. :)

They did ask if the 'damage' to the casing was by me. They were referring to the orange tape I had put next to the fx loop out, which corresponds to my fx loop out lead ;)

Jack
User avatar
willlin
.
.
Posts: 497
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:23 pm
Location: The Not So Grim/ Sunny South(ampton)

Post by willlin »

NickS wrote:Fender UK say they pay for carriage. Yay. I'll take it down to Guitar Village today or tomorrow. It's a shame Matt has strung his Squier Strat for baritone, it might have been a laugh to use that in the meantime.
Is that Guitar Village in Farnham? I just bought my new tele from there, really helpful guys actually.
User avatar
NickS
.
.
Posts: 13769
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:08 am
Location: Down at the end, round by a corner

Post by NickS »

willlin wrote:Is that Guitar Village in Farnham? I just bought my new tele from there, really helpful guys actually.
Yes, that's the one. Was that mail order?

I took it in and explained the problem. The guy said he'd have to check - he plugged it in and said "it still works". I had to explain that yes, it sort of works but not properly. Then we came to the warranty date. "Ah. There could be a problem". No, the Fender UK warranty is 2 years. "Did you ring them?" No, I emailed them. "Ah. OK, it'll take a couple of weeks." The we had a nice chat about the relative merits of glossy fretboards vs. rosewood and Standard vs. Deluxe strats while he was making out the ticket.
User avatar
willlin
.
.
Posts: 497
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:23 pm
Location: The Not So Grim/ Sunny South(ampton)

Post by willlin »

No I got it in the shop, I live in Alton and pass by every day... It's a complete aladin's cave in there, loads of stuff.

Complete impulse purchase, I just fell for it.
benecol

Post by benecol »

willlin wrote:I live in Alton
As does my dad; what's "The Grim North" all about then?
User avatar
willlin
.
.
Posts: 497
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:23 pm
Location: The Not So Grim/ Sunny South(ampton)

Post by willlin »

benecol wrote:
willlin wrote:I live in Alton
As does my dad; what's "The Grim North" all about then?
Good point, just laziness on my behalf in updating my profile stuff. I used to live in sunny Doncaster, then Liverpool before taking the plunge and going south for work. As it were...