hello everyone.
Normally I would try to communicate in French, but my awful use of the language would make my post laughable when trying to explain what has gone on.
I have responded privately to try to make sure there is a clear understanding of the situation, but because it is public, I need to be clear here now as well.
WE BUILT a guitar last fall.
As many of you know, we bought all remaining N4, N5, N6, NX6 parts from US Music last august 18th. Many parts were nearly finished. Some had fretboards, logos and even serial numbers.
Others were simply neck and body cores which had been rough cut using the CNC routers at Washburn.
On some items, all we had to do was install pickups, polish frets, populate all pickups, bridges, and other metal parts in order to get a guitar ready to play.
WE sold one of these guitars to a fine gentleman on this forum.
Unfortunately it was discovered after it had been in his possession for a few months that the SEC neck joint had a crack and was causing the neck to shift from side to side. VERY bad.
When I found out about this issue I was very upset and obviously wanted to make ammends. I offered to build a brand new neck.
I asked for a photo so I could try to match color as best as possible.
I even tried to replicate the neck profile as much as I could remember it.
I put a light oil finish on the neck but because some sanding was going to need to be done on the neck joint, I didn't install the decals. Unfortunately they were left out of the package. I feel horrible about that.
I mentioned that the neck although completed, would need to be taken to a luthier to have the SEC edge sanded so that it would completely fit the top horn of the body, as that is always done by hand. that is why at the factory, they put the serial number of the neck in the neck joint of the body so that they always match back up when the guitar is oiled and buffed and final assembly is done.
The original guitar we built was rare, because it actually had a serial number AND the back of the headstock was signed by Nuno
originally I wanted that neck back, but in hindsight, because it is rare and special, I think it would mean more especially because the guitar was a wedding gift, that it be kept by it's current owner.
SO, the mistake we made is that we forgot to put the decals in the box. Had I installed them there is a chance they would have been smudged or peeled up when the sec is sanded and light oil applied or when the nut and tuners are put on.
only 3 necks that I know of had serial numbers. I am sorry that because of our language barrier this was not clear. I am not always good with details, but my heart is in the right place and my motto is to "do the right thing"
so, please consider this a public apology. I really think you will like this new neck. AND I have already put the decals in a mailer and sent them today. (along with some free goods to say "sorry")
The neck we built was a neck core from washburn. WE have a better truss rod than the factory ones. Ours is a stainless steel dual action so that it can add or remove relief and give MUCH more control to the neck during seasonal changes. WE also used a piece of very black gaboon ebony on this fretboard. I hand picked it. I am very proud of our work and I am sorry you have had troubles.
There are a few forum members here who own a FMM custom and none of them have serial numbers. (as many as we are selling, we need to start adding them!)
I hope this clears up what has gone on, and again I am sorry for everything that has angered this good man.
Jon
