Bernie tuners problem

[Barquentine]

Hi Folks, my first thread on this forum. I bought my SE Bernie about 3 months ago and I think it's a great playing and great sounding guitar. I changed the pickups for Bare Knuckles but that's just personal preference as there was nothing bad about the originals. I've played it a lot and done three gigs with it. I think I've changed strings four times. I was doing a string change yesterday and noticed that the tuner for the top E was very loose on the headstock. I tried tightening the screws but nothing happened - no purchase so they were rotating but not tightening. My guitar guy lives nearby so I called round and asked him to check it out.

He had to make a dowel out of a matchstick to solve the issue. He checked the screws in the other tuners and found another three that were doing nothing i.e. rotating but no purchase. He repaired them all but now I am left with a brand new guitar (first new guitar I've ever had) that is partially held together with matchsticks. My tech's opinion is that the headstock wood is not fit for purpose as it's way too soft for the job. I could take it back to the retailer and get a replacement but it may have the same problem. Also I would have to pay my tech to put the original pickups back and then pay him again to install them in the replacement.

I e-mailed PRS Europe yesterday and am waiting for a reply. I have been happily telling friends about the incredible value for money of the Bernie and that I have not been able to find a single flaw. I can't do that anymore. I now have a guitar that I'm worried could fall to pieces at any time.

What do you think would be the appropriate way to resolve this issue ?

 

[andy474x]

is the matchstick job noticeable? If not, I would rock it without hesitation. A lot of times people will fix a stripped out strap button hole that way as well.

 

[Barquentine]

Irrespective of whether the matchsticks work a new guitar should not come with stripped out screw holes. It doesn't alter the fact that the wood is too soft to support the screws. What about the rest of the guitar ? Is the bridge going to fall off as well ?

 

[bodia]

I really don't think we're talking about the wood being too soft. More likely, someone at the factory got a little overzealous with electric screwdriver. I've done this myself on another guitar with a rock maple neck and headstock. Doesn't take much.

As for it being new, and having this issue, your call. I get the frustration, as I would be right there with you on that. However, as you mentioned, you've modified it. So now you'd have to pay to put it back to original form, and then again to put the replacement back to the way your current one is. Not sure that I'd go through the trouble. After all, we're taking about poor craftsmanship, not poor quality materials. Besides, if this happened while you were replacing the tuners, you'd drop a couple pieces of toothpick into it, and move on.

And, for the record, I've had my Bernie for almost 3 years. I put a set of Bare Knuckle Abraxas p/u's in it and replaced the K style tuners with PRS Phase 3 tuners. I've never had a problem with a anything on mine, and I happen to think it's built like a tank. I'm sure you'll hear the same thing from Mike Garvey too.

Bottom line, welcome to club Bernie. :cheers:
Rock that thing hard :rock:

 

[Barquentine]

Bodia, I really hope you're right as in every other respect this is a killer guitar. What do you think of the Abraxas set ? That's what I've got in mine and I love them.

 

[bodia]

I really like them a lot. As you said, there was nothing really wrong with the originals, but I was looking for something different. Very happy with them, and the customer service at BK.

Im sure Mike (mikegarveyblues) will weigh in on this too. He's a BIG Bernie fan and has done some mods to his as well.

I'll add this; when I bought mine I went to my local Guitar Center looking to by a Les Paul (Epi or Gibby). I wasn't looking to spend a ton of money. I played every Epi in the store, and a couple of G's that were in my price range, and was really underwhelmed. I spotted this Bernie, and checked it out. Never even plugged it in. I knew it was by far the best of the bunch that I touched that day. Couldn't be happier with my purchase.

 

[ChrisCst22]

Contact PRS customer service. I would think this is covered under warranty, especially being such a new guitar and so unlikely that it was caused by wear and tear or normal use.

See if you can send it in, have them fill the holes, redrill and mount properly. Sucks to be without for a little bit but worth it to keep the guitar and the pickups you already paid to install.

 

[Mikegarveyblues]

It's unfortunate that you have this issue on a new guitar, but... It happens!

Bodia is correct to suggest that it's likely caused by over tightening of the screw rather than it being 'soft wood'.

Your tech was irresponsible to jump to the conclusion that the wood was at fault. This is a common problem and one I have encountered many times myself. Your guitar will NOT fall apart, I promise you!

Rock that guitar hard!

I have a Bare Knuckle Mule in the neck and a Suhr Doug Aldrich in the bridge. Sounds and plays great.

Have a John Mann bridge ready to install when I get the upgrades and this'll take what was already a great guitar and make it the best it can be.