Frustrated and Angry

Two reasons:
1) I finally found a blue Challenger. I offered him $250 shipped. I realize it probably would go cheaper than that on eBay, but it is worth that much to me, so it is fine.
It is in excellent condition. The metallic blue has faded to a deep aqua/emerald green-blue.
He said he re-wired it himself.

It arrived, no strings.
I strung it up, and problem 1: the strings are laying on the frets. Okay, I think I can play with this, maybe loosen the tension on the trem springs (because it is a little below parallel) and maybe play with the truss rod. I'm not wanting to raise the trem, however, because I'm scared I'll dull the knife edges. Could use advice.

But then the worse problem:
No sound. At all. In any position.

I don't want to send it back.

Should I ask for money back?

Or should I just work with it until I get it going?

2) Got a Yamaha RGX 612S from eBay. $185 + $30 shipping. Yamaha's numbering system is petty clear:
000 series: entry
100 series: decent level entry
200 series: decent guitar, nothing to write home about
300 series: getting pretty good
400 series: solid intermediate level
600 series: good intermediate level guitar
800, 900, 1200 series: professional level guitar

Now, I just got an RGX 1212S for just under $500 shipped, and a Pacifica 1221 they are both completely awesome, 100% professional guitars. So a 600 series for just $215 is a great deal.

Here's the listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281068112259
or
http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-RGX612S-GUITAR-WITH-TREMOLO-/281068112259?ViewItem=&item=281068112259&nma=true&si=bO4eqYQmnflWgbRBPA1QcqRNq1w%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The pictures are distant. No close ups. No angle shots of the trem.

The guy said he doesn't play guitar anymore...so he used to play guitar, and it sounds like he played this one.

When it arrived, it was missing the trem collar, 3 string clamps/screws, and 4 fine tuners.

Parts for the RM Pro are nearly impossible to find.

It might have been an honest mistake: quick glance inside the case, everything looks fine, pack it up and put it for sale.

I strung it up, and even without the clamps, it stays in tune fairly well. Great action, great balance, great tone. It is worth keeping.

So I didn't ask for any money back.

...but it is extremely frustrating.

Brainfertilizer wrote:I strung it up, and problem 1: the strings are laying on the frets. Okay, I think I can play with this, maybe loosen the tension on the trem springs (because it is a little below parallel) and maybe play with the truss rod. I'm not wanting to raise the trem, however, because I'm scared I'll dull the knife edges.

I'd establish whether the neck is straight, has backbow or otherwise before playing with the trussrod. Also, it may not have been strung for a while, so give it a day or two to settle down when its strung.

I assume there should be a little angle on the neck as it comes out of the neck pocket, and if that's OK, then surely you can raise and lower the bridge on its posts, like a Bendmaster?? Slacken the strings a little and wind the bridge up... you'll have to get a straight edge and actually check to see what the neck is doing at some stage, too.

No sound. At all. In any position.

I don't want to send it back.

... then don't!! you've got to establish where the problem is; pickups all dead, or a shonky wiring job, and I find it hard to believe that 3 pickups have gone doggo, so it is probably the wiring. Regardless, see if the pickups read on a multimeter, and if they do, well, its just a matter of tracking down the problem with the loom. Plenty of the folk in here ready to help with that, I'm sure!!

When it arrived, it was missing the trem collar, 3 string clamps/screws, and 4 fine tuners.

Parts for the RM Pro are nearly impossible to find.

Once again, plenty of folk inhere with ideas and parts boxes; give us a look at what you have and what you need and let's see if we can't get something going!! Remember, we're used to orphan bits and pieces on our Westones!!

Bummer Nathan. Sorry to hear it.

brainfertilizer wrote:...He said he re-wired it himself.

That's likely the source of the problem! Either it's wired incorrectly, or a critical solder joint has failed. Before going to the meter, do a visual check of all the connections. Probe each one gently with something wooden or plastic looking for movement (there shouldn't be any). If you find something loose, apply some heat and remelt the solder. Also check for "cold joints" (crusty, dull) or overheated joints (burned). Also look for sloppy connections that may be overlapping on to another connection point...that sort of thing.

...strings are laying on the frets....I'm not wanting to raise the trem, however, because I'm scared I'll dull the knife edges.

Don't worry, that does not dull the edge, only the movement from using the trem does that. It's designed to be adjusted up and down.

Follow Corsair's advice, and also have a look at my post on Shimming and Neck Adjustments just in case you need to do that too.

What you're up against is a tension balancing act, springs versus strings plus action adjustment.

...should I just work with it until I get it going?

Hell, yes.

Thanks!

I knew I could count on you guys!

And wiring is not a problem at all. I had two situations with a wiring mess and Mike (guittarasaurus) helped me out. With guitars, there's really not a whole lot that you can't do yourself. Let us know how this goes.

I guess it is time I started learning to do the things myself.

I got some good soldering advice from Gittarasaurus a few days ago.

And yesterday marks the first time I've ever changed strings on a Floyd Rose guitar before (something I've been afraid of attempting for more than a year).

So yeah: I think I'm ready to start learning to fix guitars.

FR equipped guitars are not too bad...just remember baby steps for adjustments and to ensure you return to pitch before and after making them. It's very annoying to get the trem just so then find your still at G#.
Good luck

Ian

IanO wrote:FR equipped guitars are not too bad...just remember baby steps for adjustments and to ensure you return to pitch before and after making them.

Yup. Once you've done your preliminary tuning hit the bar a few times for each string to be sure you're returning to pitch, then lock it down and fine tune.

I find genuine FR's usually behave themselves. Beware the "Licenced" versions and other imitators however. They usually suffer from inferior metal or bad manufacturing tolerances which always leads to tears.

Mine's the original "EDGE" Ibanez version, great except the infernal pushfit nylon washers....bad idea Iby.

Oh...and the fact you have to release the string tension to do the intonation....very verry tedious (not limited to Iby's)

Ian

IanO wrote:...you have to release the string tension to do the intonation...

Hate that!