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I just received my Gotoh 501s with the shiny gold finish and my first reaction is I am disappointed. They came in a flimsy box with a transparent film top. The box reminded me of something I’d get a dozen cheese danish in (ok - really tiny danish) at the local grocery. The tuners were pretty floppy in the box and if you tilted it they would swing, rubbing against the plastic - the finish on the knobs were slightly scuffed up. Seems like the box was more for display than shipping.

I'm not usually overly picky and they really aren't too noticeable but it sure would have been nice for them to be in a pristine condition. Since I have been driving myself crazy picking out what I thought were going to be the best of everything, I guess I had exceedingly high expectations. It's going to be a lot like the first time I play my first build and it doesn't automatically improve my playing 10-fold. *grin*

Al had some Waverly tuners at his shop in the box, a nice sturdy box with a fuzzy cloth-like material that prevented the tuners from shifting about in the box. the first impression said "quality". My first impression of the Gotohs were "uh-oh" followed by “That looks cheesy…”. I like the looks of the tuners themselves and the reviews were pretty high, so I will likely keep them - the knobs will eventually get scuffed anyway, and they are one of those things you only notice when you first scrutinize everything. Won't make a difference in the long run.

Yes, I will at least let them and LMI know but I will hesitate in the future on selecting Gotohs (or at least anything with a shiny finish) unless I pick them up at a local shop where I can hand pick them.

Not familiar with 501, but I love the 510's, just got in 3 sets from lmi 2 510 minis for a 12 string 18 to 1 and 1 set of the 21 to 1 standard which I just installed these things are rock solid and extremely accurate, I prefer the cosmo black finish they do come In a flimsy box , my guess isthey buy in bulk and rebox, seems like I got some from stew mac in a different box.

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MK5acoustics.com

why not just return them if they are as you say 'slightly scuffed'?.... The folks at LMII have always been great to deal with in my experiences with them....

Well, I am not sure why they came in a box like that, but possibly because LMI or SM buy them in bulk, and then have to re-package them .... the ones direct from Gotoh, ordered in smaller quantities, come in a decent cardboard box, all separated such that they never touch .... I have ordered Wave's before, and while they do come in a nice box, so what ??? once they are on the guitar the box is just that, something you paid extra for . I would rather they use sufficient but cheaper packaging and charge me 10 bucks less ...

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

My experience pretty much parallels Tony's. I've had several sets of special order Gotohs and they some in a decent cardboard box that does the job. And like Jack said, if you're not happy then send them back.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Ditto, just got some today from LMI. Definitely repackaged in an adequate box. StewMac sends them individually shrink wrapped. Mine were fine. Send them back if not satisfactory.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Sorry typed too fast. They are 510s. Much of it buffed off but the some remains. I tried to get a photo but the flash keeps hiding it

So here's the box they cam in. You can see nothing holing them from swinging around. Doesn't look like damage from whacking each other but more from swinging against the plastic window.


Here you can see the slight scratches. Circled.


Really tough to see after i wiped them down, and the light has to be just right and very bright. I really don't want to wait 10 days to ship back and get new ones. It's really pretty minor. Just was in a picky mood i guess.

Just my opinion of course, but I have nothing but praise for Gotoh from their cheapest to most expensive tuners... IMO they provide great value and an excellent and consistent product at every level. I speak from some experience having used them (unless the customer specifically requested or provided something else) for lots of repair work and 60-something scratch builds.

No argument there. I thnk it was a matter of the shipping method used and not quality of the product.

I think you are being too picky, I would rather have less packaging, maybe wrapped in paper and sent in a smaller box, we live in a world of too much packaging that we only discard once things are used.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

That's definitely not a box from gotoh - those have been ordered in bulk, in which they come in a Styrofoam tray to hold them apart, the tray holds 64 tuners or something, maybe a half gross, then they have been put into that box ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Since this guitar is for me, I don't have too much an issue with it. If it was for sale, i'd have a whole different perspective.

I guess i was just surprised that they didn't take more care. Don't need the little plastic window... certainly adds expense and another step in recycling. I don't want to turn this into a package design thread, but i do think they could have done a better job, simpler.

The more i think of it, I do think it has to some degree turned me off LMI. Even if it's just that little twinge of doubt before i click on "add to cart".

Now you really are being too picky. Not trusting lmi IMO would be your loss. Why not shoot them an email or a phone call and tell then what you found.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If I pay "new" price I want it to look "new". If it comes in scuffed up I wouldn't be too happy. I doubt I would take the trouble to send them back but I would hesitate to reorder from them.

I do like the 510's, especially the delta version. I have never bought just one set so I can't comment on that. That said I would think LMI could but a piece of foam over the turners to prevent problems. Other than that their packaging looks fine to me.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I occasionally by tuners from LMI (among other things), and know what you are talking about with the box. It is something they could improve on, although I have never had this issue. If you have not done so you need to contact them and let them know you are not satisfied and point out the issue. Even if you are ok keeping the tuners for yourself you should still let them know.

Speaking as a supplier and sponsor (a small one compared to LMI), one of my main concerns is that my customers are satisfied with the product and buying experience. The only way I can make improvements to my products and services are if I know there is an issue. But I can only do that if the customer lets me know. In my opinion LMI is one of the best luthier supply companies when it comes to product and services, along with Stew Mac. I mention those two because I've been dealing with both of them since I started building over 10 years ago. Over that time I've had orders that were lost, incorrect orders and items that broke before they should have. In every case both these companies made the situation right in a very timely manor. Let them know and they may offer a solution to make it right. LMI is a company you can trust, and since they offer products that are only available from them you will probably want to deal with them again in the future.

When it comes to the metal 510 buttons, I've observed that after I put a string winder on them a few times they end up with those scratch/scuffs. I much prefer the synthetic buttons, or some of the wooden replacement buttons that are offered. They don't show scratches like the shiny metal buttons do.

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

LMII has probably done more for the craft of luthiery than any of us could ever hope to. Make them aware of your dissatisfaction. If there is an issue with the packaging, I'm sure they want to know. LMII has always been very responsive in my experience. They're the good guys, IMO.

Josh, line your string winders with felt or cork...

Yep, good suggestion. But since I don't use the metal button anymore it has become a non-issue. Still I should probably do that anyway...

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

properly done, a phone call to let them know is the best route...they may not be aware of the issue...

I deal with quality cabinet hardware all the time and much of it comes in a appropriately sized foam pouch to protect it...