I Have A Situation

Elias Graves

Elias Graves

Common misfit
My Epi Alleykat has developed a warp in the body. It's not terrible and hasn't affected anything as far as playability goes. If I lay a straight edge acoss the back, there's about a 1/4" gap in the middle.
I took it to the authorized Epi service center to get checked out.
The guy there said there's obviously nothing he can do, but said that Epi will likely replace the guitar under the lifetime warranty.
The problem is that Epi no longer makes this model. According to their warranty, they would replace it with a current production model that is similar in price and style. There is no direct replacement for the Alleykat, so I'd probably be looking at either a Wildkat Rolyale, Dot Royale or ES175.
They don't have anything similar with the humbucker/minibucker combo, which I like.
If I send it in, I have to pay shipping for an "official" evaluation. If they replace, they pay return shipping. If they don't replace, I pay shipping home, too.
Not sure what to do with this. Perhaps I just wait a while and see if it gets worse? I've never had anything like this happen before. Will this continue to get worse?
Advice welcome.

EG
 
The Kat in question
utf-8BT2tsYWhvbWEgQ2l0eS0yMDEwMTIwNS0wMDA1NC5qcGc.jpg


The warp
utf-8BT2tsYWhvbWEgQ2l0eS0yMDExMDMwMS0wMDA1Ni5qcGc.jpg


EG
 
If it isn't hurting the playability, I would do nothing. The dealer said it was a lifetime warranty, I would let it ride until it starts messing with your playing, then ship it off.
 
This isn't the warp I expected, and I can't imagine how your solid body warped across the grain and different pieces.

I'd make up my mind now. You might have a lifetime warranty, but the company doesn't.
Something this drastic needs to be dealt with right away.
I sense your feelings being hurt, your musical energy being thwarted. I can see you becoming more high maintenance the more it warps.
And I'd recommend you for this career making gig, if I knew you had a playable guitar.
Yeah, this is really bringing you down.
 
Chad said:
If it isn't hurting the playability, I would do nothing. The dealer said it was a lifetime warranty, I would let it ride until it starts messing with your playing, then ship it off.
Click to expand...


I'd agree with this, too.

btw I was afraid that I was going to open this thread to find this:

The_Situation_Oct21news.jpg
 
I wouldn't do that to you, Mark.

Technically, it isn't a warp. More of a crease where two pieces of wood come together. It runs the length from end to end of the body. It's like someone put it in a vise and bent the whole body.
Along this line.
utf-8BT2tsYWhvbWEgQ2l0eS0yMDExMDMwMS0wMDA1OC5qcGc.jpg


EG
 
Elias Graves said:
I wouldn't do that to you, Mark.

Technically, it isn't a warp. More of a crease where two pieces of wood come together. It runs the length from end to end of the body. It's like someone put it in a vise and bent the whole body.
Along this line.
utf-8BT2tsYWhvbWEgQ2l0eS0yMDExMDMwMS0wMDA1OC5qcGc.jpg



EG
Click to expand...


very strange. is it visible on the top of the guitar? or visibly affecting the hardware or laminations anywhere else?
 
The top is arched and a seperate piece. Can't see anything there.
I haven't found any other evidence.
The first time I noticed was a couple months ago when the ridge in the finish caught my eye. Didn't think much of it, but later had the guitar hanging and saw it from the side. That's when I noticed the warp.
Can't see any damage to binding or anything.
As is, it's not really a big deal. Just don't want it getting worse, you know?

EG
 
Does the glue seam seem solid?

If you lay the straight edge so it stops before the seam, is each side of the body flat or warped?

It almost looks like they just didn't get the piece cut at a perfect 90 degree angle, so when they butt joined them, it created a very slight V effect.

I'm with the other guys. If it isn't effecting the playablity and you can sleep at night knowing that it isn't perfectly flat, then I'd just play the snot out of it until it does start causing problems and then do the warranty option.
 
How do you think that happened?
The above explanation looks good, me thinking this warp is strange, if it warped.
 
Glue seam seems tight. The warp wasn't there before. I've had it laying flat on the table and it was straight. Lay it on the table now and it rocks.
Lay the straight edge up to the bend and it's flat. All the movement is on the one line...otherwise flat.

EG
 
This is still a weird warp, and the pics here are still disappeared, except for the Jerseyless boy.

The two top, original pics, are back.

And that's such a nice looking guitar, liking how the purfling matches around the edge and the f-holes,
the tasty red sunburst, needing some fading, and the decorative wood, all very nice.
 
Last edited:
EG, take advantage of the offer before they change their minds. You can always buy a pickup adapter to mount a mini in the neck of whatever you get.
 
Hard to say with out seeing the guitar but what you describe and the pics seem to indicate is cupping....the wood wasn't seasoned/dried properly before it was glued up and now as it's dried out over time, it's cupping along the joint. I remember making a serving tray back in 6th grade wood shop that did the same thing. You could try humidifying the guitar a bit to see if it reduces the bow. Either way, unless you are storing it in excessively dry conditions, I'd think about taking them up on the offer for replacement.
 
Closer inspection last night did reveal a problem on the top. Where the body has moved has caused the stud holding the stop tail stud to pull downward. The stud is now sticking up above the top a bit.
I think I'll go ahead and send it in. Sigh.

I'm just scared to death they offer me a Dot or something in exchange. That would not be cool.
The Wildkat is the same body, but it has dogears and a Bigsby. The ES175 is really the closest thing they offer now.

Maybe I'll get lucky and they still have an Alleykat around. Doubtful, as they haven't been made for four years now. Sigh.

EG
 
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