JRs Custom Guitar Blog Spot
Today, I was reminded of my ex several times. I could never understand how a person can lie and misunderstand another human, twist their interpretations of a person to suit their narrative. It is highly depressing. I wish I still didn't love the person she used to be, and cannot stand the person she is. What a contradiction.
Onto guitars: I wanted to blog about my interactions with Leo Jaymz, and the experiences I have had with their DIY kits: in particular this one:

I received the first kit and the damn thing was awesome looking. I looked forward to building it so much, that I already had a switch and pots wired up with orange drop caps, ready to drop in!
After all the work installing the switches and pots, I began working on the hardware. I installed the Grover tuners (gold vintage) and taped up the neck to do a little polishing on the frets. To my surprise, the frets were LEVEL and no sprouting or sharp edges. My excitement gained momentum! I then stripped a 6in piece of copper wire to use as a post/tailpiece ground. I began installing the gold hardware for the tailpiece and after getting the posts in, I tried to slide the tailpiece in. Oh shit. It will not fit. (In my fit of intense anger, I have since deleted the pictures which can be seen in my rather bloated and scathing review on Amazon)
I grabbed the OEM tailpiece and even using Leo Jaymz' posts, and studs, and tailpiece....it still wouldn't fit. Well isn't that a fuckaroo.
I contacted Amazon after deciding that trying to fix this problem would only result in damaging the guitar, and costing several hours of labor that I shouldn't have to contend with. Of course, the first person I deal with is a peon and they come to the same conclusion I already knew from checking on my account: There is NO option to have a replacement sent out. However, he did tell me that if I wanted to try Leo Jaymz customer support email, they are generally very good at replying and solving an issue like mine. If they do not solve my issue, call back and reference this call, and Amazon will fix it. So, I gathered up my wits, and the two email addresses the CS agent gave me, and opened outlook to begin my crusade for a replacement body.
Hello. I bought this kit from Amazon and the tail piece holes for the tuneomatic are misdrilled. I cannot get the tail piece on, I've tried the one that comes with the kit, and a gold one I bought for the build. I cannot get them to fit without plugging the holes and redrilling and possibly repainting. I've also spent a few hundred dollars on parts to make this guitar beautiful and now I'm going to have to send that all back to Amazon and wait for a refund unless I can get a replacement sent out, which Amazon can't do.

I included a few pictures - including the one showing the gold tailpiece not fitting onto the posts. I then waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
After 4 days, I called Amazon back and to my surprise, they had a new kit sent out that day, and they said don't even bother sending the old one back. (Challenge Accepted!) with that, I savored my pyric victory and began to work in earnest on the mis-drilled body; damage be damned! I would work the bugs out and be ready for the new kit. Which I did.
I used the MusicLily Alnico 5 pick-ups = $35.79
I used a switchcraft switch I had laying around = $0
I used some gold locking tuners from Saphue or Kaish = $31.99
I used some Kaish knobs that look better = $8.99

After getting the bugs out, and figuring out the old switchcraft switch is slightly broken, but still works well enough with some jiggling, this guitar sounds and plays very well. I find myself actually liking it.