Isn’t it weird how a guitar is often the first instrument that comes to your mind when someone talks about musical instruments? The guitar is a widely used musical instrument that outshines all other instruments with its versatility, affordability, and accessibility.
Carrying it around is not a hassle, as it is portable, making it a great option for musicians. Having said that, experts recommend buying guitars from a reputed brand. Not only are their guitars more durable and well-constructed, but they also offer customer care service in case you encounter a problem later on.
This gives players peace of mind as they can focus on their playing without worrying about the problems that they may face along the way. When it comes to guitars, you may be overwhelmed by the number of brands. As they got popular, more and more companies started manufacturing them.
However, most of them disappeared as soon as they came, and only a few have been able to win the users. Echopark is one of them. Echopark is an American-based brand known for designing and manufacturing guitars. The company may be relatively new to the industry, but it surely has staked its claim on the hearts of many guitar players.
The guitars manufactured by Echopark are durable, well-built, and ergonomically sound. However, it will also experience wear and show problems sooner or later. This roundup has some common problems that users face while using the Echopark guitars and their common solutions. Let’s jump right into it!
Common Echopark Guitars Problems
Below are some problems that have been associated with the Echopark guitars.
- Screws Getting Loose
No doubt, the Echopark guitars are well-constructed. However, it is seen that their screws often go loose as you use these guitars. Many users have reported that they even come off sometimes out of nowhere. No doubt, it is annoying for all the users, but it is important to note that it is completely normal for screws to get loose over time.
It may be often overlooked, but screws play a vital role in your guitar’s overall performance. If they are loose, your guitar’s tonal quality can also take a hit, and you may experience inaccurate tones. If you are a professional guitarist, you’d know how a slight change in tone ruins your playability.
Fortunately, there is a simple fix for this problem. All you need to do is grab a screwdriver and tighten all the screws every now and then. And yes, consider setting a maintenance schedule for your guitar. This will ensure your guitar’s smooth operation as you will detect all the problems beforehand.
- Misaligned Frets
This is not a common problem; only some guitar models have this issue. This is because the Echopark guitars are handmade. While it’s a good thing that there is more attention to detail, it may also result in imperfections, and the misaligned frets are a good example.
If you notice that your Echopark guitar has misaligned frets, consider reaching out to a professional to get it fixed. They will make all the necessary adjustments, and you will not face any intonation problems. However, if you still experience bad intonation, you may need to inspect other components, such as nuts, bridge, etc.
A bridge pickup is often called the “heart and soul” of a guitar, and for good reasons. It is a tool that is used to convert string vibrations to electrical signals. Without a pickup, your audience won’t hear any sound. Without an iota of a doubt, a bridge pickup is an important component in any guitar.
If it is not in good working condition, you will immediately notice a decline in your guitar’s performance. Many users have complained about the quality of the pickups while using the Echopark guitars. The pickups with these guitars are mediocre and wear out quickly.
This has disappointed users big time as they expected better pickups from a company of this caliber. Sadly, there is no solution to this problem, and you will have to buy a new bridge pickup if the previous one has been damaged. You will notice a sudden change in your guitar’s tone as soon as you upgrade to a better bridge pickup.
The good news for you is that the bridge pickups are readily available all over the world. They have different price tags, and you can find a quality bridge pickup even if you are low on budget. And yes, you can also purchase them from an online company. Many websites offer bridge pickups since they are integral to a guitar.
- Strings Issues
String problems are also quite common with the Echopark guitars. Although these guitars use premium quality strings, they can rust over time. The sweat from your hands can cause corrosion. If your guitar strings have corroded, replacing them is the only solution to restore your guitar’s old bright tones.
You can replace a single string or the entire set at once. So, if only one string has rusted or broken, you do not need to replace the whole set. Changing the strings is an absolute walk-in-the-park; anyone can do it with little DIY skills. However, you will need a few tools to replace your Echopark guitar strings.
Those tools include a string winder tool, a string clipper tool, and a new set of strings, of course. So, if you do not have these tools at home, consider seeking help from a professional. Start by loosening the tension of your Low-E string first using a string winder tool.
It is a good rule of thumb not to take all the strings off at once. Consider taking off two strings at a time and then putting two new ones back on. So, loosen the Low-E and the string next to it. Once you have loosened them, get the string clipper tool and clip those two strings just above the sound hole.
After that, unwind the strings from the string peg. You can use the string winder tool to pry up the post from the bridge. You can also take it out with your hand, but the string winder tool has a cutout that is made for this purpose. Now grab your new set of strings and put them on.
Most guitar strings have the installation information written on their packaging. Determine which string goes where and follow the instructions to install them correctly. Install all the strings following the same procedure. As you can see, the process is pretty simple. However, it can consume lots of time.
So, if you have a jam-packed schedule and time is money for you, reach out to a professional to get your new strings installed. They have all the tools and know the right procedure to install them.
The Bottom Line
Echopark guitars have earned a sound reputation in the music industry. However, you may run into a few problems while using these guitars. The screws keep getting loose, and its strings may get rusted over time.
And since they are handmade, some of them have misaligned frets. If you face any problem and have no idea how to fix it, consider hiring a professional to get it fixed.