Hi guys,

Most of the guitars I have I have bought 'blindly', as in the store didn't have it so I ordered it and carried it away. Or I have bought them off the internet. I like each one of my guitars anyway, none have disapponted me once I have slapped on a set of daddario 9s.

Question I have is this, when any of you guys go into guitar shops, what kind of paint finish flaws are acceptable for you when it comes to higher end fender guitars? Not only fenders also other guitars such as shiny black painted guitars that look mucky even with a fingerprint?

Thing is, even with no scratches and dents as such, certain guitars I have seen, if you are extra picky and angle them towards daylight, or bright lights, heavy glosses sometimes have these thin marks on them, don't know if it's from carelessness or manufacturing process. But do they annoy any of you guys or do you just buy them?

Thanks!

-FM

Isn't it more about the sound than a perfect finish? I could accept a minor flaw in appearance if I really liked how an instrument felt/played.

HOWEVER!!!

I'd use that as a means to get the shop to sharpen their pencil a bit on the price!

Yep .... Same here. First, it's got to sound and play great.

Then any imperfections mean there has to be some deep, deep discounts - especially at todays way inflated, jack-um-up-and-rip-um-off prices. If it's an honest dealer, the price should already be marked down to reflect the imperfections and corresponding discount. If not - well, there are other dealers, and I had rather deal with an honest one.

What I meant was for example, most mexican guitars have this thick plastic like paint, and American spec guitars have nice glossy paint with that really thin clear layer. I meant any lines and stuff in them, that you only notice if you looke at it hard with a LOT of light, day light, or held up to bright light.

Of course sound is paramount, but I meant those really small lines that you could even get if you wipe it clean a little too hard

I understand what you're saying. My MIM has some imperfections in the finish that are visible on close examination. I don't sweat it, it's the nature of the beast. That's what you get for less than half the price of a MIA.

If I bought the gold top LP that the same shop had on the wall for $3500 then I would be pretty damn picky about how it looked and sounded. With my MIM I was only looking for a good starter guitar that played nice and didn't cost a fortune. I suspect some of those flaws I can see are the reason it was still new in the store since it's an '05 manufacture. I figured the $485 for a new Strat was a fair price.

I just noticed this morning that the 6th E is not a Fender Bullet end so at some point in time it got a new E string. Those are things that I am learning through my newbie experiences to look for in the future.

When I`m laying down hard earned cash I want the guitar as near perfect in sound and appearance as possible. I take very good care of my guitars and if I don`t like what I see and hear I just won`t buy it.

+1............. Mike

_________________
The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I suppose my main concern is my USA strat, I got the 2008 model. In candy cola.

The finish is pokyurathane or whatever, and I believe that is just a layer of paint with this really thin (transparent?) layer of stuff over it. The paint is flawless as far as I see, the guitar sounds really good. Only there are a few lines in the clear stuff here and there, and when examined under bright light or daylight, all these little lines in the clear stuff appear. The are in all directions, do you guys look out for that kind of thing too?

I know I sound a little obsessed, perfectionist i guess (OCD!)

I should have mentioned... There are fine lines in the clear stuff that goes over the paint. But MOST of them are on the cutaway that rests on your waist.

I'll bet if you never show anybody... you're the only one who will ever know besides your luthier or possibly the next owner if you part company (and us.)

I certainly wouldn't stress over it if you already own the instrument. Play it and enjoy!