I just changed strings after about a month and a half of heavy play (3+hours a day) and the fretboard already has many wear marks. Also, the wire has a ton of wear up to about the 12th fret. Is it normal for it to wear this fast? my old Strat was an 04 and it had minimal wear when I parted it out.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Are you saying that the guitar was new 45 days or so ago, and you have had that much wear in that time? I guess you could get that kind of wear if you used heavy strings and really gripped the heck out of the neck for three hours a day. You should measure the frets to see just how much wear you have. You may have just smoothed off the crown a little. I have played 4-6 hours a day for months and not had visible wear with nickle frets, so that would be an incredible amount of wear you're getting. If it is truly worn down you may consider getting stainless steel frets and going with a lighter string gauge and relaxing your grip.

Are they level across the neck or are they pitted? If they are level I think you just polished off the crown a bit. Also, some necks (maple) have finish on the frets when they are new and that finish comes off as you play during the break in period.

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My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.

The neck was brand new and I guess it might be light wear. But when I move a light over it, I can see it more. The wire has light indentation from the winding on the strings. I only use 9/42 Ernie Ball customs.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Doesn't sound normal to me. Sounds like a Squier.

Bought the neck from the Stratosphere on eBay. it's a MIM.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Well your strings are not heavy. If you have not experienced any new fret buzz, It's probably less wear than it looks like. If you have not played above the 12th fret much those frets will look different. If you polished the frets they would likely appear normal.

I guess it is possible that the nickel was too soft that day. Anything can happen in manufacturing. Pics?

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My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.

Awesome. Thanks!

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Awesome. I really like the wear though. It's kind of a badge of honor I guess. It's also nice that it isn't a roadworn or any of the "relic'd" models. I just needed to know if it's normal to wear this quick.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Why do you think I just got a promotion at my job ? Also, I'd probably buy a different guitar, rather than do a job that would be about half of the guitar's worth.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

It's also my only guitar atm. I've got a project in the works that will be done probably by Feb. If you take some of the workload off of this one, it won't wear as much.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

No, it's not. I've been playing my guitars for years and years (many for decades), lots of practice and lots of gigging out. I don't have one guitar that's got enough fret wear to even think about worrying about it. With good strings and good action, there's no reason for unusual wear on your frets. You must be gripping that neck like a drowning man hanging on for dear life.

Of course, you've said on other threads that you tune your guitar by letting the strings feedback until you like the sound, so...

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963