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Post subject: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 3:47 pm
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Hi, I've just purchased a brand new 2016 American Standard Stratocaster in Olympic White. Overall the finish on this guitar is of a high standard including on the body. The colour is consistent and the clear coat is nice and flat. However if I look at it closely on an angle or when reflected sunlight hits the top, I can see grain lines through the clear coat on the top and the bottom. That's not to say I can see the actual wood; I mean I can see the indent of the grain as though the colour coat has sunk into the grain. There are lines visible running in parallel down the body (obvious grain lines) and even what appears to be a small knot in the wood (two of these actually - one on top and one on the bottom directly under it... both obviously on the same piece of wood that made up this section of the body). There's no actual wood showing, the grain indentations are all full of white colour coat. The clear coat on top when you look across the body is flat and nothing can be felt with fingers - it's all in the colour coat and not the clear coat. I've read a lot about Fender now using thin Polyurathane finishes (since 2008 I believe). This is my first new Fender in a long time and so none of my other guitars has grain showing, however a few show the seam where multi pieces of wood are joined to make up the body. At arms length, looking straight on under normal light the body finish actually looks fantastic. Is this normal? Is this just the way American Standard Polyurathane finishes are these days? I couldn't take a pic, it doesn't show up on a pic.


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:25 am
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Yes, it is normal. My 2014 surf green Special is exactly the same. My 2012 fiesta red nitro CS is perfect, but I suppose for the money you'd expect that!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:41 am
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Thank you for your response. You feel it's normal? Even with what look like knots in the wood? By this I mean kind of roundish impressions that appear indented and are at the end of a grain line; the largest the size of the fingernail on my pinky, the other about 1/2 that size... Again the clear coat on top of these grain lines and knots is smooth and flat. In fact the clear is quite glassy. You have to look into the finish on an angle to see this stuff; but once you see it... It's easy to spot again (cos you know where/how to look).


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:02 am
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If you're unhappy about the knots take it back.

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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 8:20 am
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Visible grain texture or microscopic glue lines wouldn't bother me but obvious knots would give me pause. Can you post pics of those affected areas?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 11:10 am
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I can't take it back, where I live they are not as open to returning guitars as the US. There has to be a severe warranty issue and as this is about finishes its a grey area at best. I couldn't get a pic, won't show up.


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 2:52 pm
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I've never seen grain lines on a solid colour. I've seen plenty of join lines on solid colours. Almost all American Strats I've had through my hands.

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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 5:36 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Visible grain texture or microscopic glue lines wouldn't bother me but obvious knots would give me pause.

+1

Even if not a tonewood fanatic and worried about how knots may affect resonance, knots have a strong tendency to over time shrink, even if the wood is pre-shrunk. That can cause cracks, or worse.
Grain textures are just nice, and I'd consider those a plus. But knots, no - you just don't use wood with knots for guitar bodies, unless the knots are part of the design.


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:24 pm
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Wayne@Bris, didn't you look it over real good before you bought it? I always do before I shell out that much money.


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:11 pm
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Nothing wrong with your guitar.

Since 2011 Fender has been using thinner undercoat and paint in American made models, it's how they all are made nowadays.

My black 2013 Am Std has the same visible grain at certain angles, I even e-mailed Fender with pics and it's cool.

Wood has grain and knots. It's ok.

Don't worry.

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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 12:49 am
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I agree, it isn't an issue.

Fender have made a big thing about thinner coatings allowing better tone. I'd be delighted that I could see the wood texture. The lacquer on my 90s MiA is so thick that the wood could rot away inside and I'd still have a guitar. That can't help any resonance in the body.

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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 8:28 am
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Wayne@Bris wrote:
Thank you for your response. You feel it's normal? Even with what look like knots in the wood? By this I mean kind of roundish impressions that appear indented and are at the end of a grain line; the largest the size of the fingernail on my pinky, the other about 1/2 that size... Again the clear coat on top of these grain lines and knots is smooth and flat. In fact the clear is quite glassy. You have to look into the finish on an angle to see this stuff; but once you see it... It's easy to spot again (cos you know where/how to look).


Hi, I was mainly commenting on the grain lines and assuming the knots were very minor, and if they are, yes, I think that would be normal (even if it's perhaps not the nicest piece of wood Fender's chosen for your Strat). Without pics - and I appreciate you say you can't photograph them - we can't tell how bad the knots are. But if they're really bad and you can't return the guitar to the retailer, surely Fender themselves would be the next port of call? Especially if this is going to ruin the whole Strat experience for you - and if the knots are that bad I can see how they might!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:38 pm
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Thanks for all your input... In the end, the online store from whom I purchased this guitar have allowed me to return it. I sent it off today.

In the end it was the knot that I couldn't deal with... It just didn't sit well with me.

Now I'm worried about buying another strat... I get the motivation to use thinner finishes but in the end, what really is an acceptable level of sinking/grain lines showing?

I've seen the grain showing through on this video, I personally find this pretty scary. What are your thoughts?

https://youtu.be/C1F9ccBM-S0


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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:10 pm
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Wayne@Bris wrote:
I've seen the grain showing through on this video, I personally find this pretty scary. What are your thoughts?

https://youtu.be/C1F9ccBM-S0


Such a finish flaw would be totally unacceptable to me. I don't think I've seen a Squier or even an Affinity that ever looked that coarse.

:shock:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 2016 Am Std - Oly White - Grain Lines?
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 12:37 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Wayne@Bris wrote:
I've seen the grain showing through on this video, I personally find this pretty scary. What are your thoughts?

https://youtu.be/C1F9ccBM-S0


Such a finish flaw would be totally unacceptable to me. I don't think I've seen a Squier or even an Affinity that ever looked that coarse.

:shock:

Arjay


Thinner coatings, without fillers, are going to show grain subject to the particular piece of timber used. But, I agree, that was unacceptable; mainly do to the inclusion behind the bridge.

It looks like "Thinner coatings" is an excuse not to flat down the base coat. It would also seem that they aren't up to the quality of manufacture to get away with it in some cases. Thick paint can hide a multitude of sins. Even, not changing belts regularly enough can effect the surface. An old, blunt, belt will lift out the softer grain where a sharp belt will cut the surface more cleanly.

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