I bought a Fender Vintage hotrod 57' Stratocaster about a year ago and recently I've noticed something very strange happening to the body of the guitar. Very feint lines have been forming on the back of the body. They're not scratches but rather just lines. It's very hard to explain; there's no paint missing but when you run your fingers across it, it feels slightly raised. Before there was only one but now it's forming all over the place. I barely use this guitar. In fact I've never even taken it out of my house before. I always keep the guitar in the original case that it came with. I have another Fender Strat as well as several other guitars and this has never happened before. This guitar has never been dropped, banged, scratched, dented, or anything. It's always been kept in delicate care.

The lines don't really show up on camera but I've managed to take a few pictures of it (you might have to enlarge it to see it). Has anyone ever encounter something like this? Will this be covered under warranty? This is a $2000 guitar and I'll be very angry if Fender won't fix this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/ ... 1238716274
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/ ... 1238716310
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/ ... 1238716336

Its exactly what i've said all along. Paint sink caused by thinskin body finish's. I've got it on my 57hotrod although after much time dragging my fingers across i cant feel it. I also have unusual ringlets appearing even though the guitar is out the case between once a week or once a month over the last 8 months.
I attribute it to fender making finish's to age faster. I also get it on my urethane custom shop guitar. That guitar is a uncased goto guitar though.

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User Mr Bill gets it on his 62 VHR also

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So is it considered normal? And what's a ringlet?

A ringlet is a circular shape. Dunno if its normal, its normal round here. Theres always a payoff yknow. You cant have a thin nitro finish that is as durable as a mexican polyester finish.

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Hello Firepac,

Like Nikininja reported I've got the lines
and many other as well, no doubt.
Simply a nature of the beast, rest easy.

For whats it's worth, in my humble opinion
this is one grand guitar.

Cheers.

So is this what a ringlet is? I think I might have found one on my guitar.

The picture might not be clear but it actually looks like a ring
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/ ... 1238720981

Anyway, do you know if Fender would fix my problem?

Does this problem only exit on the hotrods?

Well they may do by applying a couple more layers of paint or giving you a brand new refinished body, like they did user Zzdoc. Ruining his 58 strat. I doubt they will strip your body and refinish it unless you pay. Its just not cost effective.

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No it happens on a lot of thin finish's. I've got it on my customshop and i've come across it on masterbuilt guitars too.

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Hey, just noticed that my pickguard is starting to pop up a little bit. Can that be fixed?

A regular problem with Single layer pickguards used on 50's style guitars. Aside from using doublesided tape to stick the guard to the body theres not much you can do. I dont recommend that on the fragile finish of the hotrod. You could try loosening the screws off a 1/4 turn and jumble up the order in which you retighten them. It works sometimes other times it doesnt.

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Or you could just embrace all of the little quirks, nicks and bruises that only happen to an aging quality instrument through regular use.

when you retighten the screws, make sure you go from one side to another, as in moving from the bridge side towards the neck side. Tighten each screw on the top and bottom moving in the same direction. This is to help prevent warping.

I've heard people say to go around in a circle tightening pickguard screws, but alot of times, this causes a bulge in one corner of the pickguard.