I just purchased an American Strat (the $1295.00 model) and when I got home I noticed I can see lines on the back where it appears the laminations are showing. They are not raised it just looks like the finish is thin! Is this a common thing or should I take it back?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you

Can you show a photo of this? I'm not sure I understand the issue.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Is it supposed to be a "new" guitar?

To be sure, the American Standard Stratocaster is not laminated. Photos are needed here. Oh, and congratulations on your new Strat.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Right, it shouldn't be plywood or veneered, but he could be talking about the seams in a 2 or 3 piece body.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I'll try to take some pictures and yes it is a new American Strat. I opened the box and took it out of the case.

By the way, how do I attach photos? I'm new to this stuff!

Thanks,

BB

I agree Orv he is probably seeing the joins in the body blank. Not a rare thing depending on the finish.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I appreciate all the input so far but these lines are located above the plastic cover on the back. I've looked at it more closely and it appears to be faint lines as a result of grain in the wood. There are several lines about a 1/4 of an inch apart that when you hold the guitar a certain way you can see visible lines compared to the rest of the guitar.

I've seen this on other Strats! There was a red one that had these lines on the front.

Once again, you can't feel them but when you hold it in the light you can see several lines associated with the grain.

I'll try to get some pics but I'm afraid it will be difficult to get this to show up.

Thanks,

BB

If you see lines on a solid color guitar like red walk away.Grain lines in the wood on a guitar with semi transparent finish could be.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I have a picture and you can see the grain and this is where the lines are.
Once again, you can't feel them and you have to hold the guitar just right to see them. They are located on the lower section of the guitar not the upper.
My bad!

I'm probably worrying about nothing but I thought I'd ask the experts about this before I have any time or marks on the guitar.

Thanks,

BB

PS
I'm still not sure how to post a picture! Any help?

I believe what you see are as a result of the thinner undercoat in the newer A merican Standards and are normal.

I noticed the same on the front my '05 black MIM Strat. That's the only flaw I could find on the instrument and I am not the least worried about it. You have to look hard to even see it. I assume it's a result of two different pieces of wood being glued together. Perhaps small differences in density are to blame.

Put pics on your pc, go to photobucket online, register there, click the big blue upload pictures button in your area of the website after you created your account. click the browse option in the popup box that appeared after clicking the blue button. find your pictures on your pc in something like documents, pictures etc. double click on one of the pics that you want to put into photobucket that will be moved to your post for showing pictures. repeat this with all of the pics on your pc that you want to post. they upload one at a time into photobucket. minimize the photobucket screen, and go create a reply post in the this thread in the forum, when done typing what you want to say, click edit, minimize the fender community screen, go back out to photobucket. now, to post pics in your new reply, put your cursor on the the pic. a bunch of link choices should appear in a drop down box. click on the bottom option, in the line of script to the right of IMG Code, that has [IMG]http at the beginning, to highlight it. now hold ctrl and c together, let go. minimize the photobucket screen, enlarge the forums screen, and move the flashing line that should be at the last letter you typed in your post, by hitting enter once or twice to put that flashing line down one, or a couple lines under your posts script. now hold ctrl and v together. you should see the same line that you highlighted in photobucket- [IMG] and a bunch of gobbldeygook appear. hit enter again, to move the flashing line down after each line of script appears when you hold ctrl and v, so another pic can appear under the last one, when you click submit later. repeat this process for all the pics you want to post. the [img] etc you see in the post will turn into pics, after you submit your post. if the line of script with [img] etc. in photobucket doesn't highlight with blue color when you click on it, click on the line of script under your new uploaded pic. it should say something like your name, etc, something like this: bob's default pictures etc. then scroll down to the pics, and click the line of script under the pic again to highlight it. I'm far from an expert at this, but it should work.

_________________
I believe in Christianity as i believe that the sun has risen. not only because i see it, but because by it, i see everything else. C.S. Lewis

+1 - I have some faint lines or ridges over the grain on my black MIA 07 Strat, and at a recent guitar clinic with a Fender rep that I took her to, he said the same thing. Not really a flaw, just the way the coatings come out. Adds character, I think.

I've looked at this really close and the lines are from grain in the wood. The recent comments about a thinner lacquer finish is the key. I'm now confident that these lines are a result of thinner coating and nothing to worry about.

Thank each and every one of you that responded to my inquiry.

BB