Ok this is quite odd.

I've owned an Olympic white John Mayer strat for about 6 or 7 months now from new. Yesterday I noticed in good light that there is some greyish markings on the edges, they are sort of criss-crossing lines that look like they are under the paint work, anyway it turns out they they correspond with the padding inside the case, which is an Incase that comes with the guitar. The markings don't seem to rub off and although not that obvious I feel that this problem is only going to get worse, as it seems to be some kind of reaction with the case and the paint.

Just wondered if anyone else has had this problem. It's a great guitar, I love it and would be bitterly disappointed to have to get rid of it but there's no point swapping it for another John Mayer, or even having Fender respray it under warranty if this is just going to happen again.

Any opinions?

I must say thats unusual considering its urethane finish. Could it be paint sinking into the bodywoods?

Can you post a picture of the afflicted area please.

_________________
No no and no

There's no point taking a picture to be honest it won't show up. As I say it's only slight but it is definitely there. I've tried rubbing it a lot with a dry clean cloth, but it just won't go.

I was wondering if there is some reaction between the urethane finish and the padded area of the bag which I guess is polyester or something similar.

Marking hasn't been a problem with my Mayer because it only stayed in the gig bag on the way home from Guitar Center. It went into a proper SKB case as soon as I got it home and a Worn White Gibson Melody Maker took over the gig bag.

That's the only thing I don't like about the Mayer. It should have come with a proper hard shell case whether John wanted it to or not.

John

I dont think urethane reacts much to anything except paintstripper and sandpaper. Thats why fender use it, once its set and dry its near bulletproof.
I strongly doubt theres anything in the bag causing a reaction. Fender must sell thousands of urethane finished guitars with gigbags. I've never heard of this before. I suspect that fender would have looked into the well researched science behind gigbags. I got one with my tele, I think their gigbags are great. Certainly a lot better than what I grew up using. With cellulose finish's fender give a little card with instructions on caring for the finish. I just cant see them using a material in a gigbag that they undoubtedly know is going to react to a finish. Dont the Highway One's come with a gig bag too? Their cellulose finish would be far more likely to react than any urethane finish.


Could it be something on your clothes, fabric conditioner or something? Its not scratches caused by having a zipper fob inside the bag is it? I've seen that before.

_________________
No no and no

Of course it could have been a bad batch of paint or applied incorrectly.

_________________
Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

This may sound funny but was the guitar on display at the shop at all, im just wondering if light (sun) has caught the case and reflected onto the paintwork....??

Well this is the third Strat we have had that has had a problem with color change as we all know I mentioned my Beck and not to long ago someone else posted another Surf Green Strat that was made around the same year 02 but now we have a white Mayer so the bad batch of Surf Green goes out the window. I would doubt it would be the gig bag as my Beck is never in the case and changed to an Olive Green the whole lower half where my picking arm would rest, and since I own 7 more Fenders 5 which are older it was not a skin reaction or chemical as it is now happening on the back of the guitar. I really am clueless as to what caused this and Mike Eldred did not have a clue but I would guess there are more out there that this has happened to. Someone on the EBMM forum had said this happened to there ax to. My Beck is my #1 ax so it does not matter but if yours does not even photograph I would get a case for it and see if it stops.

Hi everyone.

Sorry I've taken so long to reply but I've been testing it. I basically left it in it's case for a week to see if the problem got worse and it has. It's 100% the case, I can tell for sure as it's is leaving a pattern just like the side of the case. However in looking at it I have discovered that even though it appears to be under the paint it is actually on top as if I rub it with a dry cloth for a long time, it does come off. But I mean I have to rub for a seriously long time and hard, I was rubbing it in front of the TV for a good hour and there was still some faintness on there.

It's not good, So there you have it, it's the case and I suppose if I put it in another case it wouldn't have the problem. However here comes the conundrum. The case came with the guitar, it is sold as part of the John Mayer sig. Strat. therefore the product as a whole is faulty. Does this come under the warranty as something that can be fixed, i.e a new case or an exchange.
Because whatever happens I'm not happy about it. What happens if for some reason I have to store it away for a year, will I come back to find the guitar is black from markings in the case?

Anyway thanks for everyones help

You could try putting a soft flannel cloth over the guitar when you put in the case and that may prevent the reaction that's causing it because it definitely sounds like some kind of chemical reaction,probably an adhesive used in the case.Some adhesives release gases long after they're first applied and it can be months before this stops.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Back again,I just had an Eurika moment.A lot of today's adhesives contain methylene chloride which is highly reactive with a lot of plastics so if the paint has a base similar in make up with plastics this could definitely be the cause.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I would take it back.

Wow I have never heard of this problem but it certainly sounds like you narrowed it down to the case, which is a shame cause I was going to buy one of them. I guess I won't now.

I agree with the fact that you should take it back. If a case comes with the product, and it damages the product, it should be covered under the warranty. I would go back to the dealer

good luck

I wouldn't not buy one on account of what I have said. Mine could be a one off, it's a great guitar and I wouldn't stop anyone from buying one.

I have called the shop and they have said that they cannot exchange it or refund it as I have had it too long. It's in the hands of Fender's warranty system now. So it will have to go back to Fender. The one thing I don't want is for them to polish it up and stick it back in to the case. I want the problem looked into, why is it happening, and can it be fixed, and if not what I my options. New (different) case? New guitar altogether? It could be the paint on the guitar that's reacting with the case and not the other way around?

Anyway I'll keep you informed.

Hi jimlinnell: like others this is a new one on me. I'm particularly taken with guitslinger's two posts above - that sounds like an interesting possibility.

It is well established through Forum users' experiences that finish issues are not normally covered under the warranty, frustrating though that seems. However, in this instance if guitslinger's theory or something like it is right then there is a fundamental flaw in the package and Fender should hear about it and maybe address the issue for you.

If you haven't done so already then send them a note at consumerrelations@fender.com . They should at least be offered the opportunity to comment - and we'd sure like to hear what they have to say!

Meantime: since you know there is something going on between the case and the finish you must obviously seperate the two. Perhaps wrapping the guitar in a silk cloth first - or better, just don't use that case anymore, JM Sig or not.

And if you get no joy out of Fender you can always try rubbing the marks off with a mild automotive cutting compound: sold as swirl remover at any car parts shop. That urethane is strong: it can take it.

Good luck - C