Hello All,
This is my first message in this forum.
I'm from Spain, so please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes I can make.
I've just received a brand new Fender Stratocaster American Standard
with sunburst finish and I wanted to know whether or not these scratches
that look like cracks in the wood are normal or it is a flaw in the
manufacturing process. I am concerned, as two luthiers have already told
me they're not wood streaks. Besides, I haven't seen them in any other
guitar.




Thanks for reading. Any info will be appreciated.
JJ.

Looks like natural wood grain or markings to me.

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No no and no

+1 on that.

If those are flaws in the wood,I find it VERY difficult believe something THAT noticeable would ever have made it out of the factory.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

I was thinking the same thing, natural marks...

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Doesn't look natural to me, the marks go across the grain (especially noticeable in the top pic) which means they are not IN the wood, but on top of the wood. Looks like the marks are in the finish to me. It shouldn't affect the guitar other than aesthetically, but those marks shouldn't be a on a brand new guitar. If it really bugs you, and you are able to, I would send it back and get it exchanged.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD

Thanks everyone for posting.

I definitely go and have it exchanged (or at least try to). I don't think they're especially ugly but, I don't want them in my brand new guitar. They give it a kind of "road worn" appearance, but if I had wanted a worn finish I would have gone for a "road worn" model.

Anyone out there with a sunburst strato or tele who can tell (first hand) if those cracks are present in their guitars?

THANKS

They're not in mine

Nor mine......



Frankly, I'm shocked at that guitar's finish. The lumber appears fine, structurally, and should've instead been given an opaque custom-color paint job (much as Fullerton used to do "back in the day" with bodies not deemed attractive enough for sunburst).

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Thanks to all. the opinions are similar to those of the Spanish forum.

Some people wouldn't care, while some others would get it exchanged right away. I think I am in the middle, but falling to the second group...

Retroverbial, thanks for uploading the picture.
"One picture is worth a thousand words" as we say over here...

I'll let you know how this ends...

Bien suerte, juaollla.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

MUCHAS GRACIAS

i have one small mark like that on the front of my strat. unless your bling its obvious its in the wood. most likely after drying the outside of the wood got damp then dried again causing surface cracks. there across the grain and wont do any harm. one way to look at it is its flawed or how id look at it is you have an unusual piece different from what they normally produce.

Hi There.

I do not know if it is different in Spain, but the warranty on your new guitar is lifetime for the body and neck, if they crack then there will be replaced.

Find the fender warranty station nearest you, and have them inspect it.

You should do this for two reasons.

1) If they feel it is not a crack, then have them put that in writing for the future.

2) If it is indeed a crack, they can replace the part for you.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

To me it looks like natural markings in that particular piece of lumber. Personally, I prefer unusual grain patterns in burst-finish bodies as it sets it apart from every other burst guitar out there. That said, when you pay top dollar for a USA Standard, YOU and only YOU should be 100% satisfied with your purchase. Go with your gut - the fact that you are asking opinions tells me, you're not feeling good about it.

could be natural but it also could have been scratched in transit. If it bothers you exchange it i personally dont care what a guitar looks like or if its scratched or dinged if it feels good keep it.