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Post subject: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:38 am
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Thanks in advance for any answers.
I have found many new Stratocasters made in 2010 to show cracks under the clear coat. They apprear like fissures and have an optic quality that makes them seen at certain angles. They usually show up at stress points on the back of the guitar emanating from the metal neck plate, or the white plastic spring cover. They can go in any direction, and can be single or multiple. Here is my question: the obvious reason is temperature changes, although this is happening too often, and not at all to Gibson's, making me think that they are having productiion problems. The question is, does it matter? The clear coat is smooth as glass, there is no "cracked sound" upon knocking the guitar with a knuckle. Is this just cosmetic-? or is it a structural problem that could result in the C Coat cracking off. Some of the guitars are so pretty its a sin to return them, but I'm worried. PS. I know the whole story about slow warming in boxes for 8 hours. thanks. Bottom line, should I return them?


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:04 am
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Hi, can you please post pictures if you can? I have some cracks on a Gibson LP nitro finish and not on a Strat. Nothing to worry about in my case.

If it seems fine and nothing is broken and those small cracks don't bother you, just play the heck out of it, you still have a life time warranty on the wood I believe.

I read in the past that US Fender built guitars have a thin finish applied no matter what type it is. It could be that during the shipping and temp/humidity changes some reaction happens. I dunno just guessing here.


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:42 am
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Polyurethane finish shouldn't be cracking unless maybe it's really old. It takes pretty drastic/fast temperature changes to cause poly to crack, and even under extreme temp changes, it isn't likely. I'm not sure what types of cracks you mean though. Will they show up in photos? Post some pics.

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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:40 am
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Keep this in mind, you answered your own question with temperature Changes.
I work at Fed Ex part time and I see a lot of guitars in boxes coming thru the distribution ground network. Now it is winter, temperature inside the ground freight trailers is often colder than the outside air temp. When it gets to 30 degrees F and lower contraction of the wood and the finish occurs but at different rates since they have vastly separate elastic properties.
There is not going to be anything you can do about it.

But you can wait and buy a guitar in the summer or fall, in the attempt to maximize the likelyhood that your guitar is being shipped during warm weather.

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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:47 am
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You said in your post ..."Bottom line,should I return them?"
How many do you have like that?


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:55 pm
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I have noticed this on my Strat as well. They're very very slight, and I owned the thing for over a month before noticing it for the first time. I'm not sure my camera could even pick them up. As the OP stated, the guitar has to be held at different angles under the right light to even notice them.


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:27 am
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I believe it is because the thinner undercoat they are using. There is nothing wrong with the finish. They are not cracks. It is because the wood grain comes though more under the poly. You will notice it when you look at certain angles which gives the impression that there are flaws in the finish, but the poly on top is smooth .

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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:51 am
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Fender has a great 5 yr warranty. They replaced my broken amp quickly with no problems. Never had to use the warranty for a guitar though.


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:16 pm
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guitarlover215 wrote:
I believe it is because the thinner undercoat they are using. There is nothing wrong with the finish. They are not cracks. It is because the wood grain comes though more under the poly. You will notice it when you look at certain angles which gives the impression that there are flaws in the finish, but the poly on top is smooth .


I agree with this. On my am standard, at certain angles, you can see where the body woods are glued together. The finish is smooth as glass except where the glue joints are there is a small straight ridge line in the poly. But I'm not sure what the OP is seeing on his guitars.

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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 6:36 am
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If I'm reading people's descriptions correctly, I have one of these defects on a strat I have on layaway. I went in to the music store to play it and as I examined the back I noticed something coming out from the baseplate. This "crack" I can only describe as a thin line about an inch long that you can only see at an angle. It was a dark brown color and I knew it wasn't a crack in the wood so I figured it was a finish defect. The finish is still perfectly smooth but you can definitely see it if you look at it right. The temperature theory makes sense. I'm still buying it though; plays wonderfully!


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 2:20 pm
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I'm pretty sure what y'all are seeing are the lines in the paint from where the glue joints are in the body's of these guitars. The glue joints are noticeable because the paint is thinner than it used to be. It's not a defect in the paint job on the guitar. These lines are noticeable on many many newer strats and teles depending on color.

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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 6:42 pm
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If i remember correctly when I read the warrenty, Fender doesn't fix problems with the finish. I know that because I have a EC Strat that had a crack in the finish right from the box.

I would check with Fender to be sure of this, but I'm thinking that the warrenty covers only defective parts (i.e. electronics and such). This suspect the reason for this is that after the guitar leave the factory it's out of their hands and temprature is something that WILL change as the guitar leaves the factory, travels across the country, and sit in a store.


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:43 pm
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bshane84 wrote:
I'm pretty sure what y'all are seeing are the lines in the paint from where the glue joints are in the body's of these guitars. The glue joints are noticeable because the paint is thinner than it used to be. It's not a defect in the paint job on the guitar. These lines are noticeable on many many newer strats and teles depending on color.



I don't think that its the glue joints for me. My strat has a one piece body and the line is only about an inch long. It has to just be a defect brought on by temperature and the pressure of the base plate on the body.


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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:51 pm
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TTSC wrote:
Fender has a great 5 yr warranty. They replaced my broken amp quickly with no problems. Never had to use the warranty for a guitar though.


paris wrote:
If i remember correctly when I read the warrenty, Fender doesn't fix problems with the finish. I know that because I have a EC Strat that had a crack in the finish right from the box.

I would check with Fender to be sure of this, but I'm thinking that the warrenty covers only defective parts (i.e. electronics and such).


Sort of correct. 5 Year Warranty (most transferable) applies to most of our Electronics products (Amps, PA)
Most (if not all) Fender guitars come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Squiers a one year.

Actually we WILL cover finish defects if they are a defect in manufacturing. The trouble is determining if they are indeed a "defect". I can't speak to this particular guitar without seeing it......but even then , its not always an easy call, because weather--humidity etc can have some effect on the finish even on Poly Urethanes to some extent.
We are using thinner finishes these days because we feel that it lets the wood "breath" better and enhances the tonal qualities compared to a thicker finish.
Hence, especially on Nitro finishes, you will likely see more seam lines, grains etc.
Shouldn't be "cracks" though.

Finishes are always a tough call, and to be honest, if you're holding a guitar up to the light (ANY guitar or brand), and looking closely, you will likely find something. I would say that if you were to look at a car's finish as closely as some folks look at guitar finishes, you would be horrified. Brand new, in the sunlight-up close--my car looked like an orange peel-buff scratch nightmare. Looks pretty decent a couple steps away.
The preferred method of looking at guitar finishes is at an arm's length under normal lighting.
At any rate......we do cover manufacturing defects.

All the best,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Finish cracks on New Strats
Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 5:53 am
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Rob Schwarz-Fender wrote:
TTSC wrote:
Fender has a great 5 yr warranty. They replaced my broken amp quickly with no problems. Never had to use the warranty for a guitar though.


paris wrote:
If i remember correctly when I read the warrenty, Fender doesn't fix problems with the finish. I know that because I have a EC Strat that had a crack in the finish right from the box.

I would check with Fender to be sure of this, but I'm thinking that the warrenty covers only defective parts (i.e. electronics and such).


Sort of correct. 5 Year Warranty (most transferable) applies to most of our Electronics products (Amps, PA)
Most (if not all) Fender guitars come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Squiers a one year.

Actually we WILL cover finish defects if they are a defect in manufacturing. The trouble is determining if they are indeed a "defect". I can't speak to this particular guitar without seeing it......but even then , its not always an easy call, because weather--humidity etc can have some effect on the finish even on Poly Urethanes to some extent.
We are using thinner finishes these days because we feel that it lets the wood "breath" better and enhances the tonal qualities compared to a thicker finish.
Hence, especially on Nitro finishes, you will likely see more seam lines, grains etc.
Shouldn't be "cracks" though.

Finishes are always a tough call, and to be honest, if you're holding a guitar up to the light (ANY guitar or brand), and looking closely, you will likely find something. I would say that if you were to look at a car's finish as closely as some folks look at guitar finishes, you would be horrified. Brand new, in the sunlight-up close--my car looked like an orange peel-buff scratch nightmare. Looks pretty decent a couple steps away.
The preferred method of looking at guitar finishes is at an arm's length under normal lighting.
At any rate......we do cover manufacturing defects.

All the best,
rob

I personally prefer a thinner finish for the reasons you stated. I’ve often suspected that many of the best sounding instruments either had little or no paint, or were, in the rush to get units out the door, sent out of the factory without a clear coat (which I seem to recall reading somewhere).
Whenever I see the wood grain through the paint, in my mind, I know that that Strat will resonate really well.

per


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