I've always been a tele man, i love the thicker beefy sound you get from it, however, a while back i bought an american deluxe hss strat.

As this was my first real pro instrument so to speak I took very good care of it, I always put the guitar back in it's case after use and cleaned it now and again.

After leaving the guitar in its case for a couple of months as I was not in the studio, I took it out of its case and was shocked to find severe rust on the pickup iron poles. There was some on the frets as well, and a little - but certainly nothing of note - on the strings.

Now, I hadn't had the guitar for long, and the silicon gel pack was still in the case to remove airborn moisture. Has anyone else had a problem with this?

I've had plenty of guitars and I've never taken care of them as much as I have my strat, but they have never had any rust issues.

This guitar cost me almost £1000, and frankly I was annoyed to find a strange fine circular scratch all over the body finish. I kept it however, and then the rust issue has just really taken me aback.

Don't know whether to trust these new Fender guitars or not.

Perhaps the more expensive models are more sensitive to changes in climate - and there is a big difference between the USA and Scotland!

I hope this is not the signs of lowering standard.

Feel let down

You sealed your guitar in a case filled with moisture-laden air -- what did you expect?

The silica gel packets had likely long since reached their saturation point and could not absorb further moisture. These dessicant packets need to be periodically rejuvenated by placing them in a tin pie plate or other temperature-resistant vessel then drying them out in an oven set for 140F degrees for sixty minutes or so.

You may blame whomever you wish but FMIC is not the scapegoat here.

Arjay

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"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

You sealed your guitar in a case filled with moisture-laden air -- what did you expect?

The silica gel packets had likely long since reached their saturation point and could not absorb further moisture. These dessicant packets need to be periodically rejuvenated by placing them in a tin pie plate or other temperature-resistant vessel then drying them out in an oven set for 140F degrees for sixty minutes or so.

You may blame whomever you wish but FMIC is not the scapegoat here.
====================
Arjay
You sealed your guitar in a case filled with moisture-laden air -- what did you expect?

The silica gel packets had likely long since reached their saturation point and could not absorb further moisture. These dessicant packets need to be periodically rejuvenated by placing them in a tin pie plate or other temperature-resistant vessel then drying them out in an oven set for 140F degrees for sixty minutes or so.

You may blame whomever you wish but FMIC is not the scapegoat here.

Arjay

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Really? I don't think I blamed anyone. And I would hardly call my studio moisture laden - but I guess you are short sighted enough to believe anything you want going by your rant.

Tell me this, I have a Gretch black hawk, and an old tokia super addition - those guitars were in the cases as well - they are also much much older than the strat - decades older, did they rust?

No - ok?

Now I don't mention my tele, because it is always out in the open.

I had the strat for less than a year - it rusted and just wondered if anyone else had the same difficulties. The first thing to show signs of excess moisture are the strings - due to contact with skin, however, the strings - even within the apparent "moisture laden" air along with addition of moisture from skin contact hardly showed any signs of rust.

Don't bother posting on my thread again retroverbial, I don't like ignorant people.

I'll "bother" as I please, pal.

You implied a lack of trust in your instrument and by extension, the company that built it. I see that as impugning Fender's reputation, hence "blame". Or slander if you prefer.

And don't call me ignorant......it wasn't my guitar that rusted.

Arjay

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"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

i'll call you ignorant if i want to, you clearly are - merely stating that fact.

Let's not say anything against fender, oh god no!!!!

I mean, I've been playing their guitars for years, still, I'm not allowed to have any kind of opinion if it is against them in any way

Remember, I never accused fender of anything, i was merely asking if anyone else had the same problem.

And by the way, your (and I believe it or not) beloved fender did come under fire due to a polishing fault which wrecked the finish on the guitars at the same time of my purchase. I know because at that time many people were complaining and returning their guitars.

I waited too long for my strat though, and kept it, and frankly, if i wanted to blame fender, i would have complained to them.

I didn't, and wont, all i was doing was asking a question, do you think this might actually penitrate your thick head for once? Or are you still refusing to allow anyone to insinuate they might have a gripe against fender - the company i have bought many things from?

I even have a vintage silverface twin reverb - guess what - that hasn't rusted either

I have my share of gripes with FMIC. But sniveling in public because my own ignorance caused my guitar to rust isn't one of them.

And my one-owner '78 Twin Reverb isn't rusty either. But I'm betting you were still in nappies when I bought my first Fender amp......

......in 1966.

Arjay

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"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

You're just a troll that's all, you uninterest me now.

I'll wait to converse with someone who isn't so pathetic. I mean you are that old yet you act like a irate two year old?

Yeah, that's a definite shock to the system that. I just hope to god I never grow up to be as pathetic in my old age as what you seem to be.

Anyway, like I said I'll wait until someone sensible posts, my god, who said wisdom comes with age?

Until that moment occurs, you can scrape rust in the meantime.



Arjay

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"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

A point of note, something I forgot to say, for those - if any - interested. The rust is only on the humbucker pickup, it was the HSS strat I purchased. The single coils are uneffected. I wonder if this is due to the humbucker pole peices being of a different material?

I wouldn't mind replacing the humbucker anyway, there is a noticable jump in signal output when switching from single coils to humbucker.

The corrosion indicates moisture was present in the case.
The Alnico magnets have no protective finish (common to all Strats), and so can rust quite easily.
The other metal parts are plated, chrome or nickel, and should resist rusting.
The Nickel is a 'sacrificial' coating, which tarnishes through moisture.
I have numerous strats, and the only one to suffer was a MIM reissue, where the back cover screws corroded. Poor plating, I feel.

Ah, the humbucker. Does this also have Alnico poles? If so, it is strange why this pu only is affected.

Single-coil pickups are typically wax-potted to prevent microphonics -- it's probable that the pole pieces of those pickups retain some of that coating, thus insulating them from corrosion.

HTH

Arjay

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"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

A guitar case is not a place to keep a guitar. You need the case to take the guitar with you.
I never put them in cases at home. If you put them on a stand they can dry and you can see them.
If you have dogs/cats/children you need a guitar room though


Cheers,
Robin

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http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
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Steady on lads, harsh words spoken, bit over the top eh?

Hi lonetraider

The pole pieces can rust like has been said but frets shouldnt rust so fast, if its tarnishing then it should clean up quite easily. Bit unusual for things to tarnish (rust) ? so fast. Maybe worth keeping a closer eye on things if the guitars going to be stored in a damp environment

Just my 2 pennorth worth

Lonetraider, next time you change strings, might be worth your peace of mind to pop off the pickguard and make sure there is no rusty coat settling on your pots or electronic bits!

Sympathise whether self inflicted or not.

There's a lot said about putting a guitar away "wet", but there's still good and bad luck to be had in respect of this. You clearly weren't lucky.

Get her cleaned up best you can, and think about not leaving your Strat quite so long in it's case. I have 20 guitars and try and circulate them. I have a multi guitar stand tree in my lounge that has 6 of them hanging there at any one time. Other guitars are also out of their cases, generally laying around. To a certain extent I have sacrificed security and safety to ensure they all get to share the same air!

I also finish every playing session with a couple of cleaning/protection products: "Fast Fret" or "Dr Stringfellow" by Kyser. I'm sure there must be others also. These are essentially the same - an extremely fine mineral oil. You apply it to your strings, but it migrates around to cover most surfaces of the guitar and leaves a very light un-noticeable protective film on your strings, bridge, saddles, nut, pickup pole pieces, fretboard etc. It makes everything slick but without feeling greasy. It also has the great benefit of substantially extending the life of your strings, which is always welcome..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!