A few days ago I picked up a new EC strat. Last night I noticed a small ding on the outside edge of the top horn. It is a couple cm in diameter. The urethane is still there its essentially a tiny dent in the finish.



I would bet a buffalo nickel its from a strap button during one of its trips up to or down from the top rack they had it on. I gave the instrument a good once over before walking out with it and didn't see it. It is invisible until you catch it at the right angle in the light.

From my perspective it doesn't matter. It is to be played not looked at. And this thing is small. I'm not thrilled but it gives me a sort of peace in that the first hit has already been taken and I can just play it and when it happens again, which it will someday, it won't sting near as much. Plus they already knocked it down $100 for me out the door which is less than a drop fill would cost if it really started to bother me.

But I made the mistake of making a comment about it to my wife. Her perspective needless to say is much different. She is on me to take it back and exchange it due to the price I paid and the fact that I know it didn't happen in my hands. Not yet anyway. It is inevitable I've told her but that does not compute.

So help me out guys. I want her to read this and understand that this is how it is. I don't want to return it and risk the inevitable "wait a minute this is different." I can just say no of course but a little backup will shorten the length of my sentence.

I'm right...right?

Its a guitar they get dings. If they already gave you a discount I don't see the big deal, personally I wouldn't have even bothered with the discount if it was a great player

I accidentally dropped my first good guitar straight to the concrete a day after buying it. It made me sick. However, it somehow taught me to not be afraid of my guitars and afraid of scratching them. Your absolutely right that they are made to be played not babied like a classic car. Any dings or scratches they incur during their life just helps tell the story of that particular guitar. They honestly give it character and in my own opinion they don't take away from the value of the guitar. Scratches dents dings and wear are all a normal part of owning a guitar. Let it live. Stand proudly by the story your guitar will someday tell.

only 100 off, they should have given 10% off at least.
the ding is no big deal. its easier to get past the ding than find the guitar that suits you.
if they have other ec strats, maybe exchange it for a new one with out dings.
up to you ....

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

this what i mean when easier to get past a small ding over a guitar that plays great.

_________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Since the $100.00 off wasn't for the ding, you should take it back and get a partial refund for damage. Keep the guitar, get bigger discount.

a small ding is no big deal seriously. give it a yr and you wont even notice the ding
because hes put a new one in it somewhere else.
seriously, its not the end of the world. the end of the world would be if he took it back over this and they didnt have one like it to replace it with or it didnt play as nice, THAT, would be the end of the world.
so relax and know that hes happy with his new guitfiddle and all is well in the rockNroll
world in which his mind lives.

hey nevin, show our friends wife your EC strat and give a quick explaination of what you did to it lol. you will see in nevin's pic should he post it, a ding like we are talking about is no big deal.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

to me thats a little........... i dont know how to even put it lol. sure he could do that but he looked it over before buying and now it has a ding that he didnt see? sure we believe it but the store will question it. i would understand if a pickup went out or a machinehead suddenly stopped working. $100 off isnt bad if the guitar is in high demand. usually thats about all you will get if they know it will sell soon enough anyways.
the new mark knofler (sp) strat in my area is in such high demend, they wont budge $10 on the price lol. so in my opinion, plug it in, crank the amp to 10, and rip the knob off.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Every guitar sooner or later gets a small ding or scratch, especially if you are giging regularly...as they say, "It Happens"...and since you didn't see it when you bought it, depending on the store, they may question it and do nothing more for you.

It was a small ding, and unless it is going to cause some major strife with the wife, I wouldn't worry about it and just enjoy the new EC Strat. They are great guitars and sound fantastic and that is what's really important...what would she do if you bought a relic model? You just got started on your relicing quicker than most!

FWIW

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.

exactly and they charge more for relic guitars. yours was no extra charge.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Dings only hurt for the first few days. Most days I forget that I dropped mine and ended up with this...

_________________
Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

dang if i can get a pic like that im gonna go drop all of mine.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Yesterday i was playing my immaculate condition unmarked sunburst HSS Strat when the wooden stool I was sitting on collapsed When I picked myself up and inspected the guitar I had chipped the finish The first chip on a new guitar is always the worst but at least I do not have to worry about the guitar so much now.

The first strat i bought new a 1979 model had some marks on the back. I did take this back and got a relacement. However, the black strat i took back allways feels like the one that got away, as it was one of the best guitars I have played

I always tell people to never cry over anything that can't cry back. I wish I could practice what I preach. Scratches and dings are just not acceptable, they keep we awake at nights!

I think a guitar is a very special exception when it comes to keeping big-ticket items immaculate. I agree with you, it (the ding) would eventually happen, and multiple times at that once the guitar gets the playing time it rightfully deserves. And though it is a brand new instrument and it's unfortunate that its has that first minor infraction this early, at least your guitar is getting right to the point!

If that axe gets played every day for 20 years, I'm sure that ding will be the last of your worries