Hi everyone,

I'm sure this has been discussed otherwhere in this forum but I couldn't find the topic.

I was changing the strings on my guitar this weekend and the light was hitting my strat in a way I haven't seen before. Just behind the bridge I could see a bunch of short grooves that look as though they could be the texture of the wood underneath. There is also what looks to be a seam running the full length of the body above the pick guard visible under the paint.

I don't remember seeing these marks on the guitar when I bought it 6 months ago so I am a bit concerned I'm not taking care of it properly. Maybe it is age? Not sure.

Thanks for your help.

no worries...multiple piece body.Wood expands and contracts depending on conditions.Too much humidity is no good....too dry is no good.Where do you live?
Keep it in its case in a closet or something and out of any weird conditions like direct sunlight through a window or such

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1986 Fender Sidekick Reverb 35
1990 Fender Red Knob - "The Twin"
1992 Fender Newporter - Acoustic
2000 Fender American Series Strat - Natural ash
2010 Fender Mustang 1
2011 Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster -Sunburst
2012 Fender Champion

I live just outside of Toronto, and fairly close to Lake Ontario, so there is a fair amount of humidity. I keep it in its case on the ground floor of our house but always play in the basement where my amp and setup are. No weird conditions, it isn't in a particularly hot or cold spot, not near a window or door.

It seems weird, but my first thought was that if the wood had absorbed some moisture it could have swelled slightly causing some of the grain or the seam to be visible in the surface. The body still feels extremely smooth, but like I said, when you put it in the light in the right way you can certainly see something going on.

Have any of the forum members expereinced this? Is it a bad sign and will it effect the long-term condition of the guitar?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. I have a 1999 MIM Strat that shows the same thing in places. It's 12 years old and still looks/plays great.

Jeff

electric guitars, like all wooden instruments change over time. The paint in the guitar is sinking deeper into the wood grain. It's normal. Actaully if I can see the wood grain in the paint I fermly feel that it means that the paint is thin and lets the wood breath and resinates better.

My Les Paul really has this problem. Gibson paints their guitar, buffs them up and ships them out the door without letting them cure.

There is much debate on this topic, but I am in the camp that believe that all things effect how a guitar sounds.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. I better your guitar sings.

Good luck!

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

An old woodworking instructor of mine used to say, "Wood doesn't have to breathe... and you don't have to feed it either."

I don't feed or water any of my guitars.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Anyone willing to share some sympathy photo's of their guitars with these marks for fellow OCD guitar lover?

I doubt the poly finish would allow any moisture in or out of the body.
Are you sure it wasn't always there. If the wood had moved, surely you would feel in the paint.

I have the same thing I think. A couple of months ago, I noticed that in some light conditions I could see a couple of lines along the body below the bridge, but the finish felt smooth. I worried about it then forgot about it until I saw your post

Hopefully, I'll have forgotten about it again by the time I get home tonight 'cause it hasn't gotten worse or affected the way it plays. It was still good to see the other posts here saying it was no big deal though

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Steve