Here's the picture, I couldn't take one of just the pickups, but you can see them in this:

This was probably caused by my hands. Again you can see gaps where the strings were. And no, they aren't just fogged up, and that effect isn't caused by reflecting light although it looks like it was.

Alright got some more pics:

Bridge pickup:


Neck pickup:


Just a note, these were scratched when my guitar arrived.

I must admit that that looks like rust on the frets, which shouldn't be the case.
The plating on the pickups is very substandard.
I agree, take it back, it's just not right.

Dalton:

what part of the world does this guitar live in ...

that makes a world of difference...

_________________
In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

Halifax, Nova Scotia (Eastern Canada)

Wasn't there a guy who posted something very similar to this about a Strat a couple of months ago...and in a similar location? Strange!

op, make sure to wipe it down (fretboard, bridge and strings) after each use

Thanks Dalton, not as humid as the west coast of canada, but certainly a humid climate for sure... Do you get a lot of fog ? How often ?

_________________
In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

Use Fast Fret (or a similar product) on the strings, and exposed metal hardware before and especially after every single playing session. It's only a very light mineral oil so won't do any harm. My regular collaborator also has Alien sweat and it's damaged his guitars in the past. No problems since he started using FF. It greatly extends the working life of your strings too, so it's actually a money saver:


http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products ... _fast_fret

Using a Swipe is good too:

http://www.the-swipe.com/

Clean up the damage and polish with Brasso or Duraglit. If you use 0000 finest gauge wire wool, I agree with an earlier poster. You'll get bits of it everywhere - your p/ups will look like iron filings on a magnet. So if you must, mask off the pickups before you start.

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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!

I do that in one gig...

We do get a LOT of fog, but it has been extremely dry since I got the guitar, which was near the end of April.

Tried to return it today, and was told that frets can't rust, and the guy refused to look at them....

Tell him the plating on the pickup covers is coming off and the frets are oxidized and tarnished and you want to exchange it for a different one. He, as a dealer, can easily return it to Fender for his money back, you get a different guitar and everybody is happy.

If he won't let you exchange it, post the name, address, phone number and a photo fo the store front on this thread and show him the link.

Jeff

I use a pad similar to scotch brite, only less abrasive. It is suppose to be the equivalent to 0000 steel wool, but is actually less abrasive. I bought it years ago at a hardware store and haven't found it since. It's white in color and I have one small, very used piece left. It doesn't shed any fibers when new, but the old piece I have does a little because of the age and all the use.

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The design of each element should be thought out in order to be easy to make and easy to repair.
Leo Fender

Here's my first attempt at fret polishing using masking tape and 0000 steel wool. Wish that I had more pics as it turned out spectacular!


[img][/img]



I used a large magnet, that I purchased from Harbor Freight Tool, to remove all the steel filings off the guitar and my work bench.