Hi,

Just bought a new American strat today. My first 'proper' guitar and it's great.
However, after taking it home and playing it for a while i've noticed something that's been irritating me ever since: The paint job cuts short by the neck by a tiny fraction and I can actually pick under the paintwork with my fingernail.
I wouldn't mind but seeing it's an American and all i'd expect the paint job to at least go under where the neck's bolted on.

What do you people think? Is this normal, even with American finishes?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/imag0294w.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/imag0295rh.jpg/

Hope the bloody links work.

Thanks

Fender may mask off the paint in the neck pocket. Not sure. If so, it's probably a fine line...

If it really bugs you, perhaps you should take the guitar back and exchange it for a different one. No point in second guessing yourself or being dissappointed.

Take it back Mate! As much as we all care more about tone itself, I am all for a pristine finish along side of tone. This is what seperates the Men from the boys in the QC department and brand manufacture.

I have purchased many Gibsons and Many Fenders and everytime I pick em up from my dealer, they always look at me strange when I walk in with a magnafying glass to inspect the guitar before playing it. If it is a Fender or Gibson, 9 times out of 10 it's going to sound awesome anyway.

Good Luck Mate

personally i wouldnt care but if your not happy with it you have the right to get one that is in the condition you want after all you are the one that paid about a grand for it. The customer is always right

My Clapton Strat has a small hairline crack in the paint by the neck joint. Fender wasn't going to cover it, but I forget it's there. But if it bothers you, then I say see if you can get it fixed.

Good luck.

I had a woodworking shop for decades and I dealt with so many know-it-all customers that I finally put a sign up in the shop in plain sight that said: The Customer Is Sometimes Right. It got a lot of response, but I don't think it ever cost me any business, probably just the opposite. Honesty first.

_________________
Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963