I have a sunburst 2006 Eric Johnson Stratocaster that I bought a couple of years ago.
Everything on it looks and feels 'normal' (including gorgeous sound and the infamous sticky feeling neck...).

However, one thing puzzles me - in a few places on the lower bout of the body (in the spot where you rest your lower arm), the color has worn down to bare wood - but this is underneath the glossy top coat! Could somebody have put an extra layer of lacquer on there or do they come like this when they're new....? Also, it has a few dings in it and they reveal a seemingly super thick layer of black paint.

Definitely sounds like some sort of re-finish.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
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STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

There is a glossy undercoat also. Maybe not quite worn to bare wood, just worn down to the undercoat.

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I'm not sure how they finish that model but traditionally this was the Fullerplast coat under the finish.

Bingo! That's it.

My old #1 three-tone sunburst Strat has had some of the black along the edge rub off. This exposed some of the color (red) underneath. It all looks shiny and doesn't seem like much thickness has been lost. So I surmize that the plastic undercoat is quite thick and the color layers are pretty thin. And the final clear coat is also quite thin.

Of course, the current strats probably aren't exactly like that, but they do have that undercoating (grain sealer).

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Yep.. undercoating is probably what it is.
Anyway - the guitar still sounds like no other strat I've played, so I'm happy.

I looked at the 2012 EJS and the dealer told me it was a thin-coat nitro finish, so it doesn't surprise me that it would wear-through as you describe.

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

Thanks, guys. Your replies gave me the answers needed. I'm relaxed now!

I wish you all a Happy and Musical 2013.

T.