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Post subject: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:55 pm
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I just purchased a brand new American Deluxe Ash Body Stratocaster from SamAsh.com. On close inspection I can see lots of swirl marks all over the body of the guitar. I know that you can get swirl marks from usage but is it suppose to be there on new guitars? If I exchange it for a another one will it still have swirl marks?


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:05 pm
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hmm... seems like it may be a customer return. As far as mail order guitars go, I like to deal w/ Sweetwater... they're upfront about any issues, have great CS, and you can check out pics of the guitar you're gonna buy. A pretty good program.

But to answer your question, no, a new guitar shouldn't have swirl marks on the finish. It's either a flaw from the factory or a customer return, if I had to guess... it's probably the latter.


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 2:24 am
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JamGuy wrote:
hmm... seems like it may be a customer return. As far as mail order guitars go, I like to deal w/ Sweetwater... they're upfront about any issues, have great CS, and you can check out pics of the guitar you're gonna buy. A pretty good program.


+1

I've always received great service from Sweetwater.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 9:53 am
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Alright thanks for the info. I'm going to exchange it right away.


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:39 am
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Okay I just spoke with customer service at Sam Ash and they seem reluctant to offer any exchange. My sales person just wrote me this:

Quote:
I have spoken to a couple of technicians over at Fender, and I am told that swirl marks occur as part of the normal process of buffing out the finishes, on standard models, as well as Custom Shop models. They said that when the guitars are inspected, they are held at arm's length, and if no marks or imperfections are apparent, the instruments are considered acceptable, and then they are packaged and sent off. Any of the instruments that are sold and then shipped from our Tampa, Florida warehouse are factory sealed, meaning they are not re-packaged customer returns or re-conditioned in any way. There are several products available today that will effectively remove these normal swirl marks. Fender now has a line of cleaners and polishes that will help with this. The best, I am told, is Fender Custom Shop Cleaner (part no. 0990537000). Please feel free to contact Fender at 480-367-5262, and ask for technical assistance, and I am sure that they will be glad to assist you. I hope that you will be happy with your new Strat, and get many years of enjoyment from this great instrument!


Is there any truth to this?


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:37 pm
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Post some pics of the grievous gouges so we may judge your comments. It is possible - not everyone uses white gloves when packing and shipping.


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:12 pm
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Hi, I refinish cars for a living and there is no way that a customer would accept swirl marks in their finish. My thoughts are when they were cutting and polishing at the factory after using the compound to remove sanding scratches they did not use a glaze or finising polish to remove the swirls.

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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:50 pm
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I think he's trying to save his own back on that one, keep pushing for a return

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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:17 pm
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SNick wrote:
Post some pics of the grievous gouges so we may judge your comments. It is possible - not everyone uses white gloves when packing and shipping.


I just spent all afternoon trying to get pictures but the marks won't show up. These aren't deep scratches, they're pretty much invisible when looking at the guitar straight on. These marks can only be seen when viewing the guitar at an angle under a bright light. Any ideas on how I can take a picture of them?


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:14 am
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LiamBrightman wrote:
I think he's trying to save his own back on that one, keep pushing for a return


+1!

Insist on an exchange or a refund.

Then shop elsewhere in the future.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:16 am
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Strat-cat nailed it. I refinished cars for 30 years, there are swirl mark removers available at most auto parts stores. Find a store that specializes in auto body refinish products. There are many good glazes out there, 3M has a bunch of good stuff.

Look for a glaze that you can apply by hand, but be careful to get the glaze out of all the little corners (a soft toothbrush works well for that). For myself I would just polish the marks out myself, because I know I will be putting my own swirl marks on it in time. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:11 pm
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Write a nice letter to SamAsh explaining how this is a deal breaker and that your future business will be going elsewhere.
Either they come around or you see where you fit in the scheme of things.


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 7:40 pm
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No more than ten minutes with Meguier's Ultimate Polish and I bet it will be perfect. Honestly, in my experience, MIA has less attention to detail than the MIM, Japanese, Korean, or Indonesian, Fenders I have. Better parts, yes for the most part, but less care with the wood and paint finish. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I'm basing it on the over 25 Fenders I own.


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:46 am
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tvr1979 wrote:
No more than ten minutes with Meguier's Ultimate Polish and I bet it will be perfect. Honestly, in my experience, MIA has less attention to detail than the MIM, Japanese, Korean, or Indonesian, Fenders I have. Better parts, yes for the most part, but less care with the wood and paint finish. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but I'm basing it on the over 25 Fenders I own.

Agree on both points. American Standard strat covered in witness lines, American select, bad finish work, to ordering a new 2013 deluxe American strat ash body and it arrived from fender with a dead neck pickup. It took 2weeks to get the order now Sam ash says it will take fender a week and a half to deliver the part to fix my new guitar. Feeling a little let down by an American company that is supposed to inspect and initial every guitar. Still waiting on my parts.


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Post subject: Re: Swirl marks on brand new Deluxe Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:31 am
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Yesterday I bought a Rickenbacker 360 Jetglo. Now this is a nice guitar! But I also noticed, on close inspection, a few swirl marks, and a headstock not at all finished as well as the rest of the body. We just need to accept that a mostly hand made guitar is not going to have the 100 percent visual perfection of a much lesser quality, and less expensive, one made entirely by precise machinery in a factory that stamps them out like Pepsi cans. Like I recommended in my previous post, I took out my Meguiar's polish and Gerlitz wax, and made it better than mint in no time.


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