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Post subject: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:11 am
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Hi

I recently bought a new American Deluxe HSS. I noticed that the colour of the rosewood fret board is not that dark, it looks a bit dry but then again I haven't owned a rosewood fret board guitar for years. Is light coloured Rosewood boards normal for a new guitar?

I also noticed a small part of the bottom edge to look a bit rough but it doesn't feel all that bad. Perhaps I am used to the pristine presentation of maple fret boards, but still.

After I took it home and after a few days I also noticed a few as in about 4 small indents which looks like nail marks on the fret board. This was not my doing... I would think this shouldn't be there on a new guitar? There is also a nick on the 22 fret, on the front though where the string itself is not affected.

It is a beautiful guitar but I was a small bit annoyed to see these small defects if you will on a brand new guitar.

I wouldn't warrant bringing it back as I don't think that can be justified and the shop will tell me that I did it most likely.

To make top this off, when I picked up the guitar at the shop, the guy who worked there was pleasant enough at first and offered to adjust the trem for me there before taking it home. So he gets going and removes the screws of the back cover but low and behold he left on corner screw on and slides the cover out of the way, before I could say anything. I kept my mouth shut but I shouldn't, as when I got home and inspected the finish at the back, there as expected are hairline scratches where he slid the cover out of the way.

Sigh... not the start I had in mind for buying a new American Deluxe.

Any one else found similar little annoying issues with a new guitar. I would have expected for an American Deluxe that it should be pristine and flawless.

Thanks,
G


Last edited by stratrat on Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:57 am
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Hi stratrat,

Rosewood is typically somewhat grainy looking, as if there are small cracks all over the wood, that's normal. This could be what you're describing as nail marks, but posting some pics of the area might help us to see just what you are looking at. The color varies quite a bit with rosewood fret boards also, some are darker, some are lighter, and some have some red streaks. I have even seen some that look orange. Check out my HR '62 below with the light streak in the middle of the fret board. I was expecting a very dark solid color when I ordered it, but I really like it the way it is, it is unique.

As for the guy scratching your guitar, that is a bit of a bummer, but at least it is on the back of the guitar, and maybe could be buffed out, and certainly not noticeable while playing.

I feel the same way about a new guitar, I hate to get even a small scratch, but it happens eventually, and sometimes it's someone else doing the damage which makes it seem worse, but I eventually get over it. Heck, I even hate to see the pick guard get scratched up. :lol: At the same time, I really like the relic look, and if you have a guitar long enough it will likely get some battle scars over time.

Sounds like you got a nice guitar, and we would like to see some pics, even if there are a couple of minor scratches(I also just got an AM Dlx, HSS, maple fret board).

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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:01 am
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Thank you Shimmilou

The dents I am talking about are definitely not natural. They are indents made by a foreign body. The only logical explanation are that someone played,,,tested the guitar before hand and left them on the fret board. It is a new guitar so not sure who are why. But they are small enough as you can imagine for a fingernail, but still. I did forget to mention that there was also a nick in the front of the 22nd fret too.


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:11 am
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NOTE TO SELF....always inspect the guitar thoroughly, and don't buy showroom guitar that is a test sample for everybody who comes into the store. IMHO, these instruments are in unsold used condition and get banged up. I went to GC the other day and I saw a chunk of wood, the size of a nickle, that was re-glued on a PRS body. They marked the guitar down $200 to $2,200 It was a hideous fix on a flame top. The best thing you can do is take it to a guitar shop and have them lightly sand the board and then oil the board. You could try 600 grit sandpaper, sand with the grain and lighten up the scratches. Eventually, you will need a fret job and they can sand it down at that time.


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:06 am
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Thanks all.. the issues are rather trivial I have to admit, and does in no way impede playability at all. I am not going to make a fuss I guess over a perfectly playable guitar.

It just requires a good setup now.

Cheers,
G


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 7:13 am
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What kind of a guitar tech would swivel a trem plate? Dumb! One more screw is all to get it out of the way and not scuff the finish. Sounds like someone had a big ring on and test drove the guitar leaving behind some indentations on the Rosewood. You are late in the game so just leave it and play it. Trying to fix it might end up making it worse especially if you get a tech like the last one....

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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 7:30 am
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I actually took it to the shop today to show them my annoyances....

So here is their take on it

indents on fretboard.....according to them a non issue
my perceived rough edge on the bottom of fretboard on the rosewood....non issue part of the grain
small indent on 22nd fret...non issue as it does not impede playability
scratches caused by shop attendant...they regonised that as an issue and are took the guitar to apparently send it back to Fender UK.

So I am not sure what they are going to to with it now...send the guitar away to buff the scratches away?

In any even, I am no without the Deluxe and will probably only hear from them in about two weeks.

I just hope they don't return in in a worse state than before.


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 12:05 pm
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Pale rosewood is normal. I would suggest using a dark stain fretboard oil, the only real deal that works for me is gunstock oil. They always come in yellow, red and brown stain. Brown is ideal for a pale rosewood board.

Any gun store carries this stuff and in my opinion it is far more superior than any fretboard oil big guitar companies sell.


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 2:21 am
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So they told me that they had the Fender rep in and will just give me a new guitar in fact.... That is pretty cool. Waiting for stock now from Fender.


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:41 am
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That's a fair result, Stratrat, and one which I'd expect from a world-class manufacturer - but not always received! The dealer leaves a little to be desired, though - not PMT Cambridge, I bet?!

I've found Fender UK to be pretty good in this respect, actually. They've sorted both a CS Strat and a Blues Junior for me without quibbling.

Well done!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:00 am
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Thanks Peter S. Yes I am actually surprised as I thought I was being nitpicky, but maybe the Fender rep thought this is not acceptable. In any event, good service.

Still waiting for it though.

Will post some pics when I get it.

Cheers,
G


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 9:27 am
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Yipee, the guitar shop just phoned that my new replacement has arrived. Hopefully all will be ok with this one. Off to pick it up now.

Will post pics later.

Cheers,
G


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Post subject: Re: New American Deluxe, a few questions, annoyances...
Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 3:02 am
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As promised here are some pics. Apologies for the bad quality...

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