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Post subject: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:11 am
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Hi guys,

How is everyone doing? I have MIM 70s reissue in black that is well looked after and never dropped.

While cleaning it yesterday, i came across a huge tear in the paint at the lower cutaway...

It's the paint and not the body. Pressing down on the crack I can feel the paint flexing up and down. Whereas a body crack will not have the same effect.

Was just wondering what could be the cause of this. Is it the weather and humidity. I find it surprising because all my other guitars - all older (epiphone, ibanez and squire) - are still in tip top shape. I clean and wax all my guitars regularly.

Even more confusing was that this is not a stress area like the neck or the upper cutaway where the strap locks are.

Someone told me it's because fender paint, especially on the 70s reissue, are too think and more susceptible to cracking.

Anyone else with a similar experience.

It's heartbreaking... I don't mind battle nicks on the guitar and such but an unexplained crack is disappointing.

Will post pics as soon as I can get my hands on a camera.


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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:53 am
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Finishes do not normally crack on the basis of their thickness -- nor do I think the paints used at Ensenada on the '70s Classic Series Strats are any thinner than those applied to the '50s or '60s re-issue guitars. It's possible that there was an issue with the ash lumber (insufficiently dried before use, a knot, or some other inherent anomaly), incorrect sealer/primer preparation, and/or some peculiar meteorological condition where you live. Are you near an ocean or some locale with high relative humidity?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:00 am
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Hi takumi4,

Cracks at the neck pocket, both sides, are very common for the "Classic Series 70s", and many other MIM models of Strats. Probably as Retroverbial pointed out, wood shrinking, which is also common with the MIM necks, causing fret sprout. A low humidity environment, as in winter time, will cause this phenomenon. BTW, there is no such thing as a "70s reissue" Strat. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:50 am
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I've encountered the infamous neck pocket crack on many of stratocasters I've had. While I hate to say it, but it a pretty common thing for the lower end guitars... It doesn't hurt anything and isn't noticeable to anyone not playing it.

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:53 am
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That's a shame tho... On one hand its just cosmetics... on the other it's quite disappointing.... and the crack is extended to the neck. Somehow i missed it yesterday.

It is quite hot and humid here but was just curious as my other guitars... some as old as 10 yrs old do not have such problems.

Here's mine. It's a classic 70s which we call 70s reissue here :)

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:32 am
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A competent luthier should be consulted to see if any method is available to re-glue that paint crack. Failing that, the only remedy is a complete body re-finish.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:43 pm
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Wow! I've never seen a crack like that.

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:13 pm
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My Clapton Strat has infamous neck join crack. There are many things that can cause paint, or finish, to seperate from the body, changes in tempreture is a good example. I've also noticed that the finish on the my EC Strat's neck has bubbled up a bit, too. The guitar has countless hours and 12 years worth of wear.

On my 50th Anniversary Am. Series Strat (the one in 2-color-sunburst, CS '54 pups and gold lined case) the clear coat has seperated on 1 dot marker and the pickguard has become a coffee color.


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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:06 pm
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Thanks for the replies guys. Was wondering though. Is this cracking limited to lower ended MIM guitars or do American strats suffer from it as well?

I know it's been said temps and humidity play a huge role but it seems the fenders suffer more from these cracks than other guitars.


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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:25 pm
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In my 45-year association with Fender Strats, I've never had one develop a finish crack in the neck pocket. Not MIA's, not MIM's, not MIJ's. Never.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:11 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
In my 45-year association with Fender Strats, I've never had one develop a finish crack in the neck pocket. Not MIA's, not MIM's, not MIJ's. Never.

Arjay


The crack from mine was in the day I opened the box a the store where I ordered it. It's one of those things that Fender has zero control over once the guitar laeves the factory, and sadly isn't covered under the warenty.

Other things that an owner might see change in a guitar that has been handled with kid gloves, paint discoloration (though less these days), plastic discoloration, orange peel (the paint sinking into the wood, showing the grain of the wood, which I personally like. It lets me know that that guitar breaths and sings), wear on chrome, pots that get dirty, and discoloration or chipping of the neck.

Even though my EC Strat came out of the box with a small crack in the finish, which I forget is there, and the neck was on crooked, and had to be readjusted (1 minute fix), it's one of my favorite guitars that, "you would have pry out of my cold dead hands" (said in a Charlton Heston voice, God rest his soul).


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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:15 am
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I cant tell you how many Mexican Fenders I have worked on or built for people that do this or have the infamous windshield chip ding in them somewhere.
That finish they use in Mexico sucks.
Why cant they use regular guitar finishes?

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:36 pm
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I'm not so sure that it's the finish so much as the wood itself (contracting/expanding). The polyurethane is probably the same on MIM and MIA.

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:29 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
I'm not so sure that it's the finish so much as the wood itself (contracting/expanding). The polyurethane is probably the same on MIM and MIA.



No Urethane is an American finish the Mexican Fender Stratocaster copies are finished in polyester.
Same with the Chinese Epiphone Les Paul copies.
The Jackson Japan copies also have a brittle glass like finish most likely polyester as well.
This is a cheap finish and buffs out almost glass like in no time.

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Post subject: Re: Fender MIM 70s reissue paint cracking
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 2:59 pm
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donnycraven wrote:
That finish they use in Mexico sucks.


I've never had a problem with the finishes applied to the Ensenada-made instruments -- my one-owner 1998 '50s Classic still looks as nice as the day it was made.

I think your generalization sucks.

:lol:

Arjay

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