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Post subject: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:50 am
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Hi there,

I just purchased a brand new Select Port Orford Cedar Strat. The guitar is quite wonderful but I am a bit confused about some small bubbles on the varnish on the neck (birds eye maple) around the highest frets, mainly on the "head side" of these frets. These bubbles are something like 2/10 millimeters. It is my first strat so I don't really know what to think about that...

What do you think about that? Is it something quite usual on fender maple necks, or something to worry about?

Many thanks!

EDIT: I add some pics:
Image
Image
Image


Last edited by janou195 on Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:32 am
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janou195 wrote:
Hi there,

I just purchased a brand new Select Port Orford Cedar Strat. The guitar is quite wonderful but I am a bit confused about some small bubbles on the varnish on the neck (birds eye maple) around the highest frets, mainly on the "head side" of these frets. These bubbles are something like 2/10 millimeters. It is my first strat so I don't really know what to think about that...

What do you think about that? Is it something quite usual on fender maple necks,No IMO


or something to worry about? Yes , you pay for a new guitar , paint is waranty it don't change the tone but you'll may loose value. And what will happend after few years ; paint get worse and no more warranty ? Return back

Many thanks!


Last edited by stratele52 on Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:13 am
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Some pictures would help get an assessment here.

stratele52's answer is the best course in my opinion as well.

It's an expensive guitar ,AFTER we tell you what the pics show...bring it back to the dealer and have them evaluate it.

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:11 am
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I just added some photos.

Do some of you have ever seen such bubbles on maple necks?


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:35 am
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I can't see those bubbles :(


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:57 am
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It's a $2000+ guitar, have it checked by the seller and hear what they say.
There is something beside the frets, can't say if it's bubbles, some other flaw or shadows & normal remnants.
It's just that somehow I think all surprises on this price class should be positive...


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:58 am
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One can see them quite well on the second picture, just at the junction fret/wood. Here follows a picture where the incriminated area is highlighted by a red square:

Image


Last edited by janou195 on Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:04 pm
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jmattis, I can assure you these are some bubbles! The problem is that I don't know what the Fender warranty will be able to do about that: change the neck, the whole guitar?

What bothers me is that I selected this specific serial number on photos because I liked the wood pattern...

I thought that the select serie was high end building quality... :(


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:19 pm
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janou195 wrote:
I just added some photos.

Do some of you have ever seen such bubbles on maple necks?

Those are good photos :o

It doesn't look like bubbles to me...rather Finish in the "corner" of the Fret and Fingerboard...

...I see what looks like "finish flow" onto some frets nearer the edge of the fingerboard

...as though in the center it was too high and needed to be scraped back...

...after a really thorough cleaning/dressing...a good sign...I think... :D

...is it a problem for you...seems pretty microscopic to me...out here :lol:

...on less well finished Necks I've seen the Amber tint of Finish left on the side of frets...

...last one was an '04 US Dlx...

...I imagine that it's the Finish after it's been sprayed and dried...normal level/crown/sand-ing would take it off the top of the fret only...

That's my opinion based on your Pics & Descrips...many more qualified people on here...

...Get as many opinions as you can stand...THEN take it to the Store for evaluation... :D

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:08 pm
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janou195 wrote:


I thought that the select serie was high end building quality... :(



Error may happened with any kind of guitar .

I visit two time Fender Building plants in California, they do a great job .

Image


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 4:29 pm
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Looks a bit rough to me but then I will have to check my strats for this type of issue.
I have not noticed it to date.
Just reinforcing what other have said which is if you are not happy or sure contact the vendor and see what they can offer.
Send them the pics.
I assume it was from some reputable outfit who I am sure want to address the concerns of any customer paying this much. Most offer some type of return deal. :D


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:12 pm
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I don't see any bubbles - just wood fibers at the edge of the frets retracting a bit, which is common.

However, unless the pictures lie, I see lacquer on top of the frets, which is a problem several people here have reported. When you do bends, it can flake off and tear some of the lacquer on the wood with it. Lacquer on top of the frets is unacceptable, and bad QA, so if you have that, complain.

Fender seldom do repairs. For cheaper instruments, or ones they don't stock unassembled parts for, they'll likely replace the entire guitar. If it's a more expensive instrument, they may change the neck. But they're a manufacturing company, and don't normally repair anything, just replace.


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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 1:55 am
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If I were to guess, I believe these small bubbles are caused in the painting proses.

I just looked at my MIM one, it has the same few tiny bubbles.

I would say it is normal for the painted fretboard models.

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:49 am
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The bubbles are caused by too thick a layer of clear laquer being used (or passes of the spray gun too soon before the last coat has dried ), resulting in the laquer aeriating as it dries
I know thiis to be the case, because I had my neck refinished and the guy who did it, did exactly that , the headstock and back of the neck were flawless , but the fingerboard looked like it had been sprayed too heavily , after multiple wet and dry and buffing by me before it was put back on the body , it looked fine, but it was only a few months later I noticed the bubbles when the sun hit the neck at a certain angle
Close inspection with a magnifying glass revealed flaws exactly like yours
I wasn't bothered about it as I figured
A- it was only visible at very close quarters and under certain angles
B-From about 12 inches away, it was unnoticable and I figured I would ever get any dirt lodged in there at the junction of fret and wood, because there was a thick, rounded layer of laquer

Incidentally, my guitar is now 14 years old and now has checking like you wouldn't believe on the fingerboard (which doesn't affect the playability one bit )

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Post subject: Re: Small bubbles in the varnish arounds frets on maple neck
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:00 pm
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ted j wrote:
The bubbles are caused by too thick a layer of clear laquer being used (or passes of the spray gun too soon before the last coat has dried ), resulting in the laquer aeriating as it dries
I know thiis to be the case, because I had my neck refinished and the guy who did it, did exactly that , the headstock and back of the neck were flawless , but the fingerboard looked like it had been sprayed too heavily , after multiple wet and dry and buffing by me before it was put back on the body , it looked fine, but it was only a few months later I noticed the bubbles when the sun hit the neck at a certain angle
Close inspection with a magnifying glass revealed flaws exactly like yours
I wasn't bothered about it as I figured
A- it was only visible at very close quarters and under certain angles
B-From about 12 inches away, it was unnoticable and I figured I would ever get any dirt lodged in there at the junction of fret and wood, because there was a thick, rounded layer of laquer

Incidentally, my guitar is now 14 years old and now has checking like you wouldn't believe on the fingerboard (which doesn't affect the playability one bit )


Lacquer, is a very thin paint, BUT his guitar (As well as mine) are not painted with lacquer, they are painted with Urethane and that is a very think paint. It's just the way it is and I think no way to avoid it.

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