Advise on cracks on a new fender strat

WezV

Neil said:

No point buying it for a £300 discount and having it refinished which will cost all of that. May as well just buy a perfect one to start with. Plus of course it will be easier to shift if you ever want to sell it on. 

I was assuming it will cost half of that, maybe two thirds... I know there are some who charge the full amount or more but we have a few forum refinishers who don’t 

BloodEagle

I'd definitely take that for a £300 discount - they would have appeared at some point anyway, just a (perhaps desirable) characteristic of a nitro finish

guitars4you

I dare say in 5-10 years time it will just look like most used guitars on the market with similar blemish and day to day wear and tear - It certainly should not be a long term issue - I can understand many wanting a new pristine example, as many don't like the aged concept by Custom Shop - But with a relevant discount I don't see any issues - I assume it is a AVRi 60's spec model

BRISTOL86

What proportion is £300 of the new price? £300 off a £500 guitar and I’d bite your hand off but £300 off of £1500 should be doable elsewhere on a guitar that doesn’t have that problem. 

WezV

ICBM said:

I find it hilarious that some people make such a fuss about this sort of thing when others will happily pay much more than the normal new price for one where this - and much worse - has been done deliberately .

People simply want different things, nothing that hilarious about it really

I even want different things things on different guitars.  I like a good relic on some guitars, others I like to be perfect.

the problem with this one is it’s not sold as a relic, and the natural defect that has occurred will stand out against the newness of the rest of the guitar.  Like that first fresh ding on any guitar.... always more painful than any which occur later

it wouldn’t bother me much on this guitar.   I would probably be tempted to give it a few rounds in the freezer to develop it some more.

Musicman20

If it is a nitro finished Fender, then I am not overly surprised.

I tried to buy a few Johnny Marr Jags (and I wish I had kept one!) but the paint work was SO bad I couldn't justify the money.

Then I saw a blowout on 65 Vintage Reissue Jags, all of them NOS, and mine turned up with very minor lacquer cracks (thin nitro finish). It sounds and looks that good that I obviously kept it, and the price was VERY good.

It depends how much the guitar is. I paid almost half, and there were about 10 floating about at that price. Obviously that is a huge bargain.

57Deluxe

probably the worst colour to show these imperfections, so unless you want to be in the hinterland between brand new or relic then look elsewhere.

richardhomer

guitars4you said:

 I assume it is a AVRi 60's spec model

If is, it will mark just by looking at it. The ‘Flash Coat’ finish Fender use on this line is exceptionally delicate - it chips and cracks - rather than ageing gently. 

I had a 59 AVRI for about three years, so I’m speaking from experience.

Jtaylor

So I heard back from the dealer and taking 300 off is the best they can do, their is no warranty if the cracks turn into finish coming off though, so might wait for a second hand one to pop up, thanks for everyones help 

guitars4you

Jtaylor said:

So I heard back from the dealer and taking 300 off is the best they can do, their is no warranty if the cracks turn into finish coming off though, so might wait for a second hand one to pop up, thanks for everyones help 

touched surprised at the warranty as ultimately the warranty is provided by Fender - @MattFGBI - comments as to what is the official line on this

ICBM

Jtaylor said:

So I heard back from the dealer and taking 300 off is the best they can do, their is no warranty if the cracks turn into finish coming off though

What?! That's not only very poor, it may be illegal as well. Regardless of being sold with a known defect, any other defects should still be covered.

Jtaylor said:

so might wait for a second hand one to pop up

The problem with that is that you still have no warranty.

Jtaylor

Jtaylor said:

so might wait for a second hand one to pop up

The problem with that is that you still have no warranty.

I wouldn't have a warranty, but will be cheaper, and wouldn't have cracks in the finish... 

I'm going to mull it over for a bit anyway, might change my mind 

GoldenEraGuitars

Damn. Most of my stock bodies have those terrible lacquer cracks... I won’t be giving you £300 off though  

Buy it if it feels good. I don’t think there’s any malice to the checking that has started. 

Clashman

My telecaster once looked like that, the cracks aren't showing now thanks to a  little nail varnish

• Recent Discussions

Neil

Jtaylor said:

Jtaylor said:

so might wait for a second hand one to pop up

The problem with that is that you still have no warranty.

I wouldn't have a warranty, but will be cheaper, and wouldn't have cracks in the finish... 

I'm going to mull it over for a bit anyway, might change my mind 

Sensible. 

Jtaylor

So, I ended up buying it, slept on it for a few days and realised its just superficial and couldn't ignore the discount! Thanks for everyones help  

camf

Smart move, IMHO. Hope you have a long and happy time enjoying playing it.

thermionic

Jtaylor said:

So, I ended up buying it, slept on it for a few days 

No wonder it's cracked.

Rabs

thermionic said:

Jtaylor said:

So, I ended up buying it, slept on it for a few days 

No wonder it's cracked.

I did actually laugh out loud