Fender Roasted Maple Neck Defect Question

[Ebidis]

I've never had a roasted neck, but I can say that none of the non-roasted necks that I have are like that. They all look like a perfect fit.

I remember having a neck once with a gap like that, and like @Intune said, I could feel it, and it did bug me. So I think I have to be on the side of Fender can do better.

 

[StratMike10]

What’s crazy is that guys think a pushed in skunk stripe on a brand new fully returnable neck is acceptable. Magnified times 1000 doesn’t apply. You could be blind and still feel this.

Wasn’t there a thread about colour choice but 95% of the reply’s were about neck feel is most important. I guess that goes out the window when there’s a “blemish” thread.

First, I'm not going to assume it is pushed in based on a 10x magnification. Second, I'm not going to assume I can feel it enough to care based on a picture, without actually feeling it.

Third, is don't participate in favorite color threads.

Fourth, the feel of the neck being the most important aspect of the guitar has very little to do with feeling tiny blemishes. Any of my guitars that are over 10 years old have little bumps and dings that tower over those tiny gaps, heck the grain on my rosewood necks have gaps bigger that that, all over. Do they stop being great feeling necks because of it? Nope.


Now that said, whatever melts your butter is fine by me, I'm just opinionating. If a flawless neck finish is part of what you need to have a great neck, that is your prerogative. The "you're crazy" comment was tongue in cheek, your high expectations are as valid to you as my different expectations are to me, so respect, no harm intended and apologies for the ribbing.

 

[Intune]

First, I'm not going to assume it is pushed in based on a 10x magnification. Second, I'm not going to assume I can feel it enough to care based on a picture, without actually feeling it.

Third, is don't participate in favorite color threads.

Fourth, the feel of the neck being the most important aspect of the guitar has very little to do with feeling tiny blemishes. Any of my guitars that are over 10 years old have little bumps and dings that tower over those tiny gaps, heck the grain on my rosewood necks have gaps bigger that that, all over. Do they stop being great feeling necks because of it? Nope.


Now that said, whatever melts your butter is fine by me, I'm just opinionating. If a flawless neck finish is part of what you need to have a great neck, that is your prerogative. The "you're crazy" comment was tongue in cheek, your high expectations are as valid to you as my different expectations are to me, so respect, no harm intended and apologies for the ribbing.

Hey all fair points for sure, no need to apologize!! I definitely respect your opinion, we just have different ones

I also usually stay away from these threads because it’s some weird dimple or wood grain “blemish” that’s totally normal.

It’s just I went through this same garbage with a road worn neck. The middle of the skunk stripe popped out enough that I could rest a pick on it and push it and out like a spring board. I returned the guitar.

So I’m leery of any type of skunk stripe blemish even very minor if one already popped out on me.

 

[Jimbo99]

Absolutely nothing wrong with any of them from those pics. Rejecting all 3 is ridiculous IMO.

You can’t see the tiny gap (that’s filled in so causing no issues anyway) without examining up close and with extreme scrutiny.

As for fret wear, how is that possible on a new neck that’s never been attached to anything? Damage yes, wear no.

I tend to side with the consumer rejecting these. Look at how sloppy each is. And I just looked at the 2 Squier Strats (Bullet & Affinity) that I have and each skunk stripe is flawless at the headstock visible end. What it looks like in the neck pocket is anyone's guess ? But this is total visible and even a spot you can feel playing it. If Squier Indonesia can get it right, I think a Fender USA neck should be as good. I mean the Squier guitars as assembled are about what a replacement neck would cost. QC failed that day in the neck assembly shop. And for this to be called out as rejection criteria for an RMA and they keep sending another with a different shape or depth of the same problem. All he wants is the guitar back in it's original condition.

 

[buzzword]

I've never had a roasted neck, but I can say that none of the non-roasted necks that I have are like that. They all look like a perfect fit.

I remember having a neck once with a gap like that, and like @Intune said, I could feel it, and it did bug me. So I think I have to be on the side of Fender can do better.

I have 5 Fender non-roasted necks with skunk stripes, all recent (a 2019, two 2020's and two 2021's) and 5 all are absolutely perfect wood to wood, no gaps. That's the beauty of CNC machinery. Two of them are Fender replacement necks, which they don't make separately or any differently from ones sold attached to guitars, that's why the replacement necks all have serial numbers on them, the only difference being that they're only entered into the registration database if Fender bolts it onto a guitar.

I'm guessing it's something endemic to roasted necks with mahogany stripes. Maybe the roasted wood sucks some of the moisture out of the mahogany and it shrinks. That said, it appears to be highly magnified and I don't know if I'd worry about it.

 

[bobbybro]

Why do I read threads like this? Is this some sort of a joke? I think I read them because I can't believe what I'm reading and it amuses me. This has got to be the stupidist concern I have ever seen. Or at least one of them. Now I'm becoming part of the problem.

 

[Strangher11]

Does it stay in tune? Great ! If you are still bothered about your neck spot, give the old neck a good swipe at the mic stand .... there, problem solved. Now a real ding to look at. Enjoy playing your instrument brother, don't just look at it like it's a piece of fine china.

 

[Hillebert]

2021 MIM


1991 AmStd

Never bothered me. I didnt realize for 30 years in fact...til today.

 

[nutball73]

Ooh new game! Let's all post magnified pictures of our skunk stripes!

Do you guys realise what you are doing? Really?

 

[buzzword]

I've never had a roasted neck, but I can say that none of the non-roasted necks that I have are like that. They all look like a perfect fit.

I remember having a neck once with a gap like that, and like @Intune said, I could feel it, and it did bug me. So I think I have to be on the side of Fender can do better.

Does it stay in tune? Great ! If you are still bothered about your neck spot, give the old neck a good swipe at the mic stand .... there, problem solved. Now a real ding to look at. Enjoy playing your instrument brother, don't just look at it like it's a piece of fine china.

I don't worry dinging my guitar, I used to until I owned one long enough to realize it's gonna happen whether you like or not, so might as well relax. Does it play well? That's all you need to know.

 

[StratMike10]

2021 MIM
View attachment 513160

1991 AmStd
View attachment 513161
Never bothered me. I didnt realize for 30 years in fact...til today.

Wait, you don’t get it... you have to keep magnifying the until you find the flaw!

 

[Wound_Up]

Defective?!? LMAO.

NOT A CHANCE.

 

[StratMike10]

This thread reminds me of the kid’s story The Princess and the Pea.

I’m gonna rewrite it and call it The Princess and the Microscopic Strat Neck Flaw.

 

[crankmeister]

Found this thread after noticing a skunk stripe protruding on my Fender Soft V Roasted Maple neck. Bought it new summer 2021 (like 6-8 months ago).

There’s no gap. It’s just popping out particularly along the low E side heading toward the nut. It wasn’t like this until a few weeks ago, which I find odd because the guitar sits in the same spot on a rack every day in a room that holds steady at around 67 degrees and 40% humidity. I really feel it when I first grab it, then it starts to feel more normal after I play it for a couple minutes. Annoying, though.

I actually have two of these necks. The one on my Strat is totally smooth. But this Tele neck I’m kinda worried about it popping out more and more after reading this thread.

Can this be remedied? Or is this one of those things we live with?

 

[Wound_Up]

Grab a blade and shave it down. Or see it you can push it back in with a clamp. Thin out some wood glue and see if you can get it between the stripe and neck. And then attempt to gently push it back in. Or shave it down.


That's what if do once I contacted Fender to see whether they would remedy the issue and they declined. Hopefully they'll take care of you or give you advice on what to do.

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