NBD - But what's up with this neck?

[Ewo]

That's a weird one...

I've looked at the pix closely for mismatches in the grain, and couldn't see any. That would lead me to think it was a booger in the finish, rather than slots that were cut wrong and then filled.

 

[TraktorBass]

All righty. Lots of replies, thanks guys.

I have now had time to do a little more thorough checkup of the bass.

Intonation was off as is expected on new basses, but is fine after adjusting at the bridge. Fretwork also seems good, no unexpected buzzing. Neck needs a little adjustment, no biggie.

As for the discolouration..

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the fingerboard is flat, there is no indentation, no bumps or cuts in the wood itself. The discolouring appears at first glance to be pencil marks.

Some passes with a damp cloth removes the grey discolouration. However, the wood underneath is shiny, as if there is some matte coat/laquer of some kind. Tried some lemon oil after the damp cloth, that also does not completely cover it up. Slight shine in a backlight still.

The 'wear' on the first fret is laquer from the headstock/neck. The vintera has a smooth laquer on the back of the neck. Seems someone messed up and got some on the fingerboard. Oops. Not cool.

Will contact the retailer and see how they want to deal with this.

Will also keep you guys posted.

 

[selowitch]

I would definitely work with the seller on replacement or compensation.

 

[Frankie Fender]

All righty. Lots of replies, thanks guys.

I have now had time to do a little more thorough checkup of the bass.

Intonation was off as is expected on new basses, but is fine after adjusting at the bridge. Fretwork also seems good, no unexpected buzzing. Neck needs a little adjustment, no biggie.

As for the discolouration..

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the fingerboard is flat, there is no indentation, no bumps or cuts in the wood itself. The discolouring appears at first glance to be pencil marks.

Some passes with a damp cloth removes the grey discolouration. However, the wood underneath is shiny, as if there is some matte coat/laquer of some kind. Tried some lemon oil after the damp cloth, that also does not completely cover it up. Slight shine in a backlight still.

The 'wear' on the first fret is laquer from the headstock/neck. The vintera has a smooth laquer on the back of the neck. Seems someone messed up and got some on the fingerboard. Oops. Not cool.

Will contact the retailer and see how they want to deal with this.

Will also keep you guys posted.

The way to be sure it is not just a dry board is to saturate it with lemon oil, let it sit for 20 minutes then wipe off the excess. Or return it it that's what you want. No harm done, and you'll only be out a little lemon oil.

BTW Rosewood / Pao Ferro are not sealed with lacquer etc. like maple boards. They dry out and need to be oiled.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I would hate to violate any warranty or return ability by application of any non approved substance to the board. Even on TB the agreement of a proper oil is hotly debated.

 

[jchrisk1]

Looks like compound from fret polishing. I wouldn't sweat it, it will come off. It's certainly doesn't appear to be anything to do with tooling of any sort.

I wouldn't oil the fretboard if you're planning to return it. Maybe, try a little denatured alcohol.

 

[Frankie Fender]

I would hate to violate any warranty or return ability by application of any non approved substance to the board. Even on TB the agreement of a proper oil is hotly debated.

It doesn't void warranty, it is maintenance.
Fender Fretboard Maintenance

BTW I used to use cutting board oil on my rosewood boards. Now I have mostly maple fingerboards.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

I'd personally just rub it out with grey, followed by white, ScotchBrite. That's as long as it'll set up right, the intonation is right, and it plays, feels, and sounds good. The fingerboard wasn't slotted wrong, filled, and re-slotted, that's ridiculous. That would cost Fender WAY more to do than throwing it away and starting over.

It seems to be some kind of substance on the board (glue, neck finish, fret polishing compound, etc.), and you should have no trouble taking it off.

If it bothers you that much, I imagine you could ask for the price difference between new and b-stock back or trade it for another one, but it wouldn't bother me in the slightest, personally.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Hello guys

NBD, Fender Mustang Vintera:
View attachment 3786360

Psyched, I like the feel of it, but I'm curious about some discolouration on the fingerboard, right next to the frets.

Looks like this, from 1st to last fret:
View attachment 3786362

Backlighted you can see the discolouration has a slightly different shine to it than the rest of the fingerboard:
View attachment 3786363

Some gentle wiping with a soft, damp cloth helped a little, but it is still not perfect:
View attachment 3786369

Also some wear up by the nut:
View attachment 3786364

I never noticed anything like this on my other basses when they were new.

Ordered this online (brand new), arrived today, so I could not inspect before i bought it. I do, however, have the possibility to return it.

Should I? Would you?

Please send that CRAP back at them. It is horrendous. First of all, these sharp fingerboard edges are unacceptable to me when Squier Classic Vibe instruments are much more well finished. These mistakes should be accepted on such a line. Fender has been crap for the 3 last years anyway, but that's my 0.02€.

 

[Bolsyo]

It's just a bad job with the masking tape before fret polishing, so it's polishing compound and a darker color from polishing the frets. It may come off if you oil the neck and rub those spots with a rag.

 

[MCF]

All righty. Lots of replies, thanks guys.

I have now had time to do a little more thorough checkup of the bass.

Intonation was off as is expected on new basses, but is fine after adjusting at the bridge. Fretwork also seems good, no unexpected buzzing. Neck needs a little adjustment, no biggie.

As for the discolouration..

It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the fingerboard is flat, there is no indentation, no bumps or cuts in the wood itself. The discolouring appears at first glance to be pencil marks.

Some passes with a damp cloth removes the grey discolouration. However, the wood underneath is shiny, as if there is some matte coat/laquer of some kind. Tried some lemon oil after the damp cloth, that also does not completely cover it up. Slight shine in a backlight still.

The 'wear' on the first fret is laquer from the headstock/neck. The vintera has a smooth laquer on the back of the neck. Seems someone messed up and got some on the fingerboard. Oops. Not cool.

Will contact the retailer and see how they want to deal with this.

Will also keep you guys posted.

I would not hesitate to return it. I’ve purchased from every major retailer here in the US and I’m certain every single one would exchange it, no questions asked. I’d expect European sellers would be the same. If not, I’ve found Fender customer service to be very good as well.

 

[Sam Dingle]

i can't find anything whats wrong with it? am i blind?

 

[bordinco90]

It looks like some filler material. I would return it.

 

[TuneIn]

It's some sort of tool mark.....

Return Pronto!

 

[Durham52]

Whatever the reason for those marks, they're just plain unacceptable on a supposedly professional quality instrument. (That's without even considering the sloppy varnishing and scuffing around the nut.) I'd expect better quality control on a $200 copy! Maybe I'm to critical, but I would never send an instrument I built out in that condition, or say that at least its good enough to keep. I'd have to fix it. How could someone dress the frets and not notice, then the QC people not see anything?

A discount should be in order, or a new neck, or a new bass depending on how happy you are with this one, sans the fretboard.

 

[invalidprotocol]

Fret press operator stressed out over not having any TP.

 

[Matty Koff]

If it really boils down to it, talk to your retailer about it. If not, I have to say, Fender went above and beyond on finding me a replacement truss rod adjustment tool for my P-bass once which was bought years before. Didn't even charge me shipping. Might be worth calling and asking what they think or might be willing to do for you.

Being in Norway, I'd imagine the retailer is the way to handle any warranty issues however, if for some reason you can't manage to just clean it all off.

 

[foolforthecity]

is it possible they PLEK them and that was a machine mark ?

No

 

[BAG]

It's just a bad job with the masking tape before fret polishing, so it's polishing compound and a darker color from polishing the frets. It may come off if you oil the neck and rub those spots with a rag.

I can understand one or two marks due to bad masking but that many???? Nope..... at the price they ask for these i'd be sending it back.

 

[Sands]

That is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. Here’s my guess:

Floor model. Somehow scarred a fret. Fret job at dealer, masking done poorly, didn’t show the owner/mgr, hung up on the wall for sale.

Kind of hard to blame Fender where there are multiple layers of quality control, when no one has ever seen anything like it from the factory but have seen it from tape jobs. One side you get a little close , then over the top against the fret and for whatever application reason, it didn’t seal. Every time.