Two things ...

[Logrinn]

I went in to a music store this afternoon and had a look around. And played some guitars of course.
So one thing that I need to get out here is this; why does my fingers look like this when I try a Fender in a store? But not when I play my own? Could they be strung with steel strings and not nickel? No, that can't be it, I use steel myself. Nickel then? No, can't be that either. I've used nickel strings for years.
Are they just dirty? It's always like this when I try a Fender ... ???

And the second thing; if one is going to spend 17.000:- or 19.000:- (swedish kronor) on one of these, would you want them to look like this? I mean, couldn't they afford to use two pieces of wood for the body that was equal in size? To get the joint in the center instead of this off kilter type of thing. Looks reaaaaally cheap to my mind. And they're like that! :tard:

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Seems like my fingers always end up black after playing for an extended period. I always figured it was MOJO being generated by my hands. Could just be filth though...  :toothy12:

Regarding the quality of those bodies, I believe that we Warmothites have come to develop slightly higher standards than average... Just look at the GOM entries any given month! I'd put any Screamin' Deals body up against most of the Fender Custom Shop's stuff I think. I love the Big F, I do, but, yeah...

 

[Sovereign_13]

I wonder if they (the store?  Fender?  The Illuminati?) coat the strings with something to keep them from tarnishing, and that coating, in turn, attracts every bit of dirt in the store.

Or possibly the strings are never cleaned and, likewise, all the oils from other people playing them has attracted all the dirt in town.  That doesn't explain why it only happens on a Fender, though.  I'm inclined to go with the first thought, but I'm just spitballing here.

As for the mismatched blanks, I imagine the Fender factory is ruthlessly efficient about minimizing waste wood and that's resulted in some interesting choices with regard to making bodies.  Though, I'd think they'd at least paint those guitars a solid color so you can't tell - it's certainly not something I would pay that much for.  (That's roughly $2025 USD, which is about as much as you can pay for a new Fender guitar these days).

Personally, I'm more offended by the very visible scratch in that American Elite on the left!

 

[Logrinn]

I'm not sure - I didn't look that close - but I don't think that's a scratch. Probably some crazy reflection. Of course, I could be wrong ...

And you're probably right about the Illuminati. I should have guessed :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Sovereign_13]

I suppose it is a reflection, now that I look at it more closely.  Possibly of the metal slats in the slat-wall.

The Illuminati must be suffering budget cuts.  They're reduced to petty pranks and causing minor annoyances.  Either that or they've already achieved global domination, and now they're bored.  :toothy10:

 

[Logrinn]

The Illuminati must be suffering budget cuts.  They're reduced to petty pranks and causing minor annoyances.  Either that or they've already achieved global domination, and now they're bored.  :toothy10:

:toothy12: :toothy12: :toothy12:

or possibly ...  :help:

 

[T89Rex]

The truss rod adjustment at the heel of those new Fenders is just so, so ugly.

 

[DustyCat]

Easy...the reason your fingers look like that is because the strings are dirty.

Does anyone else besides me bother to check in to the mens room for a quick washing of the hands with soap? No. So you are getting all the grit and grim of the hands that came before you.

I hear the name of the band The String Cheese Incident had something to do with one of the band members playing a guitar at a music store, breaking the string, and getting an eye infection the next day because of it. Source not verified, I may be just recycling bullshit.

Lesson to this story is that if you wash your hands before you play, your strings will last longer and the instrument will feel better because there's less dirt and grime.

My first electric guitar TO THIS DAY (20 years later and I used it in college) does not have any grime on the fingerboard because of 2 minutes of prevention.

 

[wildbill]

Stringy hair grease from unwashed, Scungy GC rats playing the same two power chords for an hour. Ever see a teenager wash their hands? Doesn't happen. Think of all the places those hands have been before they slid across the strings you are now playing.  Yack!  I recommend nitrile gloves for even taking these germ-spreaders off the rack.

And while we are on pet peeves about guitar bodies, please take the time to book-match the dang veneer instead of just sticking two half-pages together in the middle like a mystery novel or else use a single sheet.

Finally, I like Fender too; great company, great legacy but most all of us here build better guitars. 

 

[Zhaezzy]

    I think the gunk is from people who do not practice guitar and have not developed calluses. When I got back into guitar after a long hiatus my strings would get filthy fast with my fingers exfoliating on the strings but once I got back into the habit of playing again and developed calluses that problem went away. In your case everyone trying out those fenders were not making a habit of practicing. It is my best theory.

 

[stratamania]

Finally, I like Fender too; great company, great legacy but most all of us here build better guitars.

Most folks here are generally assembling good quality parts or having it done for them or a mixture of the two.

From what I have seen there are few on this forum that actually is building from the ground up or even doing their own fretwork.

 

[ghotiphry]

 

[wildbill]

Finally, I like Fender too; great company, great legacy but most all of us here build better guitars.

Most folks here are generally assembling good quality parts or having it done for them or a mixture of the two.

From what I have seen there are few on this forum that actually is building from the ground up or even doing their own fretwork.

My definition of build was "to assemble". Perhaps that would have been a better choice of verbiage. Fender does produce the major components of their products but even they are assemblers to some degree. I wasn't bashing them, thought that was clear. No one here can do what they do but they can't make every single unit they produce unique and personal.

 

[stratamania]

Finally, I like Fender too; great company, great legacy but most all of us here build better guitars.

Most folks here are generally assembling good quality parts or having it done for them or a mixture of the two.

From what I have seen there are few on this forum that actually is building from the ground up or even doing their own fretwork.

My definition of build was "to assemble". Perhaps that would have been a better choice of verbiage. Fender does produce the major components of their products but even they are assemblers to some degree. I wasn't bashing them, thought that was clear. No one here can do what they do but they can't make every single unit they produce unique and personal.

Fair enough.

Of course, any manufacturer or builder after having made the main component parts have to do an assembly. Fender does have a custom shop, but it can be an expensive choice and you may still be limited to a degree.

Warmoth, is an excellent option for many of course.

 

[DustyCat]

Here, this guy seems to be on the level. The title says it all "Please Wash Your Hands Before You Touch My Stuff"  :laughing7:

[youtube]2_yf8D9AnBw[/youtube]

 

[Cagey]

It's a real thing. Necks don't get greasy/grungy/dirty/nasty just sitting there minding their own business. That grubby stuff comes from your (and other's) hands. Then you touch your eyes or eat something with hands that have touched that biohazard you call a neck, and you end up with a cold or flue or worse.

I've even been tempted a few times to ask people to cut their nails, but haven't if only because who carries nail clippers? (and no, you can't use mine any more than you can use my toothbrush) And where will the clippings end up?

 

[raystankewitz]

It's a real thing. Necks don't get greasy/grungy/dirty/nasty just sitting there minding their own business. That grubby stuff comes from your (and other's) hands. Then you touch your eyes or eat something with hands that have touched that biohazard you call a neck, and you end up with a cold or flue or worse.

I've even been tempted a few times to ask people to cut their nails, but haven't if only because who carries nail clippers? (and no, you can't use mine any more than you can use my toothbrush) And where will the clippings end up?

Oddly enough, I learned how to play on an old Kay flat top that my father brought home. The fretboard had gouges worn into it from a previous owners' long/tough fingernails. You could make out the shape of each cowboy chord on the fretboard. Whoever it was liked D and E the most.  :dontknow: