Chip in Finish

[Hktk]

Hey Guys,

So I took my 2 week old 2011 American Standard Tele out of its case this afternoon and noticed a decent chip in the finish.





I can not, for the life of me, think of anything I have down to cause such damage. I'm wondering:

- Is the finish on the 2011 Am Std somewhat delicate?
- What is the finish made from?
- Is there something I can do to repair it?
- Do I need to seal the damage with something to stop it getting worse?

Being a gigging musician, I know that damage is going to happen to my gear. Im just a bit annoyed that it happened so soon and especially concerned that it seems to have happened so easily. If I had dropped it or something I would understand but I can't think of anything that I have done that would have caused this.

Thanks for your help.

[StratBluesRock]

There is absolutely nothing you need to do, besides play the hell out of your guitar!

[Five-O]

The location that ding is at is a very common place to bump something, downside edge... esp if holding it by the neck with one hand when preparing to put it on the stand or in the case. Many will say don't touch it, but I'd dab a little black on there to keep it from getting worse, but thats just me.

[EsquireOK]

Yet another one of the many applications for a black Sharpie and/or gaffer tape.

[rebelwoclue]

That first one always hurts- especially when you don't know how it happened...

[blues dues]

Well if you gig regularly then you should be used to this. I like Bonnie Raitts idea on this, when you get a new guitar just throw your keys at it & get it over with.

[Seasicksailor]

It's "lohkeama"... you're welcome!


Oh... 'Finish'... never mind.

[jefrs]

First honourable battle scar.

The telecaster is supposed to have these. My AmSer07 arrived with a small one.

Possibly received from the metal edge of the case.

1) remove loose stuff and use a marker pen.
2) droplet on some thin glass-clear CS Superglue and let it set.
3) let each application set, build up a little proud of the surface.
4) rub back with 2000 grit wet-and-dry used wet
5) polish off with an Ultra-Fine paint polishing glaze (4500 grit).

The repair may be visible but the CA will smooth it over and stop paint flaking.

[Telepi]

That's a beauty. Congratulations.

Oops. Sorry, wrong thread. I thought
this was a HNGD thread.

[expat701]

Your new guitar has a polyurethane finish. It is not as easy to touchup repair as a nitro finish.

Poly is laid down in separate layers that won't dissolve into each other. Whereas nitro will dissolve into the layers below it.

If you attempt to patch poly without the necessary skills it can leave a edge around the finish repair that shows where it's been done. It can look very obvious.

If you want this fixed there two ways to go: 1) have a good luthier refinish the body. In Australia where I live this will cost $400-600. 2) a *really* good luthier may be able to do a spot repair, blending in the edges to make it hard to notice there's been a repair. Some luthiers tell me black is the easiest color to blend, some tell me white is the easiest and black is the hardest (frustrating to get a clear answer). This should be a cheaper repair than a refinish but you need to go to a very good, experienced luthier.

Many luthiers simply won't take on a spot repair on a poly finish... They want to go straight for a refinish.

--Wayne

[KevinB]

Do you share your house with someone with a particularly guilty look on their face?

As stated, Fender's poly is pretty tough stuff.

You could try drop-filling it with a little black nail varnish. Build it up, then polish it out with very fine sandpaper and some polishing compound. Finding some black touch up paint at an auto store would do it too. You'll probably always notice it, but you'll have to look very closely to see it.

[Kyluckyman]

Congratulations!

My tele has got a few similar dings. I don't drink or use drugs and to be honest have no idea where they came from. Oh well.

Acceptance will bring you peace.

[william tele]

Sorry to hear of your first boo-boo. I hate it when the origin is unknown...grrrrrr!

Anyway, I think you could effect a pretty good repair by using black appliance epoxy paint. It's sold in either aerosol or bottle for dabbing. I would clean the area well with alcohol then just fill a little at a time. The stuff sticks well and is hard as a rock.

Good luck and nice tele you have there!

[StratBluesRock]

Originally Posted by expat701

have a good luthier refinish the body

You've got to be kidding, just because of one boo-boo? A guitar is a tool that is meant to be used.

[H. Mac]

I'm sorry about your guitar, but I gotta tell ya:

Years ago, I noticed a similar chip in one of my guitars, and when I realized that I could not do a good repair because of the poly finish, I bought a replacement body. Then I bought a replacement neck, then pickups, then pots, then another body, and another neck, and another . . . well, you get my point.

All in all, that chip did a lot for my enjoyment of guitars!

[JDRNoPro]

Actually, that's a pretty easy place to touch up and not bee too conspicuous. Several methods come to mind. Sharpie was mentioned but that will just cover the light spot and sometimes a black sharpie has a bluish or purplish hue to my eye.

On that one, I'd probably touch up with some black auto touch up paint (small bottle with built-in brush). Use several thin coats if necessary and carefully fill in just the damaged area to be just level - or actually just slightly higher than the adjacent undamaged paint. Allow to cure very thoroughly and then use some fine rubbing compound, maybe some ultrafine emery cloth, followed by Meguiers Scratch-X or similar to blend in the repair. With the scratch X or final rubbing compound use lots of pressure and keep at it until the cloth feels hot under your finger. I believe this helps to smooth and move paint around to level the repair. Maybe not - but seems to work that way for me. With some care and patience, you should end up with a virtually invisible repair.
I've done them several times on worse dings and all came out very well.

I know many subscribe to the thinking that "a guitar that's used must have dents and dings, which make them look better". I don't but that's just me - several of my guitars have lots of use but still look nearly new. Diff. strokes !!

[expat701]

Originally Posted by StratBluesRock

You've got to be kidding, just because of one boo-boo? A guitar is a tool that is meant to be used.

Please don't quote me out of context. I said "If you want this fixed..." then gave advise on how to fix it including refinishing the body. And that is sensible advise to give him if he wants a 100% fix for a chip in a guitar body that is finished in poly.

I did not suggest he SHOULD fix it. I only give advise on HOW it could be fixed. Fair enough with you?

[StratBluesRock]

Originally Posted by expat701

Please don't quote me out of context. I said "If you want this fixed..." then gave advise on how to fix it including refinishing the body. And that is sensible advise to give him if he wants a 100% fix for a chip in a guitar body that is finished in poly.

I did not suggest he SHOULD fix it. I only give advise on HOW it could be fixed. Fair enough with you?

I guess so, but I just think refinishing the whole body because of that one chip is just plain absurd, whether the OP wants it or not. Sorry if I quoted you out of context.

[51Nocast]

I bought a used 52 RI Tele and it came with a few little nicks on the lower bottom edge. Years and years ago that would have bothered me but now I actually have no problem at all with it. I was over the top with the visual aspect of guitars. Now I like a guitar that has been played and if it was bruised a little along the way that's ok with me.

[jamesgmac]

yeah, the first ding is always the hardest. i recently bought a blacktop tele body for my partscaster. the second day i had it i took it out of the box just to look at it and bam hit my end table with it. touching up is really tough. if you get it to where it looks pretty good quit while you're ahead. nail polish worked pretty well on mine. you can also try a hair dryer. the heat can sometimes pull out a small ding and almost blend the cracks a bit so they don't show as much. good luck!