Cracking Question

[rollins1911]

Hi everyone, first time poster, long time stalker.

After dibbling around with Squiers for a number of years here, I finally got my hands on my first Fender Precision about 2 weeks ago. The other day, when I was changing out the strings, I noticed these weird cracks around the machine heads. Are these normal?

[martyman5000]

Looks like you've over tightened the nuts a lot. Tightening stuff is a feel thing unless its for industrial applications and then you might need a torque wrench and specs.

[sonnet79]

Looks to me like the lacquer around the machine heads has cracked a little, with the tension of the strings.

I wouldn't of thought it would be a huge issue, but it's probably worth making sure the machine heads aren't too tight on the headstock.

What year is your Fender-P?

[rollins1911]

Originally Posted by martyman5000

Looks like you've over tightened the nuts a lot. Tightening stuff is a feel thing unless its for industrial applications and then you might need a torque wrench and specs.

Aside from turning the keys, I've never touched the nuts.

[rollins1911]

Originally Posted by sonnet79

Looks to me like the lacquer around the machine heads has cracked a little, with the tension of the strings.

I wouldn't of thought it would be a huge issue, but it's probably worth making sure the machine heads aren't too tight on the headstock.

What year is your Fender-P?

Brand-spanking-ass-2-weeks-out-of-the-box new, so...2011?

Aside from aesthetics, it shouldn't be a big deal then?

[mech]

Looks like the paint build up in the holes for the bushings was a little on the thick side. Necks normally hang vertically when painted and paint will pool at the bottom of the hole. When the bushings were pressed in the excess pressure created stress cracks along the length of the peghead where the paint was thickest. If it's a new bass with warranty, I'd see about a replacement. The peg putting pressure on the paint in the direction of the string pull really makes it worse. It ain't going to get better.

mech

[Need2KnowBasses]

If it is new I would return it. I doubt those cracks will cause any damage to the functioning of the bass but they will definitely damage the resale value. Unless you absolutely love every other aspect of that bass I would return it.

[rollins1911]

Thanks all! I'll give Fender a call, see what they can do. If not, I've always had good luck with Amazon in the past.

[Steveaux]

Originally Posted by martyman5000

Looks like you've over tightened the nuts a lot. Tightening stuff is a feel thing unless its for industrial applications and then you might need a torque wrench and specs.

Those are Bushings, not Nuts. They are *pressed in*. You can't tighten them.