Should I send it back? Opinions, please!

[JamesDeGrandis]

You do what you want. If my wife bought me that bass, I would keep it because it was her gift.

I agree with this. It was her gift, it is a Squier... You like playing it. Just look at it as an imperfection which gives something character and individuality... As my wife frequently reminds me that my flaws make me a more interesting individual.
(Psychologists are weird.)

 

[60bass]

Here's what my advice always is with these types of issues. Only you can make the decision. Yeah, it shouldn't be there but with mass produced instruments things like this happen. If you absolutely can't stand it, return it. However if it plays and sounds great and you otherwise love it, then keep it. But realize it you decide to return, it's going to be a slight hassle to return it if it was shipped to you. Plus the one you get in return might look better but not *play better*. Also that mark on the fretboard provides a great way to identify your bass should it even get stolen. Either way good luck and I hope you're happy with how everything works out.

 

[BobKos]

LanEvo said it all in post # 59. I personally would not worry about issue worsening. It won't. If you want to work it, I would say call the seller and see if they will give your wife a rebate due to the damage and remind her she got you such a great bass that you would never exchange it for something so trivial. Depending on her sense of economics she may dig the money back. Or not.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Well, if that were MY bass, I'd probably give it a light relic treatment to go along with the vintage styling.
So, no. I'd consider that Relic Step One, lol.

 

[Hounddog409]

My wife got me a wonderful Squier CV 50s P bass for Christmas. Been playing it for a few hours the past 2 days and have fallen in love with it!

Last night I decided to give it a nice cleaning and discover a blem/imperfection on the fretboard. It's not even noticeable from a couple feet away but I can barely feel a very slight "dip" in the wood where it is located. I also discovered a tiny, tiny blemish on the body (this really doesn't bother me) and some minor wear marks on the control plate.

What do you guys think and have you ever seen a "mark" that looks like this on a fretboard?

I appreciate any suggestions, opinions or advice.

Its a gift from your wife. Something that doesnt matter....alter playability, etc.

And honestly, the one you get in return could be in worse shape. And your wife did not pick.

Actually shocked you even thought about returning it.

I would keep it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Call and see if they will give you a discount.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I was afraid I would get a response like this! Lol.

Your wife wants you to be happy if she bought you that bass, so she won’t mind if you need to take it back. Of course, I’ve never met your wife and I am throwing that out there based on what I know Mrs. Thumpenstein would say. Truthfully, that looks like it should not affect playability. It looks like it was finished over something that happened in the manufacturing process, I would agree.

First choice, decide whether you can be happy with that bass. If that spot’s all you can think about, get a new one. If it’s gonna hurt her feelings, maybe you can swap it out on the sly. If you do, please be sure to post the Lucy and Ricky type shenanigans that will be sure to follow!

Good luck!

 

[fhm555]

My wife got me a wonderful Squier CV 50s P bass for Christmas. Been playing it for a few hours the past 2 days and have fallen in love with it!

Last night I decided to give it a nice cleaning and discover a blem/imperfection on the fretboard. It's not even noticeable from a couple feet away but I can barely feel a very slight "dip" in the wood where it is located. I also discovered a tiny, tiny blemish on the body (this really doesn't bother me) and some minor wear marks on the control plate.

What do you guys think and have you ever seen a "mark" that looks like this on a fretboard?

I appreciate any suggestions, opinions or advice.

If I could live with it I’d be angling for an open box discount. Same for finish blemishes.
I’d have to see/feel it to decide but if it was not a deal to distract from playing I’d try for a little cash or store credit just because it got past every eye in the chain after it occurred. Oddly enough, officially pointing out factory oh ***** that slipped out can actually help up their QC game if they are of a mind to do so.

 

[KenD]

My wife got me a wonderful Squier CV 50s P bass for Christmas. Been playing it for a few hours the past 2 days and have fallen in love with it!

Last night I decided to give it a nice cleaning and discover a blem/imperfection on the fretboard. It's not even noticeable from a couple feet away but I can barely feel a very slight "dip" in the wood where it is located. I also discovered a tiny, tiny blemish on the body (this really doesn't bother me) and some minor wear marks on the control plate.

What do you guys think and have you ever seen a "mark" that looks like this on a fretboard?

I appreciate any suggestions, opinions or advice.

It's a Squier so you cannot expect the overall fit and finish to be "perfect" in every respect. However, that looks to me to be actual damage that should not have made it past QC. I would send it back for a replacement.

 

[Gizmot]

I’d send it back! That flaw, blemish, knock or whatever you call it will cost you money at sale or trade-in time. If you paid for a flawless product, that’s what they owe you

 

[SoulReflection]

My wife got me a wonderful Squier CV 50s P bass for Christmas. Been playing it for a few hours the past 2 days and have fallen in love with it!

Last night I decided to give it a nice cleaning and discover a blem/imperfection on the fretboard. It's not even noticeable from a couple feet away but I can barely feel a very slight "dip" in the wood where it is located. I also discovered a tiny, tiny blemish on the body (this really doesn't bother me) and some minor wear marks on the control plate.

What do you guys think and have you ever seen a "mark" that looks like this on a fretboard?

I appreciate any suggestions, opinions or advice.

Hey, some people pay extra for that kind of "wear/relicing", otherwise known as sh_t. If you are not one of those people, send it back. I know I would .

 

[Auspuff]

My wife got me a wonderful Squier CV 50s P bass for Christmas. Been playing it for a few hours the past 2 days and have fallen in love with it!

Last night I decided to give it a nice cleaning and discover a blem/imperfection on the fretboard. It's not even noticeable from a couple feet away but I can barely feel a very slight "dip" in the wood where it is located. I also discovered a tiny, tiny blemish on the body (this really doesn't bother me) and some minor wear marks on the control plate.

What do you guys think and have you ever seen a "mark" that looks like this on a fretboard?

I appreciate any suggestions, opinions or advice.

Send it back, and get a P or a J.

 

[Auggieinks]

Return it that's too much damage

 

[digmeout]

I'm just not sure that that gouge won't start chiping/peeling with time.

That would be my worry also, it may get worse if you play the bass a lot.

 

[BassDaddy77]

My $.02:

It feels, plays, and sounds great - yes? Aside from the tooling damage, you dig the aesthetic - yes? It's past the designated return window - yes?

Well, if it were me I'd keep it : primarily because the attributes that make the instrument a keeper are all there in spades despite the blemish. Since it was a gift from your loving wife (and has an identifiable birth mark), you can always reflect fondly at It's uniqueness. Also, a few carefully applied layers of clear nail polish could easily build up/fill in the tactile aspect of the blemish so you would never even feel it despite it's presence. Just a thought. It's a beautiful bass from a beautiful person. Enjoy it to the fullest!

 

[Watchootognbout]

You could fill it with either Crazy glue or a dab of epoxy.

 

[dkelley]

I have experience here (regarding the wife gift). I would send it back and get new one ONLY if I hadn't already fallen in love with it. Since you have, then I would question whether I want to send it back - another one might not be "THE ONE" to you.

Also, very seriously, this was from your wife. What matters MOST is that she isn't hurt or disappointed or offended or in any way uncertain about this amazing thing she did for you.

I fully admit to only reading some of the thread, and if she's fully, honestly on board with return, great, but I still would hesitate to do so based on the amazing thing she did for you, and for the fact that you like this bass so much.

 

[Inconnu]

7 pages later, I don’t know if you have made your decision (I honestly haven’t read the whole 7 pages) and if you will read my specific reply but here I go.

My experience with Squier basses and guitars is that some will unexplainably play and sound better then others. If yours plays and sounds great and you can live with the blemish, keep it… you might switch it for one that looks awesome, with a very temperamental neck, dead sounding wood, etc. or not!

 

[dkelley]

That just does not make sense!....If that was mine I would send it back straight away. It is an obvious flaw and there really is no excuse for them sending it out in that condition.

Ah, but you aren't married to HIS wife!

In my case, I too might keep it under the wife gift circumstances, specially since it is a great bass that he really loves playing.

 

[swink]

I was afraid I would get a response like this! Lol.

Let your wife decide, if it was her intention to give an imperfect bass....