What is this crack? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[mustangpride00]

Hello,

I am hoping to get some help as I just recently picked up a beautiful Fender Precious Plus from Guitar Center. Unfortunately, after thorough review I found this crack coming from above the truss rod stripe on back of the neck. Is this just a cosmetic crack or further cause for concern?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

- Jason

 

[Clark W]

Hello,

I am hoping to get some help as I just recently picked up a beautiful Fender Precious Plus from Guitar Center. Unfortunately, after thorough review I found this crack coming from above the truss rod stripe on back of the neck. Is this just a cosmetic crack or further cause for concern?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

- JasonView attachment 3576630

Probably just cosmetic. Doesn't look to be very deep at all, like the wood got too dried out. But it could have also been caused by someone over tightening the truss rod, but I would expect the crack to be worse than that. Anytime you see a crack on either end of the neck near where the truss rod ends are, always test the truss rod out. Of course you should do that anyway when buying a bass, especially if it's used.

Have you tried adjusting the truss rod any to make sure it works? If not, do so immediately.

If the truss rod is in working condition and you bought the bass used, fill the crack with some thin CA and rock on!

If the truss rod is in working condition and you bought the bass new, you got to decide do you take it back or do you love the way it plays enough to hang on to it.

If you hang on to it just realize that overtime, especially with truss rod adjustments every now and then, the crack could get worse. But if everything is in working order that bass should be good to go for decades, crack and all.

If the truss rod isn't working, then obviously, used or new, you want to take it back.

 

[jd56hawk]

Will it grow with time?
Will adjusting the truss rod make it worse?
Can you get a full refund?

Two questions that can't be answered.
One that can.

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Take it back. We should not accept these flaws unless you want to see more of them in the future. Manufacturers need to be held accountable, as well as anyone else who handles that bass before it reaches the consumer.

 

[jeff62]

Appears to be nothing more than a crack in the finish - you can verify this with your fingernail. Happens all the time. I wouldn’t worry about it if it was mine and I otherwise loved it.

 

[Nenor]

This is in the wood, definitely not just the finish. Maybe it'll stay like this, maybe it'll develop. You shouldn't agree to be the one to find out. Return it.

 

[mustangpride00]

Thank you all for the great insight! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it - As I was still within my return period I decided to return it. I would be terribly upset if I kept it and the crack continued to get larger, not worth it and now back on the hunt to find another.

Thanks again everyone for your awesome insight - You all really helped a guy out today!

 

[buldog5151bass]

The fact that it is at a primary stress point would worry me. I'm glad you returned it.

 

[mustangpride00]

The fact that it is at a primary stress point would worry me. I'm glad you returned it.

Yeah that had me worried too! I feel much better now that it is back to the store and I am on the hunt for another one. Thanks for the input

 

[deff]

If it was a new bass, you shouldn't have to accept a finish crack. That certainly looks like it falls into the category of finish defects. The milky part on the skunk stripe is likely where the finish separated from the wood. It is however possible that stress on the skunk joint created the separation though.

 

[Turnaround]

Cracks never get smaller. Over time they tend to get bigger. How much bigger is the question and it's anyone's guess.

 

[chris_b]

That crack could be nothing or it could be something. You don't want to be the one that finds out.

Take it back.

 

[Nenor]

If it was a new bass, you shouldn't have to accept a finish crack. That certainly looks like it falls into the category of finish defects. The milky part on the skunk stripe is likely where the finish separated from the wood. It is however possible that stress on the skunk joint created the separation though.

The milky finish separation is not the issue. There is an actual crack line in the wood. Returning the bass was a smart decision.

 

[deff]

The milky finish separation is not the issue. There is an actual crack line in the wood. Returning the bass was a smart decision.

It didn't suggest it was a bad decision. I in fact said the opposite. The crack emanates from just above the likely delamination which could indicate a larger issue.

 

[Nenor]

It didn't suggest it was a bad decision.

I wasn't implying you did, just that the finish separation wasn't the issue, but you obviously got that.