Should I be worried about this?

[JackB1]

I bought this "new" guitar off Reverb and there are these small marks on the fretboard that feel like indentations. I don't know if this is a natural occurrence in the wood or something else caused this. Should I return it or is there a way to have it repaired? If I run my finger over the area, I can feel the little indentations in the wood. It's hard to tell if it will effect playability or not.
Any advice?

[LouieAtienza]

Quite possibly, the guitar was leaned on an object with the fretboard facing the object. I don't think there's any concern structurally, and really, if your fingers lay along that area of the fretboard and you feel it when you play, there are other things to worry about! Purely cosmetic, can be made better or fixed, but if the guitar is otherwise great-sounding and playing you have to weight the costs. Besides, it's better than leaning the back of the neck against something and denting the playing surface!

[ruby50]

It looks like the wood is compressed, not torn. Try putting a couple of drops of boiling water on one spot to see if it relaxes the fibers.

Ed

[John Arnold]

Fingernail wear, from playing the guitar with too-long fingernails. It is cosmetic, and does not affect playability when the wear is this slight. Rosewood, being softer than ebony, is much more susceptible to this.

[ChalkLitIScream]

If you like how the guitar sounds and plays, and can live with that indentation, you could point the flaw out to the seller and get a few bucks back...as long as the seller kept this hidden from you

[fazool]

Originally I thought "fingernails" but two things: 1) it was new and 2) the direction of the indents are not like a fingernail would be - in fact these are all over.

It looks almost to me like someone was tapping with a pick in their hand.

But if it is new and there is no fret wear (to confirm it is new) then it may have been a handling issue.

It's really nothing to worry about and can easily be fixed.

What make and model guitar is it?

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by fazool

Originally I thought "fingernails" but two things: 1) it was new and 2) the direction of the indents are not like a fingernail would be - in fact these are all over.

It looks almost to me like someone was tapping with a pick in their hand.

But if it is new and there is no fret wear (to confirm it is new) then it may have been a handling issue.

It's really nothing to worry about and can easily be fixed.

What make and model guitar is it?

Thanks. So how is this fixed? It's an Epiphone DR500MCE

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by ChalkLitIScream

If you like how the guitar sounds and plays, and can live with that indentation, you could point the flaw out to the seller and get a few bucks back...as long as the seller kept this hidden from you

I think it would be fair to ask for how much it costs to get fixed.
So how does something like this get "fixed"?

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by ruby50

It looks like the wood is compressed, not torn. Try putting a couple of drops of boiling water on one spot to see if it relaxes the fibers.

Ed

Never heard that. Can you explain in more detail this procedure?

[phavriluk]

Implied in the word 'new' is the idea of undamaged, too. All kinds of advice from many points of view. Mine is to gripe to Reverb about misrepresentation on the sale and see what can be done to resolve this. This is surely not any kind of shipping damage. I think any adjustments to the guitar itself need to wait till the problem is resolved. If the guitar is going to be returned, I think it needs to be in as-delivered condition. I also suggest OP take a zillion pictures to offer as documentation.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by phavriluk

Implied in the word 'new' is the idea of undamaged, too. All kinds of advice from many points of view. Mine is to gripe to Reverb about misrepresentation on the sale and see what can be done to resolve this. This is surely not any kind of shipping damage. I think any adjustments to the guitar itself need to wait till the problem is resolved. If the guitar is going to be returned, I think it needs to be in as-delivered condition. I also suggest OP take a zillion pictures to offer as documentation.

The guitar's official; condition was "B_Stock". Here is what the listing said:

"This product is New, but B-Stock on Reverb. This item still has a full factory warranty through Epiphone. Item is in great condition; again item is New, but will not come with original packing."

[mirwa]

The steam method will fix it adequatley.

Apply damp cloth to surface, apply a heated butter knife to the damp rag, make the blade hot enough that when you touch the rag it creates steam.

Repeat as required








Steve

[Imbler]

Originally Posted by JackB1

The guitar's official; condition was "B_Stock". Here is what the listing said:

"This product is New, but B-Stock on Reverb. This item still has a full factory warranty through Epiphone. Item is in great condition; again item is New, but will not come with original packing."

When I google B stock I find that it is something returned by the customer during their full warranty period. B stock items are sold with a full warranty.

But, by definition, B stock is not "new".

[lar]

Oh man you are so lucky. Don't send it back. Those are the Chinese characters for Infinite Mortality (the top one), and Quintuple Happiness (bottom one). You want to be healthy and happy don't you? It's an omen I tell you!

[ClaptonWannabe2]

[QUOTE=mirwa;5863764]The steam method will fix it adequatley.

Apply damp cloth to surface, apply a heated butter knife to the damp rag, make the blade hot enough that when you touch the rag it creates steam.

What in the ????

Thats why I come here. Tips like that. I'd never think of that.