Uh oh... what's this?

[Evil Undead]

I've noticed some weird rippling/ridges in the finish on my bass, mainly on the front in an area about 2-3". It still seems solid, and it might have been there all along but I have studied every inch of this thing and I'm sure I would have noticed!

I'm worried that it's a problem - aesthetically I'm not really worried, but could it be a sign of something structural?

Trying to take pics but it's hard to get a shot of it.

[Mr. Foxen]

Pic would help, but is it finish deep? What sort of finish? some finishes will sink into the grain as the grain shrinks.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1347229426' post='1798385']
Pic would help, but is it finish deep? What sort of finish? [b]some finishes will sink into the grain as the grain shrinks.[/b]
[/quote]

This sprang to mind when I read the original post. My Lakland shows fine lines, which are joins in the wood underneath the finish.

[Evil Undead]

I've done my best with the pics but they're not good. You can just about see it in the reflections.

http://s1032.photobucket.com/albums/a407/ImaginaryEvil/Snapbucket/?action=view&current=FAE69A7E.jpg

http://s1032.photobucket.com/albums/a407/ImaginaryEvil/Snapbucket/?action=view&current=135F208F.jpg

[Evil Undead]

It's a poly finish I think. I think the body wood is alder - please correct me if I'm wrong.

It's not that deep but I'm a worry wort

[Musicman20]

If its what I think it is, my ex 2009 White American Standard Fender Jazz did the same. The finish is quite thin and the paint/finish is sinking into the wood grain.

I wasn't that impressed as it made me realise just how thin the finish was.

It seems more common on white with the new Fenders.

[Mr. Foxen]

tap them to see if hollow underneath, but I'm guessing wood shrinkage, happens when wood isn't fully seasoned.

[Fat Rich]

Definitely not structural, it's very rare for a bass body to come apart even on the cheapest of instruments unless seriously abused.

As has been said, it's the finish sinking a little into the grain of the wood. Some woods (particularly ash) are very porous and soak up a lot of the sealer.

On a vintage bass it would be described as "a nicely checked aged finish with lots of mojo"

[Big_Stu]

I'd be quite sure that's the paint showing slightly raised wood grain through it; I doubt it'll get any worse.
My Tele body has got a few short, real cracks where the wood grain has split underneath and it's nothing like that.

[Ed_S]

My 2008 USA Standard and (before I got rid of it a couple of weeks ago) 2010 USA Deluxe both have/had the same thing going on. I dare say that when my 2012 USA Standard V that's replacing the Deluxe finally arrives, it'll look the same. I've always just taken it to be due to the thickness of the finish.

[kevin_lindsay]

Absolutely nothing to worry about. As stated previously, it's simply the finish sinking into the wood grain. Itcan happen with any finish.

For example, on very thin nitro finishes it can be very noticeable. Poly finishes mask it better due to their thickness and plasticity.

Here's my ultra thin ( about the overall thickness of a sheet of paper) Shell Pink nitro finish on a swamp ash body

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/d71afa9d.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/kevin_lindsay/8bc9c4dc.jpg[/IMG]

Edited September 10, 2012 by kevin_lindsay

[Evil Undead]

Oh cool, that's a relief. Thanks guys.

Maybe it's the first step towards my bass looking battered and haggard I can't wait for that to happen but am still really precious with it haha!

[Spike Vincent]

You have a self relicking bass...

[4 Strings]

Quite like it.

[Musicman20]

I researched it on Talkbass when mine did it. Its very common as the finish 2008> is a lot thinner.

[steve-bbb]

try a darker room and a torch with the beam shining horizontally side on and level with the surface (is also good for finding tiny things that youve dropped on the floor and then cant see under normal light conditions very easily )

[4 Strings]

Not sure its the thinness of the finish so much as a thin or lacking filler coat underneath the finish.

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1347285227' post='1798798']
try a darker room and a torch with the beam shining horizontally side on and level with the surface (is also good for finding tiny things that youve dropped on the floor and then cant see under normal light conditions very easily )


[/quote]

I'll give that a try, thanks

Is there a name for this "issue"? I'd like to google it but don't know what to search

[steve-bbb]

is it rippling up? or the coating sinking down? your large pic with the three string holes visible on the back looks like it's a rogue section of wood grain showing through??

[lettsguitars]

Tis the grain soaking up the finish. I didn't think it was possible with poly though.?.? I guess it's the sealer but that would mean the poly would pull away from the surface. There seem to be a few people who want a thick finish on their guitar. The thinner the better.

Edited September 10, 2012 by lettsguitars

[Evil Undead]

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1347302290' post='1799114']
is it rippling up? or the coating sinking down? your large pic with the three string holes visible on the back looks like it's a rogue section of wood grain showing through??
[/quote]

The coat is sinking down I think. The pic with the three string holes is Kevins not mine