2021 R9 Finish Flaw???

[1allspub]

I stopped by a local GC to snag some strings today and they had a beautiful 2021 R9 in Dirty Lemon hanging in the Platinum Room. I asked one of the salesmen to bring it down for me so I could get a closer look at it and give it a test drive. I plugged it into a Jerry Cantrell Signature 20W Friedman and had at it. Wow, what a resonant guitar... like the most resonant LP I think I've ever had in my hands. Sounded great! But then as I looked at finish closer I saw that what I had thought was a mineral fleck looked to be more of a finish flaw. It couldn't be felt under the lacquer, but it clearly didn't look like "natural" wood character.

What do you all think?

 

[slug_maine]

Looks like Cuba and the Bahamas.

 

[el84ster]

Is that some wood filler in there?

 

[THDNUT]

Looks like pre-historic cave art to me.

 

[kelsodeez]

Looks like an F to me

 

[AJK1]

Do you have long fingernails ?

 

[Azmedian]

Character Trait

 

[Brek]

Looks like pre-historic cave art to me.

I going with it is a mineral fleck, but sadly there was some wood lost because of it, either when cnc'd or sanded is my best guess. Looking at how flat the colour is I am also thinking been filled. Negotiate hard if it sounds that good.

 

[musicmaniac]

Get a discount and take it home!

 

[BKS]

 

[1allspub]

Is that some wood filler in there?

Yeah, I think that is indeed wood filler. Now that you mention it, I knew it looked familiar, but I couldn't place it. I have never seen wood filler on the top of an LP, let alone on a RI top. Wow!

 

[Peter M]

like the most resonant LP I think I've ever had in my hands. Sounded great!

That alone would be enough for me to take it home.

I think the quirky little marks are trivial.

BTW that guitar is gorgeous, flaw and all.

 

[mjross]

Beauty mark, part of the uniqueness of the guitar and POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION!

 

[soyboi]

Looks like 10% off and take it home to me

 

[dc007]

Get a discount and take it home!

I know right. It looks like about $1000 to me

 

[AJK1]

I stopped by a local GC to snag some strings today and they had a beautiful 2021 R9 in Dirty Lemon hanging in the Platinum Room. I asked one of the salesmen to bring it down for me so I could get a closer look at it and give it a test drive. I plugged it into a Jerry Cantrell Signature 20W Friedman and had at it. Wow, what a resonant guitar... like the most resonant LP I think I've ever had in my hands. Sounded great! But then as I looked at finish closer I saw that what I had thought was a mineral fleck looked to be more of a finish flaw. It couldn't be felt under the lacquer, but it clearly didn't look like "natural" wood character.

What do you all think?
View attachment 583580 View attachment 583581

Are you a buyer or looker ?

 

[1allspub]

Are you a buyer or looker ?

Like anyone, I started off looking, but after playing it was seriously considering buying. Needed some time to think it over because this issue with the finish was concerning. Posted this thread yesterday, and after figuring out it was likely wood filler decided to go back today and have another look and see if I could get past it.

Was in enough of a buying mindset to take enough physical cash with me to make the buy if I decided to go for it.

Buuuuuut... in the process of trying to talk to the salesman about the finish issue (and me saying I believed it to be wood filler) he vehemently disagreed, and after bit of back and forth about it, grabbed the guitar from my hands and said (and I quote), “This isn’t the guitar for you!”... then hung it back on the wall and locked it in. I stood their kinda stunned for a moment, then said basically that I was trying to talk through it and be ok with it, but he again repeated that it wasn’t the guitar for me. So, I turned and left (again, with a pocket full of cash)... more than a bit nonplussed.

Oh well....

 

[enjoikevin]

No pics of the whole guitar? SHAME!

 

[1allspub]

No pics of the whole guitar? SHAME!

Ha! They are just crappy pics from my old iPhone, but here they are.

 

[1allspub]

Also, I think it is fair to add that when I went back to check it out again today, I also played it through a different amp and while it still sounded great, it’s clear that Freidman I played it through yesterday is a KILLER amp! Maybe I should just by the amp instead of the guitar!