Music Man JP6 frets with different appearances (material doubt)

[JakFT]

Hello,
I would like to have your opinion on this. Sorry if this seems like a strange question!

Since receiving the guitar, I've noticed that all the frets were matte (cause of the oxidation I guess) except for the 20th fret, which was shiny. Polishing all the frets temporarily resolved the issue, but it quickly returned, with only the 20th fret remaining shiny. Is this normal? I thought stainless steel frets wouldn't become matte, so why is only one staying shiny? (furthermore, when cleaning the keys with polish the cotton became black, while on the 20th fret only slightly grey)

Thank you !

 

[DrKev]

Looking back at the photos in your first thread, the frets clearly have a green hue to them, which suggests copper, which means they might be standard nickel silver frets (which are usually 60% Cu, 20% Ni, 20% Zn) and yes, that 20th fret is probably stainless.

What's the birth date of your guitar? You can find out by entering your serial number here...

Serial Number Database

www.music-man.com

 

[JakFT]

Thank you! You confirmed the doubt I had.
I checked the serial number. The manufactured date is September 20th, 2016.
Shouldn't they all be stainless steel?

 

[DrKev]

Yes, I believe so. BUT you should contact Music Man customer service with your serial number and have them check.

 

[JakFT]

Ok thank you! I'll try to contact them and see what they say.

 

[73h Nils]

Did you buy it used? Maybe a previous owner refretted a single fret.

 

[JakFT]

In fact, it seems like too glaring of a mistake for an instrument of this value. But no, I ordered it new at my local store.
I wrote to Music Man assistance; I hope they'll answer in the next few days.

 

[beej]

How odd. Let us know how this pans out.

 

[dibart77]

In fact, it seems like too glaring of a mistake for an instrument of this value. But no, I ordered it new at my local store.
I wrote to Music Man assistance; I hope they'll answer in the next few days.

You ordered it new and it arrived with all that oxidation on the frets? That's either used or has been hanging in a music store for a long time. Or maybe was a return due to something wrong with the fret and they re-fretted that fret?

Or.... I suppose it's possible that maybe at the factory a SS fret accidentally end up in the nickel fret bin, but I doubt it.

But that seems very odd to me that the frets would arrive oxidized like that. I have road-played guitars that look like that ("put away wet"). But a new guitar? Crazy. Are there any signs on the body that this has been played -- like picking marks or swirls?

 

[morsecode]

How the guitar is stored can have a lot to do with this. I would like to see it after a good fret polish.

 

[Rbg]

Wait a minute, that can not be a picture of a new guitar?!...

 

[tbonesullivan]

In fact, it seems like too glaring of a mistake for an instrument of this value. But no, I ordered it new at my local store.
I wrote to Music Man assistance; I hope they'll answer in the next few days.

Was this recently? You stated that the guitar was a 2016 by the serial number. How long have you had the guitar?

 

[Vadauco]

I checked the serial number. The manufactured date is September 20th, 2016.
Shouldn't they all be stainless steel?

Yes, this guitar came with stainless steel frets, so it seems the previous owner swapped them for nickel frets... but forgot one??

This very odd !!!

 

[Jamie M]

The plot thickens .............

 

[morsecode]

So for clarity, this is now an 8 year old guitar, original owner for about that same period of time?