Found a used JP6

[syko]

So, I found a JP6 on craigslist, used, for $1100. It's pearl redburst and fully loaded (piezo, matching headstock, inlays). Seems like a good deal. I have to say, everything people said about these guitars is right. It is simply amazing to play

That said, there's a few weird things I noticed about it that I thought I'd ask here:

1) The neck is a bit dirty, just that finger grime that normally gets on the fretboard, except it's on the back of the unfinished neck. Can this be cleaned somehow?
2) A couple of the pots were a little hard to move. Maybe this is more of a feature than a bug..probably not an issue, but can they be oiled or something?
3) There are 3 small dings on the back, not visible from the front at all. It looks like it fell on a cluster of 3 little pebbles or something. I don't think it's all that bad though, considering the price...
4) There are 2 small cracks, one on each side of the neck, at the right angle of the neck joint. They look like just cracks in the finish and hopefully not a problem, but has anyone seen these before?
5) It has 9-gauge strings on it. The guy said it came with them when he got it (used). If I put 10s on it, I'll probably have to do a setup right?
6) It looks like it needs a nice polishing. What do you guys recommend?

Other than those things, the guitar is awesome. I really want to get it. Hopefully the neck can be cleaned easily, and I think the rest of the things aren't really that bad considering it's used...though #4 worries me a little. I hope it's nothing

 

[SteveB]

1) put tape over the pickups, then lightly sand the back of the neck with 0000 steel wool. Maybe try some diluted Murphy's Oil Soap at that point, then after it dries use the gunstock oil and wax to get the neck lightning fast again.

2) I don't have any good advice about that.

3) no biggie.. the price was right!

4) sounds like neck pocket stress cracks. No big deal... will not affect the performance of the guitar. These are not unheard of with poly finish guitars.

5) It comes from the factory with 10's. If you put 10's on you may have to re-level the trem and tweak the trussrod a bit. There's a smaller chance that you'll need to re-do the intonation. So yes, a setup is in order if you change string gauge.

6) Ernie Ball guitar polish, of course! Great stuff. Rub it in with a nice microfiber polishing cloth.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

for number 2, you can get an electronics cleaner (Radio Shack sells it) to clean out the pots. That might help.