My Trem Has Damaged The Finish

[tvanveen]

When I set up my AL trem to float I noticed that the corners of the trem that rest against the wood have actually damaged it. Both corners of the trem cavity closest to the bottom of the guitar are depressed and cracked.

Anyone else have this problem?

 

[PurpleSport]

Since my single EBMM guitar is a hardtail, I can't comment personally on my own Axis...

But I have witnessed this phenomenon on other guitars, usually vintage Fenders (believe my trusty '57 Strat reissue has a little of that, come to think of it). Not surprising considering the PSI force that trem springs could exert on that small area when the bridge is cranked down in a non-float mode.

Consider also that the paint condition could be an issue too. If it hadn't cured well when the bridge was affixed, I could envision small stress cracks forming and growing bigger over time as the body and finish dried out, factored in with the usual expansion/contraction variables of heat, humidity, etc. This would certainly be more of an issue with a breathable nitrocellulose vs. EBMM's more modern, California-approved finishes, though.

Is the damage fairly large or small scale, and how new is the guitar? Does it go all the way into the wood, or just through the paint or clearcoat? Is it structural, or just cosmetic?

 

[tvanveen]

The guitar is about 6 months old, the wood itself is actually slightly dented.