Fender Blackout Skunk Stripe...

[wickenspoet]

I have a Fender Blackout Jaguar, and I've noticed that I can feel the groove following the skunk stripe on the back of the neck from the 2nd fret to about halfway past the 4th fret.

Is this common? Does it usually mean there's a truss rod issue, or is it no big dea?

I don't know why they even have this damn stripe.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Fender Blackout Skunk Stripe...

Some skunk stripes are there because the truss rod is loaded in from the back of the neck, like on a guitar with an "all maple" neck where the fretboard is the same piece of wood.

Some are there to add stiffness and stability to the neck, like Ibanez has done on some of their Wizard/Wizard II/etc. necks. Some multipiece necks are built around the concept of the skunk stripe as a central structural piece.

Some are probably there to look cool, I suppose.

It could be an issue with the truss rod, but it could also be the different woods expanding and contracting at different rates with temperature and humidity. Has it always been like that, or did you just notice it with a change in the weather?

Maybe it's a finish issue?

 

[wickenspoet]

Re: Fender Blackout Skunk Stripe...

I wish I could remember, but I don't know if it had this when I bought it or not. I guess time will tell. If it is a truss rod issue, I hope it isn't a pain to fix. My guitar luthier friend implied that a truss rod repair on this guitar would be a hassle.

Some skunk stripes are there because the truss rod is loaded in from the back of the neck, like on a guitar with an "all maple" neck where the fretboard is the same piece of wood.

Some are there to add stiffness and stability to the neck, like Ibanez has done on some of their Wizard/Wizard II/etc. necks. Some multipiece necks are built around the concept of the skunk stripe as a central structural piece.

Some are probably there to look cool, I suppose.

It could be an issue with the truss rod, but it could also be the different woods expanding and contracting at different rates with temperature and humidity. Has it always been like that, or did you just notice it with a change in the weather?

Maybe it's a finish issue?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Fender Blackout Skunk Stripe...

on my japanese jaguar I cant feel that at all, you could swear its painted on.

 

[chadd]

Re: Fender Blackout Skunk Stripe...

I have a 92 or so MIJ strat neck that is like that. I never notice it when I'm playing, only when I look for it.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Fender Blackout Skunk Stripe...

Go to the store and feel around...what you're experiencing is fairly common. I have nothing against Fender, but this phenomenon is far more prevalent on their guitars than most others that utilize a skunk stripe. This doesn't mean there's a quality control issue with Fenders or anything like that, but you're certainly not alone.

Fortunately, the condition has no affect on playability, tone, truss rod function, etc., so don't let it get to you. Unless you have another reason to suspect that there's an issue with your trussrod, it's likely just fine.