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The way to handle this is not on this forum. You need to contact your dealer, or PRS Customer service. You have a full warranty. If there is, indeed, a problem, you will be taken care of. Hope you get things sorted.
 
Notice how they all go in one direction evenly across the guitar? I’m pretty sure that’s a natural result when a guitar finish is polished out on buffing wheels. The finishing operator holds the guitar against the spinning buffing wheels by hand; micro buffing lines in the clear coat will show up at certain angles.

I don’t believe that’s defective, or poor quality control, let alone something to worry about. It’s simply the result of the process of polishing out the guitar.

A lot of human hand-work goes into making a PRS. If you watch this video, about 6:20 in you’ll see how they polish out the guitars:

 
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LSchefman said:
Notice how they all go in one direction evenly across the guitar? I’m pretty sure that’s a natural result when a guitar finish is polished out on buffing wheels. The finishing operator holds the guitar against the spinning buffing wheels by hand; micro buffing lines in the clear coat will show up at certain angles.

I don’t believe that’s defective, or poor quality control, let alone something to worry about. It’s simply the result of the process of polishing out the guitar.

A lot of human hand-work goes into making a PRS. If you watch this video, about 6:20 in you’ll see how they polish out the guitars:

Click to expand...

I think Les is right on the money!
 
shimmilou said:
+1 Les

I just checked all of my guitars with an electron microscope, and every one of them looks jagged and rough on the surface. :eek:
Click to expand...

Whenever I get too OCD about an instrument, my wife brings me back to earth by saying, “Hello, you bought it to play music!”

But sometimes it’s hard to resist being a little over-the-top about this stuff.
 
Kennyg, that is a beautiful guitar! There isn't anything wrong with the finish. Congrats.
 
Kennyg said:
I appreciate everyone's input, not trying to hate on PRS. Quite the opposite actually as since getting my first PRS (06 Single Cut trem 10 top) in 2009, I have caught the fever and had many since. Core, S2 and SE models, new and used, I currently have 14 PRS's in my stable right now, far and away the most of any brand and I would not have it any other way. Until recently all the new models I bought were absolutely flawless, incredible works of art. The last three have been a different story though, first one had a big cloudy spot in the finish, I thought maybe something happened in shipping and as I know PRS does great work and pays extra attention to detail I really discounted it as an anomaly. Then my next purchase had a baseball sized spot on the top that looked and felt matte compared the the gloss of the rest of the instrument, once again I figured needle in the haystack but now my sensor is up to really look over these purchases. Lastly the guitar in question above, this was purchased at the PRS factory in Maryland during Experience PRS last Saturday, dealer bought it and sold right at the factory, can't even blame it on shipping. I was able to use Eternashine and get most of the micro buffing lines out. I will add that I also had to setup the guitar to factory specs for trem and string height as it was nowhere close to the PRS spec, which I find puzzling as the guitar was sold to me directly from the factory. I know this was not a private stock for 10k or core guitar for 4k, but still at 2k that is a lot of money and from all the QC they say is done in the video earlier in the thread there is no way you should have to first set it up to PRS Specs and have to do the final touches on the finish straight from the factory. I recently bought a EBMM and a Suhr and both were flawless, no micro buff lines and set up perfectly. I know people say these guitars are meant to be played and normal wear and scratches are inevitable so don't worry about it, just play it and have fun with it. I agree with that but if I buy brand new I want to be the one putting the scratches on it, if I wanted the normal micro scratching I would buy used at a considerable cost savings and not be so concerned with "perfect" condition. All that said, I love the guitar, it is a stunning color and finish, it plays great after the adjustments and sounds great. PRS is still my favorite guitar, bottom line is this has happened too many times to just disregard as a rare unusual occurrence and I'm disappointed that the QC seems to be slipping in a brand I love so much.
Click to expand...

It’s a lot more difficult to buff out a carved top than a flat top. Something to consider when mulling over your issue. Different paint formulations also buff out differently.

One question, and I don’t mean to offend in any way...but you were at the factory, had the opportunity to inspect it, play it, and feel the action and setup. Given that it doesn’t meet your criteria, why’d you buy it?

In terms of “slipping,” I’ll quibble a little; the first time I observed these slight polishing lines was on my then-new 1991 CU24, then on my then-new 1993 Artist II, and to a greater or lesser degree on every PRS I’ve had, of which there have been many, including several Private Stock, and one that was photographed and used in closeup on the PRS website last year for the limited run 594 Soapbar (though that one you have to look really hard!).

Similar polishing lines also tend to show up on Collings guitars (I’ve had a couple of their acoustics over the years).

I used to polish out my cars for show, and judge concours events, back in the 80s. Certain paints, like lacquers, were nearly impossible to get perfect. Others didn’t show polishing swirls at all. I really believe it has more to do with paint formula and type of carve than anything else. YMMV.

Hopefully Shawn will correct me on this assumption if I’m wrong, which I’ll freely admit I might very well be.
 
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LSchefman said:
Whenever I get too OCD about an instrument, my wife brings me back to earth by saying, “Hello, you bought it to play music!”

But sometimes it’s hard to resist being a little over-the-top about this stuff.
Click to expand...

This
 
bodia said:
The way to handle this is not on this forum. You need to contact your dealer, or PRS Customer service. You have a full warranty. If there is, indeed, a problem, you will be taken care of. Hope you get things sorted.
Click to expand...

Nor on TheGearPage forum, where you've also posted this.

It's a brand new guitar. Contact the dealer or PRS customer service if you've got an issue - you have a full warranty. Gorgeous guitar, by the way.

=K
 
Kennyg said:
I've learned from this thread it is not a factory defect but just a normal outcome of the PRS process that a $2,000 guitar has micro scratching all over it. I was able to get most of it out with Eternashine. I guess it would be too costly and time consuming for PRS to do this as part of the finishing process. Just bummed I got a $2,000 instrument and had to spend a few hours rubbing out micro scratching, if I was able to remove it PRS should have been able to do it on a brand new piece. Maybe I should have just returned it but have too much time into it at this point between setting it up to factory specs and taking care of the scratching. After spending hours getting it as it should have been from the start it now plays great and looks amazing. Once again just very disappointed with the QC, not just this one but also the 2 before it, I've bought used instruments that needed less work.
Click to expand...

Not sure you’re being especially fair or open-minded. Nonetheless, it’s good that you got it where you want it!

Hopefully you get a lot of enjoyment out of playing it, which of course is what we all want.
 
LSchefman said:
Whenever I get too OCD about an instrument, my wife brings me back to earth by saying, “Hello, you bought it to play music!”

But sometimes it’s hard to resist being a little over-the-top about this stuff.
Click to expand...
I bought my Custom 24 in 2000 and I've used it a lot. It's in great shape but there are surface swirls and such now. I would be hard pressed to distinguish any finish issues that came from the factory. At this point it's all my doing, but I do understand the concern regarding something new.
 
I get buff at the gym. Who rubs me out after that?

(If this post lasts 10 minutes I get an amp or a guitar for fATHER'S DAY!)
 
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