SE Satin finish scratches

[zamboknee]

I recently bought a 2022 SE Holcomb SVN with the 'coffee stain'/satin finish.
It was bought brand new from a mom and pop store out of Kentucky.
When I received it (bought through Reverb) it played and worked fine but it has a few superficial scratches on it. Plus some 'gunk'/residue on the upper frets.
See pics.
Nothing that looks like it was from playing though.
I asked them if this was a demo model and they said "This was not a demo model, the finish looks normal for a brand new satin PRS SE. I would recommend a gloss finish if you do not like this, thanks!"

My question: are these scratches 'normal' to this finish? Is this finish sensitive to these type of scratches? I've never owned a PRS so can't say.

Pretty simply: I paid $900 for a brand new guitar and don't want scratches. BUT if this is kind of typical of the finish, and it's a guitar that's cycled through being on a store wall and put in a box for a couple of years then....I get it.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I don't own any satins myself, but I can't imagine these are "normal". As you mentioned, they're superficial and maybe not too important but that's up to you to decide how you feel. Doesn't seem like a great response from the vendor however - assuming they're being truthful that it isn't a demo/returned/etc., there really isn't any reason a brand new guitar would come scratched like that.

If it was a gloss finish, I'd say you could buff them out. But I don't know if that works on Satin, you could wind up with shiny sections where you buffed.

 

[TheCraftsman]

Looks like handling scratches and something I certainly would not think ‘normal’. Maybe the guitar was knocked or rubbed against sth before sale.

 

[d^rren]

That’s not normal for any “new” guitar, period, satin or gloss.

 

[Headset]

I have a couple of satin guitars and that’s not normal. Looks like something hard scratched the surface of the wood like jewelry or improper handling of the guitar/shipping. It’s purely aesthetic but not normal for a new satin guitar that was handled properly and not a demo.

 

[rcsrich]

If I saw a new satin finish guitar on the rack at a store that had scratches like that, I’d expect it to also have a “scratch & dent” tag on it with a discounted price. I’ve only owned one satin finish guitar, and it did not have any noticeable scratches when new.

 

[Bogner]

Definitely Not Normal By Any Means. If You Are Unhappy I Would Return It. If The Dealer Is Telling You That Is Normal I Would Think That Is Very Shady On Their Part And It Comes Off As They Are Simply Trying To Move A Piece To An Unsuspecting Buyer Hoping The Sale Sticks And They Can Get Rid Of The Guitar.

 

[direwolf08]

The one thing I will say in the shop's defense: you did take those pics at a pretty shallow angle, which will make scratches pop out at you.

That said, if you can see them plainly looking straight on ... Don't let them gaslight you. That is not normal for a new guitar, satin or otherwise. Agreed that the right path forward is either a return, or a scratch and dent discount.