Hey everyone. Despite joining in 2010, this will be my first post! Thanks to everyone the last decade or so that has unknowingly helped me with my Charvel collection. Sorry I'm so quiet.
Anyway, I recently purchased a dark metallic blue Charvel Model 4, from ~88 or so. Guitar Center unsurprisingly did not do the greatest job packing it, and it did not come in the bag they told me it would over the phone... we came to an agreement and they refunded a tiny part of the purchase, but would not pursue UPS for damages and by the time they told me that, it was too late for me to either. Honestly, I should have returned it but I do think I got a good price for it overall and since then I have been travelling for around a month and missed the return window anyway.
The most offensive damage is a very large finish crack just under where your elbow would go when playing. I'll post a picture. The crack is so deep that a large piece of the paint is lifting up from it, probably 3-4 inches long and unknown width since it hasn't actually come apart yet. There is bare wood underneath. Does anyone have any tips on how to make this look a little better without further damaging things? The edge of the cracked paint catches on my elbow when playing and I'm afraid that I'm going to break off a piece and end up with a massive patch of bare wood on the front of the body. I was thinking about the way that "distressed" guitars look, where there is a smooth transition from the paint to the bare wood, so I wonder if I could use some kind of polishing tool to wear down the harsh edge of the chip, maybe prior to doing so slightly lifting it and placing some glue underneath the paint very lightly to keep it flush to the wood? I don't want it to look like a hack job, so I'd rather just leave it alone if there is no way around it. I just fully expect a large piece to chip off if I don't smooth it out.
Thanks for any insight. Pics below:
EDIT: Fixed picture links
Anyway, I recently purchased a dark metallic blue Charvel Model 4, from ~88 or so. Guitar Center unsurprisingly did not do the greatest job packing it, and it did not come in the bag they told me it would over the phone... we came to an agreement and they refunded a tiny part of the purchase, but would not pursue UPS for damages and by the time they told me that, it was too late for me to either. Honestly, I should have returned it but I do think I got a good price for it overall and since then I have been travelling for around a month and missed the return window anyway.
The most offensive damage is a very large finish crack just under where your elbow would go when playing. I'll post a picture. The crack is so deep that a large piece of the paint is lifting up from it, probably 3-4 inches long and unknown width since it hasn't actually come apart yet. There is bare wood underneath. Does anyone have any tips on how to make this look a little better without further damaging things? The edge of the cracked paint catches on my elbow when playing and I'm afraid that I'm going to break off a piece and end up with a massive patch of bare wood on the front of the body. I was thinking about the way that "distressed" guitars look, where there is a smooth transition from the paint to the bare wood, so I wonder if I could use some kind of polishing tool to wear down the harsh edge of the chip, maybe prior to doing so slightly lifting it and placing some glue underneath the paint very lightly to keep it flush to the wood? I don't want it to look like a hack job, so I'd rather just leave it alone if there is no way around it. I just fully expect a large piece to chip off if I don't smooth it out.
Thanks for any insight. Pics below:
EDIT: Fixed picture links
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