How bad is this dent?

**John A.** · 04-07-2023, 10:58 AM

I'm curious as to what you guys think of the dent in the neck on this AS200 (see the 4th picture). Do you think this poses a serious risk to the neck?

Ibanez Artstar AS-200 Electric Guitar (Cherry Hill, NJ) | Reverb

**st.bede** · 04-07-2023, 11:04 AM

I would not think it has any structural problems. (I could be wrong).

However, I do know that every time you play that spot, you will feel it.

On some of my guitars, there are small spots on the back of the neck that I can feel. Sometimes it feels cool, like I know where I am, and it makes the instrument feel more individual. On other instruments, it can bother me. However I never worry that much about it, and just get back to playing. That is my experience.

There are a few more issues: is the price better because of the ding? If it has such a huge ding, what happened? Was it well taken care of? Why not wait until a cleaner guitar shows up? Also, is there a bad reason the person is selling it on reverb?

Those would be the questions going through my mind.

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 04-07-2023, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by st.bede

I would not think it has any structural problems. (I could be wrong). However I do know that every time you play that spot, you will feel it. On some of my guitars, there are small spots on the back of the neck that I can feel. Sometimes it feels cool, like I know where I am, and it makes the instrument feel more individual. On other instruments, it can bother me. However I never worry that much about, and just get back to playing. That is my experience.

I agree that it's highly unlikely to mean future problems with the integrity of the neck. But that would drive me nuts every time I touched it while playing. If the guitar is otherwise fine and the price is right for you, I'd fill the divot with high quality LOCA (liquid optically clear adhesive) and smooth it.

**st.bede** · 04-07-2023, 11:10 AM

(That is funny, you quoted me pre-edited. I always have to fix something, and it usually takes a few times).

**DawgBone** · 04-07-2023, 11:35 AM

That wouldn't bother me at all. It doesn't look serious from the pics either. I just want a discount vs a more mint instrument because everyone picks apart everything hoping to get money off.

**John A.** · 04-07-2023, 11:45 AM

I also think that the big issue would be feeling it when you play. It's already pretty cheap for an AS200, but I'm tempted to throw them a real lowball.

**DawgBone** · 04-07-2023, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by John A.

I also think that the big issue would be feeling it when you play. It's already pretty cheap for an AS200, but I'm tempted to throw them a real lowball.

If you stare at it, and process it over and over in your mind, it will become a big issue. If you just ignore it and play the guitar then it won't matter and will feel normal after a time. I have a japanese guitar with slightly crooked inlays. Seems to be a thing with a lot of MIJ guitars. Would that bother you if the guitar otherwise plays and sounds outstanding? If you don't have faith in your stuff then nothing will be adequate even if you have the best of everything.

**wintermoon** · 04-07-2023, 11:55 AM

If you really have to have it at least it's on the treble side of the neck so you probably won't feel it.

**John A.** · 04-07-2023, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by DawgBone

If you stare at it, and process it over and over in your mind, it will become a big issue. If you just ignore it and play the guitar then it won't matter and will feel normal after a time. I have a japanese guitar with slightly crooked inlays. Seems to be a thing with a lot of MIJ guitars. Would that bother you if the guitar otherwise plays and sounds outstanding? If you don't have faith in your stuff then nothing will be adequate even if you have the best of everything.

The visuals don't concern me. Rough spots sometimes are bothersome, sometimes not. It really depends on where they are and how bad they are (hence my question). I already have a good semi-hollow, so this may come to nothing. But an AS200 for little or no more than what I could get for mine (which is what a lowball offer would be) is tempting. Either the temptation will pass, or it won't.

**P4guitar** · 04-07-2023, 12:22 PM

It's extremely minor and it could be just finish blemish, not a dent - but I can't tell from the picture. I doubt you'll feel it playing. It's certainly not a structural issue. I have one of these and they're great guitars.

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 04-07-2023, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by DawgBone

If you stare at it, and process it over and over in your mind, it will become a big issue. If you just ignore it and play the guitar then it won't matter and will feel normal after a time. I have a japanese guitar with slightly crooked inlays. Seems to be a thing with a lot of MIJ guitars. Would that bother you if the guitar otherwise plays and sounds outstanding?

Wintermoon makes a good point. That's not where most players would put a finger very often. And if it's just cosmetic, it's no big deal - but if I can feel it, it's a very big issue. My thumb does get there a fair amount because I fret all 7 strings with my fingers. My thumb moves to the treble side when I reach across the board to hit the 7th, and it's down in the first few frets where that "lap piano" fullness is found.

You'd have to play the guitar to know if it's going to be a problem. But filling it with LOCA is quick and easy. And that stuff transmits light very well, which is why it's called "optically clear". I've filled dents bigger than that with it, and the cosmetic result is amazing. The blob of clear stuff acts as a magnifying lens that makes the underlying finish look like it's closer to the surface. So as long as there's still finish on the surface in the dent, it'll look just about as good as (and often better than) less than perfect filling and spot refinishing.

**ccroft** · 04-07-2023, 12:39 PM

As Winter pointed out it's on the treble side, and my guess is it's around the 1st or 2nd fret. I don't know about you, but it'd be a very rare day that I ever touched it while playing.

Also, we might be looking at more of a botched repair of a finish chip than an actual deep dent in the wood.

**DawgBone** · 04-07-2023, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit

Wintermoon makes a good point. That's not where most players would put a finger very often. And if it's just cosmetic, it's no big deal - but if I can feel it, it's a very big issue. My thumb does get there a fair amount because I fret all 7 strings with my fingers. My thumb moves to the treble side when I reach across the board to hit the 7th, and it's down in the first few frets where that "lap piano" fullness is found.

You'd have to play the guitar to know if it's going to be a problem. But filling it with LOCA is quick and easy. And that stuff transmits light very well, which is why it's called "optically clear". I've filled dents bigger than that with it, and the cosmetic result is amazing. The blob of clear stuff acts as a magnifying lens that makes the underlying finish look like it's closer to the surface. So as long as there's still finish on the surface in the dent, it'll look just about as good as (and often better than) less than perfect filling and spot refinishing.

I had a guitar with a big dent on the back of the neck, right in the middle. It didn't bother me at all. But I don't think my thumb has been behind the neck since the early 90's other than to play a few occasional MAJ/min7 bar chords.

What is LOCA? I thought that was spanish for crazy? Is it like an epoxy or something?

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 04-07-2023, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by DawgBone

What is LOCA?

Read post #3. Click the image below for more info.

How bad is this dent?-loca-head-page1-jpeg

You can buy it from Amazon and many other outlets. The high viscosity formulations work best for filling small depressions like this one - the runny ones used for screen repairs won't fill anything but tiny surface defects. If you use UV cured material (which is the only kind I've ever used), don't cheap out on the UV flashlight. The tiny ones that come with the cheap "kits" are not powerful enough to cure the stuff. Buy a good one for a few bucks more. There are OCAs that do not need UV light to cure, but I've never tried them.

Fill the dent to the surrounding surface. It's truly transparent, so a bit over the edge won't even show unless you're a few inches away. You can finish-sand it carefully, but that risks having to polish the surrounding finish . If you fill carefully, you'll have a very good repair without having to touch the surrounding wood.

**Jimmy blue note** · 04-07-2023, 01:58 PM

Ouch! It should not effect anything as long as it wasn't caused by a bigger fall and that's all you can see. I've filled much worse than that and leveled it so it's imperceptible. It's where the dark overspray is so you can even touch up the fill job so you don't see it.
I'd be comfortable giving it a thumbs up. Nice guitar!

**jim777** · 04-07-2023, 02:39 PM

If I'm reading that right, and it's in the Cherry Hill Sam Ash I could try and get over there and check it out for you. I'm leaving for Ireland on Sunday but might be able to get over there tomorrow morning.

**John A.** · 04-07-2023, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note

Ouch! It should not effect anything as long as it wasn't caused by a bigger fall and that's all you can see. I've filled much worse than that and leveled it so it's imperceptible. It's where the dark overspray is so you can even touch up the fill job so you don't see it.
I'd be comfortable giving it a thumbs up. Nice guitar!

Thanks.