I have a strat that is starting to develope a crack in the neck joint and I dont know weather I should be alarmed about it? So I need some advise as to what I should do about it if anything, I read that this does happen on strats so should I worry about it or shouldn't I? If anybody out there who reads this can offer any advise as to weather I should be worried about this or not I would really appretiate it...thanks.

Where exactly is the crack? A photo might help

I am going to try and attatch the photos to this reply.

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IMG_7801.jpg (135.8 KB, 24 views)

Here's another photo of the crack.

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IMG_7802.jpg (142.2 KB, 22 views)

That eventually happens to all poly-finished (and some nitro finished) strats. It's like their own form of puberty. It's most likely just in the finish, and it's really not too big of a deal.

Ps. Those fold-up stands (like the one in the picture) probably helped it along, as well.

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That photo seems white, like a finish crack.... I had an old strat with cracks all over the body like that, including the neck joint. It's really cosmetic, as it's not cracking where the bolts meet the neck, so I wouldn't worry too much. It is a common problem of what I've seen, but jonny-b-brown probably nailed it better then me

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ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

Strat puberty - heehee!

How do the folding stands make it worse?

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Crustaceo ergo sum

My strategy has the same crack in the finish. It has been that way for years. No need to worry. It's only cosmetic, as the others have said.

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Fender Pro Reverb w/ Mesa Boogie 2x12 Cab, Peavey Classic 50 4x10
Strat w/Seymours & Fat Tele w/EMG 81/85,Takamine EG523SC Acoustic
Pedal Board
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my strat had the exact same crack. so did my squier when i had it.

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Hamer Sat2 or Jackson JRR-94 Rhoads>Laney gc80a or hc25(practice).

Hamer(standard tuning) Ernie ball Slinkies
Alvarez Dana Scoop (standard tuning) D'adarrio 10's
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the one on my squier is a little more parallel to the neck but exactly at the same spot. I've never had any problems.

@lobsty - Those fold up stands just hold the body, with the weight of the neck giving the leverage to keep it in that propped up position. If you leave it on that stand most of the time when not playing, you are basically letting the guitar bend backwards under it's own weight.
Of course it isn't a massive amount of stress, but poly finishes are pretty rigid and brittle, so even though the wood underneath isn't affected much (if at all), the finish does crack....keeping in mind that with a sprayed on finish, the inner curvature of the cutaways would be a weaker point anyway just because of the location. Every tried painting into a corner or crevice?
I had an old Aria Pro II shredder looking thing with a ridiculously thick finish, and off course it had the neck pocket cracks plus the bonus 'spider web' cracks surrounding the screw holes for the pickup rings, jackplate, kahler bridge, and strap locks. Now I'm rambling. Sorry
But, again, it's just in the finish, not the wood.

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I'm just two people short of a threesome.

There you go - never actually thought about that before.

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Crustaceo ergo sum