[Jamesalister]

I just saw an 89 77fp with a s stamped on the neck & plate... How much cheaper were these when they came out? Did JS have factory 2nds too?

 

[Rich]

Yes, that's the way they used to mark them, sometimes on the plate also.

 

[Designrol]

Interesting! I didn't know they even had factory seconds. What makes a guitar a factory second anyway?

 

[jono]

Interesting! I didn't know they even had factory seconds. What makes a guitar a factory second anyway?

It tends to be anything that would stop a guitar from being sold as a mint brand new guitar. So things like finish cracks, small chips and blemishes, that sort of thing.

 

[Designrol]

I guess I've known that, seeing guitars for sale from online music stores, i.e., blemish, chips, scratches, etc. but I thought those were discounted guitars
from shipping accidents or played in their showrooms, etc. I didn't think the actual manufacturer would release their products with known defects. What
really surprised me was seeing that photo from Jamesalister of his JEM 77FP with a #2 stamped on the fretboard at 20th fret. I've just never seen that before.
Live and Learn!

 

[jono]

I think, but am by no means sure, that it tends to be the distributor that determines which are seconds and are often returns from stores who want a perfect instrument to sell.