what is this 'paint squiggle' on the back of my headstock?

[Sir Ricardo]

Greetings all -

I've got an old 4001, and have always wondered "what is this paint squiggle on the back of the headstock?"

As you can see, it's as though someone used a fine point ink marker (or paint marker) to 'write' something on the back of the headstock

But it's UNDER the finish, and I think that the finish is original

So......I don't know what to make of it. Have any of you seen anything comparable?

Or have any thoughts?

thx much -

Richard
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[collin]

Mineral stain in the wood, completely natural.

[Freez]

Mineral stain in the wood, completely natural.

Ha, that's a good one! That's CLEARLY NOT natural. That was a joke, right?

[jps]

Vincent Gallo's signature?

[casinoman]

Vincent Gallo's signature?

nope, the bass is too young for that...

[jps]

I think he does have a few '70s basses. He just prefers '60s ones, though.

Regardless, JK.

[collin]

Mineral stain in the wood, completely natural.

Ha, that's a good one! That's CLEARLY NOT natural. That was a joke, right?

Nope. Completely serious. I've seen similar mineral stains under the finish before. Just natural stains in the maple...

[godber]

Mineral stain in the wood, completely natural.

Ha, that's a good one! That's CLEARLY NOT natural. That was a joke, right?

Nope. Completely serious. I've seen similar mineral stains under the finish before. Just natural stains in the maple...

True, spalted maple is pretty random and mostly under Jetglo...or other solid colours.

[collin]

Nope. Completely serious. I've seen similar mineral stains under the finish before. Just natural stains in the maple...

True, spalted maple is pretty random and mostly under Jetglo...or other solid colours.

Thanks Mark! Great example of fully spalted Maple.


..though some people around here CLEARLY know better.

[jps]

Here is my old Zon fretless Sonus 5/1 that Joe made for me in '98 with a nice piece of spalted maple.

[Dom]

I have one that looks like "uW" on the edge of the treble cut on my '88 WB. Looks like a faded marker however it runs through the entire guitar all the way to the edge at the carve.