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I recently purchased a PRS SE NF5 listed as an “Open Box / Minor Blemish” from American Musical Supp

I recently purchased a PRS SE NF5 listed as an “Open Box / Minor Blemish” from American Musical Supply. I’ve owned several PRS guitars over the years and was excited to add this model to my collection.

Unfortunately, when the guitar arrived, the fret ends along the neck were extremely sharp and rough. Running your hand along the edge of the fretboard felt like dragging your fingers across small metal edges, and during actual playing the frets would scratch your hand. In its current condition, the instrument was uncomfortable and essentially unplayable.

I completely understand that open-box instruments may have cosmetic imperfections. However, a playability issue like sharp fret sprout should not be categorized as a “minor blemish.” This type of issue typically requires fret dressing to correct.

I contacted AMS hoping they might work with me on a repair solution. Unfortunately, I was told the only option available was to return the guitar. What made this even more disappointing is that this open-box unit was priced about $200 higher than comparable demo/open-box versions of the same guitar from other major retailers.

After reading the reviews on AMS’s own product page, I also noticed several other customers mentioning the exact same sharp fret issue, which suggests this is not an isolated case.

To be fair, customer service was polite and did offer the option to return the instrument. However, I expected more willingness to stand behind the condition of a product described as a minor blemish.

The PRS SE NF5 itself is a great guitar, and aside from the fret issue it sounds and feels excellent. I plan to address the fret work myself, but because of how this situation was handled, I’ve decided not to continue doing business with AMS once my current transactions are completed.

Date of experience: Mar 04, 2026