What are acceptible standards for bookmatched top on solid sprouce

[Guitar1969]

I bought an acoustic for my 10 year old son for his Bday. A Fender CA360CSE Auditorium Acoustic Electric. Its normally a $400 street price guitar but due to a pricematching I got it for $289. He's been playing for about a year and at his level I wanted to get him something a bit nicer than a starter guitar, but not spend too much. It is a pretty good deal for the price- Solid Sprouce Top, Solid Mahogany back and laminate sides , and fishman electronics. It sounds pretty good - A little bright for my taste but I was figuring I could tone it down with some phospher bronze strings(It has just bronzes on there now) after I give it to him

I like the guitar but one thing I noticed right away is the top doesn't seem to be bookmatched very well - I am not sure if the picture shows, but it almost looks like 2 different pieces of wood was used. My question is from a cosmetic standpoint, are there any expectations that the 2 pieces should match in color. I bought it online so I don't want to go through the hassle if I am out of line. One of the downsides of buying online is not seeing the guitar beforehand Are all tops expected to be bookmatched and both sides look similar if they are solid sprouce?

[Mark Wein]

I would think they should be closer, but I don't know whats acceptable at that price point. Personally I'd send it back but will your son be bummed? If he's happy I'd probably let it go....When I sold Fenders I had a Thinline with the grain at an almost 90 degree angle between pieces.

[Guitar1969]

I am going to send it back for exchange. I have not given it to him yet and still have time before his Bday. I know in the grand scheme of things it is not an expensive guitar, but this is considered one of fender's mid range acoustic guitars. On cheaper guitars at least the manufacturer can match wood tops. Maybe things like this is why Fender is not taken seriously in the acoustic world.

I see my son getting more into electric so my thoughts are he will use this acoustic for awhile as it will be his only acoustic, so I want to get it right at this point.

[Help!I'maRock!]

i don't think bookmatching matters nearly as much as how it sounds. you could get a guitar that looks great but has other problems like a lifting bridge. if it plays well, sounds good, and feels solid, those are the things that matter.

[Denverdave]

I am going to send it back for exchange. I have not given it to him yet and still have time before his Bday. I know in the grand scheme of things it is not an expensive guitar, but this is considered one of fender's mid range acoustic guitars. On cheaper guitars at least the manufacturer can match wood tops. Maybe things like this is why Fender is not taken seriously in the acoustic world.

I see my son getting more into electric so my thoughts are he will use this acoustic for awhile as it will be his only acoustic, so I want to get it right at this point.

I have seen a bunch of guitars with solid tops at that price point and generally the top match is a lot better than that. It is going to be really cheap spruce in that range, but that is definitely over the line and into unacceptable. Sending it back is the right thing. Generally that kind of mismatched spruce would be used when the guitar is finished over with a solid finish. The wood looks don't matter then.