



Black residue on the pickup pole pieces of a brand-new Cort Action PJ — should I return it?
I recently bought a brand-new Cort Action PJ bass and noticed some black marks/residue on several of the pickup pole pieces. One of the marks was also transferred onto the protective plastic film that covered the pickup.
I tried gently wiping the pole pieces with a dry microfiber cloth, but the remaining marks won’t come off. The bass seems to sound and work normally.
Does this look like normal wax potting, varnish, or manufacturing residue, or could it be corrosion? Is it harmless and purely cosmetic, or would you return/exchange a new bass because of this?
I’ve attached close-up photos of the pole pieces and the protective film. Thanks!