This is indicative of a nitro cellulose lacquer finish. All made in USA Gibby's use lacquer. This type of finish is not as flexible as the catalyzed urethane used by just about all other companies. Even Fender on their "nitro" guitars use a grain sealer and initial base coat that is a urethane based finish to avoid this. Only the true "reissue" vintage stuff is finished the old-school way. Over time lacquer shrinks back, gets brittle, and will check (i.e. crack) and chip easily. It can also dull. Given enough age / time the lacquer will sink into the grain even if Gibson used plenty of grain filler. IMHO this is normal aging of a lacquer finish.Technically I don't think there is any actual failure at the neck joint or where the nut is on either guitar. Most other guitars finished with either catalyzed urethane or UV cured urethane don't crack as the urethane will "stretch" a bit with the expansion / contraction of the different materials with the heat cold / humid / less humid cycles during the seasons. Fender players deal with "fret sprout" all the time as in the winter the wood tends to dry out a bit and then shrink back enough for the fret ends to feel sharp and pronounced. This is due to the humidity content in the wood when built "new" being higher than when it stabilized where the guitar now lives. Neither Fender nor the owner did anything wrong. It's just the nature of a product made from natural materials. Even with a urethane finish, sometimes there are finish cracks. Fender Strats & Teles can get these cracks near the neck pocket. The wood isn't cracked through or anything, rather is't the finish either stretching too much at this point or it was too thick. In both cases IMHO you are seeing the normal expansion / contraction of the wood over the seasons and temperature changes. The paddle neck joint is glued only in the pocket, not out to the edges. So some expansion / contraction of the wood will happen here. So the lacquer gives and creates a finish crack. This is not a neck failure by any means and I have seen it a lot. For this joint area either you can live with it, or it can have a simple repair. Usually butyl cellosolve or diluted clear nitro (diluted with lacquer thinner) can be drop-filled into the area. Lacquer can be re-flowed by solvents and as such if done by a competent person can be touched up to the point of never seeing the repair. There is always some risk of ghosting or if the crack is really deep the underlying dye or stain can be affected. The nut is a different story. Gibson uses an extremely strong "glue" the is borderline epoxy for their nut. The nut material is very similar to Corian counter top material. It is designed so that their production Plek machine can slot the nut, not for longevity (IMHO). They actually bond in the nut along with the binding before the guitar is finished. So the lacquer covers the slot where the nut is glued in. You have a joint here where mahogany, rosewood or ebony, corian (or whatever Gibby uses) and the plastic of the binding all meet. As such they all have different expansion and contraction rates. I have also seen this area chip / flake / crack the finish. Repairing the lacquer alone won't fix it as it will just happen again. Usually I dremel and chisel out the "corian" nut, clean it down to bare wood, and hand make a bone nut. Then repair the lacquer so there is no finish over the nut edge. If done right it will resemble what Gibson used to do back in the day. A lot of these issues are caused by Gibson "Tradition" (i.e. all USA Gibby's use Nitro Lacquer still), and some "short cuts" in they way they are manufactured to save time / labor. The question is do you accept it and either get it repaired / modified or live with it. Over time the lacquer on both of these "new" guitars is going to age. The lacquer will yellow, shrink, and get brittle. It's just what it does. At some point the guitar will become "stable" and none of these issues will progress any more. Then is the time to sort it out if your super picky about a perfect finish. But I'll tell you 100% that no matter how well you care for either of these guitars, with Nitro Lacquer at some point it's going to age. Don't get me wrong, Gibson has a lot of areas they need to improve on. IMHO it's insane that an Epiphone in many cases can have BETTER build quality than a USA made Gibson. Certainly for the money they charge (and keep raising the prices on). At any rate, hope this helps and I hope you keep both guitars. They look and sound wonderful. As for my background, I'm not talking out of my ass here. I used to build and repair guitars running my own shop. I have also gone to school for Guitar Lutherie and am a member of the Guild of American Luthiers. Been to the Heritage factory in Kalamazoo Michigan serval time. IMHO they make better Gibsons than Gibby does now as it's the same building with many of the same people and tooling as Gibson used back before their move. You should check them out sometime. Cheers! Take care! Mike
What the heck man, my brain is fried after reading almost everything. Trying to understand lots of words and maybe technically stuff. I don't even master guitar playing, nor english is my native language, but I do appreciate the time to explain it. I want to buy a new guitar and was thinking about buying a Gibson to play punk and metalcore, so I took this video as a warning sign....anywway, thanks again.
I totally concur *Mike.* My Strat Deluxe had cracks around the neck pocket - It turned out that the four neck screws had stripped threads !! How the hell that happend is beyond me - Probably someone took the neck off and then overtightened the screws on refitting. The upshot being, that the neck was flapping around in the wind - around an 1/8th inch movement at the nut, which in turn caused the pearlescent finish (Jeff Beck Signature body) to crack at the heel joint. The paint finish on the end of the heel pocket completely delaminated. No cracks in the Alder beneath though. . Solution - I dowled and re-drilled the neck holes and fitted stainless-steel, high-torque screws - Stannah screws to be precise, used to secure outdoor stairlifts to granite steps! The neck is now solid as a glued joint, I could paddle the Atlantic with it ! . My Gibson Victory (1982 vintage) shows the very same joint line and crack in the finish that follows the neck joint on the upper side. The neck is solid though. My 1979 Gibson RD Artist has no such issues. Both Gibsons are made of slabs of rock-maple (both maple necks too, the RD has an ebony FB, whilst the Victory has a RW board). . My PRS S2 Semi-hollowbody is *perfect*.
Maybe the wood wasn't given enough time to rest? Under a lot of pressure from gluing, dremel tooling, shaping, the wood develops internal stress and it needs time to adjust itself to a balance point. But that's just my postulation.
The neck line happens on nearly every Gibson and is nothing to worry about. It's just something to expect. What happens is over time the nitro finish will 'sink' around the neck join line and then you'll see what you're seeing. There is no 'movement' in the heel joint. You can tell the difference between natural aging and 'trama' if there is a jagged line instead of a clean straight mark like you have. Same thing on that nut. What you're seeing is where the nut/fretboard truly ends and the neck begins so once again - not movement, just the finish finding the small gaps between materials. Those lines are predominately visible on solid colored finishes. Something else you might see over time as these guitars age are little 'cracks' along the binding where the frets end. Those happen because of fret sprout with seasonal changes. Something that is very common to see, but if you never take them out of the house you'll likely have no worries on seeing those. Thin nitro finishes will do all this. Things like epiphone wont because they are poly finished. Most PRS have very thick finishes as well. Gibson honors tradition and they build their guitars the way they did in the 50s. There are just some things you have to live with while upholding that tradition. Are they defects that need to be repaired? No. You'll devalue your guitar if you did. Do the lines kind of suck? Yes. Is it ok not to like Gibson guitars because of the finish they use. Sure. But let's not spread widespread fear over something small.
Thanks for the reply and info, I really appreciate it! Having used Gibson on and off for the past 20 years (and many other nitro finished guitars), I never had this cracking on any of my other instruments. In the end, Gibson have themselves in a bit of a bind - they can't really widely promote/educate regular people on the fact that (by their own choice) the finishes will likely crack on their very expensive guitars, while all their principal competition's guitars will likely not (I have nitro on a Strat, Tele, PRS, and Gretsch that are all fine). Either way, after watching this video, people will know and make their own purchases accordingly. If they do not want to deal with finish cracks they can choose to avoid Gibson; those who don't mind will be good to go :)
Totally agree on the nut finish cracking common as dirt. But the neck finish cracking is not. Darrell is correct there is movement. The crack on the Db cut looks fairly jagged too, I thought.
Fender, American Telecaster (actually the Mexican Teles are awesome as well) play your gig, use it as a weapon in a bar fight, plug back in=still in tune.
A couple days ago i was jamming with my dad, when he went to plug in his Strat, the strap fell off and sent his guitar's headstock into the floor, it still was in one piece and in tune when he picked it back up XD
Hah! That's one of the first thoughts I had as well. Collectors in the 22nd century will pay top dollar for models with the "signature Gibson finish cracks."
@@jomesias prog metal is my main genre, ive wanted a les paul because adam jones plays one but he plays a gibson les paul, which i cannot afford. i know epiphone has good les pauls at an affordable price tho
meme chef the epi prophecy series are pretty nice for metal, still expensive for the new ones though and really heavy. You’re paying more for the cosmetics. Honestly if you definitely want a les Paul and don’t care about the Gibson name, just get an epi standard and slap some Seymour Duncan invaders in it. I’m into newer stuff like Mastodon, Protest the Hero, etc and a little thrash metal and the invaders work great for that stuff. In my opinion there’s really no point in paying for active pickups like EMG unless you’re using a high quality tube amp.
they havent yet .they just created a war on American Eccomony . and it all started with a 19 cent Bic Pen then the beach boys made a song about a Honda . toyota Datson these fks were like cats .. Give em a bowl of milk they wont leave now they own 70 % of America and the ecconomy ..
That's understandable, however the average guitar player/hobbyist/collector isn't going to do that to a guitar that they just bought for $600+. It's very unreasonable for someone to design it that way when the individual buying the guitar is only going to enjoy the instrument by playing and displaying it.
I bought a Gibson Les Paul that was previously owned by a band I like. It stayed in the case most of the time while I played my strat. In 2009 I sold it for half what I paid to a guy who hadn't heard of the band. Job losses suck.
The problem with Gibson is that it's not "yesterday's guitar," it's a pathetic knock-off based on yesterday's marvellous guitar. If they continued making "yesterday's guitar," they'd still be an awesome company. People buy that guitar because they want "yesterday's guitar," they want what Pete Townshend and Noel Gallagher play (yes, I know he started with Epiphone), but they don't get that.
I agree Gibson went through a rough patch with QC and are now rebuilding that craftsmanship they once had. My gibby LP is luckily a good one with no finish issues and almost didn't buy it because of the the 2k price tag. But yes it is definitely worth it and epi's are good, but are a world of difference.
I used to own a second hand guitar shop. I had many Gibsons come thru in the few years I was open. I don't really remember seeing any Gibsons that didn't have one or the other of the problems you show in this video. I can tell you that whenever one walked thru the door first thing I would do is check to see if the headstock had ever come off and often times my offer was based on the quality of the repair that was done to re-attach it. It often amazes me that a company like Gibson has never addressed the inherent design flaws in their instruments and instead opted to spend more effort on lawsuits against other companies who have. I agree with you Darrell I'll never buy another Gibson either.
I'm a luthier and have already had SG's come into my repair shop where I was able to lightly pull the neck completely off the body. I know I'm no the only guy that's seen this happen. The neck pickup rout removes most of the neck pocket's glued surface area making some of the worst neck joints in history (even on pieces of American History like Gibson Guitars) - overall pioneers but lazy when it comes to simple design things like "How about rout the neck pocket away" idea. So dumb. As far as the hackjob nuts and fretwork, that's just laziness. Thanks for the video I just subscribed.
@@richardwitherow5289 I'm def not a luthier, but I can say that I am very happy with the tuning stability of my PRS Custom SE guitars. Stoptail and trem bridge stay in tune for me nicely. I don't actually use the tremelo, so I can't say how much that affects the stability of that guitar...
Thanks for saying that , it's true , found problems with Gibson's made in China as well , I won't ever buy a Gibson , great guitars made at one time , but Gibson's not the only ones I had a Ltd that did the same , what's the best guitar for 2000$ price range ,?
This happened to my V in the exact same place. Gibson told me it was common for it to happen there, which is not a great way to deal with flaws in your builds.
So they admit it's common for their 3k overpriced guitars to have fundamental flaws that most other guitars don't have? Yeah, never buying another Gibson
I had a V that had the exact same problem.. That and the tuning was MASSIVELY unstable sold that POS and bought an Ibanez RGA and never looked back. I will never spend that much on a Gibson when a 300.00 guitar buried that 1200.00 V and that was the cheap mid price back then.
@@gregdiprinzio9280, the saying is "Besides that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the PLAY?" You should have gone with "Besides that Mrs. Kennedy, did you enjoy the trip to Dallas?
@@marineman2298 I stand corrected. Probably best to buy a used Gibson then if you don't mind cosmetic flaws. For me, the whole point of new is the idea that the guitar can stay cosmetically pristine, or close to it, if I take care of it and don't mistreat it. If the paint must crack in a short period of time no matter how I treat it, there's either a quality control problem or a design flaw. If one of those two things exist, there's no justifying a high price, especially when the nut is plastic, the body swiss-cheesed and the fretboard lined with countertop material.
You completely missed the irony of my joke, after Gibson tried to sue Dean Guitars. For the record... My glass is neither half empty or full. Already filled my glass, so I got another glass lol!!!!! Take care friend!!!
Rocco, in a face there is movement where there should be movement. Whereas in that Gibson guitars, there is movement where there should be no movement :)
They are way better in some means the woodwork is 10xs better. Hardware and electronics are junk but that we can fix. U can not fix a 17 degree raked neck like on those lol
Nothing wrong with owning and playing a Chinese made guitar, especially nowadays that China is getting better at making reasonable quality things for quite cheap.
@@rockthecasbahs Yeah, seriously. I just got my Chickenbacker in the post - it blew all my expectations. Stunning guitar, plays well, very good frets. Needs minor adjustments, and hardware upgrades, then it'll be as good as a Ric in my eyes
I had the same issue with my epiphone LP. I sent it back to the retailer, as they said the would correct it. It sent it via FedEx. I insured it for $1000, the value of the guitar. However when it arrive at Sweetwater the headstock was completely broken off. (The issue was cracking in the finish) I reported this to FedEx. FedEx then wanted the signature of who signed for it along with video of it being delivered and their packaging being open. Dont know if anyone videos a FedEx delivery. FedEx then denied the claim. Sweetwater (the best company and customer service in the world) stepped up and replaced my guitar. I only purchase from them now. Well guitar stuff anyway. Moral of the story dont use FedEx!!!!!!!
Jon Amaral I too had a FedEx close encounter when medication was to be sent to my wife prior to her Caribbean cruise. “ when it absolutely positively has to get there overnight” was the advertisement. In my case it didn’t leave the shipping facility for 2 days. Turned out I retrieved the meds and flew down to Florida from NYC to hand deliver them myself. Moral of the story: use FedEx at your own risk.
It was Sweetwater that didn't have an unboxing. Being that they use this vendor to ship almost all of their equipment, unless the customer requests a different shipper. They must have assumed everything would be ok with fed ex
I’ve started buying $200-$300 guitars and upgrading hardware and tweaking minor imperfections. I feel I end up with a quality instrument for less $’s. For a company like Gibson to deliver this quality is insulting.
agreed. I changed my whole outlook and buy lower end Fenders, upgrade the pickups, wiring, all hardware to better after market stuff of my choosing, and end up with a much finer guitar.
Right picked up a squire tele love it so surprise with the weight I've held squire strats there so light not my tele nice slab of wood will upgrade tuners but right now it stays in tune I'm just happy with it
I am old enough to be your father and have played gibsons and fenders before they were collectible. Living in New England with all its drastic temperature and humidity changes I see what you have all the time. Not only in guitars but any wood product from furniture to flooring etc. These are not stress cracks or signs of defects but natural occurrences because wood will always move with the climate. Sometimes it shrinks, expands etc. Nitro lacquer moves as well and takes forever to cure. Unlike plastic based finishes on your epiphone and other guitars lacquer takes forever to really harden. During that time it shrinks, moves and cracks. It is also very susceptible to finish cracks. Gibson bakes its finishes to speed the process but it just gets the guitar to the store faster. It doesn't harden the finish completely which still has to age.l. Its a catch 22., We want the tone of lacquer but the durability of a poly. Now compound this with the fact that Mahogany isa more porous than a hardwood like maple so it is likely to exhibit these changes more than maple or alder. I am not a gibson fanboy by any means, in fact prefer strats, but this time its not gibson's fault. Those cracks do not suggest your nut is coming off or your neck has to be reset. All it shows is that your mahogany based guitars are moving slightly which is normal, that's why they have neck adjustments, and the finish is hardening and shrinking with age, Good luck and just enjoy playing them., Fortunately our fingers can't see so it shouldn't bother them at all!
"We want the tone of lacquer" ?!?!?! Bwah ha ha ha ...that is almost as good as tone wood!!! Also if nitro lacquer takes so long to cure it should NOT crack. Those are not finish cracks, they would appear randomly everywhere... not on the high stress area of the neck body interface. And yes you are a Gibson fan-boy.
I have a hard time believing in the so called tone of the finish of any guitar. It's a myth. As for Gibson's quality issues, give me a cheap guitar; at least they have an excuse. Gibsons are overpriced and they take advantage of their former reputation for being a quality instrument. Bah!
@@nickzaragoza9368 boiling strings isn't really a myth, it is used to remove crud from used strings to make them sound brighter just a little longer. There is no benefit to boiling them out of the package. And doing it to renew strings isn't really great anyway, they don't last much longer and it won't fix dents from frets on the underside.
Darrell I was a huge Gibson Custom shop dealer (store manager) back in the mid 90’s. eBay had come out by then so we were able to move a lot of guitars all over the world relatively cheap at the time. Problem was… quality. Our Hamer’s, Ibanez’s, Peavey’s, Epiphones, etc we’re great, out of the box! All we did was replace strings, set intonation and tune up. Gibson Custom Shop was a horror story… some of our customers were very distinguished and placed orders for their custom Gibby’s based solely on our reputation at the time. As soon as the Gibson Custom orders came into our shop we were shocked to find all kinds of issues with Quality. Intonation and string height in outer space! Electronics were soldered by 3rd graders etc. etc. We had to spend at least 2-4 hours on our Custom Shop guitars just to be playable. Very Sad. Our reputation was on the line so sometimes we hid these guitars from our customers until we could fix all these problems. Luckily we knew what we were doing.
Heel cracks are normal. Same with the nut. There’s no movement, it’s just the finish shrinking. Your guitar will not break, and it isn’t a sign of breaking parts. The finish is where the parts are connected, so that’s why it cracks around the buy and heel. You may find out shortly that it happens all the way down the neck binding. Don’t worry about it.
Granville Friel yes. Epiphone guitars have polyurethane finish so they do not shrink. Some fender guitars have nitro finish but they do not have any neck glue joints that can be disrupted.
Exactly That635guy, was going to post this if I could not find a good comment about it. Spot on. Nothing is moving, finish shrinkage. This should posted as top post. It still sucks, but nothing is moving Darrell. Love your channel too BTW, thank you!
People treat something very differently when they've paid money for it. They'll go to great lengths to justify something they already purchased while something unproven is easy to critique.
I had an SG for about 6 months, looked cool, sounded like an SG fun to play sitting down. I didn't like the way it fit me, the neck dive was too much for me when standing, but it was also very poorly made. It needed a COMPLETE setup upon purchase (not not just a minor string height adjustment) but the main issue was the soldering of the pickups was so bad that after about 5 months of home use (3-4 hours per week at home) the wires came loose and the sound went in and out. It looked like someone had just poured a cup solder in the cutouts for the wires and pickups. I repaired and sold it a week later to buy an American Strat with money left over. I have seen vastly better build quality on my $220 Squire and my $300 Harley Benton. And with what Gibson charges, these things should look more like my $2,000 PRS, which is absolutely immaculate in build quality.
Hey Big Knuckle, I'm at desperation point with a Gibson that never stays in tune. Does your PRS have excellent tuning stability? I'm thinking of buying one.
@@salintium That has zero bearing on his choice of guitars. He owns a GLP, but isnt a fan? If you believe that, let me sell you some grease for your muffler bearings...
@@robspear03 i need to buy some grease for my muffler bearing, and some horn fluid. My car seems to be acting up but walmart doesnt carry these items, can I buy them from you good sir?
I've had a long 20 year struggle to find a Gibson guitar that I really love, but without too many issues. However, with all the other AWESOME guitars out there, I have to ask myself "why do I care so much?" I think its just time for me to be done!
Darrell Braun Guitar 🎸I can’t say I blame you, Darrell. After seeing your two Gibson’s, I wouldn’t be lining up to get one, that’s for sure. With Gibson you’re paying for the iconic name but poor workmanship. Who needs that? If I was shelling out a few grand on a new axe, it would be a PRS or something from the Fender Custom Shop. Just my 2 cents. Great 👍 video. Love your work! 👏
There is no shame at this point buying Mexican and over seas...there luthiers either care more ...or fender and gibson seem to have issues with quality regarding supply and demand
I have a 40 year old les paul thats always had those cracks. Trust me, me and a buddy of mine who is troglys guitar show here on UA-cam know all about this stuff. Dont know why it does it. But Its nothing to worry about. Just a gibson thing....
cracks on guitars at this price point is not acceptable...i've played Schecters for years and never seen a crack like this on any of them, and they're 1/3 the cost....this is clearly a quality control issue...
He lives in Canada. It could be the air moisture causing it. I only have one guitar, and it’s a cheap acoustic. But at my school we have 3 humidifiers to keep the air moist during the winter months
I have a Schecter C1 custom about two and a half years old same problem crack at the neck joint. Love the guitar. I have a C1 Hellraiser same age no problems. Love it just the same.
What I love about you Darrell is that you are very honest with every brand and you give detailed explanations of everything. I come to your channel FIRST when looking for reviews on any piece of equipment.
Man, for something like a Les Paul, literally almost every single company makes a better quality product for a fraction of the cost, with more finish and hardware options. Hell, even the "cheapo" Chinese eBay guitars have better quality control than Gibson.
Red Scorpion 6 look for a pre 2015 Epiphone custom. They’re handmade in China with the same materials but thousands less than their Gibson counterparts
I can forgive a lot of defects if a guitar has "that special something", and I have done so. But when dropping $$$$ on a new guitar, there's no excuse for that kind of silliness.
I've only ever bought one Gibson in my life; a Gibson Les Paul Modern in pelham blue back in December of last year (2019). Brand new, plays and sounds fantastic. I've now had it less than 7 months and the front of the guitar looks like someone took a metal comb to it. Cracks in the finish around the volume and tone knobs, the bridge, the toggle switch. Some are an inch or so long, others run nearly the full front of the guitar. It stays in one room where the temperature is a constant from about 68 to 75 degrees. I never thought I'd pay this much for a guitar only to have it look this way 6 months later. 6 years later...perhaps, but not this soon. I'm upgrading my silverburst Epi tomorrow with the SD hot rodded humbucker set. I personally will never again spend that much money on a Gibson. This Epiphone has such a good finish and feel that with the right pickups it'll be so close to a Gibson. So the Gibson has a traditional nitro finish. So what.....the guitar looks like crap and it's less than a year old. Still plays and sounds exceptional, but for the money an upgraded Epi is a much better deal, or put humbuckers in a Strat, or get an Ibanez or some other brand. Lesson learned.
Isn’t Gibson still offering their “five year warranty”? Have you tried returning it via the dealership, or contacting Gibson yourself? Just wondering what the other part of the story (getting some resolution to the problem) is? If it all happened within a year of purchase, and to that extent, that’s got to be considered construction/production flaws that SHOULD be covered under warranty- imagine if that was a car! What a bummer, sorry to hear that…
If some checking bothers you so much just buy a poli finished guitar, it's not like the guitar is tearing itself apart of something..., it's something you just have to know, also, metalic finishes like yours are way more likely to check than regular ones, anyway, they didn't have the best QC before they changed ownership
I made a kit SG about 25 years ago and finished with nitro and mine doesn't have that problem, maybe I could show Gibson where they went wrong and make them great again...lmao
As a lot of good people have wasted a lot of hard earned $ on what should be a "pride & joy" purchase I have changed my mind & decided to share a little knowledge for free. It's simple - the solvent in the lacquer is dissolving the glue in the joins - leaving a mix of glue/lacq both in the join & in the finish around the join. Compromising both join & finish. For example automotive lacquers have extra strong solvents designed to key into modern hard plastic bumpers, guards etc. Some so potent even epoxy glues can be dissolved. Heat may also play an important part. Heating during the spraying(curing) process can soften many glues & also cause the solvent to be driven out of the lacquer more aggressively - into the softened glue. The softening of the glue can also be influenced by the time between gluing & finishing - in a production environment the glue may only be a day or 2 old. Most glues will tell you quite clearly to allow 7 days for complete cure. How do I know this - simply by phoning the chemists at Glazurit & the chemists at Techniglue(epoxy). Fixing this in a guitar would involve the removal of the neck & probably refinishing - more trouble & money than the instrument is worth. This is clearly a very serious manufacturing fault - & should be rectified by the manufacturer replacing all the instruments with this fault. Personally if Gibson refuse to co-operate I would get as many owners together as possible to discuss a class action. Sorry about the bad news. I look forward to more great, informative vids from you in the future. Cheers, Dean.
That's a very good argument. Gibson is, and has been, using deficient manufacturing processes either out of incompetence or greed, that have produced products of inferior quality, and then selling them at an unreasonable price point. Filling a class action against Gibson would really be something I would love to see.
Careful what you wish for. Issues aside, there’s no real replacement for the sound of a proper Les Paul or SG. They have a very distinct sound that other guitars mimic with varying degrees of success, but very few nail. I’d hate to lose that over some finishing issues.
:-D :-D Anyone who's "through with " a fine instrument like Gibson is between a rock and a hard place.. I look for them to eat their words in the future
I played les pauls and 335's for years, I had a 59 custom shop reissue that was without doubt the best guitar that Ive ever played, but their new stuff is junk, I honestly wouldnt buy it if it was a tenth of the price. Gibson really need to take a long hard look at the materials that theyre using and their quality control. If they dont, they'll be history, and the price of the decent instruments still out their will sky rocket
I never gave my Gibson Les Paul enough time to break. After all, it arrived with three tone knobs, scratchy electronics, a huge blemish in the stain, a stripped strap nut, a crooked neck, and a loose nut. NONE of my guitars from ANY other manufacturer were ever as poorly made as that Gibson. I've owned plenty of instruments, from all around the budget spectrum. I take care of every guitar I have. None have disappointed me as much as that Gibson. Yes, I would've seen these issues had I bought the instrument from a local store, but even online purchases have been more reliable than this one. Yes, every brand can ship a dud, but this thing was supposedly inspected before being shipped out. Gibson lost me as a customer. I'll happily keep buying from pretty much anyone else. I think my next LP might be an Eastman, or something similar.
Sold Gibsons for years and got sick if this happening. $5500 for a guitar then the customer comes back with cracks down the neck at heel at nut...I gave up selling them..this is just one reason Gibson is in its situation. Great sounding bad finish high price! Crazy!!
From what year to what year did you sell them?Was it all Gibson product lines?Are the older Gibson's susceptible to this issue?Thanks for your time and effort.
You can tell he's not a player who maintains his own guitars because literally every guitar gets that at some point. Especially when there's not much wood surrounding the join.
I bought a Gibson U2 Superstrat in 1992. I still have it, and it shows (and has always showed) the joint of the neck to the body on the 19th fret. It is not cracked though. But the joint is visible and can be felt. It goes down from the fretboard to the bottom of the neck and then on the other side straight up to the fretboard again. That is to say: if this is a joint; because this would be a stupid way to make a joint. You would glue end grain wood to end grain wood. That just won't hold (I am a woodworker and I also restore and repair guitars). The guitar is still straight as a ruler and shows no cracks or other faults. So apart from that it shows a visible line: no problems there. But that line has always intrigued me. I have another problem though; when i play it, after a while the neck becomes sticky from the 'grease' of my thumb. This influences the speed in which you can play. I have to clean it once or twice in between if I want to play a whole evening. Annoying on stage. I have quite a lot of guitars (I may have overdone it a bit...) and really: not one other guitar shows this problem. Does anyone else have this problem with a Gibson (or other) guitar? I thought about sanding it and spraypainting it, but then it would not be original anymore. (And I still want to change the pickups, because the tone is so (80's) sharp, but then again, then it will not be original anymore...) Another bit of nitpicking: the polepieces of the humbucker are exactly in place, the polepieces of the single coil pickups ar not exactly centered underneath the snares. They are only 1 millimeter off, but still; for a guitar in this pricerange that does not seem right. It dos not seem to effect the sound though. So my Gibson is in great shape after 40 years. Repairing guitars, I also saw a lot of Gibson's. I must say that the newer guitars are (in my humble opinion) not very well build. Rough, problems with the spacing, badly polished fretwork. Not acceptable for the price. The electric guitars who amazed me are the Ibanez. Even the cheap ones are very well build. (I do not own a Ibanez, they don't appeal to me. But the build quality is very good.)
Somebody 111 the kit will come with a body, you can have them pre-painted. Pre-drilled. Or if you're feeling extra custom. ESP custom shop may be an option.
Back in the 1970s, Gibson, Fender, and maybe some other top-tier American guitar manufacturers began emulating suicidal American car companies in trying to sell their customers highly-priced crap and depending on a level of brand loyalty that just didn't exist. Gibson and Fender survived this madness, but as a result of it we have at least two lingering effects: The vintage guitar market and the import guitar market. Neither really existed before the 70s; vintage guitars were just "used" and imports most often sucked. The American companies had the "benefit" of bad timing as well, since they began marketing poor guitars at nearly the very same time that the imports were getting so good as to be almost the clones of the classic 50s instruments they were patterned after. Now, lo these many years later, it seems that Gibson has forgotten this dark period in the company's existence. NO ONE is going to pay top dollar for a product that is not worth every penny! Why pay Gibson for junk when, as you say Darrell, Epiphone has perfectly good and very well made guitars at affordable prices? There is, of course, other competition as well. Got the bucks? Score a PRS Core model. If you need to, you can step to an S2 or even an SE and be good to go. There are a number of Gibson imitators out there, some of whom make good stuff, and if that doesn't work for you, there is always the aforementioned used guitar market. Come on, Gibson! Having a real Gibson Les Paul is still on my bucket list, but if you want me looking at new stuff, then that new stuff had better be worth looking at AND BUYING! I don't believe in "brand loyalty" -- it only serves the brand! You need to discover "customer loyalty" -- take care of us or we WILL NOT take care of you. Sad, but true.
@@Zettel9016 Thank YOU, my friend. I just hope that someone at Gibson sees these words or some like them and manages to act properly to save the company. Time is running out!
Gibson is still making some fine guitars and their quality control is not as bad as many people seem to think it is, comparing Epiphones and Gibsons is nonsense, there are as many differences as there are similarities, Epiphones are the budget line and Gibsons are the upper end line. Yes, some of the highest cost Epiphones compare well with the lowest costing Gibsons, the Epiphones have more eye candy:, binding, shiny poly finishes and upgraded pickups while the bottom end Gibsons don't have binding, have satin lacquer finishes, etc... but the Gibsons are still using the same woods as the expensive models and are built on the same equipment that are building the expensive models, and come standard with quality pickups and hardware that are upgrades for other brands. When Epiphone makes flamed wood grain top it is veneer, when Gibson makes one it is carved wood, etc... The demand for Gibsons has grown while the production techniques have stayed the same, so with the higher number of instruments being produced there are going to be some that slip through the quality control system that shouldn't have, but that doesn't mean that Gibsons are junk and not worth buying anymore, all companies mass producing things make a lemon here and there... the buyer just has to be selective and careful before they pay for it or decide not to return it if was an online purchase. You can buy also Strat styled guitars that are every bit as well made and playable as a Fender, but hey, they aren't a Fender. Part of what you're paying for is the brand, that is reality, whether you are buying a Fender or a Gibson.
@@troll1441 Unless you don't. On most of your points, T roll, we don't disagree. I have never meant to imply that Epiphone was anything but budget or Gibson anything but flagship. I do say, however, that even if it is true that Gibsons remain better in quality than we have been led to believe, it is that belief that I was speaking to. Brand loyalty does not exist; the tendency is for the consumer to say, "What have you done for me lately?" If Gibson does not have an actual problem with quality control, then they have a problem in the perception that they DO have that problem. That can prove an even thornier problem, as how to PROVE the non-existence of a problem that never existed? They have to work 3 times as hard to REGAIN customer trust as they do to WIN it in the first place, making that trust a vital resource to the company. That I I see some of the comments made is proof to me that Gibson has, at least, that deadly perception problem.😱 Of course, one REAL type of proof come when a customer gets a Gibson in hand; then the guitar can prove itself. This is where the rubber REALLY meets the road! My point was that with customer PERCEPTION of quality taking a hit, Gibson has to put in that work proving that the guitars are worthy of their prices. This is a one-on-one thing, with Gibson having to win that battle and make that sale much more often than not to see the profit the company needs. Quality issues, whether real or imagined, put stress on the company's bottom line. Fixing the perception problem is a long term issue that has to be backed up consistently by the sustained high quality of the company's products. Doing anything less gives the buyer less reward in trying "just one more" Gibson and not moving on to one of the alternatives. With competition as fierce as it is in 2019's guitar-land, Gibson must do as much as possible to make those sales and not miss a trick.🤔
My first problem with Gibson was the high prices. Then after I graduated from College I worked in a music store. We were a Gibson franchisee and at one point we had six Gibsons. EVERY one of them needed a full fret leveling job which the shop's guitar repairman had to do. He applied to Gibson for at lest some reimbursement for the labor - but Gibson refused! Between the quality control issues, Gibson's refusal to acknowledge them, and Gibson's outrageous stock requirements - we had to buy 20 Gibsons within a six month period - we decided it was time to ditch Gibson. This took place 20 years ago and there was no indication that Gibson over the years had rectified anything. Also Gibson boosted prices outrageously and continually so the store gave up its franchise. I have never had a Gibson nor will I ever purchase one - Gibson is just too elitist for me!
Verry common story Robert... Henry has been charge since his investor group rebirthed Gibson following the horrid Nolin years (late 60s to early 80s). We're entering into a new post Henry era and hopefully things will change. What I love about Gibson is how enduring the brand is. It's the players and the factory workers who have kept the brand alive, not the management or executive team behind the company.
@@valgrathblak Interesting point! I hadn't thought about it but this does seem to be the tactic they are using. Hopefully, maybe not in the future now that Henry J. is out.
I’ve repaired three SGs that have had that exact same issue. One where the neck completely came dislodged. Seems as if the glue just slowly broke down or wasn’t a clean application and after some minor abuse and bouncing around in cases decided to let go.
With all the new glues that continue to come out, I'd bet Gibson is using some old glue. It's amazing that with Gibson's voracious acquisitions of different industries they can't fix the problems with their flagship business. Oh well.
Bought a 2019 AUTHENTIC Gibson, and the same issues developed in a short amount of time, along with other issues that would never have passed Quality Control in ANY other factory. If you have a good 2019 Gibson, either you're very lucky or paid over $5,000. Gibson's best days are far behind them.
Boondoggle what do they get what right? There are fundamental design flaws with Gibsons, many of which they’ve never tried to fix in any meaningful way. From weight, to headstock tilt, to upper fret access, to neck dive, it’s just not a comfortable guitar to sit and practice with or play live. Not to mention it doesn’t stay in tune as well as other cheaper, better designed guitars. Don’t even get me started on the quality control issues, which were abhorrent for a company that charges a massive premium. With so many great options out there today, there’s no real reason to buy such a flawed design.
@Boondoggle For your one guitar being done right, how many did they get wrong? How many people have had to deal with terrible quality and design for your instrument to be good? There is absolutely no reason a Les Paul (or any Gibson) should cost as much as they do. So many companies offer better quality and design, more finish and hardware options, better customer support, and don't charge an absurd premium. Gibson is using their name alone to keep pumping out an overpriced design which they have barely improved at all in over 60 years. For the price of a standard Les Paul, I can get a Custom Shop Fender. Ludicrous.
@Boondoggle That is an incredibly closed-minded stance. Also, you're just plain incorrect. No other brand is sent in for headstock repairs as much as Gibson, thanks to the ridiculous break angle. The finishes are extremely brittle, and the options are limited at best. For $3000, there is no reason it can't be made in a neck-thru construction for better harmonics. The way they install the nut and paint over it is just another way to charge extra money during inevitable repairs. The nut is also made of shockingly low quality material for such a high-dollar item. The same quality can be found in high-end Epiphones, for a third of the price, with more options for personalization, AND regular improvements in the technology. The only reason you're denying any of it is because you're afraid to admit that you paid way too much money for an outdated guitar.
@@Chaps_Jr You make good points but so does he. It is kind of like the lottery with Gibsons, I have a 600-800$ Gibson I got used and it plays great for as long as I've had it which is roughly a year. But also you're right, they truly are leveraging their name and position in the guitar world to not offer improvements they could. Although like Boondoggle says, when they get it right they are quite nice instruments. But you're also right about the amount of Gibsons at least in the past that had to be done wrong for my one guitar to be nice is too high. As a company they are flawed, although when looked at individually a Gibson guitar can be amazing.
Dude, welcome to a true nitro finish. The different pieces of wood are expanding and contracting at different rates. Nitro is a very hard, brittle finish, and it will crack. Old nitro will crack if you bring your guitar inside from sub freezing weather and open the case too soon. Literally this is no big deal, it is not the pieces moving around, it is expansion and contraction.
Is this really correct? My 20 year old LPs don't have a neck joint crack, or any other cracking or chipping that I can't say, "Oh, my belt did that..." or "whoops, mic stand bonk!" From what I understand, the really brittle nitro was stopped in the late 60's when the EPA took out all the "REALLY toxic" ingredients. Also, nitro is constantly offgassing, so it's thinner today than it was yesterday, by however small amount, that builds up over the years. (which would actually be a nod to cracking easier... huh.) Finally, other "high end" guitars that use nitro simply don't have this problem. I'm not dumping on you bro, I'm here to learn just like everyone else, but I own several Gibson les pauls and the last one I bought will be the last one I buy. I swear it was a factory reject or something... absolute trash for darn near 7 grand... (Yes, I still have a bitter taste over that. F Gibson.)
Brand loyalty is blinding us; there are lots of better manufacturers. Despite what Trogly's said about the finish cracks at the neck joint, it's lame and unacceptable. I have a Midtown Standard - which I like a lot - with that same neck joint crack. It's lame. Gibson's overall quality of workmanship has taken a big dive since the early 00's👎
I agree. I wanted a true Gibson Les Paul my whole life, but since I couldn’t afford one, I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom. It’s fantastic. Since then I’ve added a PRS and an EVH Wolfgang, and a Strat. So now I’m thinking there is no reason I need to drop $3-5k on a Gibson LP. My Epiphone LP is plenty good enough, and 1/6th the price.
@@kevinmoor26 Many musicians grew up believing the myths about guitars. Example wood differences make different tone. How? the strings are metal going across an electronic magnetic field. Wood is not electromagnetic.
Madmike right but they’ve actually done double blind tests with Stradivarius instruments and when the results came in most musicians preferred the sound of more modern violins that weren’t Stradivarius. Yes the woods have different resonance and impart different sounds that still doesn’t mean that it sounds better because a more expensive wood is used or even if the instrument itself is more expensive. At this point Epiphone is just too good for the price. There is nothing that the Gibson has that’s imo worth the asking price.
Yup, my three sg’s have the same finish crack at the neck even the 2007 custom shop. Heavy strings and thin necks but It just cosmetic so I’m fine with it.
David, they suck but the lacquers so soft. I remember changing out pots on my 2005 tightened up the rings and thought nothing of it 2 years down the line and the checking is all the way across the bottom part of the body. It doesn’t take much.
Always been a Fender guy, but about 6 years ago wanted to add a Gibson to my collection. It was only a Studio, but was excited none the less. Quality was china.. with a horrible cut nut. A small block of wood and sawdust came out of the electronics cavity. You could feel a line going all the way up the neck where the rosewood meets the mahogany on the fret-board. Was the worst guitar ive ever had in my collection. I wanted to love it -but I aint stupid ..and so it went back the next day.
"wherever there are finish cracks there are movement" I mean this in the nicest way possible, and I realize you cannot hear a "tone" of a voice in a typed reply, so please understand I'm not trying to be confrontational. With that forward I'm Sorry to tell you that you're wrong. Nitro cracks over time due to the FINISH expanding and contracting from heat/cold/humidity/altitude changes. If your guitar isn't living in a 100% sealed and humidity & Temperature controlled room than living in its case or not it will react to its environment. Of course those cracks will appear where the wood joins or where there is any edge or cut - It's where the finish will be the thinnest, the first to respond, and the first to crack, and I highly doubt they were sanded down to 10K grit so that incudes the neck joint. ALL the cracks you show are finish cracks - and go no deeper than finish. If they were deeper you'd be able to see light in them with very light pressure from your hands. I've got multiple Gibson guitars that live in a unheated vehicle trailer year round - where it gets down to below freezing and as high as 100 degrees, and the altitude can change 5 times - sometimes all within the same month as we travel! While many exhibit the exact same finish cracks you show, NONE have ever broken, needed a neck reset, or had a nut fall out. I've never had a headstock break either. Every vintage guitar I've ever held generally has these same type of finish cracks. If you don't want nitro finish cracks you might consider sticking to poly finished guitars.
You know PRS uses nitro lacquer too? As do vintage styled Fenders, all of which Daniel plays and (presumably, from his statements in this and other videos) he has none of these issues with. I actually own a 1961 Gretsch in very nice condition for its age. It has checking in lots of places... but it doesn't have checking in a straight line where the nut joins the neck, nor where the neck joins the body. No, this is a QC issue unique to modern Gibsons, because if my guitar - which would be old enough to retire in a few years if it was alive - doesn't have finish breaks there, neither should a near-brand-new one.
@@adamski101 Fender and Gretsch are completely different animals, those are guitars mainly for vintage stuff (Fender has some exceptions though, I'm aware of that). Gibson has a lot of background, there's no arguing in that. But nowdays they charge way too much for what they offer quality-wise. I think PRS offers you a little bit more quality and versatility over Gibson. Everybody knows Gibbys have their signature fat-sound, it's well known. On the other side, Paul Reed Smiths are quite balanced between Fender and Gibson. They indeed have a good tone for overdrive/distortion while being thin enough for clean stuff. Also, features like standard tremolos and 24 frets are also good pros. If you haven't played a PRS, try one out. Who knows, maybe you'll change your mind.
This brought back a memory of one of my regular customers bringing in a Les Paul studio with complaints that it was buzzing. Took me forever to realize the fingerboard had separated from the neck at the first fret enough that if you looked into the crack on the bass side, you could see light shining through from the treble side.
I found a 1976 Gibson Explorer reissue in a guitar store in Burbank, Ca had been in the back of the store for like a decade. Guess they forgot about it? Worked the whole summer to save up the $800.00 bucks, well then I bought it, case and all in perfect condition. That was my first good guitar. A few years later the glue/paint started chipping around the neck joint and about a year later a long finish crack started at the back of the neck and worked it's way down the body. I bought a used 1983 Fender Strat that I still have to this day, so that became my main axe, the Gibson just sat in it's case. The nut on the Explorer pulled loose. Fixed the nut and sold the Explorer for 5 grand. Took the money and bought another Fender Strat and two Teles, with money leftover. No way would I ever go back to a Gibson, even back in 1976 when this Explorer was made, Gibson was making junk. Remember the 1979/1980 Gibson silverburst Les Paul's? A couple of my friends had some, a few years later the silverburst would start to turn a ugly green color. To this day it is Fender only for me, Gibson makes nice looking, expensive junk, IMO.
I agree completely. I have had a few friends who owned shops and were Gibson dealers, and every one of them talked about Gibson's terrible quality control, trying to dodge out of warranty service, and just a bad company to deal with.
thanks for sharing this man, been mind boggling whether to grab a gibson es series or a Fender HSS, the quality control for Gibson scares my wallet to shreds
I have a 95' Epiphone LP that is well used, sounds great, and has ZERO finish cracks. The folks that say "They all do it, it's just an expansion/contraction thing" are deluded, and compensating for the butt-hurt of paying THAT much for an inferior quality guitar.
I've had 4 SG's over the years and they've all done this, although the initial finish cracks never expanded with time and use. Almost like a house settling in and staying put.
Seem obvious that Gibson is doing something wrong with their finishes and has been for a very long time. I used to have a "The V" made in Kalamazoo. It had the same flaw, and also had finish cracks on both sides of the neck all along the ebony fretboard where it met the maple neck.On the other hand I had a Guild S300, made in Rhode Island, trans red over mahogany w/ebony board. The finish had been worn all the way through in lots of places, but NOT A CRACK ANYWHERE! Yes Gibson it can be done.
My favorite guitar is my early 90s Les Paul Studio. When I go a little older and started gigging, I wanted a backup. I was surprised that more recent Gibsons that cost $2K+ aren’t even close to feeling as good as my old Studio, which was about $900 at the time of purchase. I went to Guitar Center to sell 3 pedals I didn’t care for, and ended up playing a LTD LP copy. It had almost everything I loved about my LP, and I actually prefer the knob placement of the LTD. So, for the price of a few pedals I never used, I got the LP I always wanted.
Yes my SG has this, my opinion is that it's just the nitro finish cracking. The joint is holding two different pieces of wood together, each piece will expand and contract with the weather in different ways as you would expect. Don't sweat it, it's fine. Been playing mine for 30 years. looks cracked but plays like a dream. PRS and many others are not nitro and those finishes have a level of plasticity that nitro does not. And for those that question why Gibson still uses nitro, it's because the buyer wants nitro finishes, at least I do anyhow. By the way, I love your videos!
That is a common problem with Gibson. It is unsightly but shouldn't affect the playability except for maybe needing a new nut. The cracks in finish aren't necessarily due to movement, just stress. The lacquer finish Gibson uses is super brittle, so after a while any wood shrinkage or the slightest bit of stress like at the neck joint , will crack the finish. Most other guitar manufacturers now use a urethane finish that is or is alot like the finish used on automobiles. It is more durable and forgiving . That is why these problems are more rare in other brands ,even epiphone. Sorry to say that even getting a repair , if using the same finish, these problems will generally come right back. Good luck.
@@buzzcrushtrendkill Design has nothing to do with it. I mean players across all the guitar forums clamour for nitro finishes, what they don't know or realize is that done properly you can keep modern finishes as thin as nitro but they aren't susceptible to shrinking and cracking.
As a woodworker, I'll tell you, wood moves. Period. You can say "where there should not be movement" as many as you wish, but wood will still move. The problem is the thick synthetic finish and the plastic bindings... Those don't move.
docdoc nice. The only contrary point in the comments section. Makes sense to me. Wood does have a mind of it’s own. And I’m sure Gibson could up their QC and building processes, but I still love the way Gibsons feel and sound.
Ugh! Bro I feel bad for you. That’s exactly why I’m done with those high dollar guitars. Main Guitar right now is a Ltd ec50 stock $180 new in 2007. I’ve been playing it for 13 years with no problems
Those joints are not moving. Wood expands and contracts due to changes in temperature that's why you are getting finish cracks. This does not effect the integrity of the joint. Strats on the other hand have cracks in the wood at the neck pocket. That is a stress facture. I have an '81 Flying V with finish cracks at the neck joint. It's always stayed in tune.
I know this is an older video, however I had a recent experience with this. I ordered a really nice 2018 limited edition Les Paul Standard, with blacked out hardware and a trans ebony bust. Beautiful guitar. I ordered this as brand new from Guitar Center. It showed up with a bowed neck and the same finish crack in the nut. Not only that the nut was also cracked diagonally. I took it back to Guitar center and exchanged it for a PRS custom 22. Low and behold, Guitar center put it back on the shelf with the same blemishes.
I own 7 Gibson guitars the oldest is a 1979 wine red studio custom that i leave out of the case all my others stay in there cases until i’m ready to play them, not even 1 of these guitars show any signs of what yours are. My Gibson’s are 2002 BB king Lucille, 2017 blonde es355 custom, 2011 es335 black beauty, 2014 Les Paul Supreme (brown), Les Paul Les plus with robot tuners, shortly after purchasing that guitar I visited a Guitar Center where i observed there guitar tech, removing all the tuners from the stock of about 11 guitars they had left. According to the tech Gibson recalled all the tuners replacing them with standard tuner’s, he offered to replace mine to wit i declined, mine still have the original robot tuners which work perfectly fine. I just used the tuner a few min ago despite not ever being placed on a charger the tuners still work, i love this guitar.
Btw, if you really like double cut Les Paul's, but you still want something brand new, there's always Paul Reed Smith. They are literally Les Pauls, but they still have access to good tone wood.
This is an inherent "problem" with nitro lacquer expanding and shrinking, and the joints generally get finish cracks first (under non extreme temperature deltas) because the potential for lacquer separation is already there because it's a joint and technically not just one continuous flat surface, but it's not a sign of neck mouvement. And it happens on the bass side first because the vibrations are stronger and more prominent on the low side than the high, it will probably happen on the treble side one day. And it doesn't happen with PRSs or Epis or whatever other brand coz they don't use Nitro. This is not a problem per se, it's the downside of Nitro lacquer, and if gibs didn't use Nitro all hell would break loose !!!
RiffsNReviews It isn’t even real nitro though. It’s plasticized. My SG has the same problem. I recently had my guitars in a trailer for a few days in the cold. The lacquer on the SG didn’t check like my other nitro guitars. It just chips in big flakes.
It's not inherent, just seems that people are wiling to accept it so Gibson has no reason to solve the problem. I've even seen this in some of the new models hanging at GC. I've got 5 different guitars all from different mfgs and not a single one has any issues like this and I didn't pay even 1/4 of the price of a LP. "And it happens on the bass side first because the vibrations are stronger" lmao ooook. I've worked in quality control and inspection for a few manufacturing companies and the amount of vibration it would take to seperate a finish like that is ridiculous. If that were true every single bass guitar by every mfg should be cracking lol.
I’m not gonna jump on the hate Gibson wagon I own a 2008 les paul traditional and it’s a killer guitar no issues I also have a knaggs SSC1 that is my baby but the Gibson is a great guitar.
Darrell, do not fret (no pun intended) my 2014 sg standard 61 had the nut issue. It was a lacquer only issue. Gibson fixed free of charge. I own 9 Gibsons, 3 les pauls. The movement in the heel is normal and it will crack the finish on some but it's mostly due to the fulcrum point being around that area. Your neck will not pop off in literally 100 years. It's purely aestetics. I know my friends 68 sg had this problem when he bought it in 1978. 2019 and it's still going strong. My all hang in my studio. No cases. No issues. I have that issue on my 1981 explorer, 1980 yamaha sg2000, my old 1969 sg standard (no longer own it) and also a 2007 double cut I sold last year. No issue. Don't fear 😊
No issues with my epiphone sg . My Gibson cracked on 3 separate occasions where the cord attached. Using a metal bracket and putting it on the side is a lifesaver.
i do not recommend that you hang gibson guitars on the wall specifically les pauls. The heavy weight from the body creates too much tension at the neck joint and head stock by having it hang for its lifetime. These instruments shluld be stored in their case or at the very least a guitar stand. It is very tempting to hang them because they are beautiful but you are asking for neck joint problems having their full massive weight being supported by the small surface area at the neck. The only guitars I hang are guitars 500 and under or fenders (any guitar with a bolt on neck). It is not likely to see guitars develop these issues from hanging them, but sometimes it will happen. Dont hang your 1500 dollar + gibsons on the wall they arent known for durability.
You're honest and astute,Eastman, Yamaha and PRS are far superior,if Fender can get their quality control in order (early 80's and I don't like Fender guitars) then why can't Gibson???
I'm 63 yrs old, recently bought a 335 and Les Paul DC. I play them once a month if that for 6-7 years. Recently noticed a crack at headstock and at the same spot as yours. Had both fixed, month later they were back, BUT IN opposite spots!!! Like fix the heal, puts pressure on the neck, vice versa!!! Both are again being fixed. Both are 2007 models. I'm dumbfounded. Thankfully, I prefer my epi's. My 339 epi and my Les Paul epi are perfect (for me anyway).
Darrell, Try a Heritage guitar. A while back, some Gibson old timers weren't happy with where the company was going. They bought out the old equipment in the Kalamazoo factory, and started a company to build guitars like Gibsons should have been. You should seriously try out one of their guitars
@@McOuroborosBurger no worries! If I wanted a Gibson style guitar, I would either get a really cheap Epiphone, a 80's MIJ clone (Tokai, Burney, Orville), or make one. I had a MIJ strat, and it was every bit the equal/superior to the American fenders. Even had a 3 piece laminated neck! Which is a pita to do
For sure Darryl....I cant justify spending 3000 nz for a guitar that might not be any better then my nice mint 2003 Korean epiphone les paul custom....would rather buy a super amp
2002 was the 50th anniversay les paul custom model from epihone. they made 2002 and each one was numbered. they had a picture on the back of les paul and his log protoype. they were black. and gold hardware with grover imperial tuners. most were made in the sammick factory in Korea. They also sound amazing and had very low string height action. If you can find one buy one. i got one lol. would never sell it. they sold for 729.00. There was also a gibson one but they sold for 15,000.
Tim Watson. My Korean 2017 PRS Custom 24 Exotic Timber (Limited Run) is the most beautiful playing / sounding / looking guitar I’ve ever slung over my shoulder. To hell with all the overpriced shoddy American made crap.
Nitrocellulose gets old and cracks, doesn’t matter what the guitar is. But it wasn’t designed to age well, it wasn’t even designed for instruments. It was made for cars and guitar manufacturing picked up on it by following car finishing trends. As the nitro ages it’s curing and that’s not really done for about a year or so, before that you’re playing a guitar with a finish that isn’t technically done. That’s why a new nitro covered guitar (like every single Gibson) feels crazy sticky and “not broken in”. Once it’s old though it’s thin and easily cracked, the guitar vibration alone can do it but the real killer is nature; humidity, temperature and pressure changes all affect it. So yeah, you’ll see cracks appear on the guitars, you can spare them for a while, but eventually that’s just the way. Whenever you see a super clean vintage guitar what you’re seeing is a mostly unused guitar that stayed in one spot. If it gets used even gently, cracks. All that to say you can’t even get mad at Gibson for this one (you can get mad at them for many other dumb things but not this), because if they stopped using nitro the customers would absolutely revolt. There’s better clear coats that hold stronger, longer, resist scratching and won’t crack, but that’s not what Gibson used in the late 50’s and 60’s so no one wants it. Even PRS gave up fighting the nitro fetish and us using it now after decades of poly finishes. This isn’t a Gibson problem, this is a customer one. Now a Gibson problem is the stupid headstock breaks but again, they added volutes and people complained so… well here we are.
Thanks for the comment. I purchased a standard LP 3 months ago and was wondering if I had extra sweaty palms but that makes sense with the nitro-cellulose. It even has that strong 'new house paint smell' that I instantly notice whenever I open the case. Like what a well known luthier said on another UA-cam channel: the wood and finish age at different rates so that's the concession you have to accept when buying a Gibson.
This why if you buy a Gibson, you buy an older one that is already cracked or has no cracks. Had 83 LP Pro Heavy as hell, no cracks. It’s too bad for Gibson, I wish they would just get away from Nitro. The whole thing about other paints harming sound is BS anyway. Use Polyurethane and it won’t crack. I have seen old Gibsons cracking all over from weather changes etc. They have always used the nitro and the sound quality thing as an excuse. It’s BS. And then there’s the headstocks breaking off problem. Look on ebay under guitars for parts, not complete, or not playable, (whatever they call the category) You find a bunch of broken Epiphones and Gibsons. I fork out 3 K for a guitar, I don’t want any damn cracks breaking out on it.
joe dirt Then don’t play your guitar lol. Any finish will get wear and tear. Strings are affected by vibrations in the body, if it weren’t the case, then hollow body’s would sound just the same as a solid body if they both had the same components.
I’ve had a neck reset on an old SG I had at one point. And I’ve had other similar neck pocket issues as well. As much as I love Gibson, I can’t justify buying one anymore.
Hey bro..I had a old SG once that the same thing happened to. I put a very hot iron right next to the crack..it melted the finish and it went back together. I couldn't even tell it happened. I had it in either my den or my study..and the humidity ALWAYS gets down to under 10% all winter long in both. I had a Martin do the same damn thing to me as well. Now I keep them in a closet made just for my guitars. I keep the humidity in it between 30-40% all year. I don't know if that is what caused the finish crack in yours or not? I was ALWAYS worried about my gun collection being to humid..never thought about my guitars. I have a big gun safe of course with a humidity killer in it..so now they are ALL happy.😁✌ Good luck pal.👌
This is indicative of a nitro cellulose lacquer finish. All made in USA Gibby's use lacquer. This type of finish is not as flexible as the catalyzed urethane used by just about all other companies. Even Fender on their "nitro" guitars use a grain sealer and initial base coat that is a urethane based finish to avoid this. Only the true "reissue" vintage stuff is finished the old-school way. Over time lacquer shrinks back, gets brittle, and will check (i.e. crack) and chip easily. It can also dull. Given enough age / time the lacquer will sink into the grain even if Gibson used plenty of grain filler. IMHO this is normal aging of a lacquer finish.Technically I don't think there is any actual failure at the neck joint or where the nut is on either guitar.
Most other guitars finished with either catalyzed urethane or UV cured urethane don't crack as the urethane will "stretch" a bit with the expansion / contraction of the different materials with the heat cold / humid / less humid cycles during the seasons. Fender players deal with "fret sprout" all the time as in the winter the wood tends to dry out a bit and then shrink back enough for the fret ends to feel sharp and pronounced. This is due to the humidity content in the wood when built "new" being higher than when it stabilized where the guitar now lives. Neither Fender nor the owner did anything wrong. It's just the nature of a product made from natural materials. Even with a urethane finish, sometimes there are finish cracks. Fender Strats & Teles can get these cracks near the neck pocket. The wood isn't cracked through or anything, rather is't the finish either stretching too much at this point or it was too thick.
In both cases IMHO you are seeing the normal expansion / contraction of the wood over the seasons and temperature changes. The paddle neck joint is glued only in the pocket, not out to the edges. So some expansion / contraction of the wood will happen here. So the lacquer gives and creates a finish crack. This is not a neck failure by any means and I have seen it a lot. For this joint area either you can live with it, or it can have a simple repair. Usually butyl cellosolve or diluted clear nitro (diluted with lacquer thinner) can be drop-filled into the area. Lacquer can be re-flowed by solvents and as such if done by a competent person can be touched up to the point of never seeing the repair. There is always some risk of ghosting or if the crack is really deep the underlying dye or stain can be affected.
The nut is a different story. Gibson uses an extremely strong "glue" the is borderline epoxy for their nut. The nut material is very similar to Corian counter top material. It is designed so that their production Plek machine can slot the nut, not for longevity (IMHO). They actually bond in the nut along with the binding before the guitar is finished. So the lacquer covers the slot where the nut is glued in. You have a joint here where mahogany, rosewood or ebony, corian (or whatever Gibby uses) and the plastic of the binding all meet. As such they all have different expansion and contraction rates. I have also seen this area chip / flake / crack the finish. Repairing the lacquer alone won't fix it as it will just happen again. Usually I dremel and chisel out the "corian" nut, clean it down to bare wood, and hand make a bone nut. Then repair the lacquer so there is no finish over the nut edge. If done right it will resemble what Gibson used to do back in the day.
A lot of these issues are caused by Gibson "Tradition" (i.e. all USA Gibby's use Nitro Lacquer still), and some "short cuts" in they way they are manufactured to save time / labor. The question is do you accept it and either get it repaired / modified or live with it. Over time the lacquer on both of these "new" guitars is going to age. The lacquer will yellow, shrink, and get brittle. It's just what it does. At some point the guitar will become "stable" and none of these issues will progress any more. Then is the time to sort it out if your super picky about a perfect finish. But I'll tell you 100% that no matter how well you care for either of these guitars, with Nitro Lacquer at some point it's going to age.
Don't get me wrong, Gibson has a lot of areas they need to improve on. IMHO it's insane that an Epiphone in many cases can have BETTER build quality than a USA made Gibson. Certainly for the money they charge (and keep raising the prices on). At any rate, hope this helps and I hope you keep both guitars. They look and sound wonderful.
As for my background, I'm not talking out of my ass here. I used to build and repair guitars running my own shop. I have also gone to school for Guitar Lutherie and am a member of the Guild of American Luthiers. Been to the Heritage factory in Kalamazoo Michigan serval time. IMHO they make better Gibsons than Gibby does now as it's the same building with many of the same people and tooling as Gibson used back before their move. You should check them out sometime. Cheers! Take care!
Mike
Wow, thanks for taking the time to explain!
Rench Ranch wow!!! Thank god we have people like you to explain this stuff😂😂😂😂😂
What the heck man, my brain is fried after reading almost everything. Trying to understand lots of words and maybe technically stuff. I don't even master guitar playing, nor english is my native language, but I do appreciate the time to explain it. I want to buy a new guitar and was thinking about buying a Gibson to play punk and metalcore, so I took this video as a warning sign....anywway, thanks again.
I totally concur *Mike.* My Strat Deluxe had cracks around the neck pocket - It turned out that the four neck screws had stripped threads !! How the hell that happend is beyond me - Probably someone took the neck off and then overtightened the screws on refitting. The upshot being, that the neck was flapping around in the wind - around an 1/8th inch movement at the nut, which in turn caused the pearlescent finish (Jeff Beck Signature body) to crack at the heel joint. The paint finish on the end of the heel pocket completely delaminated. No cracks in the Alder beneath though.
.
Solution - I dowled and re-drilled the neck holes and fitted stainless-steel, high-torque screws - Stannah screws to be precise, used to secure outdoor stairlifts to granite steps! The neck is now solid as a glued joint, I could paddle the Atlantic with it !
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My Gibson Victory (1982 vintage) shows the very same joint line and crack in the finish that follows the neck joint on the upper side. The neck is solid though. My 1979 Gibson RD Artist has no such issues. Both Gibsons are made of slabs of rock-maple (both maple necks too, the RD has an ebony FB, whilst the Victory has a RW board).
.
My PRS S2 Semi-hollowbody is *perfect*.
Maybe the wood wasn't given enough time to rest? Under a lot of pressure from gluing, dremel tooling, shaping, the wood develops internal stress and it needs time to adjust itself to a balance point. But that's just my postulation.
The neck line happens on nearly every Gibson and is nothing to worry about. It's just something to expect. What happens is over time the nitro finish will 'sink' around the neck join line and then you'll see what you're seeing. There is no 'movement' in the heel joint. You can tell the difference between natural aging and 'trama' if there is a jagged line instead of a clean straight mark like you have.
Same thing on that nut. What you're seeing is where the nut/fretboard truly ends and the neck begins so once again - not movement, just the finish finding the small gaps between materials. Those lines are predominately visible on solid colored finishes.
Something else you might see over time as these guitars age are little 'cracks' along the binding where the frets end. Those happen because of fret sprout with seasonal changes. Something that is very common to see, but if you never take them out of the house you'll likely have no worries on seeing those.
Thin nitro finishes will do all this. Things like epiphone wont because they are poly finished. Most PRS have very thick finishes as well. Gibson honors tradition and they build their guitars the way they did in the 50s. There are just some things you have to live with while upholding that tradition.
Are they defects that need to be repaired? No. You'll devalue your guitar if you did. Do the lines kind of suck? Yes. Is it ok not to like Gibson guitars because of the finish they use. Sure. But let's not spread widespread fear over something small.
Thanks for the reply and info, I really appreciate it!
Having used Gibson on and off for the past 20 years (and many other nitro finished guitars), I never had this cracking on any of my other instruments.
In the end, Gibson have themselves in a bit of a bind - they can't really widely promote/educate regular people on the fact that (by their own choice) the finishes will likely crack on their very expensive guitars, while all their principal competition's guitars will likely not (I have nitro on a Strat, Tele, PRS, and Gretsch that are all fine).
Either way, after watching this video, people will know and make their own purchases accordingly. If they do not want to deal with finish cracks they can choose to avoid Gibson; those who don't mind will be good to go :)
Was thinking the same thing.Trog
Agree with trogly. Thank you for giving facts.
Totally agree on the nut finish cracking common as dirt. But the neck finish cracking is not. Darrell is correct there is movement. The crack on the Db cut looks fairly jagged too, I thought.
@@DarrellBraunGuitar I think those old gold tops with the cracked nitro finishes look great
Fender, American Telecaster (actually the Mexican Teles are awesome as well) play your gig, use it as a weapon in a bar fight, plug back in=still in tune.
I was never a fender guy until I bought a mexican strat, now it's the only guitar I play.
A couple days ago i was jamming with my dad, when he went to plug in his Strat, the strap fell off and sent his guitar's headstock into the floor, it still was in one piece and in tune when he picked it back up XD
Use it in a bar fight still in tune. LOL =)
keith richards has demonstrated this very well
True. I have a MIM Swirl and it's my main guitar
Gibson will probably say that the cracks are a deliberate feature for that authentic 50s tone and look
Hah! That's one of the first thoughts I had as well.
Collectors in the 22nd century will pay top dollar for models with the "signature Gibson finish cracks."
"Lightly relic'd"
That's exactly what they said about the gold top les paul I bought
@@bmcgoo6027 Well damn. It's already started, bois.
Tone cracks
this is why i'll never get a gibson.
oh, not because of this, because i can't afford one.
It's okay man..., expensive guitar is overrated... Better to spend some money for amps.
Get one from the cheap Jackson line instead 👌👌 better for the money and you get the legendary compound radius neck
What music genres do you play?
@@jomesias prog metal is my main genre, ive wanted a les paul because adam jones plays one but he plays a gibson les paul, which i cannot afford. i know epiphone has good les pauls at an affordable price tho
meme chef the epi prophecy series are pretty nice for metal, still expensive for the new ones though and really heavy. You’re paying more for the cosmetics. Honestly if you definitely want a les Paul and don’t care about the Gibson name, just get an epi standard and slap some Seymour Duncan invaders in it. I’m into newer stuff like Mastodon, Protest the Hero, etc and a little thrash metal and the invaders work great for that stuff. In my opinion there’s really no point in paying for active pickups like EMG unless you’re using a high quality tube amp.
@@Shane-sf9pv im currently using seymour duncan pickups on my other guitar and i like them so ill look into that. thanks for the advice!
Cut them some slack Darrell. They have only been making these kind of guitars since the 1950's and 60's. I'm sure they'll eventually get it right.
@@alainbrisebois8334
You mean japadavidson dont you lol
they havent yet .they just created a war on American Eccomony . and it all started with a 19 cent Bic Pen then the beach boys made a song about a Honda . toyota Datson
these fks were like cats .. Give em a bowl of milk they wont leave now they own 70 % of America and the ecconomy ..
Matrix
@pėiņ TM yes
I have owned dozens of Gibsons and can say wood is a big factor.
Gibson designed it this way so that it splits clean in half when you smash it over the stage floor lol
Thats why pete Townshend switched to gibby, fenders proved too hard to break
That's understandable, however the average guitar player/hobbyist/collector isn't going to do that to a guitar that they just bought for $600+. It's very unreasonable for someone to design it that way when the individual buying the guitar is only going to enjoy the instrument by playing and displaying it.
@@Ma_Hew /woosh
I laughed for real lol
I hope it is not from the experience...
I went to buy a les paul years ago, left the shop with a telecaster. No regrets.
Good choice!
Awesome haha😂
same
I bought a Gibson Les Paul that was previously owned by a band I like. It stayed in the case most of the time while I played my strat. In 2009 I sold it for half what I paid to a guy who hadn't heard of the band. Job losses suck.
Better tone tbf, even coil split the les paul won't beat a tele in cleans
Gibson, Yesterday's guitar at Tomorrow's Prices
Jonah you ain’t kidding lol
😂 what a fine description.
The problem with Gibson is that it's not "yesterday's guitar," it's a pathetic knock-off based on yesterday's marvellous guitar. If they continued making "yesterday's guitar," they'd still be an awesome company.
People buy that guitar because they want "yesterday's guitar," they want what Pete Townshend and Noel Gallagher play (yes, I know he started with Epiphone), but they don't get that.
Very true, but I don’t blame them. That’s what people will buy.
I agree Gibson went through a rough patch with QC and are now rebuilding that craftsmanship they once had. My gibby LP is luckily a good one with no finish issues and almost didn't buy it because of the the 2k price tag. But yes it is definitely worth it and epi's are good, but are a world of difference.
I used to own a second hand guitar shop. I had many Gibsons come thru in the few years I was open. I don't really remember seeing any Gibsons that didn't have one or the other of the problems you show in this video. I can tell you that whenever one walked thru the door first thing I would do is check to see if the headstock had ever come off and often times my offer was based on the quality of the repair that was done to re-attach it. It often amazes me that a company like Gibson has never addressed the inherent design flaws in their instruments and instead opted to spend more effort on lawsuits against other companies who have. I agree with you Darrell I'll never buy another Gibson either.
now that detachable Gibson headstock is probably already patented by Gibson as well!
Les Pauls are great for canoe paddles and because of their weight you can also use one as an anchor if needed!
I'm a luthier and have already had SG's come into my repair shop where I was able to lightly pull the neck completely off the body. I know I'm no the only guy that's seen this happen. The neck pickup rout removes most of the neck pocket's glued surface area making some of the worst neck joints in history (even on pieces of American History like Gibson Guitars) - overall pioneers but lazy when it comes to simple design things like "How about rout the neck pocket away" idea. So dumb. As far as the hackjob nuts and fretwork, that's just laziness. Thanks for the video I just subscribed.
Are you seeing it on any of their 2020 guitars?
@@Danielwills6325 I haven't worked on any SG's for about 4 years sorry I don't know the answer
@@Klesh Hey Klesh, as a luthier can you please tell me what you think of PRS guitars and do they have excellent tuning stability? Thanks!
@@richardwitherow5289 I'm def not a luthier, but I can say that I am very happy with the tuning stability of my PRS Custom SE guitars. Stoptail and trem bridge stay in tune for me nicely. I don't actually use the tremelo, so I can't say how much that affects the stability of that guitar...
Thanks for saying that , it's true , found problems with Gibson's made in China as well , I won't ever buy a Gibson , great guitars made at one time , but Gibson's not the only ones I had a Ltd that did the same , what's the best guitar for 2000$ price range ,?
This happened to my V in the exact same place. Gibson told me it was common for it to happen there, which is not a great way to deal with flaws in your builds.
So they admit it's common for their 3k overpriced guitars to have fundamental flaws that most other guitars don't have? Yeah, never buying another Gibson
Then don’t buy a guitar with nitro finish. Understanding why this happens takes all the wind out of your sail.
I had a V that had the exact same problem.. That and the tuning was MASSIVELY unstable sold that POS and bought an Ibanez RGA and never looked back. I will never spend that much on a Gibson when a 300.00 guitar buried that 1200.00 V and that was the cheap mid price back then.
Same. '08 V.
so.....it's meant to happen....like a light bulb pops after a year or two.....:-)
I wanna see this guy get pissed he always seems happy.
If you understood Canadian you'd know he's Pissed...
I'd be happy too if I had his wall of guitars! :-)
For a Canuck, this is raging mad, almost psycho.....
Yeah, no one wants to see that. Could be dangerous, LoL.
His short upper lip makes it look like he's always smiling! 😂
For what Gibson charges, this is completely UNACCEPTABLE
Absolutely right. Comments condoning it are from people who can't admit they got ripped off.
@@gregdiprinzio9280, I edited this post because I sort of sounded like a jerk.
@@marineman2298 Besides that, Mrs. Lincoln---How was the show?
@@gregdiprinzio9280, the saying is "Besides that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the PLAY?" You should have gone with "Besides that Mrs. Kennedy, did you enjoy the trip to Dallas?
@@marineman2298 I stand corrected. Probably best to buy a used Gibson then if you don't mind cosmetic flaws. For me, the whole point of new is the idea that the guitar can stay cosmetically pristine, or close to it, if I take care of it and don't mistreat it. If the paint must crack in a short period of time no matter how I treat it, there's either a quality control problem or a design flaw. If one of those two things exist, there's no justifying a high price, especially when the nut is plastic, the body swiss-cheesed and the fretboard lined with countertop material.
Maybe Gibson could ask Dean guitars how to make guitars without finish cracks? Just saying...
You completely missed the irony of my joke, after Gibson tried to sue Dean Guitars. For the record... My glass is neither half empty or full. Already filled my glass, so I got another glass lol!!!!! Take care friend!!!
Rocco, in a face there is movement where there should be movement. Whereas in that Gibson guitars, there is movement where there should be no movement :)
I just wonder why $100 guitars get it right, and Gibsons get it wrong. Don't they have the same conditions? ;)
@@unperrier5998 Can we have the English version?
demofactory oof
I had a perfect one. TURNED OUT TO BE A Chibson.
Hilarious! As funny as that is, it’s probably true.
They are way better in some means the woodwork is 10xs better. Hardware and electronics are junk but that we can fix. U can not fix a 17 degree raked neck like on those lol
@@viciousgaming6108 Not to mention WAY cheaper, and some cool custom designs too
Nothing wrong with owning and playing a Chinese made guitar, especially nowadays that China is getting better at making reasonable quality things for quite cheap.
@@rockthecasbahs Yeah, seriously. I just got my Chickenbacker in the post - it blew all my expectations. Stunning guitar, plays well, very good frets. Needs minor adjustments, and hardware upgrades, then it'll be as good as a Ric in my eyes
I had the same issue with my epiphone LP. I sent it back to the retailer, as they said the would correct it. It sent it via FedEx. I insured it for $1000, the value of the guitar. However when it arrive at Sweetwater the headstock was completely broken off. (The issue was cracking in the finish) I reported this to FedEx. FedEx then wanted the signature of who signed for it along with video of it being delivered and their packaging being open. Dont know if anyone videos a FedEx delivery. FedEx then denied the claim. Sweetwater (the best company and customer service in the world) stepped up and replaced my guitar. I only purchase from them now. Well guitar stuff anyway. Moral of the story dont use FedEx!!!!!!!
Jon Amaral I too had a FedEx close encounter when medication was to be sent to my wife prior to her Caribbean cruise. “ when it absolutely positively has to get there overnight” was the advertisement. In my case it didn’t leave the shipping facility for 2 days. Turned out I retrieved the meds and flew down to Florida from NYC to hand deliver them myself. Moral of the story: use FedEx at your own risk.
@@rickkuba I'll never use them again!
Moral of the story is video your unboxing. Thousands of people do it daily. Many of them post their vids....get this....
RIGHT HERE ON UA-cam! 😄🤣
@Harry. B. Renner. jr. Sounds like you're talking about the UA-camr ChuckE2009 considering that's exactly what, happened to him.
It was Sweetwater that didn't have an unboxing. Being that they use this vendor to ship almost all of their equipment, unless the customer requests a different shipper. They must have assumed everything would be ok with fed ex
F for gibson
Rudy Ayoub - press “F” to pay respects 😆
Rudy Ayoub F
FFFFF
I always see you commenting on all the guitar channels I subscribe to lmao
F
I’ve started buying $200-$300 guitars and upgrading hardware and tweaking minor imperfections. I feel I end up with a quality instrument for less $’s. For a company like Gibson to deliver this quality is insulting.
same here
I would like to have somewhere around a 1981 Gibson Les Paul. They probably all the same I guess, year models I mean
agreed. I changed my whole outlook and buy lower end Fenders, upgrade the pickups, wiring, all hardware to better after market stuff of my choosing, and end up with a much finer guitar.
Same. Check out Harley Benton guitars, great quality for the price!
Right picked up a squire tele love it so surprise with the weight I've held squire strats there so light not my tele nice slab of wood will upgrade tuners but right now it stays in tune I'm just happy with it
*owns every Gibson Model*
Why I'll Never buy Another Gibson...
•
...and i'm now sponsored by a couple of other brands
Ryan , in the words of my old algebra teacher - Precisely Correct.
😂
@@bigted1953 that's pretty much accurate then . I guess
Most of his guitars are given to him free by companies to do reviews
I am old enough to be your father and have played gibsons and fenders before they were collectible. Living in New England with all its drastic temperature and humidity changes I see what you have all the time. Not only in guitars but any wood product from furniture to flooring etc. These are not stress cracks or signs of defects but natural occurrences because wood will always move with the climate. Sometimes it shrinks, expands etc. Nitro lacquer moves as well and takes forever to cure. Unlike plastic based finishes on your epiphone and other guitars lacquer takes forever to really harden. During that time it shrinks, moves and cracks. It is also very susceptible to finish cracks. Gibson bakes its finishes to speed the process but it just gets the guitar to the store faster. It doesn't harden the finish completely which still has to age.l. Its a catch 22., We want the tone of lacquer but the durability of a poly. Now compound this with the fact that Mahogany isa more porous than a hardwood like maple so it is likely to exhibit these changes more than maple or alder. I am not a gibson fanboy by any means, in fact prefer strats, but this time its not gibson's fault. Those cracks do not suggest your nut is coming off or your neck has to be reset. All it shows is that your mahogany based guitars are moving slightly which is normal, that's why they have neck adjustments, and the finish is hardening and shrinking with age, Good luck and just enjoy playing them., Fortunately our fingers can't see so it shouldn't bother them at all!
"We want the tone of lacquer" ?!?!?! Bwah ha ha ha ...that is almost as good as tone wood!!! Also if nitro lacquer takes so long to cure it should NOT crack. Those are not finish cracks, they would appear randomly everywhere... not on the high stress area of the neck body interface. And yes you are a Gibson fan-boy.
I have a hard time believing in the so called tone of the finish of any guitar. It's a myth. As for Gibson's quality issues, give me a cheap guitar; at least they have an excuse. Gibsons are overpriced and they take advantage of their former reputation for being a quality instrument. Bah!
@@felix.delrubio PRS guitars are finished in poly though...
Tone wood is the best myth to hit the guitar community along with boiling strings HAHA
@@nickzaragoza9368 boiling strings isn't really a myth, it is used to remove crud from used strings to make them sound brighter just a little longer. There is no benefit to boiling them out of the package. And doing it to renew strings isn't really great anyway, they don't last much longer and it won't fix dents from frets on the underside.
That is excellent quality control! they are guaranteed to have cracks in the exact same spot even in different series! lol
I love it!
Lol and lol again.
Consistency is key
I like when my five thousand dollar guitar spontaneously combusts, gives it character.
Greg Diprinzio no chief, only on $1000 or less guitars.
I'm only happy when it happens playing live.
Bedroom playing, nobody else gets to share the experience.😂
@@aaron4757 since when can you get a Gibson for less than 1k
Chris Cook I was joking around, what I meant is that that shouldn’t happen to any guitar that’s over $1000
@@aaron4757 ah gotcha sry was fired up about this suit
Darrell
I was a huge Gibson Custom shop dealer (store manager) back in the mid 90’s.
eBay had come out by then so we were able to move a lot of guitars all over the world relatively cheap at the time.
Problem was… quality.
Our Hamer’s, Ibanez’s, Peavey’s, Epiphones, etc we’re great, out of the box! All we did was replace strings, set intonation and tune up.
Gibson Custom Shop was a horror story… some of our customers were very distinguished and placed orders for their custom Gibby’s based solely on our reputation at the time.
As soon as the Gibson Custom orders came into our shop we were shocked to find all kinds of issues with Quality.
Intonation and string height in outer space! Electronics were soldered by 3rd graders etc. etc.
We had to spend at least 2-4 hours on our Custom Shop guitars just to be playable.
Very Sad.
Our reputation was on the line so sometimes we hid these guitars from our customers until we could fix all these problems. Luckily we knew what we were doing.
One word. Corporations.
Say no to crack.
CRACK IS WACK!
So hard to find good crack these days.
Michael Gallagher just look on a Gibson
Crack kills but it pays the bills.
Heel cracks are normal. Same with the nut. There’s no movement, it’s just the finish shrinking. Your guitar will not break, and it isn’t a sign of breaking parts. The finish is where the parts are connected, so that’s why it cracks around the buy and heel. You may find out shortly that it happens all the way down the neck binding. Don’t worry about it.
Is that the nitro cracking with age?
Granville Friel yes. Epiphone guitars have polyurethane finish so they do not shrink. Some fender guitars have nitro finish but they do not have any neck glue joints that can be disrupted.
Exactly That635guy, was going to post this if I could not find a good comment about it. Spot on. Nothing is moving, finish shrinkage. This should posted as top post. It still sucks, but nothing is moving Darrell. Love your channel too BTW, thank you!
This!
Have worked with and fixed nitro finishes. Can confirm this
Weird that people are OK with cosmetic issues on guitars this expensive.
Yet they complain if a cheap guitar has a slight fixable issue lol.
If it plays I'm fine with it
People treat something very differently when they've paid money for it. They'll go to great lengths to justify something they already purchased while something unproven is easy to critique.
that wine sniffer mentality
it's about how it sounds when it comes to a guitar, not how it looks.
I had an SG for about 6 months, looked cool, sounded like an SG fun to play sitting down. I didn't like the way it fit me, the neck dive was too much for me when standing, but it was also very poorly made. It needed a COMPLETE setup upon purchase (not not just a minor string height adjustment) but the main issue was the soldering of the pickups was so bad that after about 5 months of home use (3-4 hours per week at home) the wires came loose and the sound went in and out. It looked like someone had just poured a cup solder in the cutouts for the wires and pickups. I repaired and sold it a week later to buy an American Strat with money left over. I have seen vastly better build quality on my $220 Squire and my $300 Harley Benton. And with what Gibson charges, these things should look more like my $2,000 PRS, which is absolutely immaculate in build quality.
Hey Big Knuckle, I'm at desperation point with a Gibson that never stays in tune. Does your PRS have excellent tuning stability? I'm thinking of buying one.
@@richardwitherow5289 Yes, it does, but does not like alt tunings.
@@bigknuckle9689 Great. Thanks for getting back to me!
Darrell: I'm not that much of an SG guy. *has a Gibson SG*
Me: I'm all about the Gibson Les Paul. *has a $150 Strat copy*
because he has a channel about guitars. Duh
@@salintium That has zero bearing on his choice of guitars.
He owns a GLP, but isnt a fan?
If you believe that, let me sell you some grease for your muffler bearings...
@@robspear03 i need to buy some grease for my muffler bearing, and some horn fluid. My car seems to be acting up but walmart doesnt carry these items, can I buy them from you good sir?
Man I wanna buy an LP but too much price. Might get a Vault LP1 or TL some day
what were u thinking ???
seriously ??
ur finger sure as hell faster than ur brain lol 🤣🤣🤣
I've had a long 20 year struggle to find a Gibson guitar that I really love, but without too many issues.
However, with all the other AWESOME guitars out there, I have to ask myself "why do I care so much?"
I think its just time for me to be done!
I worked at Gibson for 10 years but I have to agree that there are so many companies doing excellent work. You will find one you can’t live without.
Darrell Braun Guitar 🎸I can’t say I blame you, Darrell. After seeing your two Gibson’s, I wouldn’t be lining up to get one, that’s for sure. With Gibson you’re paying for the iconic name but poor workmanship. Who needs that? If I was shelling out a few grand on a new axe, it would be a PRS or something from the Fender Custom Shop. Just my 2 cents. Great 👍 video. Love your work! 👏
There is no shame at this point buying Mexican and over seas...there luthiers either care more ...or fender and gibson seem to have issues with quality regarding supply and demand
Fender all the way! 😂
I have a 40 year old les paul thats always had those cracks. Trust me, me and a buddy of mine who is troglys guitar show here on UA-cam know all about this stuff. Dont know why it does it. But Its nothing to worry about. Just a gibson thing....
cracks on guitars at this price point is not acceptable...i've played Schecters for years and never seen a crack like this on any of them, and they're 1/3 the cost....this is clearly a quality control issue...
Exactly. My schecter is almost a decade old have heavily gigged and no issues.
He lives in Canada. It could be the air moisture causing it. I only have one guitar, and it’s a cheap acoustic. But at my school we have 3 humidifiers to keep the air moist during the winter months
I love Schecter! He should burn these Gibson's or make picks out of them for a new schecter.
I have a Schecter C1 custom about two and a half years old same problem crack at the neck joint. Love the guitar. I have a C1 Hellraiser same age no problems. Love it just the same.
@@gavinwinram7811 Yes because those are *acoustic guitars.* For an electric solid body guitar, this is unacceptable.
What I love about you Darrell is that you are very honest with every brand and you give detailed explanations of everything. I come to your channel FIRST when looking for reviews on any piece of equipment.
He definitely has integrity.
BS
Way too much quality competition out there to bother with Gibson .
Yeah. I'd go for a collings instead. Bit to expensive for me.
Man, for something like a Les Paul, literally almost every single company makes a better quality product for a fraction of the cost, with more finish and hardware options. Hell, even the "cheapo" Chinese eBay guitars have better quality control than Gibson.
@@Chaps_Jr ESP
Yea my LTD EC1000 plays better, built better, and feels better than any of the Gibsons ive had or played at even 4 times the price tag.
@@davidwhitten4538 ESP/LTD is way better than the traditional les paul. lighter, thinner, and really overall a better guitar.
That's why I always buy the Chinese knock offs. You get the same problems, only at a fraction of the price.
Red Scorpion 6 same✊
Red Scorpion 6 plus you get Covid-19 for free as an added bonus.
I will buy Indonesian or South Korean. It is my personal choice to not support the Chinese regime. Sorry Epiphone.
Red Scorpion 6 look for a pre 2015 Epiphone custom. They’re handmade in China with the same materials but thousands less than their Gibson counterparts
Epiphone is an okay knock off, if youre talking about chibsons, that's just straight up not cool
I can forgive a lot of defects if a guitar has "that special something", and I have done so. But when dropping $$$$ on a new guitar, there's no excuse for that kind of silliness.
Scottish McMillan he said the one one guitar was a 2007. So I wouldn’t call it new but I agree
I've only ever bought one Gibson in my life; a Gibson Les Paul Modern in pelham blue back in December of last year (2019). Brand new, plays and sounds fantastic. I've now had it less than 7 months and the front of the guitar looks like someone took a metal comb to it. Cracks in the finish around the volume and tone knobs, the bridge, the toggle switch. Some are an inch or so long, others run nearly the full front of the guitar. It stays in one room where the temperature is a constant from about 68 to 75 degrees.
I never thought I'd pay this much for a guitar only to have it look this way 6 months later. 6 years later...perhaps, but not this soon. I'm upgrading my silverburst Epi tomorrow with the SD hot rodded humbucker set. I personally will never again spend that much money on a Gibson. This Epiphone has such a good finish and feel that with the right pickups it'll be so close to a Gibson. So the Gibson has a traditional nitro finish. So what.....the guitar looks like crap and it's less than a year old. Still plays and sounds exceptional, but for the money an upgraded Epi is a much better deal, or put humbuckers in a Strat, or get an Ibanez or some other brand. Lesson learned.
Isn’t Gibson still offering their “five year warranty”? Have you tried returning it via the dealership, or contacting Gibson yourself? Just wondering what the other part of the story (getting some resolution to the problem) is? If it all happened within a year of purchase, and to that extent, that’s got to be considered construction/production flaws that SHOULD be covered under warranty- imagine if that was a car! What a bummer, sorry to hear that…
If some checking bothers you so much just buy a poli finished guitar, it's not like the guitar is tearing itself apart of something..., it's something you just have to know, also, metalic finishes like yours are way more likely to check than regular ones, anyway, they didn't have the best QC before they changed ownership
I made a kit SG about 25 years ago and finished with nitro and mine doesn't have that problem, maybe I could show Gibson where they went wrong and make them great again...lmao
No cracks, *NOT AUTHENTIC*
Write to Gibson and give them your suggestion. They just might take it.
Make Gibson great again? You could start using concrete for the body. Could be probably lighter...
Do you still have it?
@@viktoronopko2090 Dude laughing to hard
As a lot of good people have wasted a lot of hard earned $ on what should be a "pride & joy" purchase I have changed my mind & decided to share a little knowledge for free.
It's simple - the solvent in the lacquer is dissolving the glue in the joins - leaving a mix of glue/lacq both in the join & in the finish around the join. Compromising both join & finish.
For example automotive lacquers have extra strong solvents designed to key into modern hard plastic bumpers, guards etc. Some so potent even epoxy glues can be dissolved.
Heat may also play an important part. Heating during the spraying(curing) process can soften many glues & also cause the solvent to be driven out of the lacquer more aggressively - into the softened glue. The softening of the glue can also be influenced by the time between gluing & finishing - in a production environment the glue may only be a day or 2 old. Most glues will tell you quite clearly to allow 7 days for complete cure.
How do I know this - simply by phoning the chemists at Glazurit & the chemists at Techniglue(epoxy).
Fixing this in a guitar would involve the removal of the neck & probably refinishing - more trouble & money than the instrument is worth. This is clearly a very serious manufacturing fault - & should be rectified by the manufacturer replacing all the instruments with this fault.
Personally if Gibson refuse to co-operate I would get as many owners together as possible to discuss a class action.
Sorry about the bad news.
I look forward to more great, informative vids from you in the future.
Cheers,
Dean.
That's a very good argument. Gibson is, and has been, using deficient manufacturing processes either out of incompetence or greed, that have produced products of inferior quality, and then selling them at an unreasonable price point.
Filling a class action against Gibson would really be something I would love to see.
Careful what you wish for. Issues aside, there’s no real replacement for the sound of a proper Les Paul or SG. They have a very distinct sound that other guitars mimic with varying degrees of success, but very few nail. I’d hate to lose that over some finishing issues.
I hope everyone leaves Gibson, prices drop, and then....they're all MINE,MINE,MINE :)
lol
:-D :-D
Anyone who's "through with " a fine instrument like Gibson is between a rock and a hard place.. I look for them to eat their words in the future
They are not worth the money imo.
all guitar price points should be at the epiphone/squier level. thats the problem. its not about quality, its about value.
I played les pauls and 335's for years, I had a 59 custom shop reissue that was without doubt the best guitar that Ive ever played, but their new stuff is junk, I honestly wouldnt buy it if it was a tenth of the price. Gibson really need to take a long hard look at the materials that theyre using and their quality control. If they dont, they'll be history, and the price of the decent instruments still out their will sky rocket
I never gave my Gibson Les Paul enough time to break. After all, it arrived with three tone knobs, scratchy electronics, a huge blemish in the stain, a stripped strap nut, a crooked neck, and a loose nut. NONE of my guitars from ANY other manufacturer were ever as poorly made as that Gibson.
I've owned plenty of instruments, from all around the budget spectrum. I take care of every guitar I have. None have disappointed me as much as that Gibson. Yes, I would've seen these issues had I bought the instrument from a local store, but even online purchases have been more reliable than this one. Yes, every brand can ship a dud, but this thing was supposedly inspected before being shipped out.
Gibson lost me as a customer. I'll happily keep buying from pretty much anyone else. I think my next LP might be an Eastman, or something similar.
Sold Gibsons for years and got sick if this happening. $5500 for a guitar then the customer comes back with cracks down the neck at heel at nut...I gave up selling them..this is just one reason Gibson is in its situation. Great sounding bad finish high price! Crazy!!
From what year to what year did you sell them?Was it all Gibson product lines?Are the older Gibson's susceptible to this issue?Thanks for your time and effort.
Is this for standards and customs alike?
Best of luck finding a solution Darrell. Lucky we love our Epiphones right?
Most Epis are cheaper and better... Gibson doesn't stand a chance in the long run
Alex Murphy agreed
If they would only change that goofy Epi headstock it would be heaven.
@@alexmurphy5289 Alex Murphy I think you are right, thank you for your cooperation...
@@MrChris-bx7ss I think your statement is exactly why they don't have the Gibson headstock.
You can hear the sadness in his voice when he’s talking about the cracks
I thought I was the only one.
Yeah a bit of quiver in his voice, so sad.
You can tell he's not a player who maintains his own guitars because literally every guitar gets that at some point. Especially when there's not much wood surrounding the join.
I bought a Gibson U2 Superstrat in 1992. I still have it, and it shows (and has always showed) the joint of the neck to the body on the 19th fret.
It is not cracked though. But the joint is visible and can be felt. It goes down from the fretboard to the bottom of the neck and then on the other side straight up to the fretboard again. That is to say: if this is a joint; because this would be a stupid way to make a joint. You would glue end grain wood to end grain wood. That just won't hold (I am a woodworker and I also restore and repair guitars). The guitar is still straight as a ruler and shows no cracks or other faults. So apart from that it shows a visible line: no problems there. But that line has always intrigued me.
I have another problem though; when i play it, after a while the neck becomes sticky from the 'grease' of my thumb. This influences the speed in which you can play. I have to clean it once or twice in between if I want to play a whole evening. Annoying on stage. I have quite a lot of guitars (I may have overdone it a bit...) and really: not one other guitar shows this problem. Does anyone else have this problem with a Gibson (or other) guitar?
I thought about sanding it and spraypainting it, but then it would not be original anymore. (And I still want to change the pickups, because the tone is so (80's) sharp, but then again, then it will not be original anymore...)
Another bit of nitpicking: the polepieces of the humbucker are exactly in place, the polepieces of the single coil pickups ar not exactly centered underneath the snares. They are only 1 millimeter off, but still; for a guitar in this pricerange that does not seem right. It dos not seem to effect the sound though.
So my Gibson is in great shape after 40 years.
Repairing guitars, I also saw a lot of Gibson's. I must say that the newer guitars are (in my humble opinion) not very well build. Rough, problems with the spacing, badly polished fretwork. Not acceptable for the price.
The electric guitars who amazed me are the Ibanez. Even the cheap ones are very well build. (I do not own a Ibanez, they don't appeal to me. But the build quality is very good.)
I gave up on Gibson 40 years ago and never looked back. Fender forever.
Gretsch. You know you will.
Gives up on Gibson.
Moves to equally unreliable company.
Ibanez or ESP/ltd. That's where it's at for 'name brand'
Or boutique style go PRS
Somebody 111 kit guitars are your best bet. Or buy a righty with good internals then make a lefty body for it. Bolt in special
Music man and G&L are better than Fenders unless you go custom shop. Then they are as good.
Somebody 111 the kit will come with a body, you can have them pre-painted. Pre-drilled.
Or if you're feeling extra custom. ESP custom shop may be an option.
Back in the 1970s, Gibson, Fender, and maybe some other top-tier American guitar manufacturers began emulating suicidal American car companies in trying to sell their customers highly-priced crap and depending on a level of brand loyalty that just didn't exist. Gibson and Fender survived this madness, but as a result of it we have at least two lingering effects: The vintage guitar market and the import guitar market. Neither really existed before the 70s; vintage guitars were just "used" and imports most often sucked. The American companies had the "benefit" of bad timing as well, since they began marketing poor guitars at nearly the very same time that the imports were getting so good as to be almost the clones of the classic 50s instruments they were patterned after.
Now, lo these many years later, it seems that Gibson has forgotten this dark period in the company's existence. NO ONE is going to pay top dollar for a product that is not worth every penny! Why pay Gibson for junk when, as you say Darrell, Epiphone has perfectly good and very well made guitars at affordable prices? There is, of course, other competition as well. Got the bucks? Score a PRS Core model. If you need to, you can step to an S2 or even an SE and be good to go. There are a number of Gibson imitators out there, some of whom make good stuff, and if that doesn't work for you, there is always the aforementioned used guitar market. Come on, Gibson! Having a real Gibson Les Paul is still on my bucket list, but if you want me looking at new stuff, then that new stuff had better be worth looking at AND BUYING! I don't believe in "brand loyalty" -- it only serves the brand! You need to discover "customer loyalty" -- take care of us or we WILL NOT take care of you.
Sad, but true.
Outstanding comment that says everything well. Thank you.
@@Zettel9016 Thank YOU, my friend. I just hope that someone at Gibson sees these words or some like them and manages to act properly to save the company. Time is running out!
Exactly. You can't play a logo.
Gibson is still making some fine guitars and their quality control is not as bad as many people seem to think it is, comparing Epiphones and Gibsons is nonsense, there are as many differences as there are similarities, Epiphones are the budget line and Gibsons are the upper end line. Yes, some of the highest cost Epiphones compare well with the lowest costing Gibsons, the Epiphones have more eye candy:, binding, shiny poly finishes and upgraded pickups while the bottom end Gibsons don't have binding, have satin lacquer finishes, etc... but the Gibsons are still using the same woods as the expensive models and are built on the same equipment that are building the expensive models, and come standard with quality pickups and hardware that are upgrades for other brands. When Epiphone makes flamed wood grain top it is veneer, when Gibson makes one it is carved wood, etc... The demand for Gibsons has grown while the production techniques have stayed the same, so with the higher number of instruments being produced there are going to be some that slip through the quality control system that shouldn't have, but that doesn't mean that Gibsons are junk and not worth buying anymore, all companies mass producing things make a lemon here and there... the buyer just has to be selective and careful before they pay for it or decide not to return it if was an online purchase. You can buy also Strat styled guitars that are every bit as well made and playable as a Fender, but hey, they aren't a Fender. Part of what you're paying for is the brand, that is reality, whether you are buying a Fender or a Gibson.
@@troll1441 Unless you don't.
On most of your points, T roll, we don't disagree. I have never meant to imply that Epiphone was anything but budget or Gibson anything but flagship. I do say, however, that even if it is true that Gibsons remain better in quality than we have been led to believe, it is that belief that I was speaking to. Brand loyalty does not exist; the tendency is for the consumer to say, "What have you done for me lately?" If Gibson does not have an actual problem with quality control, then they have a problem in the perception that they DO have that problem. That can prove an even thornier problem, as how to PROVE the non-existence of a problem that never existed? They have to work 3 times as hard to REGAIN customer trust as they do to WIN it in the first place, making that trust a vital resource to the company. That I I see some of the comments made is proof to me that Gibson has, at least, that deadly perception problem.😱
Of course, one REAL type of proof come when a customer gets a Gibson in hand; then the guitar can prove itself. This is where the rubber REALLY meets the road!
My point was that with customer PERCEPTION of quality taking a hit, Gibson has to put in that work proving that the guitars are worthy of their prices. This is a one-on-one thing, with Gibson having to win that battle and make that sale much more often than not to see the profit the company needs. Quality issues, whether real or imagined, put stress on the company's bottom line. Fixing the perception problem is a long term issue that has to be backed up consistently by the sustained high quality of the company's products. Doing anything less gives the buyer less reward in trying "just one more" Gibson and not moving on to one of the alternatives. With competition as fierce as it is in 2019's guitar-land, Gibson must do as much as possible to make those sales and not miss a trick.🤔
My first problem with Gibson was the high prices. Then after I graduated from College I worked in a music store. We were a Gibson franchisee and at one point we had six Gibsons. EVERY one of them needed a full fret leveling job which the shop's guitar repairman had to do. He applied to Gibson for at lest some reimbursement for the labor - but Gibson refused! Between the quality control issues, Gibson's refusal to acknowledge them, and Gibson's outrageous stock requirements - we had to buy 20 Gibsons within a six month period - we decided it was time to ditch Gibson. This took place 20 years ago and there was no indication that Gibson over the years had rectified anything. Also Gibson boosted prices outrageously and continually so the store gave up its franchise. I have never had a Gibson nor will I ever purchase one - Gibson is just too elitist for me!
Verry common story Robert... Henry has been charge since his investor group rebirthed Gibson following the horrid Nolin years (late 60s to early 80s). We're entering into a new post Henry era and hopefully things will change. What I love about Gibson is how enduring the brand is. It's the players and the factory workers who have kept the brand alive, not the management or executive team behind the company.
Amen!
You should see the work on the fingerboards on the new ones, they have deep tooling marks.
@@valgrathblak Interesting point! I hadn't thought about it but this does seem to be the tactic they are using. Hopefully, maybe not in the future now that Henry J. is out.
Which other Gibson style guitar would you suggest? I'm on the look out for something that's not back breaking. I've got an Epiphone tribute.
I’ve repaired three SGs that have had that exact same issue. One where the neck completely came dislodged. Seems as if the glue just slowly broke down or wasn’t a clean application and after some minor abuse and bouncing around in cases decided to let go.
With all the new glues that continue to come out, I'd bet Gibson is using some old glue. It's amazing that with Gibson's voracious acquisitions of different industries they can't fix the problems with their flagship business. Oh well.
@@terrygay8879 they use whatever chyna has to sell for the lowest price, bet that...
Was the demo at the beginning an original? It’s phenomenal!
Thanks!
Yes, I just wanted to put a jam together using these guitars :)
@@DarrellBraunGuitar Have you considered making it an official song Darrell? I'd download it!
That demo sounded super Metallica-like
@@DarrellBraunGuitar that was honestly so good
Darrell Braun Guitar lol “just put a jam together” that sounded awesome though!!
Bought a 2019 AUTHENTIC Gibson, and the same issues developed in a short amount of time, along with other issues that would never have passed Quality Control in ANY other factory. If you have a good 2019 Gibson, either you're very lucky or paid over $5,000. Gibson's best days are far behind them.
"Nuts that were hacked by a caveman"
4:23
Love this lol
LMAO
I almost spit out my coffee when he said that. lol.
Ken Conrad I had to do a double-take! Lol
Nobody wants that.
sickb2200 Hell No! Lol
The only thing that sells Gibsons is nostalgia.
Boondoggle what do they get what right? There are fundamental design flaws with Gibsons, many of which they’ve never tried to fix in any meaningful way. From weight, to headstock tilt, to upper fret access, to neck dive, it’s just not a comfortable guitar to sit and practice with or play live. Not to mention it doesn’t stay in tune as well as other cheaper, better designed guitars. Don’t even get me started on the quality control issues, which were abhorrent for a company that charges a massive premium. With so many great options out there today, there’s no real reason to buy such a flawed design.
@Boondoggle For your one guitar being done right, how many did they get wrong? How many people have had to deal with terrible quality and design for your instrument to be good? There is absolutely no reason a Les Paul (or any Gibson) should cost as much as they do. So many companies offer better quality and design, more finish and hardware options, better customer support, and don't charge an absurd premium.
Gibson is using their name alone to keep pumping out an overpriced design which they have barely improved at all in over 60 years. For the price of a standard Les Paul, I can get a Custom Shop Fender. Ludicrous.
@Boondoggle That is an incredibly closed-minded stance. Also, you're just plain incorrect.
No other brand is sent in for headstock repairs as much as Gibson, thanks to the ridiculous break angle. The finishes are extremely brittle, and the options are limited at best. For $3000, there is no reason it can't be made in a neck-thru construction for better harmonics. The way they install the nut and paint over it is just another way to charge extra money during inevitable repairs. The nut is also made of shockingly low quality material for such a high-dollar item.
The same quality can be found in high-end Epiphones, for a third of the price, with more options for personalization, AND regular improvements in the technology.
The only reason you're denying any of it is because you're afraid to admit that you paid way too much money for an outdated guitar.
@@Chaps_Jr You make good points but so does he. It is kind of like the lottery with Gibsons, I have a 600-800$ Gibson I got used and it plays great for as long as I've had it which is roughly a year. But also you're right, they truly are leveraging their name and position in the guitar world to not offer improvements they could. Although like Boondoggle says, when they get it right they are quite nice instruments. But you're also right about the amount of Gibsons at least in the past that had to be done wrong for my one guitar to be nice is too high. As a company they are flawed, although when looked at individually a Gibson guitar can be amazing.
Gibsons are for collectors, not players.
Dude, welcome to a true nitro finish. The different pieces of wood are expanding and contracting at different rates. Nitro is a very hard, brittle finish, and it will crack. Old nitro will crack if you bring your guitar inside from sub freezing weather and open the case too soon. Literally this is no big deal, it is not the pieces moving around, it is expansion and contraction.
puppetshow360 Agreed
100% True!
I dont know why he is whining its supposed to crack.
Is this really correct? My 20 year old LPs don't have a neck joint crack, or any other cracking or chipping that I can't say, "Oh, my belt did that..." or "whoops, mic stand bonk!" From what I understand, the really brittle nitro was stopped in the late 60's when the EPA took out all the "REALLY toxic" ingredients. Also, nitro is constantly offgassing, so it's thinner today than it was yesterday, by however small amount, that builds up over the years. (which would actually be a nod to cracking easier... huh.)
Finally, other "high end" guitars that use nitro simply don't have this problem. I'm not dumping on you bro, I'm here to learn just like everyone else, but I own several Gibson les pauls and the last one I bought will be the last one I buy. I swear it was a factory reject or something... absolute trash for darn near 7 grand... (Yes, I still have a bitter taste over that. F Gibson.)
Well then they need to stop using nitro. It’s shithouse.
Brand loyalty is blinding us; there are lots of better manufacturers. Despite what Trogly's said about the finish cracks at the neck joint, it's lame and unacceptable. I have a Midtown Standard - which I like a lot - with that same neck joint crack. It's lame. Gibson's overall quality of workmanship has taken a big dive since the early 00's👎
Trogly is a clown
The current “suits” at Gibson apply the same business practices that tarnished the Harley-Davidson name during the AMF years.
I agree. I wanted a true Gibson Les Paul my whole life, but since I couldn’t afford one, I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul Custom. It’s fantastic. Since then I’ve added a PRS and an EVH Wolfgang, and a Strat. So now I’m thinking there is no reason I need to drop $3-5k on a Gibson LP. My Epiphone LP is plenty good enough, and 1/6th the price.
Gibson: Quality is for Sissies.
Gibson: Our Customers don't Mind.
Gibson: Where Trust Funds go to Die.
Gibson: My Bad!
Why would anyone pay top dollar for a Gibson when you can buy Epiphone?
Musicians who can tell the difference are definitely on drugs.
@@kevinmoor26 The most expensive epiphone les paul is much better value than the cheapest gibson les paul and guess which one is cheaper :)
@@kevinmoor26 Many musicians grew up believing the myths about guitars. Example wood differences make different tone. How? the strings are metal going across an electronic magnetic field. Wood is not electromagnetic.
Madmike right but they’ve actually done double blind tests with Stradivarius instruments and when the results came in most musicians preferred the sound of more modern violins that weren’t Stradivarius. Yes the woods have different resonance and impart different sounds that still doesn’t mean that it sounds better because a more expensive wood is used or even if the instrument itself is more expensive. At this point Epiphone is just too good for the price. There is nothing that the Gibson has that’s imo worth the asking price.
@@kikong80 🤣🤣🤣👍👏🎸
Yup, my three sg’s have the same finish crack at the neck even the 2007 custom shop. Heavy strings and thin necks but It just cosmetic so I’m fine with it.
My 2013 SG 50"s tribute does not have that crack. I play it almost everyday.
Freddy FuFu then life’s good.
Me too man, 2010 SG... but the crack is way more shorter than on the video but still there..
David, they suck but the lacquers so soft. I remember changing out pots on my 2005 tightened up the rings and thought nothing of it 2 years down the line and the checking is all the way across the bottom part of the body. It doesn’t take much.
heavy strings thin necks and he hangs them on wall what do you expect?
Always been a Fender guy, but about 6 years ago wanted to add a Gibson to my collection. It was only a Studio, but was excited none the less. Quality was china.. with a horrible cut nut. A small block of wood and sawdust came out of the electronics cavity. You could feel a line going all the way up the neck where the rosewood meets the mahogany on the fret-board. Was the worst guitar ive ever had in my collection. I wanted to love it -but I aint stupid ..and so it went back the next day.
"wherever there are finish cracks there are movement"
I mean this in the nicest way possible, and I realize you cannot hear a "tone" of a voice in a typed reply, so please understand I'm not trying to be confrontational. With that forward I'm Sorry to tell you that you're wrong. Nitro cracks over time due to the FINISH expanding and contracting from heat/cold/humidity/altitude changes. If your guitar isn't living in a 100% sealed and humidity & Temperature controlled room than living in its case or not it will react to its environment. Of course those cracks will appear where the wood joins or where there is any edge or cut - It's where the finish will be the thinnest, the first to respond, and the first to crack, and I highly doubt they were sanded down to 10K grit so that incudes the neck joint. ALL the cracks you show are finish cracks - and go no deeper than finish. If they were deeper you'd be able to see light in them with very light pressure from your hands. I've got multiple Gibson guitars that live in a unheated vehicle trailer year round - where it gets down to below freezing and as high as 100 degrees, and the altitude can change 5 times - sometimes all within the same month as we travel! While many exhibit the exact same finish cracks you show, NONE have ever broken, needed a neck reset, or had a nut fall out. I've never had a headstock break either. Every vintage guitar I've ever held generally has these same type of finish cracks. If you don't want nitro finish cracks you might consider sticking to poly finished guitars.
no matter how right you are, they don’t wanna hear it.
So this guy with hundreds of guitars who’s been playing his whole life doesn’t know what he’s talking about?
You know PRS uses nitro lacquer too? As do vintage styled Fenders, all of which Daniel plays and (presumably, from his statements in this and other videos) he has none of these issues with. I actually own a 1961 Gretsch in very nice condition for its age. It has checking in lots of places... but it doesn't have checking in a straight line where the nut joins the neck, nor where the neck joins the body. No, this is a QC issue unique to modern Gibsons, because if my guitar - which would be old enough to retire in a few years if it was alive - doesn't have finish breaks there, neither should a near-brand-new one.
Go PRS, quality wise it's a no brainer. Hell, even the SE models feel much more expensive than what they actually cost.
Zero appeal to me. I'm a Gibson, Fender and Gretsch boy.
@@adamski101 Fender and Gretsch are completely different animals, those are guitars mainly for vintage stuff (Fender has some exceptions though, I'm aware of that). Gibson has a lot of background, there's no arguing in that. But nowdays they charge way too much for what they offer quality-wise. I think PRS offers you a little bit more quality and versatility over Gibson. Everybody knows Gibbys have their signature fat-sound, it's well known. On the other side, Paul Reed Smiths are quite balanced between Fender and Gibson. They indeed have a good tone for overdrive/distortion while being thin enough for clean stuff. Also, features like standard tremolos and 24 frets are also good pros. If you haven't played a PRS, try one out. Who knows, maybe you'll change your mind.
@@rigama4442 You don't want a Gibson ? Buy Epiphone !
@@rickleblanc8900 Yup.
Modify that which suits your need and save thousands on a guitar that sounds comparable.
MY SE45 smokes both of these gibsons
This brought back a memory of one of my regular customers bringing in a Les Paul studio with complaints that it was buzzing. Took me forever to realize the fingerboard had separated from the neck at the first fret enough that if you looked into the crack on the bass side, you could see light shining through from the treble side.
Sounds like a cobbler i used to take my shoes to that could tell the problem when he saw the soles flapping.
I found a 1976 Gibson Explorer reissue in a guitar store in Burbank, Ca had been in the back of the store for like a decade. Guess they forgot about it? Worked the whole summer to save up the $800.00 bucks, well then I bought it, case and all in perfect condition. That was my first good guitar. A few years later the glue/paint started chipping around the neck joint and about a year later a long finish crack started at the back of the neck and worked it's way down the body. I bought a used 1983 Fender Strat that I still have to this day, so that became my main axe, the Gibson just sat in it's case. The nut on the Explorer pulled loose. Fixed the nut and sold the Explorer for 5 grand. Took the money and bought another Fender Strat and two Teles, with money leftover. No way would I ever go back to a Gibson, even back in 1976 when this Explorer was made, Gibson was making junk. Remember the 1979/1980 Gibson silverburst Les Paul's? A couple of my friends had some, a few years later the silverburst would start to turn a ugly green color. To this day it is Fender only for me, Gibson makes nice looking, expensive junk, IMO.
I agree completely. I have had a few friends who owned shops and were Gibson dealers, and every one of them talked about Gibson's terrible quality control, trying to dodge out of warranty service, and just a bad company to deal with.
Ignorant statement. Goldtops turn green too. It’s a reaction the metal flakes in the paint have over time(nitro finishes only). Do some research
thanks for sharing this man, been mind boggling whether to grab a gibson es series
or a Fender HSS, the quality control for Gibson scares my wallet to shreds
I'll keep my Epiphones.
I have a 95' Epiphone LP that is well used, sounds great, and has ZERO finish cracks. The folks that say "They all do it, it's just an expansion/contraction thing" are deluded, and compensating for the butt-hurt of paying THAT much for an inferior quality guitar.
I’ll keep my Schecter
I'll keep my fender and jackson
Yeah, I will too. I have an epiphone Sg and it’s great. It’s a cheap brand but it’s great, I love it.
Me too. Excellent quality and sound. Got a new to me, used Standard, with a really thin neck. Perfect.
I've had 4 SG's over the years and they've all done this, although the initial finish cracks never expanded with time and use. Almost like a house settling in and staying put.
Seem obvious that Gibson is doing something wrong with their finishes and has been for a very long time. I used to have a "The V" made in Kalamazoo. It had the same flaw, and also had finish cracks on both sides of the neck all along the ebony fretboard where it met the maple neck.On the other hand I had a Guild S300, made in Rhode Island, trans red over mahogany w/ebony board. The finish had been worn all the way through in lots of places, but NOT A CRACK ANYWHERE! Yes Gibson it can be done.
My favorite guitar is my early 90s Les Paul Studio. When I go a little older and started gigging, I wanted a backup. I was surprised that more recent Gibsons that cost $2K+ aren’t even close to feeling as good as my old Studio, which was about $900 at the time of purchase. I went to Guitar Center to sell 3 pedals I didn’t care for, and ended up playing a LTD LP copy. It had almost everything I loved about my LP, and I actually prefer the knob placement of the LTD. So, for the price of a few pedals I never used, I got the LP I always wanted.
Yes my SG has this, my opinion is that it's just the nitro finish cracking. The joint is holding two different pieces of wood together, each piece will expand and contract with the weather in different ways as you would expect. Don't sweat it, it's fine. Been playing mine for 30 years. looks cracked but plays like a dream. PRS and many others are not nitro and those finishes have a level of plasticity that nitro does not. And for those that question why Gibson still uses nitro, it's because the buyer wants nitro finishes, at least I do anyhow. By the way, I love your videos!
That is a common problem with Gibson. It is unsightly but shouldn't affect the playability except for maybe needing a new nut. The cracks in finish aren't necessarily due to movement, just stress. The lacquer finish Gibson uses is super brittle, so after a while any wood shrinkage or the slightest bit of stress like at the neck joint , will crack the finish. Most other guitar manufacturers now use a urethane finish that is or is alot like the finish used on automobiles. It is more durable and forgiving . That is why these problems are more rare in other brands ,even epiphone. Sorry to say that even getting a repair , if using the same finish, these problems will generally come right back. Good luck.
Common problem with outdated design.
yeah no big deal - your $2k guitar might need a new nut less than a couple years after manufacture
@@buzzcrushtrendkill Design has nothing to do with it. I mean players across all the guitar forums clamour for nitro finishes, what they don't know or realize is that done properly you can keep modern finishes as thin as nitro but they aren't susceptible to shrinking and cracking.
That really sucks man. I’ve had a 2012 sg standard for around 10 years and I’ve had not issues at all except the usual tuning problems
As a woodworker, I'll tell you, wood moves. Period. You can say "where there should not be movement" as many as you wish, but wood will still move. The problem is the thick synthetic finish and the plastic bindings... Those don't move.
docdoc nice. The only contrary point in the comments section. Makes sense to me. Wood does have a mind of it’s own.
And I’m sure Gibson could up their QC and building processes, but I still love the way Gibsons feel and sound.
Yup. Wood moves. Now here’s Dan, with the weather..
There is actually legit people in here? Finally someone with common sense...
You nailed it!
Ugh! Bro I feel bad for you. That’s exactly why I’m done with those high dollar guitars. Main Guitar right now is a Ltd ec50 stock $180 new in 2007. I’ve been playing it for 13 years with no problems
they might sue you to protect their legacy...
TechnoShamanism complainer
Dont bother with crybabies. They have chronic depression lol
Those joints are not moving. Wood expands and contracts due to changes in temperature that's why you are getting finish cracks. This does not effect the integrity of the joint. Strats on the other hand have cracks in the wood at the neck pocket. That is a stress facture. I have an '81 Flying V with finish cracks at the neck joint. It's always stayed in tune.
4JayeP Borden he said its always stored in a case, temp and humidity shouldnt be doing that much if its being stored that way
Regardless its still not good enough!!
@@HeiTheDarkReaper guitar cases are not hermetically sealed. Humidity changes can still cause problems.
4JayeP Borden
Then why isn’t this happening to any of his other guitars?
“Gibson left the chat “
I know this is an older video, however I had a recent experience with this. I ordered a really nice 2018 limited edition Les Paul Standard, with blacked out hardware and a trans ebony bust. Beautiful guitar. I ordered this as brand new from Guitar Center. It showed up with a bowed neck and the same finish crack in the nut. Not only that the nut was also cracked diagonally. I took it back to Guitar center and exchanged it for a PRS custom 22. Low and behold, Guitar center put it back on the shelf with the same blemishes.
I gotta admit how hilarious it was to me the first sentence.
For today's video we've got some problems.
Amazing video as usual Darrell.
I own 2 Epiphone Les Pauls and an Epi SG. They play great and they're built like tanks. I love 'em.
I went to the store with money for a Les Paul and left with a PRS. Gibson have been living on their name alone for far too long.
I own 7 Gibson guitars the oldest is a 1979 wine red studio custom that i leave out of the case all my others stay in there cases until i’m ready to play them, not even 1 of these guitars show any signs of what yours are. My Gibson’s are 2002 BB king Lucille, 2017 blonde es355 custom, 2011 es335 black beauty, 2014 Les Paul Supreme (brown), Les Paul Les plus with robot tuners, shortly after purchasing that guitar I visited a Guitar Center where i observed there guitar tech, removing all the tuners from the stock of about 11 guitars they had left. According to the tech Gibson recalled all the tuners replacing them with standard tuner’s, he offered to replace mine to wit i declined, mine still have the original robot tuners which work perfectly fine. I just used the tuner a few min ago despite not ever being placed on a charger the tuners still work, i love this guitar.
Btw, if you really like double cut Les Paul's, but you still want something brand new, there's always Paul Reed Smith. They are literally Les Pauls, but they still have access to good tone wood.
This is an inherent "problem" with nitro lacquer expanding and shrinking, and the joints generally get finish cracks first (under non extreme temperature deltas) because the potential for lacquer separation is already there because it's a joint and technically not just one continuous flat surface, but it's not a sign of neck mouvement. And it happens on the bass side first because the vibrations are stronger and more prominent on the low side than the high, it will probably happen on the treble side one day.
And it doesn't happen with PRSs or Epis or whatever other brand coz they don't use Nitro.
This is not a problem per se, it's the downside of Nitro lacquer, and if gibs didn't use Nitro all hell would break loose !!!
RiffsNReviews It isn’t even real nitro though. It’s plasticized. My SG has the same problem. I recently had my guitars in a trailer for a few days in the cold. The lacquer on the SG didn’t check like my other nitro guitars. It just chips in big flakes.
It's not inherent, just seems that people are wiling to accept it so Gibson has no reason to solve the problem. I've even seen this in some of the new models hanging at GC. I've got 5 different guitars all from different mfgs and not a single one has any issues like this and I didn't pay even 1/4 of the price of a LP. "And it happens on the bass side first because the vibrations are stronger" lmao ooook. I've worked in quality control and inspection for a few manufacturing companies and the amount of vibration it would take to seperate a finish like that is ridiculous. If that were true every single bass guitar by every mfg should be cracking lol.
I’ve never had these problems with any of my Gibsons & I never put them in their cases.
Sorry this happened.
Would love to hear if Gibson ever did anything for you about this problem?
You would think you'd get better quality for $1,000+ guitars...
Nick E.
Or $3000+
@John D actually the quality on the Epiphone SG's amaze me and for $420
@ppino98🎼 people are sheep and following trends.
Get a PRS
I’m not gonna jump on the hate Gibson wagon I own a 2008 les paul traditional and it’s a killer guitar no issues I also have a knaggs SSC1 that is my baby but the Gibson is a great guitar.
Darrell, do not fret (no pun intended) my 2014 sg standard 61 had the nut issue. It was a lacquer only issue. Gibson fixed free of charge.
I own 9 Gibsons, 3 les pauls. The movement in the heel is normal and it will crack the finish on some but it's mostly due to the fulcrum point being around that area. Your neck will not pop off in literally 100 years. It's purely aestetics. I know my friends 68 sg had this problem when he bought it in 1978. 2019 and it's still going strong.
My all hang in my studio. No cases. No issues. I have that issue on my 1981 explorer, 1980 yamaha sg2000, my old 1969 sg standard (no longer own it) and also a 2007 double cut I sold last year. No issue. Don't fear 😊
No issues with my epiphone sg . My Gibson cracked on 3 separate occasions where the cord attached. Using a metal bracket and putting it on the side is a lifesaver.
hi Scott, which Epiphone SG? is it the ‘61 LP SG?
@@wpkg no newer non valute style 97
@@ScottDreyfus Thanks!
i do not recommend that you hang gibson guitars on the wall specifically les pauls. The heavy weight from the body creates too much tension at the neck joint and head stock by having it hang for its lifetime. These instruments shluld be stored in their case or at the very least a guitar stand. It is very tempting to hang them because they are beautiful but you are asking for neck joint problems having their full massive weight being supported by the small surface area at the neck. The only guitars I hang are guitars 500 and under or fenders (any guitar with a bolt on neck). It is not likely to see guitars develop these issues from hanging them, but sometimes it will happen. Dont hang your 1500 dollar + gibsons on the wall they arent known for durability.
If as guitar can't survive supporting its own weight, it deserves to break and be replaced with something better made
You're honest and astute,Eastman, Yamaha and PRS are far superior,if Fender can get their quality control in order (early 80's and I don't like Fender guitars) then why can't Gibson???
I'm 63 yrs old, recently bought a 335 and Les Paul DC. I play them once a month if that for 6-7 years. Recently noticed a crack at headstock and at the same spot as yours. Had both fixed, month later they were back, BUT IN opposite spots!!! Like fix the heal, puts pressure on the neck, vice versa!!! Both are again being fixed. Both are 2007 models. I'm dumbfounded. Thankfully, I prefer my epi's. My 339 epi and my Les Paul epi are perfect (for me anyway).
This is the most scathing review of a guitar that I've seen from this guy. "Mmmm.... this sucks" 😳
Darrell,
Try a Heritage guitar.
A while back, some Gibson old timers weren't happy with where the company was going.
They bought out the old equipment in the Kalamazoo factory, and started a company to build guitars like Gibsons should have been.
You should seriously try out one of their guitars
Matthew Lau I think he did
@@McOuroborosBurger doh! Sorry
Matthew Lau my bad. That was an Eastman. Which is close enough in build and quality to a Heritage, I wanna see him compare the two now.
@@McOuroborosBurger no worries! If I wanted a Gibson style guitar, I would either get a really cheap Epiphone, a 80's MIJ clone (Tokai, Burney, Orville), or make one.
I had a MIJ strat, and it was every bit the equal/superior to the American fenders. Even had a 3 piece laminated neck! Which is a pita to do
I'm a Stratocaster guy so there's that ..
Leo Fender was a genius, his guitars are completely fool proof
And also don’t sound like a Les Paul
Well theres a deluxe tele for that
For sure Darryl....I cant justify spending 3000 nz for a guitar that might not be any better then my nice mint 2003 Korean epiphone les paul custom....would rather buy a super amp
👍 A good amp is money well spent!
Same here in Australia
2002 was the 50th anniversay les paul custom model from epihone. they made 2002 and each one was numbered. they had a picture on the back of les paul and his log protoype. they were black. and gold hardware with grover imperial tuners. most were made in the sammick factory in Korea. They also sound amazing and had very low string height action. If you can find one buy one. i got one lol. would never sell it. they sold for 729.00. There was also a gibson one but they sold for 15,000.
Tim Watson. My Korean 2017 PRS Custom 24 Exotic Timber (Limited Run) is the most beautiful playing / sounding / looking guitar I’ve ever slung over my shoulder. To hell with all the overpriced shoddy American made crap.
Yeah I recently acquired a 1990 Korean Epiphone Les Paul Custom for 200 USD and it plays better than most USA made lp’s ive ever played
Nitrocellulose gets old and cracks, doesn’t matter what the guitar is. But it wasn’t designed to age well, it wasn’t even designed for instruments. It was made for cars and guitar manufacturing picked up on it by following car finishing trends.
As the nitro ages it’s curing and that’s not really done for about a year or so, before that you’re playing a guitar with a finish that isn’t technically done. That’s why a new nitro covered guitar (like every single Gibson) feels crazy sticky and “not broken in”. Once it’s old though it’s thin and easily cracked, the guitar vibration alone can do it but the real killer is nature; humidity, temperature and pressure changes all affect it. So yeah, you’ll see cracks appear on the guitars, you can spare them for a while, but eventually that’s just the way. Whenever you see a super clean vintage guitar what you’re seeing is a mostly unused guitar that stayed in one spot. If it gets used even gently, cracks.
All that to say you can’t even get mad at Gibson for this one (you can get mad at them for many other dumb things but not this), because if they stopped using nitro the customers would absolutely revolt. There’s better clear coats that hold stronger, longer, resist scratching and won’t crack, but that’s not what Gibson used in the late 50’s and 60’s so no one wants it. Even PRS gave up fighting the nitro fetish and us using it now after decades of poly finishes.
This isn’t a Gibson problem, this is a customer one.
Now a Gibson problem is the stupid headstock breaks but again, they added volutes and people complained so… well here we are.
Thanks for the comment. I purchased a standard LP 3 months ago and was wondering if I had extra sweaty palms but that makes sense with the nitro-cellulose. It even has that strong 'new house paint smell' that I instantly notice whenever I open the case. Like what a well known luthier said on another UA-cam channel: the wood and finish age at different rates so that's the concession you have to accept when buying a Gibson.
This why if you buy a Gibson, you buy an older one that is already cracked or has no cracks.
Had 83 LP Pro Heavy as hell, no cracks.
It’s too bad for Gibson, I wish they would just get away from Nitro.
The whole thing about other paints harming sound is BS anyway.
Use Polyurethane and it won’t crack. I have seen old Gibsons cracking all over from weather changes etc.
They have always used the nitro and the sound quality thing as an excuse. It’s BS.
And then there’s the headstocks breaking off problem. Look on ebay under guitars for parts, not complete, or not playable, (whatever they call the category) You find a bunch of broken Epiphones and Gibsons.
I fork out 3 K for a guitar, I don’t want any damn cracks breaking out on it.
joe dirt Then don’t play your guitar lol. Any finish will get wear and tear. Strings are affected by vibrations in the body, if it weren’t the case, then hollow body’s would sound just the same as a solid body if they both had the same components.
I’ve had a neck reset on an old SG I had at one point. And I’ve had other similar neck pocket issues as well. As much as I love Gibson, I can’t justify buying one anymore.
In the neck, I have the same crack in my SG from 2017.
For what they charge, I expect a Flawless guitar.
Hey bro..I had a old SG once that the same thing happened to. I put a very hot iron right next to the crack..it melted the finish and it went back together. I couldn't even tell it happened. I had it in either my den or my study..and the humidity ALWAYS gets down to under 10% all winter long in both. I had a Martin do the same damn thing to me as well. Now I keep them in a closet made just for my guitars. I keep the humidity in it between 30-40% all year.
I don't know if that is what caused the finish crack in yours or not? I was ALWAYS worried about my gun collection being to humid..never thought about my guitars. I have a big gun safe of course with a humidity killer in it..so now they are ALL happy.😁✌
Good luck pal.👌