BoGibsonCA Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Hi team, I have a 2003 J45 Custom with a lacquer crack (is not a structural issue). Will take it in to a great shop in Los Angeles next week (suggestions?), but any thoughts on how issues like this are dealt with and if this is a long-term, fatal flaw in the guitar? I updated with larger images - thanks for thoughts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Looks like meaningless finish checking to me that occurs with nitro finish guitars. On my Gibsons such finish checking comes and goes depending on the environment. At worst, it's a minor scratch, but to me it looks like finish checking from the photo. Try some polish on it. It may disappear and then reappear depending on the weather, humidity, etc. Either way looks like nothing to worry about. Just my two cents. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Pics are really small, but from what I can see it's nothing I'd even lose sleep over, let alone take to a shop to have fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhanners623 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I'd echo what the others said. It's a Gibson. The time to worry is when you don't have finish cracks.... Seriously, any type of touch-up is probably going to be more trouble (and expense) than it is worth. Finish cracks generally occur when you take the guitar from a cold environment to a warmer one without letting it warm up gradually. You can take precautions to minimize it but, again, it's a Gibson so finish checking just kind of comes with the turf. Once you start "fixing" finish cracks, it becomes a Sisyphusian task because there'll always be another crack. Some background: https://acousticguitarman.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/what-causes-guitar-finish-checking/ Here is Frank Ford's tutorial on how lacquer checks are filled in: http://frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Finish/Lacquer/CheckRepair/checkfill.html Notice Ford says that, "After a month's drying time...." which is another way of saying that if you really want the check repaired, your guitar will be in the shop for awhile. The stuff takes forever to cure, and no competent luthier is going to let it out of the shop before it is fully dry. I know the first finish crack on a pristine guitar takes awhile to get used to, just like the first dent or scratch. But tools get dented and scratched and, at the end of the day, guitars are tools. Beautiful tools, mind you, but still tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Curious if this is the first issue that's come up with this guitar? Have you had it 14 years, or did you get it from the original owner? Irregularities are much more visible on darker finishes. Sort of like having a black car. Hand was only! Even using a regular bath towel to dry it is frowned upon by 'purists'. Of course, the dealer will not tell you this - they don't want you to buy the car, not scare you. "Drive it like it's stolen!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I am with others here. Lacquer cracks are simply part of the nitro aging process. Crazing and checking is inevitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PickitPaul Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Don't polish over the crazing area - the polish will dry inside the checks and will be even more noticeable! Just dampen towel / warm water and dry towel off is all, if it gets dirty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Don't polish over the crazing area - the polish will dry inside the checks and will be even more noticeable! Just dampen towel / warm water and dry towel off is all, if it gets dirty. That is how you should clean all guitars - just a cheesecloth, cotton diaper or something slightly dampened with distilled water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 . Looks like a finish crack to me too. Expect more. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 I guess I must be lucky, I can't see any finish cracks in my 3 Gibsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Don't polish over the crazing area - the polish will dry inside the checks and will be even more noticeable! Just dampen towel / warm water and dry towel off is all, if it gets dirty. I think it's more concisely, be careful which polishes you use. Some are extremely mild and are fine to use. Some are not. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PickitPaul Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 That is how you should clean all guitars - just a cheesecloth, cotton diaper or something slightly dampened with distilled water. Double check there isn't any do do in the diaper first, please. But on the more serious side - what do you use on the arm sweat spot that seems to just smear with water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Double check there isn't any do do in the diaper first, please. But on the more serious side - what do you use on the arm sweat spot that seems to just smear with water? The Gibson brand guitar cleaner/polish is awesome for getting that arm haze off. I don't clean or wipe down my guitars regularly. I just hit them with the Gibson polish maybe a couple times a year and it gets rid of that haze in no time. For scratches I've had great results with Scratch X. I've used it a couple times when I was selling a guitar that had some light surface scratches and it worked amazingly well, resulting in a mirror finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoGibsonCA Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 Looks like meaningless finish checking to me that occurs with nitro finish guitars. On my Gibsons such finish checking comes and goes depending on the environment. At worst, it's a minor scratch, but to me it looks like finish checking from the photo. Try some polish on it. It may disappear and then reappear depending on the weather, humidity, etc. Either way looks like nothing to worry about. Just my two cents. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Thank you so much for taking a moment to look, and helping to educate me. I'd always baby'd it, so was worried when this appeared. That said, I'm not trying to sell it, just play it 'til I'm gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoGibsonCA Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 Pics are really small, but from what I can see it's nothing I'd even lose sleep over, let alone take to a shop to have fixed. Thanks much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoGibsonCA Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 The Gibson brand guitar cleaner/polish is awesome for getting that arm haze off. I don't clean or wipe down my guitars regularly. I just hit them with the Gibson polish maybe a couple times a year and it gets rid of that haze in no time. For scratches I've had great results with Scratch X. I've used it a couple times when I was selling a guitar that had some light surface scratches and it worked amazingly well, resulting in a mirror finish. Thanks for the recommendations! Hitting the shop today (and, if that fails, Amazon). Cheers, friends, appreciate the kind words and advice. - B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoGibsonCA Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 Curious if this is the first issue that's come up with this guitar? Have you had it 14 years, or did you get it from the original owner? Irregularities are much more visible on darker finishes. Sort of like having a black car. Hand was only! Even using a regular bath towel to dry it is frowned upon by 'purists'. Of course, the dealer will not tell you this - they don't want you to buy the car, not scare you. "Drive it like it's stolen!" Thanks for the question and the help. This is the only issue with the guitar - nothing structural, or even any other finish "anomalies" (though even that is probably the wrong word given all the comments on how this is somewhat "normal"). I purchased this guitar about 3 years ago, so just after it's 10th or 11th bday. It's the J45 Custom Rosewood as noted in my sig. The mark was smaller when I got it - has spread a bit. I keep one of the Boveda/D'Addario humidity packs in the case with it at all times when not gigging/in-use. Is that a good idea? Have heard mixed things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoGibsonCA Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 I'd echo what the others said. It's a Gibson. The time to worry is when you don't have finish cracks.... Seriously, any type of touch-up is probably going to be more trouble (and expense) than it is worth. Finish cracks generally occur when you take the guitar from a cold environment to a warmer one without letting it warm up gradually. You can take precautions to minimize it but, again, it's a Gibson so finish checking just kind of comes with the turf. Once you start "fixing" finish cracks, it becomes a Sisyphusian task because there'll always be another crack. Some background: https://acousticguitarman.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/what-causes-guitar-finish-checking/ Here is Frank Ford's tutorial on how lacquer checks are filled in: http://frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Technique/Finish/Lacquer/CheckRepair/checkfill.html Notice Ford says that, "After a month's drying time...." which is another way of saying that if you really want the check repaired, your guitar will be in the shop for awhile. The stuff takes forever to cure, and no competent luthier is going to let it out of the shop before it is fully dry. I know the first finish crack on a pristine guitar takes awhile to get used to, just like the first dent or scratch. But tools get dented and scratched and, at the end of the day, guitars are tools. Beautiful tools, mind you, but still tools. Nothing but praise and thanks for your thoughtful response!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mafy31 Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Thanks for the recommendations! Hitting the shop today (and, if that fails, Amazon). Cheers, friends, appreciate the kind words and advice. - B Rather useless probably, check cracks usually begin near wood, so applying whatever outside will not help (if it is lacquer check). I don't find it bad, a gibson with lacquer hairlines is nice and sexy... If it is a mark above (means it has been damaged by something on the surface) then polish may help a bit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 Gibson Pump Polish -( orange label !) contains petroleum distillates. It is designed to 'fill in' very small cracks/scratches in nitrocellulose. I'm not sure of the nature of your 'imperfection' - but I'd give the Gibson Pump polish a shot before going to a guitar technician. G'Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 It's nothing to worry about. The lacquer on my old SJ200 ended up looking like a mirror that someone had thrown a brick at, that guitar was worked HARD though-I took it all over the world, 1200 or so gigs, five albums and plenty of plane holds over eight years. The lacquer crazing didn't affect the sound whatsoever though...that thing was a cannon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I meant to say, I definitely vote for the Gibson Pump Polish too-that and a new, soft microfibre cloth for buffing. None of my current Gibsons look like my old one...for that reason!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.