kargausa Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) Hey friends, I bought Les Paul Standard in 2016, I always kept my Guitar in temp and humidity controlled environment with my other classic and electric guitars. When I was changing my strings I realized that paint started to crack as line, I assume this is the top layer of the body. I feel super sad. Do you have any idea? Is that something that I consider as a normal, or should I start worrying about it, and do something, any recommendation. I don't know if there is a factory defect or manufacturing problem with 2016 series. Thank you. Edited March 6, 2021 by kargausa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kargausa Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NighthawkChris Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Wouldn't feel bad or worry about this. It's not a defect, it's just what solid finish Gibsons do. It shouldn't get much worse so long as you continue to take care of the guitar. I highly doubt that you'll see finish start chipping off if you are taking care of it like you said. And something like this wouldn't even be a deal breaker if you ever wanted to sell it. So rest assured, nothing functionally gonna go wrong because of what you're seeing. As guitars get older, they are gonna show their age, especially if they are played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kargausa Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 @NighthawkChrisThanks for the explanation, I feel much better now. I can understand that solid finish on wood surface could cause some issues in time, that's totally normal. I wasn't sure why it was looking like a line of crack, I don't know the exact body layers of Les Pauls. I thought it could be a glue issue between layers. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kargausa Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) Here are some extra photos of my guitar. https://imgur.com/a/eGVp29x Edited March 6, 2021 by kargausa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NighthawkChris Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 @kargausa you said you bought the LP in 2016. This guitar wasn’t made in 2016, correct? Just curious when it was built. The serial number should be able to give you an idea when it was made. So if it’s a bit older guitar all the more reason this is how it’s gonna age. Nitrocellulose finishes won’t last forever unfortunately. Just keep it clean with a soft cloth rag and should look good for many years to come. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Possibly thermal creep from the titebond glue Gibson used? It’s nothing to worry about though. You always see this on the old pancake body Les Pauls 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kargausa Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 @NighthawkChris according to Gibson serial numbering system model year of my Guitar is 2016, serial number starts with 1600xxxxx and there is ‘2016 model’ mark just under made in U.S.A stamp too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kargausa Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 Quick update, just talked with Gibson customer service they asked me to send it to them for warranty evaluation. I’m glad they stay behind their products. I’ll update here friends. Thanks for the help again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 It looks like what you're seeing is the seam from where the maple cap meets the reset of the body. The binding was not contoured to match that seam, some years it wasn't, some years it was. But it's good to have it looked at if you are at all concerned about it. Let us know how the story ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NighthawkChris Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 52 minutes ago, kidblast said: It looks like what you're seeing is the seam from where the maple cap meets the reset of the body. The binding was not contoured to match that seam, some years it wasn't, some years it was. But it's good to have it looked at if you are at all concerned about it. Let us know how the story ends. My 1994 LP Standard has the binding covering the seam in question here. So yes to confirm about some years using thicker binding strip around this cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 1 minute ago, NighthawkChris said: My 1994 LP Standard has the binding covering the seam in question here. So yes to confirm about some years using thicker binding strip around this cap. yep exactly chris. I have 2 standards,, my 95 yes, my 2002 no.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apostlerock Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Yeah. I've got a 2007 Les Paul Classic "guitar of the week #5". Chevron finish Tom Morgan artwork. Bought brand new. Everything was fine, guitar was kept in a controlled environment along with all of my PERFECT Fenders (never EVER a problem with them. Recently I opened the case and looked at the Les Paul. It almost took my breath away!!! Cracks underneath the poly finish. Running the entire length of the guitar! It started with one bad crack. Then one by one more cracks are appearing. I took photos and sent an email to Gibson claiming a factory defect. I was told it was "grain lines" and quite common. Also that some players are fond of this. I'm 65 years old and been playing since i was 7. I've seen thousands of guitars and I've never seen a train wreck like this. I emailed the rep back and requested that he put me in touch with an adult. What an insult! Why would anyone pay $2499.00 msrp for a guitar like this? Guess that's why F will always come before G. They could at least treat their customers with respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10PoundLester Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 @Apostlerock - I couldn't agree more about the F -vs- G in terms of how tough they are. You can drop a Tele down the stairs and it will play fine. Look at a Gibson wrong and it's repair time. I treat my Gibsons (2018 ES335, 2019 50's LP Standard) like newborn babies. I keep them in their cases in a closet when not in use. My Fenders (Strats and Teles) are out in my shop where I do most of my playing. I leave them out there summer, winter and everything in between, not climate controlled (it's an 850 s.f. garage) and there is never an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibsonmad Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 (edited) Beatiful cracking! some people pays many dollar for murphy guitar! It's normal cracking of nitro finish, the wood move with weather, temperature or humidity change. I had 2 Les Paul 2003 & 2004 with identical finish cracking ...and one crack continues to part of body of one guitar. PS: when I don't play guitar, all my instruments stays in the case on wall rack. Edited January 19 by gibsonmad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10PoundLester Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 On 3/10/2021 at 2:11 AM, kargausa said: Quick update, just talked with Gibson customer service they asked me to send it to them for warranty evaluation. I’m glad they stay behind their products. I’ll update here friends. Thanks for the help again. I realize the age of this thread but I'd like to know what Gibson said about this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 @Apostlerock um you have a 17 yr old guitar that’s got a crack. it probably should have a number of dings and scratches in it by now if it was played , esp if played live. even in a church I’ve wacked my guitar (unintentionally) into a mic stand or music stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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