Saberslash Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 (edited) Hello, I got myself nice southern jumbo, brand new, but yesterday I saw this line...could this be a crack in a side of a new guitar ? 😞 😞 When I check inside, I do not see any crack and split(when I look in a hole), only on the lacquer side outside. any experiences? tnx Edited August 18, 2023 by Saberslash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 I’ve had that issue on new guitars recently. I kicked up the humidity settings in my guitar room and they went away. In my case I was keeping the room at 40/45. Now I keep it at 45/50. After a couple years, they’re not as temperamental Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberslash Posted August 18, 2023 Author Share Posted August 18, 2023 Is this lacquer checking or wood split / crack? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 Just look inside the guitar and it will tell you the story. But as Dave F. says they will settle in after a while. As has been said it takes a guitar a bit to figure out it is no longer a tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberslash Posted August 18, 2023 Author Share Posted August 18, 2023 7 minutes ago, zombywoof said: Just look inside the guitar and it will tell you the story. But as Dave F. says they will settle in after a while. As has been said it takes a guitar a bit to figure out it is no longer a tree. Inside all looks solid. So it can't be that outer layer cracked and inside is fine? 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Man Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 If you want to confirm it is not a crack that goes all the way through, you can soak the area down with Naphtha and look for seepage inside the guitar. Doesn't look particularly worrisome to me though. And congrats on the new SJ, a fine guitar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 In my case, it’s a newer 1942 SJ with the cooked top. It was just the lacquer and after I turned the humidity it disappeared. I did the same as you as far as looking inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185cat Posted August 18, 2023 Share Posted August 18, 2023 I had a similar line on a J45. It was the lacquer, seemed to follow a line in the grain. I have had the guitar for several years and you still can just barely see it but it has not been any sort of problem and was certainly not a crack in the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberslash Posted August 20, 2023 Author Share Posted August 20, 2023 On 8/18/2023 at 3:57 PM, J185cat said: I had a similar line on a J45. It was the lacquer, seemed to follow a line in the grain. I have had the guitar for several years and you still can just barely see it but it has not been any sort of problem and was certainly not a crack in the wood. Do you have any images, I am really curious ☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberslash Posted August 20, 2023 Author Share Posted August 20, 2023 (edited) There is also a video of that same finish line I have uploadedhttps://streamable.com/xiukq2 Edited August 20, 2023 by Saberslash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 Here's what I have on my SJ. It was more open but it's better since I upped the humidity Around the same time, I had the same issue with a Jackson Browne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberslash Posted August 20, 2023 Author Share Posted August 20, 2023 4 hours ago, Dave F said: Here's what I have on my SJ. It was more open but it's better since I upped the humidity Around the same time, I had the same issue with a Jackson Browne Can you feel that under your fingernail or finger? or is it underneath the clearcoat? Mine can't be felt at all, it is all shiny and glossy and flush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J185cat Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 13 hours ago, Saberslash said: Do you have any images, I am really curious ☺️ It has pretty much gone away.you have to hold the guitar close to a light and angle it just right to find anything now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted August 20, 2023 Share Posted August 20, 2023 14 hours ago, Saberslash said: There is also a video of that same finish line I have uploadedhttps://streamable.com/xiukq2 Have you decoded the serial #, or maybe the final inspection checklist date so see just exactly how fresh this guitar is? Also- it would be good to know relative humidity. Or, if you were in the southwestern US. Or high altitude. You should be ok with that- just watch humidity levels for a while, esp. with such a new lacquer finish. You can have a look inside the guitar with a UV light/lamp. . . it'll give you some information. . . maybe too much information. ; ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 7 hours ago, Saberslash said: Can you feel that under your fingernail or finger? or is it underneath the clearcoat? Mine can't be felt at all, it is all shiny and glossy and flush. I can only feel it at one spot where the wood meets the binding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberslash Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, 62burst said: Have you decoded the serial #, or maybe the final inspection checklist date so see just exactly how fresh this guitar is? Also- it would be good to know relative humidity. Or, if you were in the southwestern US. Or high altitude. You should be ok with that- just watch humidity levels for a while, esp. with such a new lacquer finish. You can have a look inside the guitar with a UV light/lamp. . . it'll give you some information. . . maybe too much information. ; ). Yes, it is made on 7th June 2023, guitar is now resting and being played in a room where relative humidity is 50% 🙂 Edited August 21, 2023 by Saberslash 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 On 8/20/2023 at 7:18 AM, Dave F said: Here's what I have on my SJ. It was more open but it's better since I upped the humidity Around the same time, I had the same issue with a Jackson Browne Those are starting to show there vintage appeal. I would say about 50% of what New Gibson acoustics I have are the same little issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted September 3, 2023 Share Posted September 3, 2023 (edited) 26 minutes ago, slimt said: Those are starting to show there vintage appeal. I would say about 50% of what New Gibson acoustics I have are the same little issues. I agree. When I pick up this guitar and play it, it looks, feels and sounds like something out of the early 50's Edited September 3, 2023 by Dave F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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