Guest Farnsburger Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Some may remember that I posted about my LP R6 with a photo of the finish cracking. The finish has cracked the enter length of the neck along the binding and around the body binding most of the way around the body and a lot of cracking in the cut away. Yesterday I had a friend round and he was sitting opposite me as I played, he pointed out that there are two cracks near the bridge pickup tone knob that run along the body(same direction as strings) so I turned it round to face me and look, these cracks seem to be in the wood all the way through the cap. At that point I also noticed that the join between the two halves of the maple cap has become visible. As I said in my original post, I am sure that the wood is moving more than it should be. I really do think the tone is effected, not as full as it used to be, kind of thinner. Has anyone ever heard of a top cracking like that on an LP? I really must get it back to the dealer, I intended to last week but got busy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I've never heard of a "self relicing" Les Paul.............. :unsure: .....Something's wrong... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I've never heard of a "self relicing" Les Paul.............. :unsure: .....Something's wrong... Yeah, it's not right. The dealer is quite a long way from me (Brighton from South London) and I just don't know when I can get there. I'm not playing it any more until I can get it down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Yeah, there is something, definitely, Wrong there. That's way beyond any kind of "normal"(whatever that means) finish checking, via temp or humidity changes. I've never heard of a Les Paul doing that. Deliberately cracked, smashed ALA Pete Townsend's antics, sure...but never just "self-destructive" as you've described. ???? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Your top is cracking? Heck...my bottom is cracking....wha? Huh? Oh....nevermind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat-o-steve Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Holy Crap! I believe now would be a good time to call Gibson Customer Support....and make them take that thing back for repair! The only way a thick maple cap would crack like that would be a humidity issue......But it would have to be EXTREMELY dry to cause this unless the wood was not seasoned properly before being finished..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Yeah, and an R-6, which is Custom Shop, are "supposed" to be even more tightly controlled, as to the wood used, treatments, and finishing, than even the Gibson USA guitars. That's part of what one pays for, in Custom Shop "up" charges. Definitely, get it to your dealer right away, and (I would) demand a suitable replacement...not just a "repair!" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbreslauer Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I'm with the consensus, that there's something structurally wrong: a replacement instrument should be in order, not a repair. good luck, I hope everything works out for you! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Out of curiosity...England, being normally quite humid, how is it being store? What kind of heating, is in the room it's being stored in? Is it (even in the case) close to a radiator, or heating vent? Do you use a humidifier, in the winter months, in your house, to even out the humidity, from the drying effects of furnace heated air? It's really amazing, that the maple cap is cracking, and seam splitting, too! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I have absolute faith in Gibson's customer service team. I have never heard a bad thing said and my own experience is the best I've had from any company, ever, full stop. I'm sure they'll do right by me. Here's hoping they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Let us know how the customer service group handles your issues. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Out of curiosity...England, being normally quite humid, how is it being store? What kind of heating, is in the room it's being stored in? Is it (even in the case) close to a radiator, or heating vent? Do you use a humidifier, in the winter months, in your house, to even out the humidity, from the drying effects of furnace heated air? It's really amazing, that the maple cap is cracking, and seam splitting, too! CB It is in a room with central heating, the humidity in our house is very constant, I know this as I have a very sensitive digital hygrometer I use in my humidor. Never changes much from 40% relative. The guitar is as far from the radiator as it could possibly be. It's kept in it's case. I had a standard in the same room for 8 years with no sign of checking even. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awel Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Don't hesitate to contact the customer service, i have had same kind of issue with my custom, crack all along the neck, and gibson CS were really kind and helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Don't hesitate to contact the customer service, i have had same kind of issue with my custom, crack all along the neck, and gibson CS were really kind and helpful They always are Awel. Actually, I posted in your thread about your custom regarding the cracking along seem lines on my R6 about a month or so ago. Things have worsened since then with the top cracking though. Contacting CS directly is an option but shipping the guitar back to Gibson, Either in the Netherlands or the US is not going to happen so I am in the hands of my dealer. My usual contact at my dealer was the manager but he left recently and went to another guitar shop so it remains to be seen how that has effected their approach to customers but I have no reason to doubt them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbreslauer Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I have absolute faith in Gibson's customer service team. I have never heard a bad thing said and my own experience is the best I've had from any company, ever, full stop. I'm sure they'll do right by me. Here's hoping they do. I've only had one experience with them, when my Dark Fire needed a firmware update and a replacement selector switch/piezo blend. From a support/service perspective, I could not have been more pleased (sending a guitar in for a software update notwithstanding). I am sure they'll do right by you. good luck! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Your top is cracking? Heck...my bottom is cracking....wha? Huh? Oh....nevermind! So Danville, you have a cracking bottom eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Obviously, without seeing it I can not guess (I am not the one that would matter anyway). If the WOOD is actually cracked, that is more than just humidity. Even if you mistreat a LP and trash on the finish, it is extremely difficult to subject it to enough to cause wood to crack. I kinda have a theory. Maybe related to the flood? Here is the thing: If you have a guitar that is bare wood and has been soaked, it CAN be dried properly and be fine. But it is possible efforts were made to dry a number of guitars, and might have SEEMED like all the moisture was dried out because the outside was dry for a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Obviously, without seeing it I can not guess (I am not the one that would matter anyway). If the WOOD is actually cracked, that is more than just humidity. Even if you mistreat a LP and trash on the finish, it is extremely difficult to subject it to enough to cause wood to crack. I kinda have a theory. Maybe related to the flood? Here is the thing: If you have a guitar that is bare wood and has been soaked, it CAN be dried properly and be fine. But it is possible efforts were made to dry a number of guitars, and might have SEEMED like all the moisture was dried out because the outside was dry for a time. I have to admit I have wondered about the flood. I must be careful to say THIS IS PURE SPECULATION but I did wonder if maybe some wood was used before it had properly seasoned due to shortage after the flood. I try to be positive and I am NOT assuming this is the case but like Stein, I can not help pondering on this. I hadn't thought of the possibility that the wood had been dried after after a soaking in the flood. Once again, THIS IS PURELY MY SPECULATIVE PONDERINGS AND IN KNOW WAY AN ACCUSATION OF WRONG DOING. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Farns, Gak are a good bunch. They will send it back for you... Did you get it from their shop or their online company?? Iv'e had an issue with a LP that was new. Back then (About 2yrs ago) I was told Gibson were setting up authorised repair specialists here in the UK however your problem seems to have gone further than that... Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Farns, Gak are a good bunch. They will send it back for you... Did you get it from their shop or their online company?? Iv'e had an issue with a LP that was new. Back then (About 2yrs ago) I was told Gibson were setting up authorised repair specialists here in the UK however your problem seems to have gone further than that... Regards They have definitely done that, my R6 went to one of them when almost new because one of the pots died. He was an excellent chap. GAK are usually brilliant. I only had one problem with them in years and they sorted it pretty well and then said they'd send me a bunch of strings for my trouble. The strings never arrived. I didn't loose any sleep over it, I'm sure it was a mistake and I could have chased them but couldn't be bothered. Stuart, the owner is a lovely chap to deal with but Mike, the manager, left (bit of a drama actually but that's another story) and I haven't needed them since, hopefully that wont have effected there excellent service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S t e v e Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 photo of the said cracking top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 It is in a room with central heating, the humidity in our house is very constant, I know this as I have a very sensitive digital hygrometer I use in my humidor. Never changes much from 40% relative. The guitar is as far from the radiator as it could possibly be. It's kept in it's case. I had a standard in the same room for 8 years with no sign of checking even. Well, I figured as much, but had to ask...just in case. Very odd, your problem...??? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S t e v e Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 keep your gibson out of the case at all times unless transporting, the lacquer/finish needs to breathe...i've been spraying cellulose and pre-cat lacquers for 18 yrs (it's my profession) i know what i'm talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 So Danville, you have a cracking bottom eh? Yeah.... but I don't think I'm gonna try to get it fixed..... I think I'll just sit on it for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest farnsbarns Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 photo of the said cracking top? I'll try tomorrow but I don't think it will be easy. I only have my phone as a camera and when I tried to photograph the cracking in the finish before it was almost impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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