J200 Finish Issues

[Sammyg]

Hello all, I am brand new here and found this site while searching the web for some help with issues I am experiencing with the finish on my J200. This post may get a bit long while I describe the situation so let me apologize and ask that you bear with me. I 've had the guitar a Gibson J200 for about 12 to 15 years and it was purchased new.Since buying it , it has been my main guitar when our band gigs. It is the only time the guitar gets played , any other time, rehearsals, jam sessions or what ever, I play my other acoustic. The problem I am having is with the finish of the guitar on the part of the body where my arm lays while playing it. I guess you would call it the lower bass bout. The finish there has darkened somewhat and about 3 or 4 months ago I started noticing some bubbling,cracking, or checking in the clear. I tried one of the Scrtch Pad finish protectors but with my strumming style I could not keep it in place. I know the problem is due to perspiation and I sweat bad when playing. I try to wear long sleeve shirts as much as possible but it sometimes it doesn't seem to help. The guitar is always wiped down between sets and is cleaned and waxed good after every gig. I am looking for suggestions to try and keep this from getting any worse and ruining the finish even farther. Was hoping someone here could offer some help.

Thanks, Sam

[EuroAussie]

Two things. Can you share some pics and secondly take it to a qualified luthier and ask him to take a good look at the issue. Even better if this person was a guitar builder who understands the spraying and finishing process.

[zombywoof]

I can't answer your question about what is happening but I would venture to guess that the numerous times you are waxing the guitar ain't good. Try just wiping it down with a slightly moistened piece of cheesecloth. Then when you feel you need it use some automotve wax like Meguires.

[Hogeye]

I can't answer your question about what is happening but I would venture to guess that the numerous times you are waxing the guitar ain't good. Try just wiping it down with a slightly moistened piece of cheesecloth. Then when you feel you need it use some automotve wax like Meguires.

Never use any wax that has silicone in the mix. It will damage the nitro finish. Lots of automotive wax contains silicone. Follow the first poster. Run your tap until the water is hot and then soak a cotton cloth under it. The cloth should be damp. Never wet. . Clean the whole guitar with the cloth. Dry the whole guitar.This will help to remove waxy build-up. Putting wax on top of wax is never a solution to your problem. Gibson polish has a small ammount of nitro in the mix and it will help cover small cracks and pits in the finish. Put Gibson guitar polish on the whole guitar and have a beer. You have done the best you can do at this point. By all means go to a qualified luthier and have him check the area. Then sit back and enjoy your guitar for the next 20 years.

 

Nitro is a very forgiving finish and it can be sanded,glassed,or buffed. It can also be oversprayed or filled if necessary. The best advice is if it isn't broken don't fix it.