2018 Historic Collection - Wet Sanded?

[Pappy58]

Rather than continue with the current old vs new threads that are going, I have observed something with the tops on some that appear to be wet sanded.

When I received my 2018 1959 model in VSB/VOS, it had swirl marks in the top finish. I didn't much care for them and buffed the worst of them but left some subtle swirls just cause.

I had mentioned this in one of the previous threads but kind of got blown off and the consensus seems to be that the 2018 tops did not get TH treatment. So I blew mine off as an anomaly.

But now, looking thru WildWoods 2018 HC inventory, low and behold there is a VOS 59 VSB, with swirl marks almost exactly like mine appeared.?

If you look at other angles there are more down by the knobs.

And here is mine when I bought it. Anyone else with a 2018 model find this. I'm wondering if they're doing this as a update VOS treatment as there wasn't much VOS gunk to speak of on this git compared to my 2012 VOS R8.

 

[bulletproof]

I dunno, brother,but,I’m enjoying the pictures!

 

[lpthomas]

A dealer once told me that the wet sanding was something that they continued through 2017 – and therefore maybe also 2018?

Wet sanding, as I understand it, was not the only finish difference for the TH series.

 

[Pappy58]

A dealer once told me that the wet sanding was something that they continued through 2017 – and therefore maybe also 2018?

Wet sanding, as I understand it, was not the only finish difference for the TH series.

Totally agree there..the wet sanding part is the topic, but I can't comment on thin finish, double carve or any that as I have never laid hands on a TH. ...Kind of why Im speculating is this the "New VOS"?

 

[markguitar]

I think there has been way too much made out this whole wet sanding TH finish thing. In 2015 I was speaking with Dave Rogers one day, the owner of Dave's Guitar Shop, and asked him about the wet sanding thing. He told me that he had just been to Gibson and saw the process in person. What was surprising is that the wet sanding was actually being done about half way thru the finish process and has nothing to do with the final finished look or feel. So the look and swirls in the TH finish is from buffing just like any other model.

 

[Crotch]

I personally don't care about his wet sanded thing or not. I always thought they stopped it cause it was not part of the original process.

 

[markguitar]

I was told that the swirls were because the finish was too thin to buff?

Don't know about that. I don't know that any guitar finish is really too thin to buff. There are many grades of buffing compound and some are very fine. But I'm certainly not here to argue and i wasn't there. Just relaying info that I got from Dave who has been to the Custom Shop many times and been involved in many projects and runs done for him over the years.

 

[Pappy58]

Something has changed! Pre 2015 there were no swirl marks, and now there doesnt seem to be any VOS gunk. The swirls on my 2018 buffed out with little effort so I find the argument that its from buffing hard to swallow... and wasnt Gibson party line that the wet sanding was instead of buffing?

 

[Sct13]

I just played a 2018 G0 at guitar center, # 003 of the run ...No way its a wet sanded finish....felt just like a 2014 to me....

 

[Pappy58]

Well, all I know is mine, and now this one at WW had swirl marks, and clearly different from my 12 and 16 R8s, although the 16 was a gloss model so maybe there was an effect there. @cnote seems to have observed similar..

 

[jlb32]

The story was in one of the Custom Shop videos around the time the THs came out. That the finish was too thin to machine buff in the way they typically do- for fear of burning through. Supposedly prior finishes were thick enough that this was not a worry.

I don't see that. The TH's finish might be slightly thinner but if the right compound and wheels are used it's not going to burn through the finish anymore than any other reissue.

I personally hope the '18's aren't hand sanded, etc... Many seem to call the TH's the most historically accurate but the originals were slack belt sanded, buffed, etc... No double carve BS or wet hand sanded with scratches in the finish.

 

[DanD]

Well, all I know is mine, and now this one at WW had swirl marks, and clearly different from my 12 and 16 R8s, although the 16 was a gloss model so maybe there was an effect there. @cnote seems to have observed similar..

WW may have spec'd a TH finish for this run.

My understanding is that you can spec a hand-sanded finish with M2M.

I know WW has far more latitude as to specs than just about anyone else.

I wouldn't doubt it but a phone call to WW would confirm the finish specs.

Sounds like a good excuse to run up to Louisville...

 

[PierM]

True Gimmicky ™

 

[LPaddicted]

 

[Pappy58]

Roll eyes all you like. The pics and in hand examples dont lie.. but I do plan to call WW and inquire.

 

[jamman]

http://www.theguitarmagazine.com/features/gibson-custom-shop-tour/

I'd look at this for some info about he TH build . It's the interview with Ed Wilson ... IIRC it's most of it .
IIRC the TH is about 1/2 the thickness ... I have a TH and imo , the finish is thinner and ? different ? ...

I'm no expert on such things , but , what I can say is . This guitar , the 1st time I pulled it out of the case , and tuned it up ,
It Rang like a Bell .... It was so noticeable , Even I had to take double take look at it .... ([plus it weighing 7 Lbs. 10 1/2 ~ oz.)
I can't say anything about the others made, since I have never tried another(TH's) . But it sure was nice ...
Is it the finish ??? like any Gibson .,,Trying is mandatory ,if you want to know ....

I do have a feeling , It was everything working together in that build ,plus the people who built it , that net the final result ....
Just like all Gibson's ... IMO , who does it (and what day of the Week they did it ) has a big impact on the guitar you get ....

I do recall ED Wilson stating the finish process used on the TH's was the cause (in the above link).

 

[KBMelb]

When new my '15 TH58 a dull soft finished that showed some ultra fine sanding texture it and it also bled like crazy when I first got it. It took about 4-5 months for the red dye to stop bleeding on to my hands and clothes but the finish still didn't feel hard. After about two years into ownership, the Vintage Cherry 'Burst finished wore on me and I decided to start exposing it to sun/UV and after 60 or so hours the finish has gotten very hard and glossy. Gibson seems to have not given the finishes time to harden and wet sanding a soft finish will make it look very dull but after the sunning the finish looks very glossy and little sanding marks are left...and yes the vintage cherry will fade pretty drastically.

 

[LPaddicted]

 

[PierM]

It took about 4-5 months for the red dye to stop bleeding on to my hands and clothes but the finish still didn't feel hard.

Do you mean you were getting the dye bleeding on your hands and clothes?

 

[KBMelb]

Do you mean you were getting the dye bleeding on your hands and clothes?

Yes. It was quite annoying. If I knew then what I know now I'd have just let it sit in the sun for a bit and problem would have been solved.