2021 R9 Finish Bleeding into Binding

[Cmedcoff]

About a month ago I purchased my first Les Paul. I picked up a 2021 R9 re-issue (I think I"m using the correct lingo here). It's a nice guitar, but now that I've had it a little while I"m beginning to notice some details.

This past week I've noticed that the paint/finish for the back/sides seems to have bleed over into the binding. I'm a bit disappointed with a lack of detail, but perhaps they've done this as the originals were similar and well I guess the point of these re-issues is for them to be as close as possible to the originals.

I tried to use my cell to take a pic, but the bleeding doesn't come through in the phone, but it's definitely there.

Thoughts?

 

[sputnik]

Completely normal. I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[elstoof]

As a reissue I’d be concerned if it wasn’t bleeding. How’s the binding ridge on yours? My R9 has a nice even one all around the body and only slightly at the top of the neck

 

[sd_guitars]

All of my historic bursts and even a 335 I once had are like this. Pretty sure this is part of why we pay more for historics

 

[Duane_the_tub]

 

[kelsodeez]

If it bleeds, it leads.
My r9 binding is getting rosey all along the neck, where it sits on my leg and where my arm touches it. It's not a bug, it's a feature

 

[Brek]

Take it straight back, exchange for PRS.





You're welcome....




P.S. its completely normal btw. Seeing as you new an all, and we not be trollin' the noobs, well not until they have got their feet under the table.

to be completely serious, there are two things you may notice, one is a slight spreading of dye from under the tape used to mask, there is a tape that would stop that, but its hella expensive. The other type is the aniline dye reacting with your hands, maybe sweat, dunno, put that will add a slight colour to the binding, or not so slight in the case of my R0.

 

[Cmedcoff]

That's what mine looks like. The binding is smooth/even along the neck it's entire length. In spots on the body there a bit more of a drop from the level of the wood to the level of the binding but it's very small, you can only tell my running your finger across it, you can't tell visually.

Thanks guys this helps. Not having owned another Les Paul is leading me to such questions as this is my first Let Paul experience. Sounds like I'm having the correct experience.

--chuck

 

[Cmedcoff]

Take it straight back, exchange for PRS.





You're welcome....




P.S. its completely normal btw. Seeing as you new an all, and we not be trollin' the noobs, well not until they have got their feet under the table.

That's actually very funny to me, and perhaps it will be to you as well when you learn that I own 3 PRS guitars, so yeah, that experience may be influencing me here. However I didn't buy this guitar to be perfect, I bought it to be, to have/hear the Les Paul experience. And it's working so far. I'm just learning what that is. The help is appreciated.

--chuck

 

[Deus Vult]

View attachment 549499
Take it straight back, exchange for PRS.





You're welcome....




P.S. its completely normal btw. Seeing as you new an all, and we not be trollin' the noobs, well not until they have got their feet under the table.

to be completely serious, there are two things you may notice, one is a slight spreading of dye from under the tape used to mask, there is a tape that would stop that, but its hella expensive. The other type is the aniline dye reacting with your hands, maybe sweat, dunno, put that will add a thin sheen to the binding, or not so thin in the case of my R0.

There’s another great quote by that character that could apply

 

[Brek]

That's actually very funny to me, and perhaps it will be to you as well when you learn that I own 3 PRS guitars, so yeah, that experience may be influencing me here. However I didn't buy this guitar to be perfect, I bought it to be, to have/hear the Les Paul experience. And it's working so far. I'm just learning what that is. The help is appreciated.

--chuck

Its was, tongue in cheek, i was same, i now understand that this is how they should be, and if i wanted something 'perfect', I would probably buy a Nick Huber Orca.. There are other options out there, i think what PRS have done is what Gibson at some points probably wanted to do, but the user base, said NO!, they have taken the basic design and improved certain aspects for modern styles, i think the wider, narrower fretboard is an example of one change. The fit and finnish of PRS is impressive, i tried one, but my lack of ability and small hands struggled with it.

@vult 'bunch of slack jawed??????'

 

[Cory]

About a month ago I purchased my first Les Paul. I picked up a 2021 R9 re-issue (I think I"m using the correct lingo here). It's a nice guitar, but now that I've had it a little while I"m beginning to notice some details.

This past week I've noticed that the paint/finish for the back/sides seems to have bleed over into the binding. I'm a bit disappointed with a lack of detail, but perhaps they've done this as the originals were similar and well I guess the point of these re-issues is for them to be as close as possible to the originals.

I tried to use my cell to take a pic, but the bleeding doesn't come through in the phone, but it's definitely there.

Thoughts?

As others have mentioned, it’s the period correct red aniline dye used to color the back and sides of the ‘58-‘60 LP reissue line that’s migrating around in the nitro from where you’re touching the guitar - it’s not actually into the binding, but is observed at the binding (this is actually happening all over the back and sides of the guitar, but you’ll only notice it at the binding) - it will eventually (and very gradually) fade back out as you continue to play the guitar (the back and sides will fade as well). If you’re looking for a reissue that doesn’t bleed/fade, you’ll most likely need to move to a goldtop with a natural back, or any USA model/non-custom shop LP.

 

[kelsodeez]

Another thing that seems like it's a defect, but it's just how the reissues are, the binding directly under your frets will develop hairline cracks in line with the fret tang eventually.

 

[Brek]

Another thing that seems like it's a defect, but it's just how the reissues are, the binding directly under your frets will develop hairline cracks in line with the fret tang eventually.

Not noticed that one, although the ooldest i had was a 2013 model.

 

[mudface]

Another thing that seems like it's a defect, but it's just how the reissues are, the binding directly under your frets will develop hairline cracks in line with the fret tang eventually.

Yup...it happens if the fret board gets too dry and shrinks a bit....it's because the binding is thin, and a lot thinner than a USA production models. Only a couple of mine did this,...though my oldest 2004 R7 is still crack free, but the gold top is now showing some checking around the arm rest area as it has worn a bit.

 

[Andrew1225]

Proves it’s a real historic

 

[dju]

I'm going to have to take a closer look at my CR8's. i don't recall any bleeding into the binding.
maybe I got duds.

 

[Andrew1225]

I'm going to have to take a closer look at my CR8's. i don't recall any bleeding into the binding.
maybe I got duds.

Depends what year your CR8’s are.
Some years, they didn’t use the dye that bleeds into the binding due to complaints lol.

 

[skydog]

But is it flaking though?

 

[Macaz]

I think one of the appealing things about owning a genuine Les Paul is getting to know the character of the guitar. If you have one for a while or have a few then you get a feel for their construction and little quirks. The bleeding dye into the binding certainly comes as a surprise but is a kind of right of passage!
I have three Les Pauls. Two based on a 59 but all are slightly different. Only the latest True Historic 2015 has the bleed through.
I’ve a screen shot of a card that was supplied by Gibson though I’m not sure if it was with mine or I’ve copied it off this forum!
I’m totally besotted with mine and they are part of the family. With warts an all!