2021 R9 Finish Bleeding into Binding

[DeafDumbBlind Kid]

perfectly normal, they were adamant about making these just like the old ones, which did the same thing. In about 10-20 years, one day you'll look and it'll be gone. The pink, that is, hopefully the guitar and you will still be there.

 

[AaronE]

If you can't capture it on your phone, it doesn't sound too bad. Sometimes it can get pretty extreme, my 60th Anniversary R0 has so much bleed that the binding is only actually white at the very top, the entire side is pink. I don't mind, personally, I think it looks cool.

 

[timberterra]

Yes, totally normal. Also I’m a lefty and at first I was troubled by the “Les Paul” logo being upside down but it is period correct. Also on my lefty the fret markers are on both sides of the fretboard

 

[luizhmax]

R9 60th Anniversary bought in December 2019. The bleeding picture is from April 2020. The other one is of today. Bleeding is mostly gone. I play the guitar a lot.

 

[luizhmax]

Someone told me that the excess bleeding is due to the higher amount of platicizers that Gibson CS uses nowadays mixed with its nitrocellulose. It will be interesting to see if the new formula Murphy Lab is using will make it bleed this much as well.

 

[1allspub]

Someone told me that the excess bleeding is due to the higher amount of platicizers that Gibson CS uses nowadays mixed with its nitrocellulose. It will be interesting to see if the new formula Murphy Lab is using will make it bleed this much as well.

It’s been my understanding that Gibson USA uses plasticizers, but Custom Shop does not use them on the Reissues (can’t say one way or the other if they are used on other CS guitars). If anything, I’d think that the plasticizers would help prevent bleeding (and USA models do not bleed).

Oh yeah, and to the OP’s original post... bleeding is not only normal on RIs, it’s damn near unavoidable if you play the guitar even at all. A little google-fu and you will discover tons of threads about this. Very, very common. Nothing is wrong with your R9.

 

[luizhmax]

It’s been my understanding that Gibson USA uses plasticizers, but Custom Shop does not use them on the Reissues (can’t say one way or the other if they are used on other CS guitars). If anything, I’d think that the plasticizers would help prevent bleeding (and USA models do not bleed).

Oh yeah, and to the OP’s original post... bleeding is not only normal on RIs, it’s damn near unavoidable if you play the guitar even at all. A little google-fu and you will discover tons of threads about this. Very, very common. Nothing is wrong with your R9.

it makes sense...

 

[dju]

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

both my CR8's are 07 models. not sure why neither has the bleeding into the binding but I'm ok with it and probably prefer not having it to having it. as seen mentioned in some postings that with playing/time the bleeding fades and since I only got my guitars in the last year and a half maybe they had it and it has already faded?

 

[DanD]

Gibson quit using aniline die for the necks and backs for a few years and reintroduced it in 2009. (edit 2013 was the reintroduction of aniline)

Complaints from the earlier Historics binding bleed and more so, the necks fading, led Gibson to quit using the red aniline die.

After the change even more folks complained that they stopped using the proper die.

So aniline die for the necks and back were reintroduced.

 

[redrabit1]

My R8 bleeds, I wouldn't have it any other way...

 

[PeteS59]

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?

Are you sure you have a R9 and not a R8? Historically, back in 58 they used a process where they applied red aniline dye with burlap to the back, sides and neck, prior to applying the lacquer finish. They abandoned this practice in late 58 as it was too messy and it resulted in burlap fibers in the finish. It was not unusual for Bursts of this year having bleed, especially on the neck binding. The bleed on the neck binding is not unusual for some of the Custom Shop reproductions as they are purposely attempting to emulate this effect for historical accuracy.

 

[DeafDumbBlind Kid]

both my CR8's are 07 models. not sure why neither has the bleeding into the binding but I'm ok with it and probably prefer not having it to having it. as seen mentioned in some postings that with playing/time the bleeding fades and since I only got my guitars in the last year and a half maybe they had it and it has already faded?

that is quite possible. My 60th anniversary R9 has it because I play it a lot, it's just shy of being 2 years old. My R0 was ebony so it doesn't have it, plus it's 11 years old now. If I'm still around in 11 years, we'll see how my R9's bleeding looks.

 

[pmonk]

My 2017 R8 neck binding is pretty much pink from the 1st fret all the way to 17th

 

[DharmaBum]

R9 60th Anniversary bought in December 2019. The bleeding picture is from April 2020. The other one is of today. Bleeding is mostly gone. I play the guitar a lot.

@luizhmax. I'm surprised at how much the bleed faded. Did you take steps to make it fade, or did it fade on it's own with play wear? Thanks.

 

[Mango Unchained]

I agree with those saying each instrument is unique. I personally think it looks like shiite, but know it is normal. My R9 did it a lot, my R0 did it less and once i sent it to HM, it doesn't do it at all or maybe just ever so slightly on the body. I was very pleased upon noticing that. I even asked Kim about it. No solid answers as to why one acts differently just like anywhere else, lots of opinions, which is fine. I did find it interesting since most here do seem to feel that HM is one of the more accurate representations of ye Ole LP and especially with regard to the finish. So it seems you can generalize when comparing, but not necessarily expect exactly the same outcome across years, models and each instrument.

 

[John Berrettini]

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?

Every one knows that this is what the originals did. Make it authentic.

 

[luizhmax]

@luizhmax. I'm surprised at how much the bleed faded. Did you take steps to make it fade, or did it fade on it's own with play wear? Thanks.

I guess it has to do with receiving natural light. My guitar never went back to its case since day one. It's always out and in my living room where it has a lot of soft natural light during the day... and I try to play it everyday if possible. The bottom of the guitar that stays close to the floor when in a stand is still full of bleeding and it's not fading away on the same pace as other parts of the guitar.

 

[Jimmy The Snake]

My ‘87 LP Std (w/ hot rod coil split SD PUs, vintage wiring etc) has not done this. Don’t look at it just play it.

 

[DanD]

My ‘87 LP Std (w/ hot rod coil split SD PUs, vintage wiring etc) has not done this. Don’t look at it just play it.

Your '87 doesn't use aniline dies. They won't ever bleed.

 

[Archtopanimal]

It's the crap Nitro mix they use . Doesn't happen on originals . Historics don't fade much at all . They're Historic in name only . Decent Replicas are a better avenue .