are goldtops more susceptible to finish crack or checking?

[dju]

I have a 2018 LP Classic goldtop and 2011 LP Deluxe goldtop.
I bought the 2018 new and keep it in its case when not being played.
to my surprise earlier this year after a long time of not playing it I took it out of it's case and found some finish cracks running in the area of the knobs. they look like 2 lines running horizontal to each other. not what I would usually think of for normal finish checking.
the 2011 I bought used and the finish cracks came on it when I bought it.
however I could swear there are a few more in the finish than when I bought it. they are more scattered on different areas of the top.
I know ya'll would probably like photos but they don't photograph well. even with the naked eye you have to move the guitar around to see them.
a bit of background on the 2011 deluxe, it is a chambered guitar.
I am wondering if areas of the maple top that are not supported by the mahogany slab might expand and contract more due to temperature and humidity changes causing the finish cracks.
I have other chambered les pauls with sunburst finishes and they don't have these finish cracks.

so I am wondering if goldtops are more prone to this.

any thoughts or ideas?

thanks,
dj

 

[ARandall]

I don't know about generally speaking, but of the guitars I've made the gold has checked the least of anything I've finished - to the point that the clear on the back and sides of a guitar has checked significantly, and the top is completely unchecked.

 

[Musha Ring]

I had a gold top awhile back, was a 2009, I believe, and it started developing substantial checking. I had treated it the same way I treat all my guitars, which is well, and none of my other Gibsons are checking like that.

Take that as you will.

 

[tache3]

Yup. Same here. 2003 Goldtop Classic developed checking lines on the top after 2/3 years. Similar to the OP, they first appeared in the control area, are horizontal and parallel to each other. Guitar kept in the case when not in use and never subject to dramatic temperature or humidity changes.

 

[Dilver]

Pics would help. Sometimes cracks near the control knobs mean it took a hit in that area (the wood is thinner there).

 

[ARandall]

^ Also the torque of the pot/screw tends to crush the edge of the finish, which is what initiates the checking. To me this is like an 'induced check' rather than a fully natural check.

 

[Cjsinla]

I have an 82 prehistoric GT and a recent R6 and neither has any checking the last time I looked.

 

[dju]

thanks for the replies. at the moment I don't have a photo hosting site at which to use to post images. maybe I'll try again to see if I can get a decent picture of the finish cracks and if so maybe find a new photo hosting site to use. I ditched photobucket a few years ago.

i was about to click the post reply button and I saw the attach files button. will it display photos if I use this to attach a photo?

thanks again,
dj

 

[Dilver]

thanks for the replies. at the moment I don't have a photo hosting site at which to use to post images. maybe I'll try again to see if I can get a decent picture of the finish cracks and if so maybe find a new photo hosting site to use. I ditched photobucket a few years ago.

i was about to click the post reply button and I saw the attach files button. will it display photos if I use this to attach a photo?

thanks again,
dj

Yes, the attach files button should work and you can also select the size of the photo.

 

[Nick-O]

imgur is an ok hosting site...easy to use.

 

[Christosterone]

No.
the old ones had copper in the paint so they tended to show verdigre which gave them a cool greenish tone 15 years or so after owning.

a Modern goldie has no more chance to check than other colors
source: my 250 goldtops

-chris

 

[dju]

attached photo's of the checking in question . with and without flash.

dj

 

[Wuuthrad]

I have a 2018 LP Classic goldtop and 2011 LP Deluxe goldtop.
I bought the 2018 new and keep it in its case when not being played.
to my surprise earlier this year after a long time of not playing it I took it out of it's case and found some finish cracks running in the area of the knobs. they look like 2 lines running horizontal to each other. not what I would usually think of for normal finish checking.
the 2011 I bought used and the finish cracks came on it when I bought it.
however I could swear there are a few more in the finish than when I bought it. they are more scattered on different areas of the top.
I know ya'll would probably like photos but they don't photograph well. even with the naked eye you have to move the guitar around to see them.
a bit of background on the 2011 deluxe, it is a chambered guitar.
I am wondering if areas of the maple top that are not supported by the mahogany slab might expand and contract more due to temperature and humidity changes causing the finish cracks.
I have other chambered les pauls with sunburst finishes and they don't have these finish cracks.

so I am wondering if goldtops are more prone to this.

any thoughts or ideas?

thanks,
dj

Maple is less porous than Mahogany generally speaking, and is a harder species, so I doubt that it would expand and contract more, probably less.

Strange how those cracks are identical, I wonder if the pots were overtightened?

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

I have a 1996 and 1997 R6 and there's no checking on either.

 

[tache3]

attached photo's of the checking in question . with and without flash.dj

That is exactly how mine started too.

 

[Slashperryburst]

I've had two goldtops. Sadly, I had to sell the first one back in 2011. It was a mid 2000s standard with p90s. I was actually the third owner, but it had similar checking around the controls and from underneath the pickguard up to the horn.

I also have a 2020 50s standard p90. So far, that is completely free of checking.

 

[Luke McDonough]

I have a 2000 R6 that has no checking whatsoever & a 2008 R8 that has naturally checked. Both stored in the same conditions/room. Pure luck I think

 

[Cory]

In all seriousness I currently have 2018 goldtop reissue (previous to that I had a 2014 model) - zero issues with the finish on either one - no checking or cracking whatsoever

 

[Midnight Blues]

I don't know, but I've always thought that nothing checks like a GT.

 

[CB91710]

I don't know, but I've always thought that nothing checks like a GT.

Wish this were mine.....