How bad are these blemishes?

[jpricewood]

Hi All,
This is a follow up to an earlier thread I posted. I decided to buy the used 2012 Epi Les Paul Standard Pro off craigslist. I checked the guitar for major damage, loose hardware, etc. I also opened up the insides and verified that everything was authentic. Anyways, everything looked okay until I put a flashlight on the dark blue background. I found these three blemishes. They are the only blemishes on the guitar. I started freaking out a little after reading horror stories about Les Paul headstocks being extremely fragile. I only have experience with Strats and Teles. I set the guitar up and it sounds and plays great, but I would like to know how serious these imperfections(especially the small crack near the nut) are so I can do something about them if I need to. I paid $300. That seemed good at the time since it was the only trams blue I could find.
Thanks for looking.
Jared

The first pic is the hairline crack coming from the corner of the nut. I suspect it is cosmetic, but I'm not sure.

The second pic is a crack between the A and D tuners.

The third pic is a blemish on the back of the headstock.

 

[fishered]

all look cosmetic to me

 

[Rocco Crocco]

all look cosmetic to me

looks cosmetic to me as well.

 

[X–Ray]

play it and enjoy!

 

[jpricewood]

Thanks for the quick replies! You guys don't know how great this forum is for newbies like myself.

 

[56GT]

Nothing good ever comes of shining flashlights on things in the dark...








welcome to MLP, flashlight and all...

 

[Zard]

Those cracks do not look like anything to worry about (for $3oo!).

Play away.

 

[jpricewood]

You're right about the flashlights, but I just have to be thorough.

I was hoping they were nothing. I originally purchased a new one from GC, but within a week the finish on neck was wearing off and the toggle switch went out. I can rest easy now that I know my decision to buy used paid off.

 

[robertoa1a]

I got my Trad Pro had a hair line crack near the nut like that. It never got worse but I super glued it any way.

It looks like a nice guitar if the cosmetics don't bother you. HNGD.

 

[rem22]

Nothing good ever comes of shining flashlights on things in the dark...








welcome to MLP, flashlight and all...

Yeah to produce low budget horror movies with this method

The first pic shows a slight scratch probably due to a nut removal, when I had my tribute plus have a pro set-up it came back like this, but the action height was much lower around the nut. I guess they did not cut the thick polish before removing the nut, so it slightly cracked.

 

[56GT]

Yeah to produce low budget horror movies with this method

The first pic shows a slight scratch probably due to a nut removal, when I had my tribute plus have a pro set-up it came back like this, but the action height was much lower around the nut. I guess they did not cut the thick polish before removing the nut, so it slightly cracked.

Judging by how deep the nut slots are cut, my bet is it's the original nut.
Cracks in the finish are usually caused by wood movement - in this case, judging by the other dings, the headstock got banged around a few times...

 

[Rocco Crocco]

Looks like the original nut to me, too. That is a common place for finish cracking to occur during shipping. My Trib + arrived at my home from Sweetwater like that.

 

[GitFiddle]

JPriceWood, Welcome to MLP.

Those look like finish scratches to me. Epi neck/headstocks aren't quite as fragile as Gibsons. The Epi necks are constructed a little different than Gibsons. Gibson necks are cut from a single piece of wood, with very little material around the nut/truss rod cutout, making it a potential hazard to sharp blows.

The Epi necks are built from two pieces of wood, with a scarf joint a little ways below the nut. Something similar to this...

 

[jpricewood]

It's just an Epiphone....

Well since my stage is my living room and a 15W amp, and my audience is comprised of my dog, I think taking care of an Epi Standard is perfectly reasonable.

 

[redcoats1976]

seems like a good deal to me.

 

[paruwi]

Hi All,
This is a follow up to an earlier thread I posted. I decided to buy the used 2012 Epi Les Paul Standard Pro off craigslist. I checked the guitar for major damage, loose hardware, etc. I also opened up the insides and verified that everything was authentic. Anyways, everything looked okay until I put a flashlight on the dark blue background. I found these three blemishes. They are the only blemishes on the guitar. I started freaking out a little after reading horror stories about Les Paul headstocks being extremely fragile. I only have experience with Strats and Teles. I set the guitar up and it sounds and plays great, but I would like to know how serious these imperfections(especially the small crack near the nut) are so I can do something about them if I need to. I paid $300. That seemed good at the time since it was the only trams blue I could find.
Thanks for looking.
Jared

The first pic is the hairline crack coming from the corner of the nut. I suspect it is cosmetic, but I'm not sure.

The second pic is a crack between the A and D tuners.

The third pic is a blemish on the back of the headstock.

Hi

and Welcome here @ MLP

IMO, the third pic is the 'USED' stamp

nothing to worry about at all the others, too

 

[56GT]

Hi

and Welcome here @ MLP

IMO, the third pic is the 'USED' stamp

nothing to worry about at all the others, too

You sure Pete?

My eyes aren't the best, but it looks like a dent, and the SN last few numbers are not destroyed...

 

[maxxi]

seems like a cracked clear coat to me, nothing to worry about if you ask me

 

[Olympus Mons]

Is this guitar a 2nd? I have seen a few stamps look indistinct like that but it's hard to tell in that pic. The other marks look slight and shouldn't be worried about.

 

[jpricewood]

If you look closely at the back of the headstock where the crack is you can see an 'N'. Not sure what that's about.