My New 2021 Goldtop sucks…

[uncle mud]

It's the glue they use in the case.

 

[efstop]

My 2013 Tribute had a gig bag and no smell. The generic TKL case I bought did have the smell, and it transferred to the guitar. I have bought several TKLs that never had a guitar in them and they had the "Gibson smell."

My used ES-235 has a used guitar smell, and the case is for an Epi 339. It also doesn't smell like a new Gibson.

Now, a case that truly smells awful is a Fender Tweed Pro case, made in Vietnam.

 

[BlazeyBoy]

Return it and go to a dealer that has stock. That’s the only way to ensure it’s the right guitar for you.

Just beware: if you go around sniffing all of the guitars on display, they may call the cops.

 

[Roxy13]

It's the glue in the cases. Gibson sprays the cases with the vanilla scent I'm pretty sure. Maybe they aren't doing it now due to a supply chain issue?

I have not only some recent Gibsons but plenty of Japanese guitars with nitro finishes and none of them stink. The most recent one is a late 2019 so about 2 years old.

I do buy quite a few aftermarket cases as usually the Japanese guitars don't come with one. And I have a case for every guitar so none of the cats think one might make for a good scratching post or something. I often have to leave a new case open in a spare bedroom for a week or more to get the stench out. I am also sensitive to chemical smells and it will give me a headache if I don't.

 

[Roxy13]

You know what? My 2017 SG Standard HP came with that heavy duty aluminum case and that thing stunk to high hell too! That one also had to air out for a couple of weeks and I kept the guitar in a different case while it did.

 

[mdubya]

OP's photos aren't loading.



I call shenanigans.

 

[Nick-O]

Freaks me out so many people join the forum, then argue some ignorant opinion with someone on here they don't know, who often is THE tested authority on the subject.

 

[Injector]

Freaks me out so many people join the forum, then argue some ignorant opinion with someone on here they don't know, who often is THE tested authority on the subject.

Who is this aimed at?

 

[pondcaster]

Not sure if my admittedly small sample group helps at all with the question as to where the beloved smell comes from, but here goes.

Have/had five LPs from the new Originals & Modern Collections (2019-20), a '19 60s bourbon burst, '20 60s iced tea burst, '19 60s unburst, '20 50s HCS and '19 Classic translucent cherry.

All had TKL (Canadian) cases, by request. All had that wonderful "vanilla-ish" scent. The two I still own, unburst and trans cherry, are never kept in their cases. Ever.

Cases are stored under bed in guest haus bedroom. The cases' interiors still smell just like the day they were brought home a year ago. The guitars, not at all.

Just one guy's experience... Sorry to hijack OP! Return that one and get a better one.

 

[CB91710]

So I bought a new 2021 Goldtop 50s Standard. Its nothing like my 2020 50s standard. Its oversanded around the pickup cavaties, theres a gouge around the 17th inlay. Marks all down the treble side of the neck binding. The frets are sanded super low and flat. And lastly it does not smell sweet like vanilla. Its smells like chemicals and gives me a headache. And its really sticky. The brown case is also completely different. My 2020 was heavy and resonant. Great frets. Great tone. But it had a few cosmetic flaws…. This new one feels like and plays like shit. Why does it smell so bad? Anyone?

And you didn't see any of this when you played it in the store before you bought it?

The classic smell of opening a Gibson case comes from the case... not the lacquer.
I don't know if they spray it with something, or what... but the current cases are sourced from both China and Costa Rica. The older cases that everyone associates with the smell are the Canadian TKL cases, but I think the Costa Rican cases are also scented.

 

[LCW]

And you didn't see any of this when you played it in the store before you bought it?

The classic smell of opening a Gibson case comes from the case... not the lacquer.
I don't know if they spray it with something, or what... but the current cases are sourced from both China and Costa Rica. The older cases that everyone associates with the smell are the Canadian TKL cases, but I think the Costa Rican cases are also scented.

I have the Costa Rican case. Tag says Jan 2021. Doesn’t smell quite like vanilla but has a pleasant smell. It’s subtle though. You gotta stick your nose near the plush liner.

My LP 50s Standard that it came with was made 10/7/21 (day 280). Got it 11/7/21. Only sat in the store for 4 days prior to my purchase. The first couple of days after bringing home the lacquer smell was very strong. A week in, it’s definitely subdued. Been on a stand. Not back in case. Makes sense too since it hasn’t even been 6 weeks since it left the factory so would expect the lacquer to off-gas for a few weeks.

So to me, people claiming the pleasant vanilla smell from their LPs is most likely from their case. My LP never had much time in the case hence lack of vanilla smell. And being so new the strong lacquer odor is also not a surprise.

 

[Bp607]

Very similar issues with my new 60’s unburst. The switch cavity was hand chiseled and uneven. I always take the poker chip off and it was so sloppy, the switch was screwed all the way down and it was loose. I ended up throwing the chip inside the cavity almost like a washer. The pickup cavities are shitted up as well. I love the guitar and it’s covered with streaks which I love, so I’m keeping it. Tried to post a photo of the cavity but it’s too big.

I also had QC issues with a 2020 60’s ice tea, just minor finish stuff. I thought Gibson was back on track but they’re not. You need to spend $6k to get a decent guitar

 

[Rozman62]

I must be lucky. I have several LP's 2018-2020 that had no QC issues. 2 of 3 bought online. The online guitars we're gifts otherwise i support try before you buy. To think you need to spend 6k to get a decent guitar makes zero sense to me. I do have 8 other Gibsons priced $450-1600 with zero QC issues.

 

[jojo]

Can’t comment on the nitro/chemicals used on the guitar as far as smell. Any vanilla smell is 100 % the case.

 

[CB91710]

I must be lucky. I have several LP's 2018-2020 that had no QC issues. 2 of 3 bought online. The online guitars we're gifts otherwise i support try before you buy. To think you need to spend 6k to get a decent guitar makes zero sense to me. I do have 8 other Gibsons priced $450-1600 with zero QC issues.

Ditto.
I see so many quality issues (and images to back them up) that I just don't get it.
I have a '19 Standard, '19 Flying-V, and '20 SG.
No quality issues with any of them, though the neck angle on the SG is too steep. It works, but the bridge is way up there.

 

[ARandall]

Not my experience at all and I own lots of Gibsons.
Nitro actually offgasses for years and never fully cures. It also stinks to hell. The vanilla/cookie dough smell is an additive.

If you guys think that Original Series Gibson USA production guitars don't stink of solvents then we'll just agree to disagree. Nobody will convince me that it's the hardcase. I have plenty of odourless cases here and guitars that stink.

I make guitars and spray nitro on them. I'm well aware of what nitro does and does not do in a way a mere owner of a completed instrument simply cannot fathom - and how long after the last coat is applied that the smell typically lasts for.
Also having hung around forums of builders you get an idea on just how others' experience matches your own and can get an idea on typical offgassing.

As I said, there is simply not enough physical material sprayed for the acute smell to last for anything longer than about 6 weeks.......especially when Gibson themselves will be doing everything in their curing time to make sure the guitars are stable enough to buff.
I can imagine that, for whatever reason, you might get the odd one here or there that has a little more smell due to the variances in a hand process. But to insinuate its a strong smell that is obnoxious means the guitar would only be a few weeks past its last coat - and I don't think any instrument would be shipped out so soon.

 

[Rozman62]

Ditto.
I see so many quality issues (and images to back them up) that I just don't get it.
I have a '19 Standard, '19 Flying-V, and '20 SG.
No quality issues with any of them, though the neck angle on the SG is too steep. It works, but the bridge is way up there.

Suggest top wrapping if you don't already. I have several guitars I top wrap due to this. I don't really consider this a QC issue, more of a design issue.

 

[DaveSG]

Do we have any pictures of any of the said issues from any of the forum members posting in this thread?

 

[CB91710]

Do we have any pictures of any of the said issues from any of the forum members posting in this thread?

There's been a few. Mainly tooling marks on the rosewood and binding, couple of poorly finished nuts.
These reported issues are not imagined.
There is a bit of confirmation bias going on as well... Sell 100,000 products with 95% of them flawless, and the 4,500 buyers of items with issues will find an online forum to post about it.

 

[Dogbreath]

I telephoned TKL and was told that the put the Vanilla smell in their glue. I purchased a new case from TKL for a vintage SG, black with gray interior. It smelled like vanilla the day I got it and still smells like vanilla.