PSA: Willcutt's Sell One Month Old Used Murphy Lab Defect as New

[calieng]

I returned this guitar do to finish loss. It was just received back today by the dealer. And after I owned it for a month and with the finish defect Willcutt's just relisted it as new.

Pretty sad that they would do this and Gibson has not yet recalled these defective guitars.

Gibson Custom Shop 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue Sunrise Teaburst Ultra Light Aged Murphy Lab - 901738-8.85 lbs | Reverb

Gibson Custom Shop's 1959 Les Paul™ Standard Reissue is not just a tribute to the priceless original models -- it's a clone of them. From laser-scanned dimensions to chemically-recreated plastics to color-matched shades of sunburst, every element has been rendered in unbelievable detail. It repre...

reverb.com

 

[Duane_the_tub]

That is despicable. Someone needs to call them out on this.

 

[BDW60]

I think most all of them will do this.

Bottom line: a hassle-free return means the next guy gonna get burned. That guitar should go straight back to Gibson but instead they’ll spin the wheel, sell it again as new and hope the next buyer is blind, clueless or uninformed.

 

[DanD]

It's not just Willcutts that does this.

 

[Sct13]

and its not all thier fault ...Gibson might not want to deal with it...

That was the big question when I sent a guitar back to Dave's... it wasnt a flat out return ... it was a warranty ... so they were relived of the sale cost and I got a new build from Gibson

 

[THDNUT]

Uh Oh!

 

[dmac in SC]

Post edited and deleted: Despite overwhelming agreement across the membership, the levels of vitriol directed at me personally by a few members makes it not even worth expressing my opinion.

I am redacting my statement, and will never re-touch this issue. (My opinion will remain the same.)

We live and learn, at least some of us...but the quickest way to certain self destruction would be me catching anybody with an exacto knife heading towards one of my Lesters

 

[THDNUT]

Tell us how you really feel.

 

[rockstar232007]

As previously stated, Buy a perfect guitar and do everything to keep it perfect.

But, that's not R&R!


Seriously, though. Nothing wrong with buying an 'aged" guitar.

But, when you're paying "steak" prices, and getting "bologna" guitars, something ain't right.

 

[dmac in SC]

Tell us how you really feel.

I'm pretty sure I just did

But seriously, and for crying out loud, I'm gonna shut up on the topic to keep from getting banned from here.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

I do find it interesting how the top replica guys can get flawless thermally-enhanced aging but the massive company that dominates the business can't. Perhaps Gibson should pony up and buy a working Nitro formula from one of those dudes.

 

[Clint]

...or send them off to those guys since they know what they are doing. Kinda like Cunetto/Fender C/S.

 

[skydog]

Is murphy currently a gibson employee or a subcontractor?

 

[boola1]

This all boils down to how much damage is too much damage for a relic guitar.

Gibson have tens of millions of dollars worth of stock that they would have to repair/replace if they admit any fault. When you buy a reliced guitar, you know you are buying something that is damaged on purpose so what's the problem if a bit of finish (that is already damaged) comes away?

We need lawyers!

 

[Torshalla]

Whether Gibson accept the returns or not… the dealer accepted the return, relisting as new is not professionnal. Should be listed as b-stock and pictures should clearly show the finish issues.

 

[FadedLP]

Regardless of how one feels about factory aging, just sucks a reputable business is selling a defective guitar (the damn finish is separating from the wood) to an unsuspecting customer.

 

[Tim Plains]

Someone has to say it, so I am !!

FUCK all this artificial aging, relicing or whatever you want to call it... It's lunacy... People pay ridiculous prices to make absolutely perfect and pristine guitars look like 40 year old closet specials...but Oh hell, the aging process has now become too extreme... It's only supposed 'check' the nitro, but now we have cases where all finish is separating from the wood , and people are complaining? Please, just damned Please give me a break.

My opinion is: Buy a perfect guitar and do everything to keep it perfect.

Sorry, don't usually rant, but I'm tired of the whole Murphy Labs thing.

As previously stated, Buy a perfect guitar and do everything to keep it perfect.

But it's been established here that the problem is only with cherry finishes. Customers want a more accurate, harder finish and that's what Gibson did here. Maybe if Tom didn't age these people wouldn't have known about this problem until much later when Gibson wouldn't do anything about it because it's finish related, so maybe you should thank Tom for this artificial aging and calm the f*** down.

 

[shark]

unsuspecting customers dont buy 7000 dollar guitars in my neighborhood.

they buy 10 grand 10 top PRS's and enjoy being screwed

 

[Pageburst]

But it's been established here that the problem is only with cherry finishes. Customers want a more accurate, harder finish and that's what Gibson did here. Maybe if Tom didn't age these people wouldn't have known about this problem until much later when Gibson wouldn't do anything about it because it's finish related, so maybe you should thank Tom for this artificial aging and calm the f*** down.

Tim, I like my factory burst ML and intend to keep it and play it regardless of the finish issues. That said, Gibson should have done a thorough prototype run of these guitars before releasing them for sale.

Regardless of the finish flaking off of the cherry finishes, the quality of the checking is all over the place. Some of its looks fairly realistic, some of it looks like broken glass as if it got hit with a shot of canned air

Bottom line, Gibson is selling a very premium Les Paul here, they should have done more to ensure their customers are getting what is being advertised. A new Les Paul that better resembles a vintage one in varying states of wear.

I want Gibson to succeed, it’s a great iconic American company and I love their guitars. But they need to make things right with their customers. It’s an opportunity for Gibson to create lemonade from lemons.

 

[pondcaster]

At the risk of coming off as a pessimist, I've been waiting for this type of thread since ...well since @calieng posted these finish issues and the fact that he had returned more than a few back to the seller. Thanks to him for bringing these defects to light, to the forum masses so to speak.

Figured as much and was expecting the returns to surface again soon. Being sold as new, not returns.

Willcutt's should be ashamed. They've been busted. Never ordered from them before and now wouldn't.