Why I'll Never Buy Another Gibson...

My first non-budget guitar in my late teens was a Gibson. This started a 20 year on-and-off again relationship. However, after this, I can say I'm officially done :)
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[@gr637]

Gibson will probably say that the cracks are a deliberate feature for that authentic 50s tone and look

[@TheRealFaceyNeck]

Hah! That's one of the first thoughts I had as well. Collectors in the 22nd century will pay top dollar for models with the "signature Gibson finish cracks."

[@Wynorrific]

"Lightly relic'd"

[@bmcgoo6027]

That's exactly what they said about the gold top les paul I bought

[@TheRealFaceyNeck]

@@bmcgoo6027 Well damn. It's already started, bois.

[@ntolman]

Tone cracks

[@tomfrazofishal]

this is why i'll never get a gibson. oh, not because of this, because i can't afford one.

[@rizqibayumantari6769]

It's okay man..., expensive guitar is overrated... Better to spend some money for amps.

[@jomesias]

Get one from the cheap Jackson line instead 👌👌 better for the money and you get the legendary compound radius neck What music genres do you play?

[@tomfrazofishal]

@@jomesias prog metal is my main genre, ive wanted a les paul because adam jones plays one but he plays a gibson les paul, which i cannot afford. i know epiphone has good les pauls at an affordable price tho

[@Shane-sf9pv]

meme chef the epi prophecy series are pretty nice for metal, still expensive for the new ones though and really heavy. You’re paying more for the cosmetics. Honestly if you definitely want a les Paul and don’t care about the Gibson name, just get an epi standard and slap some Seymour Duncan invaders in it. I’m into newer stuff like Mastodon, Protest the Hero, etc and a little thrash metal and the invaders work great for that stuff. In my opinion there’s really no point in paying for active pickups like EMG unless you’re using a high quality tube amp.

[@tomfrazofishal]

@@Shane-sf9pv im currently using seymour duncan pickups on my other guitar and i like them so ill look into that. thanks for the advice!

[@DH-hl5tc]

I went to buy a les paul years ago, left the shop with a telecaster. No regrets.

[@Sticknub]

Good choice!

[@canadulce3697]

Awesome haha😂

[@martijnhansen9122]

same

[@mikepaulus4766]

I bought a Gibson Les Paul that was previously owned by a band I like. It stayed in the case most of the time while I played my strat. In 2009 I sold it for half what I paid to a guy who hadn't heard of the band. Job losses suck.

[@zerronyx1362]

Better tone tbf, even coil split the les paul won't beat a tele in cleans

[@awmlawoffice]

Fender, American Telecaster (actually the Mexican Teles are awesome as well) play your gig, use it as a weapon in a bar fight, plug back in=still in tune.

[@allan775]

I was never a fender guy until I bought a mexican strat, now it's the only guitar I play.

[@kankanmwah]

A couple days ago i was jamming with my dad, when he went to plug in his Strat, the strap fell off and sent his guitar's headstock into the floor, it still was in one piece and in tune when he picked it back up XD

[@stopcensoringmyfreespeech3280]

Use it in a bar fight still in tune. LOL =)

[@pelopsxalikias]

keith richards has demonstrated this very well

[@ericluchinski]

True. I have a MIM Swirl and it's my main guitar

[@jackmary720]

Gibson designed it this way so that it splits clean in half when you smash it over the stage floor lol

[@MatchBookNotes]

Thats why pete Townshend switched to gibby, fenders proved too hard to break

[@Ma_Hew]

That's understandable, however the average guitar player/hobbyist/collector isn't going to do that to a guitar that they just bought for $600+. It's very unreasonable for someone to design it that way when the individual buying the guitar is only going to enjoy the instrument by playing and displaying it.

[@justharry2190]

@@Ma_Hew /woosh

[@chriswatson8687]

I laughed for real lol

[@dusanvilimonovic5988]

I hope it is not from the experience...

[@broed731]

Gibson, Yesterday's guitar at Tomorrow's Prices

[@jamesmaloney8191]

Jonah you ain’t kidding lol

[@ZaneDalton]

😂 what a fine description.

[@Maxim89Il]

The problem with Gibson is that it's not "yesterday's guitar," it's a pathetic knock-off based on yesterday's marvellous guitar. If they continued making "yesterday's guitar," they'd still be an awesome company. People buy that guitar because they want "yesterday's guitar," they want what Pete Townshend and Noel Gallagher play (yes, I know he started with Epiphone), but they don't get that.

[@brettdavis5555]

Very true, but I don’t blame them. That’s what people will buy.

[@mr.rjryno5274]

I agree Gibson went through a rough patch with QC and are now rebuilding that craftsmanship they once had. My gibby LP is luckily a good one with no finish issues and almost didn't buy it because of the the 2k price tag. But yes it is definitely worth it and epi's are good, but are a world of difference.

[@reseidolon]

I used to own a second hand guitar shop. I had many Gibsons come thru in the few years I was open. I don't really remember seeing any Gibsons that didn't have one or the other of the problems you show in this video. I can tell you that whenever one walked thru the door first thing I would do is check to see if the headstock had ever come off and often times my offer was based on the quality of the repair that was done to re-attach it. It often amazes me that a company like Gibson has never addressed the inherent design flaws in their instruments and instead opted to spend more effort on lawsuits against other companies who have. I agree with you Darrell I'll never buy another Gibson either.

[@Caged63Man]

now that detachable Gibson headstock is probably already patented by Gibson as well!

[@aldonabagusauskas4956]

Les Pauls are great for canoe paddles and because of their weight you can also use one as an anchor if needed!

[@MetalHeadProductions]

This happened to my V in the exact same place. Gibson told me it was common for it to happen there, which is not a great way to deal with flaws in your builds.

[@tornaclconor5149]

So they admit it's common for their 3k overpriced guitars to have fundamental flaws that most other guitars don't have? Yeah, never buying another Gibson

[@elimuto5096]

Then don’t buy a guitar with nitro finish. Understanding why this happens takes all the wind out of your sail.

[@buddamassa]

I had a V that had the exact same problem.. That and the tuning was MASSIVELY unstable sold that POS and bought an Ibanez RGA and never looked back. I will never spend that much on a Gibson when a 300.00 guitar buried that 1200.00 V and that was the cheap mid price back then.

[@poisonfists]

Same. '08 V.

[@stratman9449]

so.....it's meant to happen....like a light bulb pops after a year or two.....:-)

[@bobs2809]

Cut them some slack Darrell. They have only been making these kind of guitars since the 1950's and 60's. I'm sure they'll eventually get it right.

[@LUCKYB.]

@@alainbrisebois8334 You mean japadavidson dont you lol

[@LUCKYB.]

they havent yet .they just created a war on American Eccomony . and it all started with a 19 cent Bic Pen then the beach boys made a song about a Honda . toyota Datson these fks were like cats .. Give em a bowl of milk they wont leave now they own 70 % of America and the ecconomy ..

[@franekpyzel6943]

Matrix

[@JohnSmith-yy2uj]

@pėiņ TM yes

[@randyhopkins1263]

I have owned dozens of Gibsons and can say wood is a big factor.

[@AradhyaOnBass]

I wanna see this guy get pissed he always seems happy.

[@darrenshebell3563]

If you understood Canadian you'd know he's Pissed...

[@danmar007]

I'd be happy too if I had his wall of guitars! :-)

[@waltersmetak]

For a Canuck, this is raging mad, almost psycho.....

[@w13rdguy]

Yeah, no one wants to see that. Could be dangerous, LoL.

[@d.j.6694]

His short upper lip makes it look like he's always smiling! 😂

[@Klesh]

I'm a luthier and have already had SG's come into my repair shop where I was able to lightly pull the neck completely off the body. I know I'm no the only guy that's seen this happen. The neck pickup rout removes most of the neck pocket's glued surface area making some of the worst neck joints in history (even on pieces of American History like Gibson Guitars) - overall pioneers but lazy when it comes to simple design things like "How about rout the neck pocket away" idea. So dumb. As far as the hackjob nuts and fretwork, that's just laziness. Thanks for the video I just subscribed.

[@Danielwills6325]

Are you seeing it on any of their 2020 guitars?

[@Klesh]

@@Danielwills6325 I haven't worked on any SG's for about 4 years sorry I don't know the answer

[@richardwitherow5289]

@@Klesh Hey Klesh, as a luthier can you please tell me what you think of PRS guitars and do they have excellent tuning stability? Thanks!

[@WisdomHouseCreative]

@@richardwitherow5289 I'm def not a luthier, but I can say that I am very happy with the tuning stability of my PRS Custom SE guitars. Stoptail and trem bridge stay in tune for me nicely. I don't actually use the tremelo, so I can't say how much that affects the stability of that guitar...

[@williamlough4803]

Thanks for saying that , it's true , found problems with Gibson's made in China as well , I won't ever buy a Gibson , great guitars made at one time , but Gibson's not the only ones I had a Ltd that did the same , what's the best guitar for 2000$ price range ,?

[@johnmonroney8614]

I had a perfect one. TURNED OUT TO BE A Chibson.

[@jimkalfakis9893]

Hilarious! As funny as that is, it’s probably true.

[@viciousgaming6108]

They are way better in some means the woodwork is 10xs better. Hardware and electronics are junk but that we can fix. U can not fix a 17 degree raked neck like on those lol

[@adamgreenhill110]

@@viciousgaming6108 Not to mention WAY cheaper, and some cool custom designs too

[@rockthecasbahs]

Nothing wrong with owning and playing a Chinese made guitar, especially nowadays that China is getting better at making reasonable quality things for quite cheap.

[@adamgreenhill110]

@@rockthecasbahs Yeah, seriously. I just got my Chickenbacker in the post - it blew all my expectations. Stunning guitar, plays well, very good frets. Needs minor adjustments, and hardware upgrades, then it'll be as good as a Ric in my eyes

[@Trog]

The neck line happens on nearly every Gibson and is nothing to worry about. It's just something to expect. What happens is over time the nitro finish will 'sink' around the neck join line and then you'll see what you're seeing. There is no 'movement' in the heel joint. You can tell the difference between natural aging and 'trama' if there is a jagged line instead of a clean straight mark like you have. Same thing on that nut. What you're seeing is where the nut/fretboard truly ends and the neck begins so once again - not movement, just the finish finding the small gaps between materials. Those lines are predominately visible on solid colored finishes. Something else you might see over time as these guitars age are little 'cracks' along the binding where the frets end. Those happen because of fret sprout with seasonal changes. Something that is very common to see, but if you never take them out of the house you'll likely have no worries on seeing those. Thin nitro finishes will do all this. Things like epiphone wont because they are poly finished. Most PRS have very thick finishes as well. Gibson honors tradition and they build their guitars the way they did in the 50s. There are just some things you have to live with while upholding that tradition. Are they defects that need to be repaired? No. You'll devalue your guitar if you did. Do the lines kind of suck? Yes. Is it ok not to like Gibson guitars because of the finish they use. Sure. But let's not spread widespread fear over something small.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Thanks for the reply and info, I really appreciate it! Having used Gibson on and off for the past 20 years (and many other nitro finished guitars), I never had this cracking on any of my other instruments. In the end, Gibson have themselves in a bit of a bind - they can't really widely promote/educate regular people on the fact that (by their own choice) the finishes will likely crack on their very expensive guitars, while all their principal competition's guitars will likely not (I have nitro on a Strat, Tele, PRS, and Gretsch that are all fine). Either way, after watching this video, people will know and make their own purchases accordingly. If they do not want to deal with finish cracks they can choose to avoid Gibson; those who don't mind will be good to go :)

[@joker71172]

Was thinking the same thing.Trog

[@reasonsrhymes]

Agree with trogly. Thank you for giving facts.

[@johnnypk1963]

Totally agree on the nut finish cracking common as dirt. But the neck finish cracking is not. Darrell is correct there is movement. The crack on the Db cut looks fairly jagged too, I thought.

[@cornstar1253]

@@DarrellBraunGuitar I think those old gold tops with the cracked nitro finishes look great

[@RenchRanch]

This is indicative of a nitro cellulose lacquer finish. All made in USA Gibby's use lacquer. This type of finish is not as flexible as the catalyzed urethane used by just about all other companies. Even Fender on their "nitro" guitars use a grain sealer and initial base coat that is a urethane based finish to avoid this. Only the true "reissue" vintage stuff is finished the old-school way. Over time lacquer shrinks back, gets brittle, and will check (i.e. crack) and chip easily. It can also dull. Given enough age / time the lacquer will sink into the grain even if Gibson used plenty of grain filler. IMHO this is normal aging of a lacquer finish.Technically I don't think there is any actual failure at the neck joint or where the nut is on either guitar. Most other guitars finished with either catalyzed urethane or UV cured urethane don't crack as the urethane will "stretch" a bit with the expansion / contraction of the different materials with the heat cold / humid / less humid cycles during the seasons. Fender players deal with "fret sprout" all the time as in the winter the wood tends to dry out a bit and then shrink back enough for the fret ends to feel sharp and pronounced. This is due to the humidity content in the wood when built "new" being higher than when it stabilized where the guitar now lives. Neither Fender nor the owner did anything wrong. It's just the nature of a product made from natural materials. Even with a urethane finish, sometimes there are finish cracks. Fender Strats & Teles can get these cracks near the neck pocket. The wood isn't cracked through or anything, rather is't the finish either stretching too much at this point or it was too thick. In both cases IMHO you are seeing the normal expansion / contraction of the wood over the seasons and temperature changes. The paddle neck joint is glued only in the pocket, not out to the edges. So some expansion / contraction of the wood will happen here. So the lacquer gives and creates a finish crack. This is not a neck failure by any means and I have seen it a lot. For this joint area either you can live with it, or it can have a simple repair. Usually butyl cellosolve or diluted clear nitro (diluted with lacquer thinner) can be drop-filled into the area. Lacquer can be re-flowed by solvents and as such if done by a competent person can be touched up to the point of never seeing the repair. There is always some risk of ghosting or if the crack is really deep the underlying dye or stain can be affected. The nut is a different story. Gibson uses an extremely strong "glue" the is borderline epoxy for their nut. The nut material is very similar to Corian counter top material. It is designed so that their production Plek machine can slot the nut, not for longevity (IMHO). They actually bond in the nut along with the binding before the guitar is finished. So the lacquer covers the slot where the nut is glued in. You have a joint here where mahogany, rosewood or ebony, corian (or whatever Gibby uses) and the plastic of the binding all meet. As such they all have different expansion and contraction rates. I have also seen this area chip / flake / crack the finish. Repairing the lacquer alone won't fix it as it will just happen again. Usually I dremel and chisel out the "corian" nut, clean it down to bare wood, and hand make a bone nut. Then repair the lacquer so there is no finish over the nut edge. If done right it will resemble what Gibson used to do back in the day. A lot of these issues are caused by Gibson "Tradition" (i.e. all USA Gibby's use Nitro Lacquer still), and some "short cuts" in they way they are manufactured to save time / labor. The question is do you accept it and either get it repaired / modified or live with it. Over time the lacquer on both of these "new" guitars is going to age. The lacquer will yellow, shrink, and get brittle. It's just what it does. At some point the guitar will become "stable" and none of these issues will progress any more. Then is the time to sort it out if your super picky about a perfect finish. But I'll tell you 100% that no matter how well you care for either of these guitars, with Nitro Lacquer at some point it's going to age. Don't get me wrong, Gibson has a lot of areas they need to improve on. IMHO it's insane that an Epiphone in many cases can have BETTER build quality than a USA made Gibson. Certainly for the money they charge (and keep raising the prices on). At any rate, hope this helps and I hope you keep both guitars. They look and sound wonderful. As for my background, I'm not talking out of my ass here. I used to build and repair guitars running my own shop. I have also gone to school for Guitar Lutherie and am a member of the Guild of American Luthiers. Been to the Heritage factory in Kalamazoo Michigan serval time. IMHO they make better Gibsons than Gibby does now as it's the same building with many of the same people and tooling as Gibson used back before their move. You should check them out sometime. Cheers! Take care! Mike

[@Puppy_parade]

Wow, thanks for taking the time to explain!

[@drewarthur2169]

Rench Ranch wow!!! Thank god we have people like you to explain this stuff😂😂😂😂😂

[@MiMenteOnLine]

What the heck man, my brain is fried after reading almost everything. Trying to understand lots of words and maybe technically stuff. I don't even master guitar playing, nor english is my native language, but I do appreciate the time to explain it. I want to buy a new guitar and was thinking about buying a Gibson to play punk and metalcore, so I took this video as a warning sign....anywway, thanks again.

[@Deebz270]

I totally concur *Mike.* My Strat Deluxe had cracks around the neck pocket - It turned out that the four neck screws had stripped threads !! How the hell that happend is beyond me - Probably someone took the neck off and then overtightened the screws on refitting. The upshot being, that the neck was flapping around in the wind - around an 1/8th inch movement at the nut, which in turn caused the pearlescent finish (Jeff Beck Signature body) to crack at the heel joint. The paint finish on the end of the heel pocket completely delaminated. No cracks in the Alder beneath though. . Solution - I dowled and re-drilled the neck holes and fitted stainless-steel, high-torque screws - Stannah screws to be precise, used to secure outdoor stairlifts to granite steps! The neck is now solid as a glued joint, I could paddle the Atlantic with it ! . My Gibson Victory (1982 vintage) shows the very same joint line and crack in the finish that follows the neck joint on the upper side. The neck is solid though. My 1979 Gibson RD Artist has no such issues. Both Gibsons are made of slabs of rock-maple (both maple necks too, the RD has an ebony FB, whilst the Victory has a RW board). . My PRS S2 Semi-hollowbody is *perfect*.

[@nguyenduc3708]

Maybe the wood wasn't given enough time to rest? Under a lot of pressure from gluing, dremel tooling, shaping, the wood develops internal stress and it needs time to adjust itself to a balance point. But that's just my postulation.

[@markmckinney9821]

What I love about you Darrell is that you are very honest with every brand and you give detailed explanations of everything. I come to your channel FIRST when looking for reviews on any piece of equipment.

[@brianwhite7686]

He definitely has integrity.

[@Yesssqueen]

*owns every Gibson Model* Why I'll Never buy Another Gibson... •

[@arakis1313]

...and i'm now sponsored by a couple of other brands

[@bigted1953]

Ryan , in the words of my old algebra teacher - Precisely Correct.

[@jos7006]

😂

[@earlspearl2933]

@@bigted1953 that's pretty much accurate then . I guess

[@jamiemoffatt50]

Most of his guitars are given to him free by companies to do reviews

[@son0fsocal]

For what Gibson charges, this is completely UNACCEPTABLE

[@gregdiprinzio9280]

Absolutely right. Comments condoning it are from people who can't admit they got ripped off.

[@marineman2298]

​@@gregdiprinzio9280, I edited this post because I sort of sounded like a jerk.

[@gregdiprinzio9280]

@@marineman2298 Besides that, Mrs. Lincoln---How was the show?

[@marineman2298]

@@gregdiprinzio9280, the saying is "Besides that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the PLAY?" You should have gone with "Besides that Mrs. Kennedy, did you enjoy the trip to Dallas?

[@gregdiprinzio9280]

@@marineman2298 I stand corrected. Probably best to buy a used Gibson then if you don't mind cosmetic flaws. For me, the whole point of new is the idea that the guitar can stay cosmetically pristine, or close to it, if I take care of it and don't mistreat it. If the paint must crack in a short period of time no matter how I treat it, there's either a quality control problem or a design flaw. If one of those two things exist, there's no justifying a high price, especially when the nut is plastic, the body swiss-cheesed and the fretboard lined with countertop material.

[@demofactory]

Maybe Gibson could ask Dean guitars how to make guitars without finish cracks? Just saying...

[@demofactory]

You completely missed the irony of my joke, after Gibson tried to sue Dean Guitars. For the record... My glass is neither half empty or full. Already filled my glass, so I got another glass lol!!!!! Take care friend!!!

[@tubularificationed]

Rocco, in a face there is movement where there should be movement. Whereas in that Gibson guitars, there is movement where there should be no movement :)

[@tubularificationed]

I just wonder why $100 guitars get it right, and Gibsons get it wrong. Don't they have the same conditions? ;)

[@NathanChisholm041]

@@unperrier5998 Can we have the English version?

[@finalbossoftheinternet6002]

demofactory oof

[@scorpion9248]

Darrell I was a huge Gibson Custom shop dealer (store manager) back in the mid 90’s. eBay had come out by then so we were able to move a lot of guitars all over the world relatively cheap at the time. Problem was… quality. Our Hamer’s, Ibanez’s, Peavey’s, Epiphones, etc we’re great, out of the box! All we did was replace strings, set intonation and tune up. Gibson Custom Shop was a horror story… some of our customers were very distinguished and placed orders for their custom Gibby’s based solely on our reputation at the time. As soon as the Gibson Custom orders came into our shop we were shocked to find all kinds of issues with Quality. Intonation and string height in outer space! Electronics were soldered by 3rd graders etc. etc. We had to spend at least 2-4 hours on our Custom Shop guitars just to be playable. Very Sad. Our reputation was on the line so sometimes we hid these guitars from our customers until we could fix all these problems. Luckily we knew what we were doing.

[@bigbasil1908]

One word. Corporations.

[@bigknuckle9689]

I had an SG for about 6 months, looked cool, sounded like an SG fun to play sitting down. I didn't like the way it fit me, the neck dive was too much for me when standing, but it was also very poorly made. It needed a COMPLETE setup upon purchase (not not just a minor string height adjustment) but the main issue was the soldering of the pickups was so bad that after about 5 months of home use (3-4 hours per week at home) the wires came loose and the sound went in and out. It looked like someone had just poured a cup solder in the cutouts for the wires and pickups. I repaired and sold it a week later to buy an American Strat with money left over. I have seen vastly better build quality on my $220 Squire and my $300 Harley Benton. And with what Gibson charges, these things should look more like my $2,000 PRS, which is absolutely immaculate in build quality.

[@richardwitherow5289]

Hey Big Knuckle, I'm at desperation point with a Gibson that never stays in tune. Does your PRS have excellent tuning stability? I'm thinking of buying one.

[@bigknuckle9689]

@@richardwitherow5289 Yes, it does, but does not like alt tunings.

[@richardwitherow5289]

@@bigknuckle9689 Great. Thanks for getting back to me!

[@Pilostudio]

That is excellent quality control! they are guaranteed to have cracks in the exact same spot even in different series! lol

[@brandonfairchild5340]

I love it!

[@mitchmitchum6173]

Lol and lol again.

[@DougShablowski]

Consistency is key

[@gregdiprinzio9280]

I like when my five thousand dollar guitar spontaneously combusts, gives it character.

[@aaron4757]

Greg Diprinzio no chief, only on $1000 or less guitars.

[@FOHguy]

I'm only happy when it happens playing live. Bedroom playing, nobody else gets to share the experience.😂

[@chriscook4194]

@@aaron4757 since when can you get a Gibson for less than 1k

[@aaron4757]

Chris Cook I was joking around, what I meant is that that shouldn’t happen to any guitar that’s over $1000

[@chriscook4194]

@@aaron4757 ah gotcha sry was fired up about this suit

[@kielconrad7963]

I’ve repaired three SGs that have had that exact same issue. One where the neck completely came dislodged. Seems as if the glue just slowly broke down or wasn’t a clean application and after some minor abuse and bouncing around in cases decided to let go.

[@terrygay8879]

With all the new glues that continue to come out, I'd bet Gibson is using some old glue. It's amazing that with Gibson's voracious acquisitions of different industries they can't fix the problems with their flagship business. Oh well.

[@deandee8082]

@@terrygay8879 they use whatever chyna has to sell for the lowest price, bet that...

[@randy685]

That really sucks man. I’ve had a 2012 sg standard for around 10 years and I’ve had not issues at all except the usual tuning problems

[@hockeyman2274]

I had the same issue with my epiphone LP. I sent it back to the retailer, as they said the would correct it. It sent it via FedEx. I insured it for $1000, the value of the guitar. However when it arrive at Sweetwater the headstock was completely broken off. (The issue was cracking in the finish) I reported this to FedEx. FedEx then wanted the signature of who signed for it along with video of it being delivered and their packaging being open. Dont know if anyone videos a FedEx delivery. FedEx then denied the claim. Sweetwater (the best company and customer service in the world) stepped up and replaced my guitar. I only purchase from them now. Well guitar stuff anyway. Moral of the story dont use FedEx!!!!!!!

[@rickkuba]

Jon Amaral I too had a FedEx close encounter when medication was to be sent to my wife prior to her Caribbean cruise. “ when it absolutely positively has to get there overnight” was the advertisement. In my case it didn’t leave the shipping facility for 2 days. Turned out I retrieved the meds and flew down to Florida from NYC to hand deliver them myself. Moral of the story: use FedEx at your own risk.

[@hockeyman2274]

@@rickkuba I'll never use them again!

[@J__C__]

Moral of the story is video your unboxing. Thousands of people do it daily. Many of them post their vids....get this.... RIGHT HERE ON KZbin! 😄🤣

[@J__C__]

@Harry. B. Renner. jr. Sounds like you're talking about the KZbinr ChuckE2009 considering that's exactly what, happened to him.

[@hockeyman2274]

It was Sweetwater that didn't have an unboxing. Being that they use this vendor to ship almost all of their equipment, unless the customer requests a different shipper. They must have assumed everything would be ok with fed ex

[@btbb3726]

I’ve started buying $200-$300 guitars and upgrading hardware and tweaking minor imperfections. I feel I end up with a quality instrument for less $’s. For a company like Gibson to deliver this quality is insulting.

[@xRegularJohnx]

same here

[@deaf19830]

I would like to have somewhere around a 1981 Gibson Les Paul. They probably all the same I guess, year models I mean

[@golfhound]

agreed. I changed my whole outlook and buy lower end Fenders, upgrade the pickups, wiring, all hardware to better after market stuff of my choosing, and end up with a much finer guitar.

[@vernonleemonii3334]

Same. Check out Harley Benton guitars, great quality for the price!

[@714arewenotmen]

Right picked up a squire tele love it so surprise with the weight I've held squire strats there so light not my tele nice slab of wood will upgrade tuners but right now it stays in tune I'm just happy with it

[@jasonhughes5219]

I know this is an older video, however I had a recent experience with this. I ordered a really nice 2018 limited edition Les Paul Standard, with blacked out hardware and a trans ebony bust. Beautiful guitar. I ordered this as brand new from Guitar Center. It showed up with a bowed neck and the same finish crack in the nut. Not only that the nut was also cracked diagonally. I took it back to Guitar center and exchanged it for a PRS custom 22. Low and behold, Guitar center put it back on the shelf with the same blemishes.

[@ganzerovon3045]

Quick random question, What is the 3 humbucker configuration good for? PLZ someone tell me.

[@RudyAyoub]

F for gibson

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Rudy Ayoub - press “F” to pay respects 😆

[@diegomelendez6630]

Rudy Ayoub F

[@Stuk4s]

FFFFF

[@alexlevesque9687]

I always see you commenting on all the guitar channels I subscribe to lmao

[@philbracy1310]

F

[@andrewwagner6851]

Heel cracks are normal. Same with the nut. There’s no movement, it’s just the finish shrinking. Your guitar will not break, and it isn’t a sign of breaking parts. The finish is where the parts are connected, so that’s why it cracks around the buy and heel. You may find out shortly that it happens all the way down the neck binding. Don’t worry about it.

[@granvillefriel1877]

Is that the nitro cracking with age?

[@andrewwagner6851]

Granville Friel yes. Epiphone guitars have polyurethane finish so they do not shrink. Some fender guitars have nitro finish but they do not have any neck glue joints that can be disrupted.

[@Superjet113]

Exactly That635guy, was going to post this if I could not find a good comment about it. Spot on. Nothing is moving, finish shrinkage. This should posted as top post. It still sucks, but nothing is moving Darrell. Love your channel too BTW, thank you!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

This!

[@averydeadhorse]

Have worked with and fixed nitro finishes. Can confirm this

[@closetmonkey88]

Had a 2005 SG standard since 08, similar low impact life, spending almost all its life in the case while not being played. Only degradation is a slight spider web cracking on the chrome that gets touched the most and the odd tiny ding or scratch! All in all just about as beautiful as the day I first laid eyes on it!!

[@garyheaton4791]

Hey bro..I had a old SG once that the same thing happened to. I put a very hot iron right next to the crack..it melted the finish and it went back together. I couldn't even tell it happened. I had it in either my den or my study..and the humidity ALWAYS gets down to under 10% all winter long in both. I had a Martin do the same damn thing to me as well. Now I keep them in a closet made just for my guitars. I keep the humidity in it between 30-40% all year. I don't know if that is what caused the finish crack in yours or not? I was ALWAYS worried about my gun collection being to humid..never thought about my guitars. I have a big gun safe of course with a humidity killer in it..so now they are ALL happy.😁✌ Good luck pal.👌

[@lance134679]

Say no to crack.

[@thosewhomustbekeptthecoldo4197]

CRACK IS WACK!

[@michaelgallagher3640]

So hard to find good crack these days.

[@randomdude9698]

Michael Gallagher just look on a Gibson

[@louiscypher8714]

Crack kills but it pays the bills.

[@yeahh8402]

Darrell: I'm not that much of an SG guy. *has a Gibson SG* Me: I'm all about the Gibson Les Paul. *has a $150 Strat copy*

[@salintium]

because he has a channel about guitars. Duh

[@robspear03]

@@salintium That has zero bearing on his choice of guitars. He owns a GLP, but isnt a fan? If you believe that, let me sell you some grease for your muffler bearings...

[@iniquity7]

@@robspear03 i need to buy some grease for my muffler bearing, and some horn fluid. My car seems to be acting up but walmart doesnt carry these items, can I buy them from you good sir?

[@ravikiran490]

Man I wanna buy an LP but too much price. Might get a Vault LP1 or TL some day

[@dadadididododede1557]

what were u thinking ??? seriously ?? ur finger sure as hell faster than ur brain lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@SHREDTILLDEAD]

I was done with them before I ever bought one hearing that you could pay almost 2000 for something with no fret work done. Sounds great right ?

[@markwilliams142]

My favorite guitar is my early 90s Les Paul Studio. When I go a little older and started gigging, I wanted a backup. I was surprised that more recent Gibsons that cost $2K+ aren’t even close to feeling as good as my old Studio, which was about $900 at the time of purchase. I went to Guitar Center to sell 3 pedals I didn’t care for, and ended up playing a LTD LP copy. It had almost everything I loved about my LP, and I actually prefer the knob placement of the LTD. So, for the price of a few pedals I never used, I got the LP I always wanted.

[@Vetis213]

Weird that people are OK with cosmetic issues on guitars this expensive.

[@My6StringSweetheart]

Yet they complain if a cheap guitar has a slight fixable issue lol.

[@4ppl3z59]

If it plays I'm fine with it

[@Dextergec413]

People treat something very differently when they've paid money for it. They'll go to great lengths to justify something they already purchased while something unproven is easy to critique.

[@furthermoore1863]

that wine sniffer mentality

[@northwooddrive448]

it's about how it sounds when it comes to a guitar, not how it looks.

[@johnhanna4719]

I am old enough to be your father and have played gibsons and fenders before they were collectible. Living in New England with all its drastic temperature and humidity changes I see what you have all the time. Not only in guitars but any wood product from furniture to flooring etc. These are not stress cracks or signs of defects but natural occurrences because wood will always move with the climate. Sometimes it shrinks, expands etc. Nitro lacquer moves as well and takes forever to cure. Unlike plastic based finishes on your epiphone and other guitars lacquer takes forever to really harden. During that time it shrinks, moves and cracks. It is also very susceptible to finish cracks. Gibson bakes its finishes to speed the process but it just gets the guitar to the store faster. It doesn't harden the finish completely which still has to age.l. Its a catch 22., We want the tone of lacquer but the durability of a poly. Now compound this with the fact that Mahogany isa more porous than a hardwood like maple so it is likely to exhibit these changes more than maple or alder. I am not a gibson fanboy by any means, in fact prefer strats, but this time its not gibson's fault. Those cracks do not suggest your nut is coming off or your neck has to be reset. All it shows is that your mahogany based guitars are moving slightly which is normal, that's why they have neck adjustments, and the finish is hardening and shrinking with age, Good luck and just enjoy playing them., Fortunately our fingers can't see so it shouldn't bother them at all!

[@geobram]

"We want the tone of lacquer" ?!?!?! Bwah ha ha ha ...that is almost as good as tone wood!!! Also if nitro lacquer takes so long to cure it should NOT crack. Those are not finish cracks, they would appear randomly everywhere... not on the high stress area of the neck body interface. And yes you are a Gibson fan-boy.

[@tolerbearALTII]

I have a hard time believing in the so called tone of the finish of any guitar. It's a myth. As for Gibson's quality issues, give me a cheap guitar; at least they have an excuse. Gibsons are overpriced and they take advantage of their former reputation for being a quality instrument. Bah!

[@112131415191213]

@@felix.delrubio PRS guitars are finished in poly though...

[@nickzaragoza9368]

Tone wood is the best myth to hit the guitar community along with boiling strings HAHA

[@rickjohns689]

@@nickzaragoza9368 boiling strings isn't really a myth, it is used to remove crud from used strings to make them sound brighter just a little longer. There is no benefit to boiling them out of the package. And doing it to renew strings isn't really great anyway, they don't last much longer and it won't fix dents from frets on the underside.

[@nelsonc6173]

Unfortunately my Gibson les Paul standard developed the Gibson "smilie" face crack where the head connects to the neck. Bumming since I take such care with the guitar and I always keep it in the case. Did some research and it turns out is a common problem. Anyone know how much this would cost to repair?

[@ronpipes1988]

I've only ever bought one Gibson in my life; a Gibson Les Paul Modern in pelham blue back in December of last year (2019). Brand new, plays and sounds fantastic. I've now had it less than 7 months and the front of the guitar looks like someone took a metal comb to it. Cracks in the finish around the volume and tone knobs, the bridge, the toggle switch. Some are an inch or so long, others run nearly the full front of the guitar. It stays in one room where the temperature is a constant from about 68 to 75 degrees. I never thought I'd pay this much for a guitar only to have it look this way 6 months later. 6 years later...perhaps, but not this soon. I'm upgrading my silverburst Epi tomorrow with the SD hot rodded humbucker set. I personally will never again spend that much money on a Gibson. This Epiphone has such a good finish and feel that with the right pickups it'll be so close to a Gibson. So the Gibson has a traditional nitro finish. So what.....the guitar looks like crap and it's less than a year old. Still plays and sounds exceptional, but for the money an upgraded Epi is a much better deal, or put humbuckers in a Strat, or get an Ibanez or some other brand. Lesson learned.

[@erikarneberg11]

Isn’t Gibson still offering their “five year warranty”? Have you tried returning it via the dealership, or contacting Gibson yourself? Just wondering what the other part of the story (getting some resolution to the problem) is? If it all happened within a year of purchase, and to that extent, that’s got to be considered construction/production flaws that SHOULD be covered under warranty- imagine if that was a car! What a bummer, sorry to hear that…

[@facurojas4477]

If some checking bothers you so much just buy a poli finished guitar, it's not like the guitar is tearing itself apart of something..., it's something you just have to know, also, metalic finishes like yours are way more likely to check than regular ones, anyway, they didn't have the best QC before they changed ownership

[@dikkybee4003]

I made a kit SG about 25 years ago and finished with nitro and mine doesn't have that problem, maybe I could show Gibson where they went wrong and make them great again...lmao

[@___717.]

No cracks, *NOT AUTHENTIC*

[@golfhound]

Write to Gibson and give them your suggestion. They just might take it.

[@viktoronopko2090]

Make Gibson great again? You could start using concrete for the body. Could be probably lighter...

[@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040]

Do you still have it?

[@thomascallahan9167]

@@viktoronopko2090 Dude laughing to hard

[@McMillanScottish]

I can forgive a lot of defects if a guitar has "that special something", and I have done so. But when dropping $$$$ on a new guitar, there's no excuse for that kind of silliness.

[@brandonhuisman4351]

Scottish McMillan he said the one one guitar was a 2007. So I wouldn’t call it new but I agree

[@loufachin9287]

I bought a Nashville SG and its in amazing shape. I love your channel and you've helped me select a decent guitar. My fave is still a Strat.

[@timothymallon]

I’ve had a neck reset on an old SG I had at one point. And I’ve had other similar neck pocket issues as well. As much as I love Gibson, I can’t justify buying one anymore.

[@sseltrek1a2b]

cracks on guitars at this price point is not acceptable...i've played Schecters for years and never seen a crack like this on any of them, and they're 1/3 the cost....this is clearly a quality control issue...

[@metalheadblues]

Exactly. My schecter is almost a decade old have heavily gigged and no issues.

[@gavinwinram7811]

He lives in Canada. It could be the air moisture causing it. I only have one guitar, and it’s a cheap acoustic. But at my school we have 3 humidifiers to keep the air moist during the winter months

[@dustywalter1947]

I love Schecter! He should burn these Gibson's or make picks out of them for a new schecter.

[@jamescox992]

I have a Schecter C1 custom about two and a half years old same problem crack at the neck joint. Love the guitar. I have a C1 Hellraiser same age no problems. Love it just the same.

[@Logan912]

@@gavinwinram7811 Yes because those are *acoustic guitars.* For an electric solid body guitar, this is unacceptable.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

I've had a long 20 year struggle to find a Gibson guitar that I really love, but without too many issues. However, with all the other AWESOME guitars out there, I have to ask myself "why do I care so much?" I think its just time for me to be done!

[@DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

I worked at Gibson for 10 years but I have to agree that there are so many companies doing excellent work. You will find one you can’t live without.

[@zefolantar]

Darrell Braun Guitar 🎸I can’t say I blame you, Darrell. After seeing your two Gibson’s, I wouldn’t be lining up to get one, that’s for sure. With Gibson you’re paying for the iconic name but poor workmanship. Who needs that? If I was shelling out a few grand on a new axe, it would be a PRS or something from the Fender Custom Shop. Just my 2 cents. Great 👍 video. Love your work! 👏

[@zacharycochran8096]

There is no shame at this point buying Mexican and over seas...there luthiers either care more ...or fender and gibson seem to have issues with quality regarding supply and demand

[@arronbrowning2752]

Fender all the way! 😂

[@isexuallyidentifyasanovenm1617]

I have a 40 year old les paul thats always had those cracks. Trust me, me and a buddy of mine who is troglys guitar show here on KZbin know all about this stuff. Dont know why it does it. But Its nothing to worry about. Just a gibson thing....

[@jamesblankenship2781]

Wood expands and shrinks with humidity and temp change. Is where you keep it roughly the same temp where your studio is? And does it have roughly the same humidity

[@aldayonthewater6680]

Hey! I just returned the Joe's Bonamassa ES-335 about an hour ago because of these cracks near the headstock/fretboard. Identical spot as yours, but this was a brand new guitar straight out of the box. This is the 3rd one I've returned this month!!! The other two were standard Epiphone ES-335's. I figured if I spent more money on the Bonamassa...but same issue. Is this just the norm for Epiphone/Gibson? Or should I keep trying to find the right ES-335?

[@telnobody737]

Best of luck finding a solution Darrell. Lucky we love our Epiphones right?

[@alexmurphy5289]

Most Epis are cheaper and better... Gibson doesn't stand a chance in the long run

[@lincolnlee6042]

Alex Murphy agreed

[@MrChris-bx7ss]

If they would only change that goofy Epi headstock it would be heaven.

[@marksanders1962]

@@alexmurphy5289 Alex Murphy I think you are right, thank you for your cooperation...

[@megan_alnico]

@@MrChris-bx7ss I think your statement is exactly why they don't have the Gibson headstock.

[@craigbranscum4041]

Way too much quality competition out there to bother with Gibson .

[@julianpeters37]

Yeah. I'd go for a collings instead. Bit to expensive for me.

[@Chaps_Jr]

Man, for something like a Les Paul, literally almost every single company makes a better quality product for a fraction of the cost, with more finish and hardware options. Hell, even the "cheapo" Chinese eBay guitars have better quality control than Gibson.

[@GrimYak]

@@Chaps_Jr ESP

[@davidwhitten4538]

Yea my LTD EC1000 plays better, built better, and feels better than any of the Gibsons ive had or played at even 4 times the price tag.

[@GrimYak]

@@davidwhitten4538 ESP/LTD is way better than the traditional les paul. lighter, thinner, and really overall a better guitar.

[@BOOLsheet]

The only thing that sells Gibsons is nostalgia.

[@BOOLsheet]

Boondoggle what do they get what right? There are fundamental design flaws with Gibsons, many of which they’ve never tried to fix in any meaningful way. From weight, to headstock tilt, to upper fret access, to neck dive, it’s just not a comfortable guitar to sit and practice with or play live. Not to mention it doesn’t stay in tune as well as other cheaper, better designed guitars. Don’t even get me started on the quality control issues, which were abhorrent for a company that charges a massive premium. With so many great options out there today, there’s no real reason to buy such a flawed design.

[@Chaps_Jr]

@Boondoggle For your one guitar being done right, how many did they get wrong? How many people have had to deal with terrible quality and design for your instrument to be good? There is absolutely no reason a Les Paul (or any Gibson) should cost as much as they do. So many companies offer better quality and design, more finish and hardware options, better customer support, and don't charge an absurd premium. Gibson is using their name alone to keep pumping out an overpriced design which they have barely improved at all in over 60 years. For the price of a standard Les Paul, I can get a Custom Shop Fender. Ludicrous.

[@Chaps_Jr]

@Boondoggle That is an incredibly closed-minded stance. Also, you're just plain incorrect. No other brand is sent in for headstock repairs as much as Gibson, thanks to the ridiculous break angle. The finishes are extremely brittle, and the options are limited at best. For $3000, there is no reason it can't be made in a neck-thru construction for better harmonics. The way they install the nut and paint over it is just another way to charge extra money during inevitable repairs. The nut is also made of shockingly low quality material for such a high-dollar item. The same quality can be found in high-end Epiphones, for a third of the price, with more options for personalization, AND regular improvements in the technology. The only reason you're denying any of it is because you're afraid to admit that you paid way too much money for an outdated guitar.

[@captainboders1181]

​@@Chaps_Jr You make good points but so does he. It is kind of like the lottery with Gibsons, I have a 600-800$ Gibson I got used and it plays great for as long as I've had it which is roughly a year. But also you're right, they truly are leveraging their name and position in the guitar world to not offer improvements they could. Although like Boondoggle says, when they get it right they are quite nice instruments. But you're also right about the amount of Gibsons at least in the past that had to be done wrong for my one guitar to be nice is too high. As a company they are flawed, although when looked at individually a Gibson guitar can be amazing.

[@lightspeedlegato]

Gibsons are for collectors, not players.

[@erkanters]

I bought a Gibson U2 Superstrat in 1992. I still have it, and it shows (and has always showed) the joint of the neck to the body on the 19th fret. It is not cracked though. But the joint is visible and can be felt. It goes down from the fretboard to the bottom of the neck and then on the other side straight up to the fretboard again. That is to say: if this is a joint; because this would be a stupid way to make a joint. You would glue end grain wood to end grain wood. That just won't hold (I am a woodworker and I also restore and repair guitars). The guitar is still straight as a ruler and shows no cracks or other faults. So apart from that it shows a visible line: no problems there. But that line has always intrigued me. I have another problem though; when i play it, after a while the neck becomes sticky from the 'grease' of my thumb. This influences the speed in which you can play. I have to clean it once or twice in between if I want to play a whole evening. Annoying on stage. I have quite a lot of guitars (I may have overdone it a bit...) and really: not one other guitar shows this problem. Does anyone else have this problem with a Gibson (or other) guitar? I thought about sanding it and spraypainting it, but then it would not be original anymore. (And I still want to change the pickups, because the tone is so (80's) sharp, but then again, then it will not be original anymore...) Another bit of nitpicking: the polepieces of the humbucker are exactly in place, the polepieces of the single coil pickups ar not exactly centered underneath the snares. They are only 1 millimeter off, but still; for a guitar in this pricerange that does not seem right. It dos not seem to effect the sound though. So my Gibson is in great shape after 40 years. Repairing guitars, I also saw a lot of Gibson's. I must say that the newer guitars are (in my humble opinion) not very well build. Rough, problems with the spacing, badly polished fretwork. Not acceptable for the price. The electric guitars who amazed me are the Ibanez. Even the cheap ones are very well build. (I do not own a Ibanez, they don't appeal to me. But the build quality is very good.)

[@billjamal4764]

You can hear the sadness in his voice when he’s talking about the cracks

[@p-rod88]

I thought I was the only one.

[@RainField0730]

Yeah a bit of quiver in his voice, so sad.

[@KazeAkiyama]

You can tell he's not a player who maintains his own guitars because literally every guitar gets that at some point. Especially when there's not much wood surrounding the join.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

"Nuts that were hacked by a caveman" 4:23 Love this lol

[@cuauhtemocmorisco3493]

LMAO

[@Kendrix_76]

I almost spit out my coffee when he said that. lol.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Ken Conrad I had to do a double-take! Lol

[@sickb2200]

Nobody wants that.

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

sickb2200 Hell No! Lol

[@edbalabon2221]

I have a 2017 s.g. no problem with joints,but both volume pots worn out? And I don't play it much

[@Jeremiah_NE]

do you have any other set neck nitro finished guitars? The Epiphone should be poly, only reason I ask. I'm just wondering if it is unique to Gibson or normal stress fractures based on finish and neck construction. FWIW, I have 4 Gibsons, a 335 with a headstock repair, and 3 Les Pauls. The 335 doesn't have the nut fracture and it has had a nut replacement, as have all my Gibsons, for a Graphtech nut. The 3 Les Pauls don't have that nut fracture either. I do notice a little line where the neck meets the body in all 4 guitars, which is why I brought up the possible finish/construction combination. One thing to note on the Les Pauls, I am noticing a crack along the line where the neck meets the fretboard.

[@bobboitt3126]

I hope everyone leaves Gibson, prices drop, and then....they're all MINE,MINE,MINE :)

[@JoeDoe2]

lol

[@HossJr]

:-D :-D Anyone who's "through with " a fine instrument like Gibson is between a rock and a hard place.. I look for them to eat their words in the future

[@kravenmorehead3953]

They are not worth the money imo.

[@trapperkcmo3460]

all guitar price points should be at the epiphone/squier level. thats the problem. its not about quality, its about value.

[@cindywalker912]

I played les pauls and 335's for years, I had a 59 custom shop reissue that was without doubt the best guitar that Ive ever played, but their new stuff is junk, I honestly wouldnt buy it if it was a tenth of the price. Gibson really need to take a long hard look at the materials that theyre using and their quality control. If they dont, they'll be history, and the price of the decent instruments still out their will sky rocket

[@PB-ok1nm]

Was the demo at the beginning an original? It’s phenomenal!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Thanks! Yes, I just wanted to put a jam together using these guitars :)

[@MichaelD8393]

@@DarrellBraunGuitar Have you considered making it an official song Darrell? I'd download it!

[@onioin98]

That demo sounded super Metallica-like

[@graysonadams2485]

@@DarrellBraunGuitar that was honestly so good

[@djoHn548]

Darrell Braun Guitar lol “just put a jam together” that sounded awesome though!!

[@petermcconnell7485]

I got a 2011 Gibson SG special this summer, the thing plays and sounds wonderful, did I get lucky?

[@rotfaun2852]

Ugh! Bro I feel bad for you. That’s exactly why I’m done with those high dollar guitars. Main Guitar right now is a Ltd ec50 stock $180 new in 2007. I’ve been playing it for 13 years with no problems

[@thevileirish6764]

Ok, so obviously I'm not trying to defending Gibson at all. But have it you considered using a case humidifier? I have a 75 yayari and someone mentioned using a case humidifier and it's helped with the small crack I have in the finish of it. Way to less noticeable

[@LiamBrownisAmazingDragon]

This brought back a memory of one of my regular customers bringing in a Les Paul studio with complaints that it was buzzing. Took me forever to realize the fingerboard had separated from the neck at the first fret enough that if you looked into the crack on the bass side, you could see light shining through from the treble side.

[@bigted1953]

Sounds like a cobbler i used to take my shoes to that could tell the problem when he saw the soles flapping.

[@MarekFajkus]

others probably said it already. IMO you see this on gibsons but not epiphones and PRSes because those aren't using nitrocellulose lacquer. There is always a little bit of stress on finish in place where 2 pieces are connected together as guitar resonates and ages. The paint is thin continuous layer while the material underneath it is not. Poly finish flexes much more and won't crack in such places but lacquer likely will.

[@Mephilis78]

Btw, if you really like double cut Les Paul's, but you still want something brand new, there's always Paul Reed Smith. They are literally Les Pauls, but they still have access to good tone wood.

[@naekcm]

Sold Gibsons for years and got sick if this happening. $5500 for a guitar then the customer comes back with cracks down the neck at heel at nut...I gave up selling them..this is just one reason Gibson is in its situation. Great sounding bad finish high price! Crazy!!

[@ricardothelionhearted3725]

From what year to what year did you sell them?Was it all Gibson product lines?Are the older Gibson's susceptible to this issue?Thanks for your time and effort.

[@nicolaistawinoga7566]

Is this for standards and customs alike?

[@dethyprlps9020]

I've had 4 SG's over the years and they've all done this, although the initial finish cracks never expanded with time and use. Almost like a house settling in and staying put.

[@bernardfoshage9901]

My 2001 Epiphone Les Paul also has this crack on the underside. It's been there forever and has not grown beyond it's initial crack. I pulled the pups to inspect the joint inside the body and it's rock solid.

[@henrydiaz720]

Thanks, Darrell. I was thinking of getting a Gibson SG Classic P90. The Epi had a stigma attached to it! But your endorsement will allow me to go ahead and squeeze the trigger on the (Pelham blue) Epi. The finish will cover the headstock and scarf joint! I'm kidding. I'm going for it.

[@foesfly3047]

I really luv both guitar parts for the jam you play at the beginning of this video! Seriously cool!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Thanks!

[@OGSontar]

Oh man, I'm so sad to hear that. My 2011 Gibson isn't a double cut, and it is 'only' a studio; I've not noticed any cracking of the finish. I do have to wonder if it would be harder to see with the faded type finish it has. Best of luck finding a solution, and keep us posted, please.

[@radajamesjavelosa]

I'm already wondering!!!, How is the weather temperature in Canada??? I'm already planning buying Gibson this year, what is your opinion?

[@kurtbader9711]

Any chance the wood wasn't cured properly and you're getting expansion/contraction, affecting the finish there? Just thinkin'..

[@gtrman12887]

On both guitars? I think its just lack of QC.

[@tjsogmc]

That's why I always buy the Chinese knock offs. You get the same problems, only at a fraction of the price.

[@Chino196]

Red Scorpion 6 same✊

[@davemoskot1776]

Red Scorpion 6 plus you get Covid-19 for free as an added bonus.

[@HalfDeadGeezers]

I will buy Indonesian or South Korean. It is my personal choice to not support the Chinese regime. Sorry Epiphone.

[@punk_rock_music_teacher]

Red Scorpion 6 look for a pre 2015 Epiphone custom. They’re handmade in China with the same materials but thousands less than their Gibson counterparts

[@tannersparrow5588]

Epiphone is an okay knock off, if youre talking about chibsons, that's just straight up not cool

[@markerf16]

Always been a Fender guy, but about 6 years ago wanted to add a Gibson to my collection. It was only a Studio, but was excited none the less. Quality was china.. with a horrible cut nut. A small block of wood and sawdust came out of the electronics cavity. You could feel a line going all the way up the neck where the rosewood meets the mahogany on the fret-board. Was the worst guitar ive ever had in my collection. I wanted to love it -but I aint stupid ..and so it went back the next day.

[@stevenpritchett4933]

Loved the dual jam session, by the way 👍

[@dwebs1340]

The cracking has a lot to do with the angle of the headstock. It puts a lot of tension on those 2 spots. If you were considering a Gibby 335 go with The Heritage instead. Much nicer guitar and a way better attention to detail. I've also have a lot of love for the Washburn HB35. JB from Widespread Panic plays em, I've had 2 and they are a great choice over Epi.

[@dwebs1340]

@David Wang if it feels good doesnt matter if it was $50. My favorite guitar of the 40 ive had is my Squire Jagmaster... got it for $75 at a garage sale and I prefer the feel and the tones over my PRS, US Fenders etc. 99.9% of it is a very personal experience granted im sure ill be told by someone the jagmaster is a piece of crap blah blah blah when to me I would have spent 10x that on it because we have a bond that is just different. I am way more creative w that guitar than any other I own.

[@JayHendricksWorld]

I just checked my SG and it does have some lines in the same spots but they appear to be cracks in the finish as they're not confined to only those spots. But it's something I'm gonna watch for now.

[@DeanSibleyAntiques]

As a lot of good people have wasted a lot of hard earned $ on what should be a "pride & joy" purchase I have changed my mind & decided to share a little knowledge for free. It's simple - the solvent in the lacquer is dissolving the glue in the joins - leaving a mix of glue/lacq both in the join & in the finish around the join. Compromising both join & finish. For example automotive lacquers have extra strong solvents designed to key into modern hard plastic bumpers, guards etc. Some so potent even epoxy glues can be dissolved. Heat may also play an important part. Heating during the spraying(curing) process can soften many glues & also cause the solvent to be driven out of the lacquer more aggressively - into the softened glue. The softening of the glue can also be influenced by the time between gluing & finishing - in a production environment the glue may only be a day or 2 old. Most glues will tell you quite clearly to allow 7 days for complete cure. How do I know this - simply by phoning the chemists at Glazurit & the chemists at Techniglue(epoxy). Fixing this in a guitar would involve the removal of the neck & probably refinishing - more trouble & money than the instrument is worth. This is clearly a very serious manufacturing fault - & should be rectified by the manufacturer replacing all the instruments with this fault. Personally if Gibson refuse to co-operate I would get as many owners together as possible to discuss a class action. Sorry about the bad news. I look forward to more great, informative vids from you in the future. Cheers, Dean.

[@RodrigoRamirez-eq6gj]

That's a very good argument. Gibson is, and has been, using deficient manufacturing processes either out of incompetence or greed, that have produced products of inferior quality, and then selling them at an unreasonable price point. Filling a class action against Gibson would really be something I would love to see.

[@bobsmoot5106]

Careful what you wish for. Issues aside, there’s no real replacement for the sound of a proper Les Paul or SG. They have a very distinct sound that other guitars mimic with varying degrees of success, but very few nail. I’d hate to lose that over some finishing issues.

[@McDrunkerson]

okay so my SG is doing the same thing and I spoke to a woodworker who told me the neck and body are different pieces of wood that may dry at different speeds so if one is drying faster than the other you will get some expansion and contractions which will cause cracks at the joint but this is nothing but a cosmetic issue. The fact that my fret wire could cut a Christmas turkey with ease was more distressing to me. After working with his fret files for about a half an hour I got it to where it should have been when it left the factory. Yes their quality control is very disappointing.

[@jackp1351]

Fascinating topic , Darrell. I've a SG Special 60s tribute in cherry. It doesn't have a laquer finish to crack but you can feel the edge at the neck/body joint. It's smoother on the bottom where you play but noticable at the thumb so some attention was paid. Can't help but feel that's a QC issue for the price paid though.

[@BrianFMusic]

Hey Darrell, I own a ES 335 and in the past had a Les Paul. Both Gibson authentic. Lol At the neck joint they are and where find. But for the price I encounter a few flaws in both guitars. Most of them are esthetic. The thing is for the price you pay they should be no flaws at all. Greetings from Spain

[@christopherpacana9631]

I have the same issue with my LTD Viper Baritone 400 mine wasn't that obvious.. and it doesn't affect my playability.. so I don't mind it that much

[@Tech875O]

Would love to hear if Gibson ever did anything for you about this problem?

[@jagpdc1644]

Yes, my SG has developed this same crack too

[@TheRealAxelFury]

In the neck, I have the same crack in my SG from 2017. For what they charge, I expect a Flawless guitar.

[@JesusArmasOficial]

I gotta admit how hilarious it was to me the first sentence. For today's video we've got some problems. Amazing video as usual Darrell.

[@ScottDreyfus]

No issues with my epiphone sg . My Gibson cracked on 3 separate occasions where the cord attached. Using a metal bracket and putting it on the side is a lifesaver.

[@wpkg]

hi Scott, which Epiphone SG? is it the ‘61 LP SG?

[@ScottDreyfus]

@@wpkg no newer non valute style 97

[@wpkg]

@@ScottDreyfus Thanks!

[@becknader2337]

Hi Darrell, one year after, watching this video again. These guitars have a really unique sound! Very exciting. Have you had a chance to check their new guitars after the restructuring of the company? This would be interesting to watch.

[@morten1]

That blue one is stunning looking. Is it still being sold in that color? What's the model name?

[@johnsmall3394]

my dad has the Japanese Epiphone set neck 355 style guitar that I use, amazing instrument over around 30 years old no problems

[@GuitarStudioA]

I've owned two Gibson SGs, both 60s, 1st a single coil P90 pickup, Terrific, light, wonderful feedback! The second, an expensive Standard, although it was beautiful, wasn't fun to play like the single pickup P90 SG (the neck broke off on both), Mr. Repair man glued them back on, just like new!

[@manbearpig2164]

I have an SG that I've smashed to pieces twice, glued it back together and still rocks

[@martyjaay]

Intro jam was sick man! Love that legato

[@marineman2298]

this can't possibly be true....I mean....that guitar had a FINISH CRACK AT THE NECK! How can it possible sound good???

[@neighbourninja]

I have to agree with you on this one. I was an avid LP fan until I had a live performance exam and the feckin’ nut corner snapped! I got a Tele from a mate of mine (I hated Teles) just to do the rest of the exam. It saved me so much, I went and bought one the next day. Never looked back. I sold my LP soon after that and after selling the rest of my collection, now I just own a USA Tele Deluxe. The only other guitar I would consider buying is some newer brands such as Suhr.

[@DessieTots]

Darrell, my Gibson J-185 has a stress crack in the finish at the nut. I've had the guitar set-up and adjusted recently so now it plays great. But this did require the bridge to be shaved. Despite all that, it's a beautiful sounding guitar.

[@jamesd9693]

Had same on a less Paul I had years ago I gave it away and started playing fender telecaster

[@allan775]

@@catmakesmusic182 buy a mexican strat you'll never look back trust me

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

I appreciate everyone saying it's just nitro being nitro, however: 1. My other nitro guitars (Strat, Tele, PRS, Gretsch) are just fine and have been for years. 2. These two guitars don't show checking on the body, neck, or headstock - so basic nitro hardening should show up on other areas of the guitars, but haven't. 3. The sensitive location of the finish cracks leads me to believe it could be movement related (too much expansion/contraction between body and necks). Perhaps it is more prevalent on double cut designs with less contact area between neck and body? Either way, it sucks that it's happening on expensive modern guitars :)

[@alfaalex101]

Time to switch over to Godin, support Canadian business : )

[@joerob3081]

Seems common on the SG in particular. Mine is a 2018 and no cracks at the moment. My 2013 Les Paul had a finish crack at the fretboard but it still played great.

[@jamesodonnell9217]

Darrell, hundreds of people took the time to write thoughtful compassionate comments describing conditions that lead to the finish checking etc. We are sorry to see your disappointment. If you're done with Gibson, we respect your decision. Regardless of where your journeys take you and how you satisfy the quest for tonal bliss, we only wish you the best. Thank you for your continued contributions to the YT community. Kind regards.

[@andrij.demianczuk]

My Les Paul is 2011 and it is starting to show minor finish cracking in the same two places as well (but much less so than yours) and by the tail strap pin too (quite a bit). I first noticed it a few years ago and I'm waiting to see if my 2018 RD Artist will do the same in time.

[@ErGoyoTV]

Just Gibson being Gibson I guess

[@peterresetz1960]

Probable cause is the glue did not cure/dry completely before the lacquer was applied so when the finish was applied the lacquer did not adhere properly to the wood. Lower priced guitars now a days are finished with a polyester type finish which even when cured/dried still remain some what flexible so any movement dose not cause joint finish cracking even if the the finish was applied over uncured glue. It is also possible that Gibson mite be using glues from different suppliers with differing formulations. Wood glues be it water or solvent based out gas as they cure. If it is still not dried/cured can cause a finish to debond from the substate (wood).

[@TheCapricornus1971]

I bought two Epiphone 2020 SG Modern Figured and Les Paul Prophecy. Both of them have the same issue (same crack). Does it mean, than new Epiphones getting closer to Gibson? :)))

[@Dan-tj8jv]

Yes have had an SG and it did the same thing I was told it’s due to moisture changes, but they stay in humidity controlled rooms so.......