are goldtops more susceptible to finish crack or checking? (2024)

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

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.

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

dju said:

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

Click to expand...

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

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

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

dj

dju said:

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

Click to expand...

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?

dju said:

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

Click to expand...

That is exactly how mine started too.

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.

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 said:

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

Click to expand...

Wish this were mine.....