Les Paul Deluxe 70s reissue finish damage - How???

mrmega

mrmega

Active member
I bought a Les Paul Deluxe 70s reissue from Guitar Center in February of 24. I had my guy order one and it came new in an unopened box.

I stored it in my temperature and humidity controlled closet (74 degrees, 50% humidity) for a few months after it had been setup and cleaned. There was no residue on it nor were any chemicals used. It was cleaned with a soft 100% cotton cloth. The guitar hasn't been played more than a few minutes.

Today when we pulled it out to have strap locks installed, we discovered that the finish at the top of the body had become hazy and for lack of a better word corroded. There were tiny bits of the case fabric embedded in it too.

Neither my tech or myself has a clue as to how this happened.

I have owned a lot of Gibsons over the past 40 years and have gone months to several years without opening the case. This has never happened to me before.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? What could have caused it?
 

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I cannot say for sure for guitar but I see a similar issue regularly in concrete/masonry. If it has a haze there's probably a finish issue where it's retaining moisture. Most likely they put the finish on too thick or didn't allow the finish enough time to cure properly between coats.
 
I feel for you. I had gone through a buy/sell Les Paul tangent.
3 years ago I had two brand new Standards. Put them on decent stands.
The finish was so soft the legs and back of the stand made indents.
Color me PISSED OFF.

Oh, and ever get a Lester than you can't get the back plate off because it was stuck to the finish?
:doh:
 
mrmega said:
I bought a Les Paul Deluxe 70s reissue from Guitar Center in February of 24. I had my guy order one and it came new in an unopened box.

I stored it in my temperature and humidity controlled closet (74 degrees, 50% humidity) for a few months after it had been setup and cleaned. There was no residue on it nor were any chemicals used. It was cleaned with a soft 100% cotton cloth. The guitar hasn't been played more than a few minutes.

Today when we pulled it out to have strap locks installed, we discovered that the finish at the top of the body had become hazy and for lack of a better word corroded. There were tiny bits of the case fabric embedded in it too.

Neither my tech or myself has a clue as to how this happened.

I have owned a lot of Gibsons over the past 40 years and have gone months to several years without opening the case. This has never happened to me before.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? What could have caused it?
Click to expand...


This is why the entire guitar Industry moved away from Nitro Laquer. It is prized by the purists. Nitro reacts with many different things, like guitar stands. Thats why you will see some companies mention that their products are "nitro safe"


Chances are your lacquer reacted with he chemicals in the case.

  • Susceptible to cosmetic damage:
    Nitrocellulose is softer and more easily scratched and dented than other finishes.

  • Wear and aging:
    It wears away over time, especially in areas of regular contact, and can yellow, especially when exposed to sunlight.

  • Toxicity:
    Nitrocellulose contains solvents that can be toxic to inhale and should be handled with appropriate safety measures.

  • Labor-intensive application:
    Applying nitrocellulose lacquer requires multiple coats and extensive buffing, making it a time-consuming process.

  • Brittleness and crazing:
    It can become brittle and crack (crazing) with changes in temperature and humidity.

  • Flammable:
    Nitrocellulose is flammable when in its liquid form, requiring safe handling and storage.

  • Sensitivity to body chemistry:
    It can soften and become gummy when handled with sweaty hands.

  • Prone to "nitro burn":
    It can react with certain materials (like rubber stands) and melt, causing damage.

  • Not environmentally friendly:
    The solvents used in nitrocellulose are harmful to the environment and require special disposal methods.
 
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