New Gibson fretboard questions

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Rottweiler

Rottweiler

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Recieived this new Gibson and the fretboard has quite a bit of light streaks. The light areas are softer and a fingernail will leave a mark.

My concern is the long term durability.

Just wondering your opinions on this. Is this par for the course with Gibson now? Guitar birthdate is 13MAR26 fyi.

My 06 USA studio, Korean Epi, Chinese Epi all have dark boards and even hardness.
 

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Not sure but my '24 ES335 looks similar to that though I haven't noticed any soft spots. It was very dry when I got it....kinda like how yours looks now. Some lemon oil to hydrate it brought out a darker color. That area on yours beneath the 2nd string 11th fret almost looks like it is split, worming....like a defective piece of wood. I think I would reach out to Gibson with an email and some detailed pics based on what you are saying and what I'm seeing and see what they say.
 
Man, I cannot fathom buying a multi-thousand-dollar guitar, receiving that piece of mysterwood masquerading as rosewood, and not immediately returning it.

Then again I can't imagine seeing that in the online pictures and buying the guitar. So I'm really not sure what's going on here.

If you can return it, just do so. There are plenty of guitars made, especially in that price range, that use the correct wood.
 
70s Flying V, right? I've got one, too, same color. Mine wasn't quite that bad, but as VonBonfire said, it was really dry. Few years back, I picked up an LP Standard '50s and it was even drier. In both cases, a couple of coatings of lemon oil fixed them right up.

What I did not have were any soft spots. That would make me nervous. I can't tell if that spot between the 2nd string and the 11th fret is a crack or a shadow from a string.

In any case, it won't hurt to reach out to Gibson or the store where you got it and ask questions or consider returning/exchanging it.

Mine is a really great sounding and playing guitar. Hope you can get this sorted.
 
Yes it is the 70s flying V.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look closer tomorrow in good light for the issues stated above. I never got to see photos in advance. I ordered it online new in the box. The tamper tape was unopened. Only Gibson had their hands on it and the fretboard is signed off as OK on the inspection card.
 
Rottweiler said:
Yes it is the 70s flying V.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll look closer tomorrow in good light for the issues stated above. I never got to see photos in advance. I ordered it online new in the box. The tamper tape was unopened. Only Gibson had their hands on it and the fretboard is signed off as OK on the inspection card.
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It could've gotten too dry and cracked. If it looks bad, and you can send it back, I would. Otherwise you could be dealing with some long turnaround time having it warrantied by Gibson. Maybe not, but per some experience with a warped neck on a new Fender CS strat it turned into a 4-5 month wait though I received a loaner axe in the meantime through Schmitt music. That was the early 90's. Pretty sad when it's a bolt on neck, lol.
 
All of the Gibson's I've received, other than ebony have arrived like that. The fretboard material is a bit different now but like I've mentioned before, the last few Gibsons I've bought have been damn near flawless.

Like Von mentioned, Lemon Oil is great for that. I put that on my fretboard everytime I changed strings.
 
Yeah, all of the Gibsons I've gotten over the past six years or so have been pretty much flawless, too. Whatever variety of wood they're using for their fretboards seems to be really dry and lighter colored with more grain variations. Lemon oil fixes that right up, though. Sometimes, I have to apply 3 or 4 coats letting it soak in between the first time, but after that, I just put some on when I'm changing strings and it keeps them nice and dark.

My 70s V is really resonant and sounds great. Low action and plays consistently all over the neck. No problems with the finish, either. Thinking about getting a black guard for it, always liked that look.
 
ChurchHill said:
My 70s V is really resonant and sounds great. Low action and plays consistently all over the neck. No problems with the finish, either. Thinking about getting a black guard for it, always liked that look.
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I was so close to getting a V. I played one at a store and couldn't gel with it but I wanted to try some others one of these days. My Gibson Studio Session is amazing. Had a ding in the finish and so the store gave me $400 off but can barely see it. Is my favorite guitar in my arsenal now and I've got a Standard and Classic.
 
Update. I did my first string change and applied some of the Gibson fretboard conditioner. I can still see the lighter streaks in it, but everything is significantly darker. A few more applications down the road and it will likely darken even more.
20260606_124401.jpg
 
Seems common on a lot of newer Gibsons, idk if it’s getting harder to source rosewood at that scale or what.
 
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