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Old 11-21-2019, 12:11 PM
david.freeman david.freeman is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
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If they are just chips in the finish they aren't a massive risk. The finish offers some protection from humidity changes, chips like that do create the risk of moisture getting underneath the finish, but mostly it's just an aesthetic thing. if wood is missing you do have the risk of there being a crack that can spread.

One note on your guild D-25. I would doubt a finish crack caused your headstock to snap off, if the wood itself was cracked then it would help, but it's not uncommon for heads to snap off when the guitar falls on the floor like that. the string tension is pulling hard on the guitar (180psi) and when it hits the floor the impact causes the neck to flex back. Then the strings stretch and pull it forward, breaking the head off, usually at the scarf joint. A lot of guitar cases are bad for this too because the neck is supported in the middle on that rest so there's a good point to flex on.

Our PSA for the day: When traveling with your guitar in a case, loosen the strings for the trip, and pack the headstock good and tight so it doesn't move!

If you are concerned about the chips, anything that will seal the wood and not look too bad is probably better than bare wood. Unless the guitar is going to face some serious humidity changes, you should be alright.
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