Finish checking on a new(ish) guitar

[Abuyuanrules]

Hello agf fam, I have an opportunity to purchase a 2010 J45 custom at a reasonable price. Only caveat is there is checking all over the guitar. Will this devalue the guitar because its not a vintage? I personally like it, but not sure how others feel about it. Any feedback would be appreciated!

[Gee Man]

Gibson often does a very thin finish and a newer thin finish exposed to temp. extremes could very well produce major checking. While this wouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker for me, I would definitely be looking for a reduced price as a result of said checking. Plenty of J45s out there at a reasonable price without finish checking.

[Bluemonk]

Originally Posted by Abuyuanrules

Will this devalue the guitar because its not a vintage?

Finish checking will devalue a guitar even if it IS vintage. Condition, condition, condition.

If you like the checking, you shouldn't let it deter you, but the price should reflect the condition.

[dilver]

Depends on how you define “reasonable price”. I have a number of older Gibsons. I’m always amazed at how much finish checking there is on other people’s guitars that aren’t even that old. It’s likely an indication it’s been exposed to extreme temperature shifts.

[Abuyuanrules]

Thanks guys! The story is that the owner sold to someone with different temps and the new owner opened case and didn’t let guitar acclimate. I didnt even know thats a thing i guess im a newb. Anyways to give you idea of price shes asking $1850 for the J45 Custom

[abn556]

I would pass on it.

+

[Methos1979]

Seems like a great price for a J45 Custom as most of the used ones I see on Reverb (in very good or better condition) sell for well over $3k. If you like the finish checking (I personally love guitars with finish checking) then I'd go for it assuming everything else is good.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by Abuyuanrules

Thanks guys! The story is that the owner sold to someone with different temps and the new owner opened case and didn’t let guitar acclimate. I didnt even know thats a thing i guess im a newb. Anyways to give you idea of price shes asking $1850 for the J45 Custom

yep it's a thing!

on the bright side, you're not going to have a panic attack upon the first "Ding" that's bound to happen, if it were pristine.

...there's always a bright side...

[Mr. Paul]

Kind of need to see what it looks like, but a J45 Custom for that price suggests I'd be aok with checking.

[JackC1]

Originally Posted by Abuyuanrules

Anyways to give you idea of price shes asking $1850 for the J45 Custom

That's a good price. If checking is the only issue, I'd buy it if I want this guitar. Checking doesn't affect anything, just cosmetic.

[High_Colorado]

Checking is one issue with nitro finishes. You can also learn a lot on this forum (as I have in the past few years) about important nitro finish caution with materials that come into contact with them, such as: cleaning products; guitar stands; clip on tuners; human arms, sweat; beer; whiskey.....

[rampix]

If the checking is the only issue that seems a very fair price to me. I just checked Reverb and they have several J45 customs around that age and all are listed at or above $3k.

I had a J45 custom that I tried to keep pristine. I took it on one trip up to a ski resort area and the longest it spent between my heated truck and the heated hotel room was just long enough to cross the parking lot. I never opened the case right away and still it developed finish checks on the upper bout within that week. When I sold that guitar I priced it fairly with others I saw listed and it sold rather quickly. The buyer was delighted with the guitar and didn’t ask for a discount based on the checking.