http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-USA-Goldtop-Les-Paul-50s-Tribute-2016-T-Electric-Guitar/382217964416?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908131621&meid=ad4a94c8fd724fb7aafb605a672f5724&pid=100678&rk=2&rkt=14&mehot=pp&sd=202046394240&_trksid=p2481888.c100678.m3607&_trkparms=pageci%3A741ca714-923b-11e7-a792-74dbd180089f%7Cparentrq%3A5228f97115e0abc5a757b40cfff71a36%7Ciid%3A1I've got a similar guitar in black, from the same year, and I'm intrigued as to how this effect has been achieved. Don't get me wrong - I'm not interested in replicating this effect, at all, just curious as to what's been done. As I understand it, or not, as the case may be, the 'nitro' on these guitars is unlikely to 'check' naturally, after many years, if at all, but the seller implies that this has happened sort of naturally, and is to be expected of a guitar that is 1-2 years old at most...
so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.
Comments
Since the four main groups of lines match the positions of the tailpiece and bridge studs and the pots, and the fifth is roughly on the centre join, my guess would be that it's either a piece of wood for the mahogany back which has not been dried properly and then has shrunk causing the top to arch more and stress areas to develop there, or it's possibly got very cold.
Either way it looks awful and not like normal checking on an old guitar.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
sadly, natural wear does not always look as convincing as fake wear
It could be a freezer relic that's just not gone as nice as it can. Its always a risk, the scalpel is actually more predictable
Instagram
Instagram
On the eBay 2016 guitar, the checking along the body, close to the toggle selector switch is roughly where you would expect a joint in a top with more than two pieces.
The back of my Goldtop is finished in clear varnish. It is one piece and with no weight relief. The eBay guitar is a dark back. This could be hiding almost anything.
edit - here is the spec,
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/USA/Les-Paul-50s-Tribute.aspx
and the version that is "comparable" to your 2006 standard
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/USA/Les-Paul-Standard.aspx#LPNSTDGTCH1
Instagram
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Instagram