Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2018 now with pre-cracked headstocks!
Gibson display yet another broken guitar on their own website
Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2018 cracked headstock · Source: Gibson
Gibson USA Les Paul Traditional 2018 now with pre-cracked headstocks! · Source: Gibson
Gibson is at it again and this time they are advertising their Les Paul Traditional 2018 model on their own website with a clearly pre-cracked headstock!
Les Paul Traditional 2018 head break
You really could not make it up. Gibson USA has (again!) advertised a brand new Les Paul Traditional 2018 model, this time it has a headstock that’s clearly cracked!
After last month’s debacle with a damaged and chipped Les Paul being used in the company’s own marketing, they have done it again. If you look closely you can clearly see a massive crack across the bottom of the headstock on this Les Paul. I cannot understand how Gibson has let this happen again. With this kind of thing going on, it is no wonder they are having to sell their Memphis factory.
The story broke over at thefretboard forum in the UK and it just goes to show how Gibson is really not taking much care of their own reputation these days. Yes, the back of the neck is dark, but you can clearly see a huge crack along the bottom of the headstock. It goes to show how weak that area can be with a Les Paul.
Of course, it is not ideal for Gibson themselves to be using such a guitar to promote the brand…
RRP – USD 2,639 and comes with a pre-broken headstock!
Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2018 cracked headstock · Source: Gibson
Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2018 with a cracked headstock · Source: Gibson
You can check out the break in full here
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111 responses to “Gibson Les Paul Traditional 2018 now with pre-cracked headstocks!”
#facepalm
That’s not a crack you morons, it’s not even in weak spot in the neck, it doesn’t even look like a scratch, it looks some buffing compound that just needs to be rubbed off.
I think if you are right, then why would they leave rubbing compound on a guitar that was about to be photographed? Surely they would have cleaned them all first?
Reckon that if I was promoting my guitar brand I would clean them of any rubbing compound first before I took promotional photographs of them.
Buffing compound my ass.
Whatever it is, it could easily be fixed be hiring a decent photographer
Yeah, doesn’t look like a crack to me. Fake news.
It has also been reported by more people over on Gibson’s own site and their forum. Yet, Gibson has removed the persons comments apparently, so something is up.
http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/139681-2018-cracked-headstock-gibson-les-paul-traditional-tobacco-burst/
EXACTLY! Why and how all the drama???
Just buy an ESP Eclipse and be done with it…..
Have You been talking with Bill Kelliher?
That’s called settling for less.
Except it’s not less. Go Tokai for an authentic well-made LP.
People that like Les Pauls: Jimmy Page, Slash, Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Randy Rhoads, Joe Perry, Duane Allman. People that like ESP Eclipses : Randy Kirby ..
They managed to ‘Photoshop’ out the serial number, but left the fucking great crack in the neck! PMSL
It is a serious oversight and one which I cannot understand Gibson would let through the net.
They don’t photoshop the serial numbers off in any of these pictures on their website, that partial serial number you see in just the white residual buffing dust the use to do the final polish, as is the scuff mark that drama queens are calling a crack. Les Pauls don’t even crack in that location, the weak spot in on the neck not on the headstock.
Google “Gibson headstock break” to see plenty of pictures of cracks EXACTLY on that location. Why do Gibson people not know about this?
You won’t find a single one, if you think otherwise then post a link to it.
He has posted loads of links, that’s a classic LP break.
I have a 2016 les paul traditional . I have owned les pauls from the 70s and 80s . And the 2016 is one of the best i have owned !!
The pick-ups sound amazing and never had to do anything as far as setups or anything .
I have a 17 Trad and it’s excellent in all aspects. Bought a 17 PRS Singlecut at the same time and it’s just not in the same league..nice but very dark.
Sounds like you got a good one. It doesn’t change the fact that the one in the picture clearly has a cracked headstock. It’s pretty easy to repair, and usually the repair is stronger than the original wood. But Gibson should know better than to include that picture in their ad copy.
I agree, not a crack. scratch? Buffing compound? Maybe. With that being said, marketing screwed the pooch on the photo no matter how you look at it. Evidently the photographer never checked his “subject” and Gibson did not sign off on the photo. Snap and print.
Definitely a crack.
This anti-Gibson shit is hilarious. It’s a reflection and that’s not even where headstocks typically crack. Gearnews owned by Fox by any chance?
No it’s owned by CNN
I agree. I was reading this and thought to myself how in the heck did i end up on cnn channel? Next they are going to be talking about how Gibson hates women and children. I swear… what has our country come too? I the picture about looks like someone photoshopped in an unusual light source to look like a crack. I went to the actual Gibson page and the same picture does not show a “crack”. I tell you all what. If you don’t like Gibson guitars, then please send them to me.
Actually, no, that’s not a reflection, it’s a classic headstock break where they all go.
The internet has turned into a cesspool of retаrds, that’s not a crack, it’s a scuff make that you can run off with your hand, The person who spent all this time putting this article together could have at least picked up a Les Paul to see that’s not even the location on neck where they breaks.
Yeah. Okay. You know, one quick Google images search for “Gibson headstock break” will show you that that is EXACTLY where they break. Do some research before you go proving that you don’t have a clue. Especially if you’re going to imply that not knowing the facts makes one mentally deficient.
You’re a little child, if you think they break in that location then provide a link, because it’;s more than obviously you’ve never played a Gibson let allow taken off the truss rod cover to adjust the truss rod because you’s see right away where the weak spot is.
https://goo.gl/images/7GhpSp
https://goo.gl/images/Q2t9an
that is easily two inches below that scratch, that scratch is just under the tuner, I doubt anyone is surprised you couldn’t find one, because it’s not where Gibson necks break.
You’re talking out of your aѕѕ. You could have at least taken a few minutes to look at where the weak spot on the neck actually is, instead of making a complete fool out of yourself. |I’m actually embarrassed for you.
https://goo.gl/images/Xb1cM3
Yes that is typically where they break, right where they are bored out for the clearance of the truss rod nut, it is their weakest point, not where that scuff mark is on the headstock in the Gibson website picture. Compare that to the picture on Gibson’s website and you’ll clearly see it’s not a crack, but it looks exactly like it rubbed against the edge of something white.
Proud American, you’re talking horseshyte. This photo is clearly a headstock break, and it’s not the first damaged guitar to appear on Gibson’s website recently.
FYI, I googled “Gibson headstock break” and it’s perfectly clear that the spot the crack in this article is in is NOT where they break. oops.
https://goo.gl/images/rFtzPv
It’s a crack. Joints break in a variety of ways around that area.
This is nonsense. The newest models are some of the best instruments Gibson has ever produced. Internet trolls drag an amazing tool that the internet is down into the gutter. Idiots gotta be idiots, I guess.
There is clearly a crack on the headstock of this guitar. Is that “amazing? ”
People complain about lapses in quality control. For the price that Gibson charges for their guitars, they should be perfect. Pointing out a headstock crack/repair is not “idiots being idiots.”
Also, do you work for Gibson, or are you just defending your (overpriced) purchase?
That’s obviously buffing scuff and not even where they break. They break inches bellow unless it’s a vertical crack, and that usually V’s down the neck from the tuners.
Looks like a reflection to me.
Yeah, a reflection of Gibson’s poor quality control. There are lots of good ones out there, but play before you buy.
Still ridiculously overpriced. Can buy 2-3 equal quality guitars with that money and have better customer service. I was done with Gibson 15 years ago. I’ll get a used one off CL for a fraction of the price. Fuckem.
Looks like it appears here as well… http://www.mylespaul.com/threads/gibson-2018.396773/page-4#post-8341968
Having sold and repaired Gibson LPs for over twenty years, if you showed me that photo and asked me what’s wrong here, I’d have to say that looks like a cracked headstock. To whoever said Gibson LPs don’t crack there, I’d say you haven’t seen very many cracked Gibsons.
Same here, Bryan. In fact, that could be a fine instrument, are long as you’re not charging full price for it. 🙂
How can you have possibly repaired Gibsons for over 20 years and not even know that scratch is even above where volutes where on the Norlin models? I’ve seen my fair share of cracked necks over the last 40 years and It’s not where Gibson necks crack
But the idiocy behind the notion that Gibson would release a photo of a damaged product is the real story here. People need to quit smoking crack.
Fake News
Scarff joint crack.
They don’t use a scarf joint…
That’s why they break. A scarf joint is stronger.
traditionally they do crack there……..perhaps thats why it looks cracked there? Authenticity at reproducing tradition.
Hurry !!, if they are such bad guitars you need to let the people who have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for these crappy guitars that have managed to survive since the 1950s !!
I’m more concerned by how anyone can call themselves a journalist these days.
I think the high price is why people defend Gibson so rabidly. Buyer’s remorse is a thing.
Sure, there are some great guitars out there, but Gibson QC has been off the mark for a while now. Play before you buy.
A cracked headstock is not a quality control issue and I seriously doubt that they ship this way lol ,,the cracked headstock is a weakness in their design,,,a very old and iconic design,,,,,in other words if you invest all that money in a Les Paul don’t drop it.
What… did I miss Gibson backing President Trump? That is the only reason for something as sad as this. Honestly no one is buying the EXACT guitar on the promo pic and is this stating EVERY LP Gibson is selling is defective? No They probably did not want a 5k prop tossed around in the photo shoot and grabbed one that did not make it due to the crack all be it the photographer should of airbrushed it out like a playmates birthmark…
My Washburn acoustic has exactly the same shape crack in exactly the same place.
There’s some serious Gibson koolaid going around. Gibson quality has always been sketchy enough that you should definitely play the exact guitar you’re considering buying. They have been known, like many other manufacturers, to use less than perfect guitars, and refurbish them for sale. This is not a huge deal except that Gibson charges a premium for a perception of near perfection, when the guitars they put out are really about average.
There are great guitars, and poor ones. Play before you buy. Also, that line in the headstock is definitely a crack. Cracks can be repaired stronger than new, and the guitar will usually play just fine after the repair… but you sell that guitar at a premium price seems shady.
Sounds like you wrote this on the toilet. Hope everything came out good. Maybe tomorrow morn you can enlighten us about Fender.
Sounds like you’ve got things all figured out. Enjoy overpaying.
It’s fan boys that worship jimi page think gibsons are the greatest thing ever. In reality they’ve been crappy since the mid 60’s.
I smell denial… http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/139681-2018-cracked-headstock-gibson-les-paul-traditional-tobacco-burst/
I would NEVER buy another Gibson !! Past8 years Ive been hooked on Carparelli guitars !!! All Im gonna say is TRY ONE !!!!!!
Ummmmm…. where did this photo come from? If you go to the link in the story, that suspected “crack” (polish residue) is not on their website.
Its been reported a few times including here- http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/139681-2018-cracked-headstock-gibson-les-paul-traditional-tobacco-burst/
It was on their website and is definitely a headstock snap, not residue or scuffing.
Gibson apologists are basically Trump supporters at this point.
“It’s not a crack! There’s no Russia connection!”
They managed to ‘Photoshop’ out the serial number, but left the fucking great crack in the neck! PMSL
If you look at all the other pictures you’ll see, they don’t photoshop out serial numbers, it’s just bad lighting that’s why that scuff mark stands out so much.
It looks exactly like you’d expect a light scratch or scuff mark to look in a lacquer finish. I’m surprised they didn’t buff it out before they posted the picture on their website. They probably use a third party to do their website and photography.
http://www.tdpri.com/attachments/img_3148-jpg.416758/
Google “Gibson headstock break” to see plenty of pictures of cracks EXACTLY on that location. Why do Gibson people not know about this?
That’s either a scratch or a reflection, and it REALLY looks like a shitty reflection. This article is ridiculous, it reads like a Buzzfeed article, “Gibson Now Selling Broken Guitars? You Won’t Believe What Happens Next!!!”. Someone clearly has way too much time on their hands.
Haha. Oh man. I did a video on Gibson’a issues in March. It goes way deeper than bad marketing: https://youtu.be/S8X7aWsl5AM
Scarff joint crack.
They don’t have a scarf joint.
Scarff joint crack.
traditionally they do crack there……..perhaps thats why it looks cracked there? Authenticity at reproducing tradition.
But the idiocy behind the notion that Gibson would release a photo of a damaged product is the real story here. People need to quit smoking crack.
That’s a bad photoshop work. The tunner is hiding part of the serial number. I guess its fake news or hacked site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3MgqYvKzPc
That’s not a crack you morons, it’s not even in weak spot in the neck, it doesn’t even look like a scratch, it looks some buffing compound that just needs to be rubbed off.
He has posted loads of links, that’s a classic LP break.
There’s some serious Gibson koolaid going around. Gibson quality has always been sketchy enough that you should definitely play the exact guitar you’re considering buying. They have been known, like many other manufacturers, to use less than perfect guitars, and refurbish them for sale. This is not a huge deal except that Gibson charges a premium for a perception of near perfection, when the guitars they put out are really about average.There are great guitars, and poor ones. Play before you buy. Also, that line in the headstock is definitely a crack. Cracks can be repaired stronger than new, and the guitar will usually play just fine after the repair… but you sell that guitar at a premium price seems shady.
Actually, no, that’s not a reflection, it’s a classic headstock break where they all go.
Sounds like you got a good one. It doesn’t change the fact that the one in the picture clearly has a cracked headstock. It’s pretty easy to repair, and usually the repair is stronger than the original wood. But Gibson should know better than to include that picture in their ad copy.
Sounds like you got a good one. It doesn’t change the fact that the one in the picture clearly has a cracked headstock. It’s pretty easy to repair, and usually the repair is stronger than the original wood. But Gibson should know better than to include that picture in their ad copy.
A cracked headstock is not a quality control issue and I seriously doubt that they ship this way lol ,,the cracked headstock is a weakness in their design,,,a very old and iconic design,,,,,in other words if you invest all that money in a Les Paul don’t drop it.
traditionally they do crack there……..perhaps thats why it looks cracked there? Authenticity at reproducing tradition.
He has posted loads of links, that’s a classic LP break.
Sounds like you got a good one. It doesn’t change the fact that the one in the picture clearly has a cracked headstock. It’s pretty easy to repair, and usually the repair is stronger than the original wood. But Gibson should know better than to include that picture in their ad copy.
I don’t mind it, can I get a nice discount ????
Sounds like you got a good one. It doesn’t change the fact that the one in the picture clearly has a cracked headstock. It’s pretty easy to repair, and usually the repair is stronger than the original wood. But Gibson should know better than to include that picture in their ad copy.
You won’t find a single one, if you think otherwise then post a link to it.
Same here, Bryan. In fact, that could be a fine instrument, are long as you’re not charging full price for it. 🙂
That’s why they break. A scarf joint is stronger.
This is nonsense. The newest models are some of the best instruments Gibson has ever produced. Internet trolls drag an amazing tool that the internet is down into the gutter. Idiots gotta be idiots, I guess.
Sounds like you got a good one. It doesn’t change the fact that the one in the picture clearly has a cracked headstock. It’s pretty easy to repair, and usually the repair is stronger than the original wood. But Gibson should know better than to include that picture in their ad copy.
Yeah, a reflection of Gibson’s poor quality control. There are lots of good ones out there, but play before you buy.
They don’t use a scarf joint…
Definitely a crack.
Gibson guitars are the most over priced guitars of all time. Components are of decent quality but they are the most poorly constructed of all american made guitars. There’s better korean and chinese guitars than gibson.
That’s not a crack you idiots, that’s a polishing compound scuff, the same polishing compound that you see in the serial number. I’ve seen plenty of Gibsons that needed some compound to be rubbed off
Well at least I don’t have to worry about breaking it after I get it.. That’s a relief.
Ed Roman once suggested during a rant about the fragility of Gibson necks that they would actually be more stable if they broke and repaired their headstocks at the factory…
I remember, he had it all written out on his website and wasn’t afraid to share his opinion with anyone that asked…Lol
I’ve heard people call things like that “finish cracks” or surface cracks. We know better.
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