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I bought my first Gibson 1959 Historic Les paul last week!!! But...

Jay Park

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Apr 29, 2021
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Hi, I am a Les Paul fan living in Korea. After two years of hard work, I finally bought my first historic 1959 les paul and I really like it and it's a great guitar!!! But I've only been buying it for less than a week, and I've not been able to handle the guitar carefully, so it hurts that there's a dent in the binding like in the picture. Friend says, it's a process of becoming relic, so don't worry too much. I wonder if other people have experienced the same thing.
 
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somebodyelseuk

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Jun 10, 2020
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454
Buddy, every guitar I've owned, over 40 years, I've gone through this.
I ALWAYS treat my guitars like the crown jewels, then at some point, they get a scratch or minor dent, and then I relax and find I actually play better on them as a result.
I don't go out of my way to scar them - I DO try and keep them as pristine as possible - but once they get that first scratch, I stop being so ridiculous about it. They are JUST musical instruments, afterall.
 

fakejake

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Sep 3, 2010
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1,274
I wouldn't worry at all, this just keeps adding to its character.
More importantly: Show us more pictures :)
 

k3ith99

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Aug 17, 2020
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I also say forget about it and just play it. It just got its first character mark. They all eventually get them if played.

And congratulations on your LP.
 

mjross

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May 11, 2019
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It’s worth more now! You’d freak if you saw one of my relics.
 
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Big Al

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Apr 24, 2002
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Well you have to decide. Are you a musician with a great instrument to play? or are you an art collector with a new wall hanger? Picks or cotton gloves? Glass display case or plugged into an angry amp. Hell, I'm covered in scars, makes me interesting.

The first ding is the most traumatic. It's ok and soon it will not matter as the pleasure of owning such a fine musical instrument with that glorious tone far outweighs ding discomfort.
 

renderit

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Jan 19, 2009
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Well you have to decide. Are you a musician with a great instrument to play? or are you an art collector with a new wall hanger? Picks or cotton gloves? Glass display case or plugged into an angry amp. Hell, I'm covered in scars, makes me interesting.

The first ding is the most traumatic. It's ok and soon it will not matter as the pleasure of owning such a fine musical instrument with that glorious tone far outweighs ding discomfort.
Those aren't "DINGS" on me!

They are all the spots where women touched me with a ten foot pole...
 

brandtkronholm

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Dec 3, 2006
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2,737
Some call it "External Weight Relief" and others call it "Character".
My own Historic Les Paul is from 1995 and has MANY dings and plenty of finish checking. It's bound to happen to every guitar that get played. (My 1995 actually has received one or two not-so-minor dings!)
Keep on playing that guitar and have fun!
Also, post a picture of the top!
 

Tommy Tourbus

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Jan 1, 2005
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871
If it's a VOS finish they are very delicate and will acquire lots of dings and/or missing pieces of finish very easily, so it can't really be helped. The finish seems to just flake/fall off those, regardless of how careful you are. The "Gloss" finishes are a little more durable
 

59Vampire

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Feb 1, 2005
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4,223
Mr. Park, I hear you loud and clear. A very expensive guitar and then a ding. Everyone here is correct. Let it go. As you play it it will develop its own character. Its like the first ding on a new car in the supermarket parking lot. It sucks. But then you just drive home.

Drive home Mr. Park. Drive home.
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
I hear you - I just looked at the back on my SG and noticed this!!!

hWCApxj.jpg


Yeah, just play it. One of my few newer guitars is a '99 R9 and I gig it often. I looked at it the other day and could see it really is getting beat up. Not in a false way.
 
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