Growing White Stain?

[Minoraie71]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Faded 2022 that I bought just 2 months ago and now there's a white stain growing on the finish. I know that a satin finish will wear and age fast and I have no problem with that. It's really what I wanted. But this stain is white and not "aged" and it's growing almost day to day.
I've contacted Gibson about this and they says it's very common to get this white stain. But it doesn't feel true as I've searched the internet over and over for weeks and couldn't find a single other case like this.
Anyone seeing this before and know what it is and how to stop it and maybe even remove it? I don't feel like refinishing the guitar as it's way too expansive.
I have friends with the same guitar model but made in 2007 and they play their guitars like 4-5 hours a day. They are looking aged and amazing. Mine looks like a seagull's been taking a dump on the guitar.
And yes, it's where I anchor my fingers...and yes I clean my hands and I'm not sweaty.

 

[fred dons]

that is not a white stain, this is where your fingers went through the clearcoat, this is bare wood

 

[Minoraie71]

that is not a white stain, this is where your fingers went through the clearcoat, this is bare wood

But it's white, not wood colored.

 

[poor man's burst]

But it's white, not wood colored.

Because the wood is not colored. The finish is.

 

[jb_abides]

It's white wood worn through, enjoy!

PS > it might get 'dirty' too

 

[Minoraie71]

Because the wood is not colored. The finish is.

I still don't understand the white color. The top is maple and if the satin finished is gone, it should look like maple and not like somebody painted a white spot there.

 

[Minoraie71]

But it's white, not wood colored.

I still don't understand the white color. The top is maple and if the satin finished is gone, it should look like maple and not like somebody painted a white spot there.

 

[poor man's burst]

The light spot on the picture you posted is the natural color of maple.

 

[Minoraie71]

The light spot on the picture you posted is the natural color of maple.

Ok. To me it's way whiter than I've seen an maple top or neck/fretboard/top in my +45 playing the guitar and owning +80 guitars, most with maple fretboard or maple tops. Yes, many satin finishes. But anyhow...if it's the maple, any idea why this happened on my guitar in 2 months and has not happened on my 2 friends Les Paul Faded both that's 17 years old and have been played for at least 4 hours a day since day one?
Both their guitars just looks awesomely worned in, when mine after 2 months looks like it has a white splash.

 

[garywright]

true that maple is light in color but sure is an odd outline

 

[poor man's burst]

To me, it looks the same as the maple I am working with for the last 40 years, before finish.
It is not unusual in the industry to change products used or processes. It wouldn't be a surprise that Gibson did with their finish during the last 17 years.

 

[Minoraie71]

So maple can be white in color? I didn't know that. I think this ruin the looks of the guitar. I got the guitar in hope of getting a natural "relic" one after heavy use as the other faded ones I've seen. A bit like Gary Moore's old guitar. Guess I have to live with a guitar that turns white, as it plays and sounds amazing. I've owned 8 different Les Paul Standards and I've tried at least a 100 and some Customs, and to me, this one smokes them all in feel and sound. Maybe it's better I refinish it some way!?

 

[Norton]

It'll get dirty with time staining the maple a bit. Just keep playing it.

 

[garywright]

did the guitar have a pickguard on it when you bought it

 

[Minoraie71]

It'll get dirty with time staining the maple a bit. Just keep playing it.

Oh! That sounds great. I'll keep playing the guitar and hope for the best. Thx

 

[Minoraie71]

did the guitar have a pickguard on it when you bought it

No. There's a pickguard in the case, but it's never been attached. I did think about putting it on, but I've never been a fan of using a pickguard on a Les Paul. It feel odd to me as I anchor my fingers to the body.

 

[garywright]

anything on the back of the guard in that same area

 

[MarcB]

I anchor my fingers to the body.

This will be the cause.. and it’s awesome.. unique and your “fingerprint” on the guitar..

 

[ReWind James]

A bit like Gary Moore's old guitar.

None of us are likely to ever wear any guitar that much. If you think about it, it's basically the most extremely naturally worn Les Paul that ever existed. I can't think of any others that heavily worn. It's like the Les Paul equivalent of "Trigger."

It also started as a multi-coat heavy gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Entirely different from yours. They will not age the same with the same wear. If Greeny started as a thin finish like yours, it would be nothing but bare wood, probably gray in color from dirt and dead skin cells, by now.

Your white spot is where the finish is worn through, as others said. It will continue to grow, others will likely appear in other wear areas or areas where the finish was sprayed or sanded thin at the factory, and they will eventually turn more gray as the wood gets stained with skin oil and cells.

You can really only do a few things - embrace it as it is and accept what it will grow to look like, bail on the guitar before it gets worse, or refinish it.

 

[jb_abides]

It's white wood worn through, enjoy!

PS > it might get 'dirty' too

I wasn't kidding...

It's white wood.

Gibson even calls it the 'white wood' stage.

Some strip 'em...






Look at re-fin threads to see what lurks underneath as well...




Your satin finish is going to wear, especially with no guard. And can be accelerated because of human skin chemistry which varies.

Even the standard finish will yield.

And wood will get dirty...