2000 Les Paul Custom Binding Irregularity

[Riverside]

That binding is perfectly normal.

 

It's known as 'wide binding' as opposed to the original 'narrow binding' used on the original '52 - '60 instruments and modern re-issues.

 

 

 

On the original instruments there was a crescent of maple - used for the carved-top 'cap' - showing paler than the mahogany which was used for the main body of the guitar. Sometime later' date=' after the original-style Les Paul guitar was re-introduced in 1968, a decision was taken to use wider binding to cover up the whole of the maple; hence the wider binding in the cut-away area.

 

Original style 'Narrow binding'. Note thin crescent of lighter wood under stain.

 

[img']http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp254/pippy59/_MG_1641-1.jpg[/img]

 

Later 'Wide binding'. No maple visible.

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Great post.

[robert56]