LarryUK Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Why do I never see a Les Paul with a matched top? I see some beautiful finishes on here. But never a mirror image split top. That would be really nice. Does anyone have one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I've seen them very close, but I've also never seen a perfect bookmatch on a flame top. Sorry, I'm not sure why that is. I've got one that's somewhat of a good match, but on close inspection it's off more than a little - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 How about a one piece flame top? If i ever get a custom guitar Les Paul it have to be a one piece, those things are so unique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Why do I never see a Les Paul with a matched top? I see some beautiful finishes on here. But never a mirror image split top. That would be really nice. Does anyone have one? A two-piece "matched" top is technically and biologically (arboristically, horticulturally, whatever) IMPOSSIBLE. For that to be possible the tree would have to grow exact parallel and even grain side-to-side (for the width of a Les Paul body), or exact mirror image grain from the centerline to the top and bottom of the length of the body, and throughout enough thickness to make the top cap. Maple trees just do not grow that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Natural Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 A two-piece "matched" top is technically and biologically (arboristically, horticulturally, whatever) IMPOSSIBLE. For that to be possible the tree would have to grow exact parallel and even grain side-to-side (for the width of a Les Paul body), or exact mirror image grain from the centerline to the top and bottom of the length of the body, and throughout enough thickness to make the top cap. Maple trees just do not grow that way. Wouldn't it only have to grow "exact parallel and even grain side-to-side" for half the width of a Les Paul body since it is being book-matched? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I actually like the "off-matched" look on my PRS... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete c Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 isnt that why its called book matched, take a piece of wood resaw on a band saw and you have two book matched pieces. i did alot of it on small table tops. if you look at the tops on most lps if they took a little more time they would line up alot beter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 A two-piece "matched" top is technically and biologically (arboristically, horticulturally, whatever) IMPOSSIBLE. ... isnt that why its called book matched, take a piece of wood resaw on a band saw and you have two book matched pieces. i did alot of it on small table tops. if you look at the tops on most lps if they took a little more time they would line up alot beter... It should be possible with bookmatching as Bonfire says. My Gibby J-200 is bookmatch - the half-top blank is resawn and opened like a book, then glued and finished. You can see it as you look from the center below the bridge, the graining on each side is a mirror of the other from the center to the edges. Same thing should be possible with flametops. But then again as L5Larry points out, maybe not. Could have something to do with the figuring changing through the depth of the wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I think they do better on some than others, and I think there are variatoins in the width of the flame within the wood. Like Rocket man, I am also glad they didn't perfectly match this one, as it makes it very unique... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryUK Posted November 27, 2010 Author Share Posted November 27, 2010 I thought the tops were split and opened? Then it should match. It would be nice to see a perfect tiger top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I just realized ....my camera totally SUCKS.....but my Agile AL-3000 Prestige LP copy has a mighty fine top.......and it's 3/4" Canadian Flame Maple, NOT a 1/8 veneer or photo top Not bad for a $400 guitar !! and it SOUNDS great too.... My old Gibson Plain Top has a nearly matching grain as well...but it's an anniversary model and cost a bit more than a Std. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 The reason that bookmatched flamed tops don't look like they exactly match - even when they are exactly matched - is because one piece is upside down compared to the other piece. So when the grain is convex in one piece, its concave in the other piece right next to it. When the grain in one piece is heading up and to the right, the grain at the same place in the bookmatched piece is going the the opposite way, down and to the left. That's why bookmatched flamed tops look like they aren't lined up when they actually are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete c Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 badblue that makes a lot of scene, also i was thinking maybe there was a defect in the wood and they had to shift one piece to compensate for the defect. but still i dont care for the mismatched look. thats why when i get my lp its going to be painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidl Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I think they do better on some than others, and I think there are variatoins in the width of the flame within the wood. Like Rocket man, I am also glad they didn't perfectly match this one, as it makes it very unique... I haven't mentioned it before, Chanman but your guitar is a sight for sore eyes. Magnificient. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 The reason that bookmatched flamed tops don't look like they exactly match - even when they are exactly matched - is because one piece is upside down compared to the other piece. ... That's an explanation that makes sense to me. Thanks BBplayer. B) ... my Agile AL-3000 Prestige LP copy has a mighty fine top.......and it's 3/4" Canadian Flame Maple, NOT a 1/8 veneer or photo top ... Damn, that looks about a perfect match under the strings. And yes, I thought we were talking about caps, not veneers of photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Thanks Davidl! I searched for a long time to find it... and was a little afraid it would be just one more piece of dead wood when I played it. It was not :). It sounds as good as it looks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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