porschemunkey Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Okay ya'll... I only posted one photo last time, and it wasn't a good one, so here are quite a few more. My LP displays a LOT of mineral streaks in it's top, and I believe that's the mark of a Red Maple (Acer Rubrum) top like they used on the original 58-61 Les Paul Sunbursts. I decided to stop hijacking other peoples' threads and start one of my own. If you've got a Les Paul which shows these distinctive streaks, which usually run with the grain, please post a few photos of it here. Oh, also tell us what you think of your guitar's tone too. BTW-note the nickel-silver covered Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates at the bridge (Gibson pickup cover) and the GraphTech saddles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschemunkey Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 BTW2-my fretboard features "rippled" marks from the planer used on it. Obviously, Gibson is installing the inlays then planing the fretboard smooth now, as the ripples run evenly across the rosewood and the inlays, perpendicular to the length of the neck (i.e. they run the same way as the frets). Doesn't bother me in the least, but it certainly interesting to note. Perhaps that's one of the new manufacturing changes they've made to decrease production time and increase consistency. I WILL say that the neck is remarkably level, but mine is NOT supposed to be one of the Plek'd necks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 That's one awsome looking standard! Flight959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_farkas Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Sweet looking... =P~ Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschemunkey Posted October 28, 2008 Author Share Posted October 28, 2008 What? No other comments from people on here? C'mon everyone, post some more photos of Les Paul tops. I posted a bunch of info on Red Maple that I'd dug up on the internet in this thread: http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=8059&p=2 I think that'll take you to page two. I don't want o repeat myself here, but I highly suspect that it was the Red Maple tops which gave the original Les Pauls their legendary sound. I do not believe that Gibson has consistently used Red Maple exclusively from '68 on. Certainly not in the Norlin era. I think, as they grew bigger it became a "take what you can get" setup, in terms of wood grain quality. That meant using other species of Maple too. This continues today. Obviously, if you have a painted top on your Les Paul, you can't tell at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Martin Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 The "mineral streaks" are AWESOME. This is probably one of the best looking tops I've EVER seen. The streaks make it seem alot more authentic and "real," to me...like a finely aged antique rather than some brand new glossy perfect LP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant7629 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 That looks amazing! There are VERY minor streaks on my 08 Standard, but not like yours. I will try and take a good enough picture and post it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant7629 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I have tried to show the biggest "streak" on this one. However, we in Manchester UK haven't been blessed with actually seeing any of that thing they call "sunshine" this year, so I have had to use a flash..... In terms of tone, I am very please with this guitar. It seems to have a little more "bite" than the other LPs I have played, and the Traditional model seems a little smoother by comparison. But, we all know that no two guitars are the same..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig10119 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I have tried to show the biggest "streak" on this one. However' date=' we in Manchester UK haven't been blessed with actually seeing any of that thing they call "sunshine" this year, so I have had to use a flash..... [/quote'] I feel your pain buddy... Glasgow hasn't exactly seen any sunshine this year either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschemunkey Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Hey all you UK guys, go search up some Unity media magazines and look for stories by a certain "Eric Eikenberry"... I've got to pay for that LP somehow! Good thing the sun hasn't been out in the UK, I need those chaps to buy more of my stories this winter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschemunkey Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Ant, Actually, if you'll look closely at the streak in your photo, you'll notice how it follows the grain line. I suspect that's not a mineral streak but rather a soft spot in the grain which soaked up a bit of the dye from the top. Look at the streaks in my photos... you'll see that most of the streaks are haphazard, and don't really match the grain lines at all. Some of the original Les Paul tops actually look pretty crappy because of the mineral streaks. Although Red Maple has been used for furniture for years, I think a bigger use has been as FLOORING! LOL People buying fine furniture tend to avoid wierd streaks in their wood. Even PRS, for the McCarty tops, picks the nicest pieces of wood they can find, as opposed to simply slapping any old piece of Red Maple planking on there. I tried a VOS '58 Plain Top tonight at a Guitar Center in Orange County... Great tone from the BurstBuckers... great sustain from the neck joint... no real "mojo" from the top. It had all the ingredients of a great Les Paul EXCEPT that warm, rich, buttery vibe my 08 LP has. I also picked up a PRS 245 Singlecut and darned if it isn't a very good guitar. I wish they wouldn't use Alnico V magnets. Many great tones in that guitar though... Saw TWO Tobacco Sunburst Traditionals at this GC... Tobacco just doesn't speak to me though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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