Stoopid Les Paul Question

[86mod5]

Re: Stoopid Les Paul Question

Thanks DonP. Very informative. I had a 2000 Classic that I got rid of a year later because I didn't really care for the playability and "sticky" neck feel. I played several other Standards that I thought were much better.

[MarshallAbuser]

Re: Stoopid Les Paul Question

Don once again amazes me with the Les Paul knowledge [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Silly question from a newbie, but what makes the multi-piece back different, aside from the non-traditional Les Paul construction?

Does it actualy affect the Les Paul tone that much?

And how can one tell by looking at the grain on the back of the body if it is multi-piece, will it be visible? Mine appears to be all one piece... But then it isn't a classic.

Thanks man.

[DonP]

Re: Stoopid Les Paul Question

[ QUOTE ]
Silly question from a newbie, but what makes the multi-piece back different, aside from the non-traditional Les Paul construction?

[/ QUOTE ]
Not much - it's just more than one solid piece of wood.

[ QUOTE ]
Does it actualy affect the Les Paul tone that much?

[/ QUOTE ]
Tough question - is it better to have one piece of crappy wood or multiple pieces of good wood? When you look at how an LP is made, you have two pieces of maple resting on a solid piece of mahogany. According to the book BOTB, this creates "stress" in the body that helps get that LP tone (wood is always trying to twist/warp). If you have two pieces of maple on two pieces of mahogany, it forms an X if you look at the LP from the rear strap button point of view. Don't know how this "joint" of 4 pieces of wood will impact the tone. Norlin era LP's (1968-1976) had "pancake" bodies - solid mahog/thin maple/solid mahog/multi-piece maple cap. But pancakes didn't have the X intersection like a multi-piece Classic would have.

This could be continued on with "what's better - a one piece neck, a three piece neck or a scarf joint neck". Or what about neck thu's with wings - those are multi-piece bodies.

[ QUOTE ]
And how can one tell by looking at the grain on the back of the body if it is multi-piece, will it be visible?

[/ QUOTE ]
My 1998 SG is mutli-piece. It's hard to tell (dark herritage cherry), but you look for odd changes in the grain pattern that continue the length of the body.

BOTTOM LINE-Tone rules the LP world. Get a great sounding LP, and everything else will come together.

Most of my tips on purchasing will help you if you want to re-sell your axe (things that would help it sell on ebay). But getting a great sounding LP is the trump card if you are looking for a keeper - nothing else matters above that.

[MarshallAbuser]

Re: Stoopid Les Paul Question

[ QUOTE ]
But getting a great sounding LP is the trump card if you are looking for a keeper - nothing else matters above that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said.

I really need to pick up that burst book by the way [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

So the 'traditional' Les paul's body, or burst rather, is just one piece mahogany body, with the two matching (or close to it) maple pieces for the top?

[DonP]

Re: Stoopid Les Paul Question

[ QUOTE ]
So the 'traditional' Les paul's body, or burst rather, is just one piece mahogany body, with the two matching (or close to it) maple pieces for the top?

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct. Amazing how these can cost as much as a house.

[MarshallAbuser]

Re: Stoopid Les Paul Question

[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Yeah no kiddin. I'd still like to at least play one for a few mins some day... a guy can dream can't he?! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]