For all those Lespaulists out there... Do you prefer Plaintop or Flametop?

[joecool1963]

Discuss!

Posts with pics get bonus kudos!

 

[GreatDane]

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joecool1963 wrote:

Discuss!

Posts with pics get bonus kudos!

 

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both kinds have a special place in my heart.  what i most appreciate in either kind is a little "character".  

For example, take a look at the flame top on my '00 R9.  it's got flecks and streaks in the top that give it more "personality" IMO.

same with the plain tops.  here's my '97 LP from the old Custom Shop.  i really, really like the way this top looks.  it's hard for me to call it a plain top.

and i can't forget to include the solid-tops as well.  it's not always about translucent finishes, IMO.

[onelife]

If you rate tops from one to ten, mine would be a zero and I like it like that.

I'm sorry the photos aren't better...

  

This is my main guitar and I don't mind setting it down anywhere.

It is a musical instrument and not a piece of furniture. It sounds and plays great and gets a lot of use both onstage and in the studio.

It was in a soft case in the back of a Jeep Cherokee that rolled and it got a few dings in it and that did not matter at all because it still works and that's all I care about.

[onelife]

Here's a better picture...

[bjcarl]

My two personal favorites have been a worn brown studio and a deluxe gold top, so I guess neither?

[bjcarl]

Onelife's is pretty cool. Guess that doesn't help lol...

[onelife]

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GreatDane wrote:

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 That is a very nice looking guitar.

[Howard VA]

I don't own a Flame Top LP, but

How about a Swirl Les Paul

or a Solid Color Les Paul

or a Plain Top LP

Les Pauls look good in so many ways......I do draw the line on the Zoot Suit LP though...definitely not for me!

[docjeffrey]

I own 7 Les Pauls--3 flame, 4 plain. The best of the lot is a '60 Custom Shop Plaintop RI. Perfect weight, great neck, VOS finish, amazing balance in the tone. It's rich and thick, but the BB2 in the neck has plenty of bite and top end. I bought two of them based on aesthetics, but I'm over that now. I've learned exactly what I like in an LP, and it has little to do with looks.

[GAS Man]

Price and other features have governed my LP purchasing habits.  I own 15 Gibson Les Pauls and only 2 have flamed tops.  Although one of them is hands down my best Les Paul.

[docjeffrey]

Here's my LP '60 VOS. Below it is a real 1960 Les Paul (obviously not mine). Gibson got the finish pretty close on mine when you compare it with the original:

 

 

 

[soundcreation]

Plain more often than not...but there are exceptions.  Flame has to be subtle for me. 

[docjeffrey]

Here are 6 of my Les Pauls; 2 Classics from 2000, a 2002 R0, 2005 R4, 2010, R0, and an Alex Lifeson Axcess. I also own a very cool Baritone (not pictured).

 

[kayd_mon]

I like a plaintop better, but low-grade, subtle flame is cool, too. My Les Paul Classic is a plaintop, and I also have a Faded Studio. I do like pics of the flames, though.

[BeanoBoy]

Not sure if a flame top is a cherry burst, but I dig cherry bursts or as some say 'clownbursts'.

[mistersully]

love plain tops... own a gold top (tokai)

[genesis3]

a good , natural flame top is hard to beat...plain tops are too.....plain lol