Members axelsam Posted December 24, 2006 Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 I am purchasing a new Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster and I believe the top is laminated. Is the fact that it's laminated a good thing? A bad thing?It says in the decription on the Gibson site that the top is made from high-grade maple. I know that the Wes Montgomery model, Byrdland,etc. are made from solid spruce. Why do you think they went withlaminate or plywood on the Switchmaster? What do you think of this model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoddy Posted December 24, 2006 Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 Is there a point to starting two threads on this same topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axelsam Posted December 24, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 I thought there might be a point to it. The idea was to get some more responses as there was only one response to my original post. Do you have any info on this subject? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoddy Posted December 24, 2006 Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 Originally posted by axelsam I thought there might be a point to it. The idea was to get some more responses as there was only one response to my original post. Do you have any info on this subject? Yes, but since you seem to think you are so important and deserve so much attention by starting two threads on this, I don't think I'll discuss it with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axelsam Posted December 24, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 You might have noticed that I am rather new to this by my number of posts. Merry Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ComingApart Posted December 24, 2006 Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 Having a ply top definately contributes to the strength of the top. The Switchmaster has 3 PUPS right? That may explain it.Sound wise i think the effect would be negligible.Very nice guitars.I considered doing up my Washburn J6 -Switchmaster style but just never did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axelsam Posted December 24, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 Thanks for your reply, ComingApart. I didn't realize that you're not supposed to post twice on the same subject. Thanks again and Merry Xmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members numbthumb Posted December 24, 2006 Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 Hey Axelsam.First of all, congrats on the getting a great guitar.Secondly, someone is feeling out of sorts today. For your reference on protocol, if you want to get your thread back to the top of page one, you 'bump' it by replying yourself. People usually write 'bump' or something like that in the entry when they do this. On to laminates; for acoustic tone and volume, carved solid tops are usually considered superior. 'Graduating' the top, a process of a thinning the top near the rim so it can vibrate more freely, is important to getting a good acoustic volume and tone. I don't think this is done with laminated tops. Also, undoubtedly, there is a difference in acoustic tone simply between solid maple and laminated maple. When you go electric, the pickups in the top decrease the acoustic volume. The designer needs to choose if this will be primarily an acoustic or amplified instrument. If it is primarily amplified, issues like feedback resistance and amplified tone become paramount. Laminated tops may be superior in some regards. Laminated tops decrease the production cost and probably the purchase price. I suggest you enjoy one of the great hollow body electrics. Congrats! Perhaps you'll visit more frequently next year, eh?Any possibility that you'll post some pics of your guitar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axelsam Posted December 24, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 Thanks numbthumb for being informative and a mensch.I will definitely post pictures when I get it. Won't be till March (sob). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members numbthumb Posted December 24, 2006 Members Share Posted December 24, 2006 I pulled out Duchossoir Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted December 25, 2006 Members Share Posted December 25, 2006 I think most of the guys here have pretty much nailed it. Because of feedback problems, Gibson intentionally used laminated woods in the guitars that were originally designed as electrics (the ES electric-spanish series) -- ES-335, ES-5, ES-175, ES-225, etc. Most of the solid-wood electrics started as purely acoustic instruments -- Super 400, L-5, etc. -- designed with arched tops for more volume in large venue situations. Their solid-wood design was held onto as they moved into the electronic range, first was suspended pickups, then with surface mounted ones. With the exception of some of these historic models listed, modern archtop builders often use laminates for guitars with pickups mounted to the top, and solid-wood tops for guitars that have floating pickups that don't hinder the tops natural vibrations and use as an acoustic instrument. Epiphone went one further than Gibson, as they went electric, Epiphone would use solid-wood tops, sides and backs in their acoustic archtops and laminates in all the electric "Zephyr" versions of the same guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axelsam Posted December 25, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 25, 2006 You guys rock! Thanks for the info. Merry Xmas and happy New Year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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