I can't see how it can alter the tone at all. Almost since 1969 Gibson have parted from the original formula in some way. First it was the three piece neck, the Pancake body, the Maple neck and the weight relief. If a Pancake body or two piece body Les Paul sounds good maybe it's just that that makes it sound great. What would you choose a good sounding but not made like the originals or one that was made the original way but was a dog?