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baked maple fret boards

S

Smolder

Member
Joined
May 23, 2008
Messages
366
LOVE IT !

Picked up a nice 2012 Les Paul Junior Special this week because I needed more P90 goodness. Very nice, well made guitar. Sounds great and plays great. The baked maple fretboard has nice tight grain and a familiar hardness. I wish it was a tad darker, but what the hell. I don't get what all the outrage was about... kicking a company when it was down?
 
moonweasel

moonweasel

Active member
Joined
Jan 20, 2004
Messages
9,427
"If it isn't like it was in the 50's, it can't be good."...

.... which I don't believe for a second. :) A Fender with a maple board sounds great, why can't a Gibson?

I never understood the backlash either. There was NO shortage of used, rosewood Gibsons for sale last year if the baked maple bothered a person. There will probably NEVER be a shortage of used, rosewood Gibsons. They've made hundreds of thousands of them by now.
 
R

RNELEE

New member
Joined
May 16, 2004
Messages
645
I am more concerned of a laminated fret board than I am of the baked maple. I was looking an LP Special that had the laminated board and just could not pull the trigger. If it had the maple, I would have done the deal....or, perhaps I just saved myself from another guitar that I did not need?????????
 
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Big Al

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,547
There is no structural or audible flaw in a lam board. Would not prevent me from buying a guitar I liked.
 
jtees4

jtees4

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2010
Messages
209
I tried LP's with both baked maple and obeche. I liked both, The only problem I had with either was cosmetic. The obeche were died black, I wish they did that with the baked maple too. In fact Gibson ads said that obeche was dark, they were wrong...it is a light colored wood used in surfboards...anyway i wrote to Gibson and they answered that I was indeed correct and that the obeche boards were died black.
 
U

Uncle Gary

Active member
Joined
Oct 15, 2006
Messages
2,431
Big Al said:
There is no structural or audible flaw in a lam board. Would not prevent me from buying a guitar I liked.
Click to expand...

In fact, in my case, it didn't. My '12 R0 is the second best Les Paul I've ever played, and the best I've owned. Laminated board and all, it plays like a dream and other guitars WISH they sounded as good.
 
S

Smylie

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
6
DSCF2239.jpg


Here's a 2011 LP Classic Custom with original color fretboard.... it's been oild once since then and it darkened up quite a bit....
 
rabbit

rabbit

New member
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
400
I bought a new SG Jr. I was a little leery when I ordered it, but once I got my hand on the board, no problem at all. It's fine.
 
B

boyscout

New member
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
48
Big Al said:
There is no structural or audible flaw in a lam board. Would not prevent me from buying a guitar I liked.
Click to expand...

This.

No issue at all has been proven with the laminated boards. The worst thing they've caused is the witless shunning of guitars with them, but maybe that's not all bad because some people have picked up very good deals on amazing 2012 guitars.
 
M

Mr Hockey

New member
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
17
I bought a 2011 Gibson Les Paul Special and it is one sweet sounding guitar ! The baked maple neck does not bother me one bit ! Like I said a great guitar !!
 
Trans-Am

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
...I don't think I can get use to the baked maple boards as well the new materials used on the Les Paul Custom " Richlite "

To each his own I guess! or whatever is left....

Peace!!
 
LCP

LCP

New member
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
324
I heard some of those baked maple board guitars on youtube and they honestly sounded nice! Don't see anything bad or wrong with those boards either...
 
sonar

sonar

New member
Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
3,589
The Signature T model is getting good reviews.

I'm all in for finding sustainable alternatives.
 
dragonfire

dragonfire

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Joined
Oct 18, 2013
Messages
212
I have a Musicman Stingray Bass with a baked maple neck and it's the best playing bass in my stable. It's very hard.

I do agree that the cosmetic issue is a "thing" though. Funny how Fender guitars look right with a maple board and Gibson's don't. It's hard to get those thoughts out of your perceptions too!!

But I think they are great and are here to stay so we might as well enjoy them!
 
jtees4

jtees4

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2010
Messages
209
My recently purchased Les Paul Special Jr. Humbucker has baked maple, and I have to say....I really didn't know what to expect but I really love it. And luckily, mine is nice and dark, otherwise I wouldn't be a happy camper...yeah...I'm petty like that:hmm

 
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