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This top is not bookmatched talk about authentic...

TommyQ

New member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Messages
18
I've seen pictures in various '59 Lester books of guitars with mismatched tops. I don't think I have personally seen a reissue with that . Has anyone here? Might be common as toads but this is all new to me. And I like it. Hang on a sec, I can't make the photo larger. Anyone know how I can do that? If you click on the photo it will enlarge. Anyhow... interesting top.

sj burst.jpg
 

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NYCBURST

Active member
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
288
I've seen pictures in various '59 Lester books of guitars with mismatched tops. I don't think I have personally seen a reissue with that . Has anyone here? Might be common as toads but this is all new to me. And I like it. Hang on a sec, I can't make the photo larger. Anyone know how I can do that? If you click on the photo it will enlarge. Anyhow... interesting top.

View attachment 12224


that is bookmatched
 

Tim Plains

Active member
Joined
Aug 1, 2013
Messages
795
Nice top. That is bookmatched.
I think you're more likely to find non-bookmatched tops on flame top R8s because R9 buyers expect symmetry.
Flame top R8s have looked more authentic to me than R9s tops in the past decade. Generally speaking.
 

TommyQ

New member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Messages
18
Nice top. That is bookmatched.
I think you're more likely to find non-bookmatched tops on flame top R8s because R9 buyers expect symmetry.
Flame top R8s have looked more authentic to me than R9s tops in the past decade. Generally speaking.

Again, if you look at the flatsawn grain behind the flame, you will see they are totally different. I have the guitar in front of me and can see it is most definitely not bookmatched.
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Again, if you look at the flatsawn grain behind the flame, you will see they are totally different. I have the guitar in front of me and can see it is most definitely not bookmatched.


You may be splitting hairs Tommy:hmm
 

TommyQ

New member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Messages
18
You may be splitting hairs Tommy:hmm

Believe me, I don't mean to. But this is a slip top, something Gibson did in '59. I've seen such guitars. Gibson has a nice piece of flamed wood but it is too narrow to make a book match. So they cut the board in half and put the pieces side by side. You can identify these tops by looking at the grain BEHIND the flame. In my guitar, the back grain is nothing like each other. From the first edition of "The Beauty of the Burst:"

Lester slip top.jpg
 
Last edited:

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Believe me, I don't mean to. But this is a slip top, something Gibson did in '59. I've seen such guitars. Gibson has a nice piece of flamed wood but it is too narrow to make a book match. So they cut the board in half and put the pieces side by side. You can identify these tops by looking at the grain BEHIND the flame. In my guitar, the back grain is nothing like each other. From the first edition of "Th4e Beauty of the Burst:"

View attachment 12227


Yes well I do agree with you...........it's impossible not to miss..........but what a good mismatch it is:salude
 
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