Collecter's Choice "Donna" has a double carved top?

[goldtop0]

Yes they did. Not sure on the year though. They were called "Double Carved" just like Wilko and I said above.

A more apt description for the Wildwood ones might have been 'chamber sculpted' or 'chamber routed'.............words to that effect:hmm

 

[GotTheSilver]

On a tangential point; the underside carve still looks a cool idea, anyone ever play one at Wildwood? eace2

Never played one, but as I recall they were pretty slow to sell.

 

[Wilko]

I think that "double carve is fine for the Wildwood tpye as shown.

These Donnas'--what? do they stop carving, then carve 'em again?

How 'bout they carve 'em right the first time? la

 

[Minibucker]

It's extra love.

 

[rockinlespaul]

A more apt description for the Wildwood ones might have been 'chamber sculpted' or 'chamber routed'.............words to that effect:hmm

At the time, which was a few years ago, they carried the CR's(chambered reissues)and they also had some that were called "double carved" and the description was spot on to Wilko's pic/description. They also had the regular historic series, etc.

I certainly wouldn't think they would do that to a CC especially Donna, and the double carve neck thing doesn't even make sense.

 

[lubra65]

Guys,

I went straight to the horse's mouth and emailed Rick Gembar(President of the Gibson Custom Shop) about what they mean by "double carve." I sent him a link to this thread.
Here's his response:

"I am not sure where Wilko gets his terminology from but our double carve means we carve the top twice to eliminate slack belt sanding and other sanding operations down the line. It has nothing to do with carving the underside of the top. The process will allow us to maintain the integrity of the carving. We do not modify the underside of the top at all. It is solid maple against solid mahogany."


There you go! Thanks Rick for clarifying!:dude:

Great CD! Thanks a lot

 

[buckaroo]

Also, when they refer to a "hide glue top" I am unclear if that means:

1. that the two maple pieces are joined with hide glue
2. the maple top is bonded to the mahogany back with hide glue
3. both of the above

The Donna reissue has the promise of being an awesome guitar. Understanding more about these "marketing details" would be meaningful to me as a potential buyer.

It will be interesting to discover what is meant by the "hide glue top" details referenced above. Though I doubt that I could tell the difference between a guitar made with hide glue or not, it remains a point of intrigue since it is part of the marketing. I sense that these are really going to be cool guitars.

 

[herb]

Thanks for this info. Think I'll bump the thread up as some new guitars are being described with "double carve" tops.

 

[DANELECTRO]

It's confusing because the same term "double carve" for two completely different things. It was 2009 when Wildwood had a run of 30 "Double Carve" R8s which had the underside of the top carved. I don t know whether it was Gibson of Wildwood who coined the term Double Carve. I have #3 form this series of guitars and it's one of best Lesters I've ever owned.

The second time "Double Carve" was used was on some of the CC models and the True Historics. These guitars have a solid maple top with no chambering on the underside. When the top of a Les Paul is cut, a round-nose cutter makes multiple passes roughing in the shape of the top carve. The top ends up with scalloped cuts for each pass which must be sanded out smooth on the slack sander. When Gibson uses the term Double Carve on these guitars, it means that they program the additional passes of the cutter, hence when the body comes off of the carving machine the scallops are closer together and not as deep. Less sanding needs to be done to sand the scallops smooth, thus there is less chance that the worker might over sand the top and change its shape from what was intended. Maybe this process yields a more accurate top, or maybe is just marketing hype. I think it all depends on the skill of the person doing the sanding

 

[vintage58]

Collecter's Choice "Donna" has a double carved top?

Not only that... they also appear to have a double-charged price.

(That is, they cost like twice what a regular reissue goes for.)

 

[axemancomith]

Seems weird. How would they know if the original has a chamber inside? Never heard of that.

ALL THIS STUFF GIBSON CAME UP WITH LIKE DOUBLE CARVED TOP, WET SANDING, HOT HIDE GLUE, AND ALL THE OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO BE EXACT TO '59 SPECS SOUNDS LIKE B.S. SO THEY CAN JUSTIFY THE RIDICULOUS PRICES. ALL THIS STUFF SHOULD HAVE BE THOUGHT OF AND DONE BACK IN '93 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DO A '59 REISSUE. ALL THAT MATTERS IS IF IT HAS ''THE GOOD WOOD''. WHICH = TONE TO THE BONE AND GREAT SUSTAIN. JUST SAYIN'.

 

[CAGinLA]

ALL THIS STUFF GIBSON CAME UP WITH LIKE DOUBLE CARVED TOP, WET SANDING, HOT HIDE GLUE, AND ALL THE OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO BE EXACT TO '59 SPECS SOUNDS LIKE B.S. SO THEY CAN JUSTIFY THE RIDICULOUS PRICES. ALL THIS STUFF SHOULD HAVE BE THOUGHT OF AND DONE BACK IN '93 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DO A '59 REISSUE. ALL THAT MATTERS IS IF IT HAS ''THE GOOD WOOD''. WHICH = TONE TO THE BONE AND GREAT SUSTAIN. JUST SAYIN'.

 

[axemancomith]

NO, I DO SAY.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

My two Donna copies play and sound great.
Everyone I played [all unplugged] felt and resonated fantastic.
:salude

 

[Big Al]

ALL THIS STUFF GIBSON CAME UP WITH LIKE DOUBLE CARVED TOP, WET SANDING, HOT HIDE GLUE, AND ALL THE OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO BE EXACT TO '59 SPECS SOUNDS LIKE B.S. SO THEY CAN JUSTIFY THE RIDICULOUS PRICES. ALL THIS STUFF SHOULD HAVE BE THOUGHT OF AND DONE BACK IN '93 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DO A '59 REISSUE. ALL THAT MATTERS IS IF IT HAS ''THE GOOD WOOD''. WHICH = TONE TO THE BONE AND GREAT SUSTAIN. JUST SAYIN'.

:sour:##:##

 

[buckaroo]

I think that "double carve is fine for the Wildwood tpye as shown.

These Donnas'--what? do they stop carving, then carve 'em again?

How 'bout they carve 'em right the first time? la

Reading this old thread that I started. Almost funny now! Especially given all the changes at Gibson. Glad I found the reissue Les Pauls I wanted when the train was at it's peak!

 

[SimonBarSinister]

My two Donna copies play and sound great.
Everyone I played [all unplugged] felt and resonated fantastic.
:salude

My Donna is the best LP I have ever played/owned. The top has a 3D Flame none of my others have. Tone for days...

Just a great guitar... I have some other great ones as well but the Donna is off the charts and as close to a real burst as I will ever get lol ...

 

[Sanji]

My two Donna copies play and sound great.
Everyone I played [all unplugged] felt and resonated fantastic.
:salude

Hi Tom. How does the tone and feel of copies compare to the original? I have #101 and it's the best reissue I have heard.

Thanks,
S..

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Hi Tom. How does the tone and feel of copies compare to the original? I have #101 and it's the best reissue I have heard.

Thanks,
S..

The feel and resonation are very similar.
Sound is different, since the pickups are different.
Also, Donna's pickups are out of phase, which they did not copy.
[I asked them not to, and they did not want to]

 

[garywright]

Also, Donna's pickups are out of phase, which they did not copy.
[I asked them not to, and they did not want to]

Clint to Gibson