Gibson Class 5 questions

[BloodRose]

I did a search but didnt find what I need.
What shape of neck do the class 5s have?

I understand they have extra weight relief holes, does this affect tone much?

Any other thing that differentiates them from a Standard?

Any other info?

[metlking]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

I have a Class 5 Les Paul.......It is the ultimate Les Paul, and I've owned some nice Les Pauls! 60's neck. Custom Shop quality. Long Tenon (I swear I can hear the difference!) Beautiful fretboard. AAAAA Flame maple top. ABR bridge. 17 (I think, never cared) weight relief holes, instead of 9...still pretty heavy like a Les Paul should be........

Bottom line: Its a fantastic guitar that may not sit well with the Les Paul "purists" due to it's extra weight relief and other unorthodox refinements but its a stellar working mans "Custom Shop" Les Paul.....I prefer it many times over to the R9 I once owned......

Its the one in my avatar:

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

yeah Bro, YOU!!!!!! YOU are the one thats got me frothing for one... I love that axe of yours! Thats the info I needed tho. I like 60s necks and was concerned what it had.. Long Tenon is cool too! Plus, I dont like my guitars too light..
Do they still make them? Im not a "purist" but I like it to have the tone and sustain the paul is known for and no robotics or anything like that.

I assume you run a DD in yours?

Thanks for the reply!

When you gonna start that new thread you spoke of?

[metlking]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

I stuck a DD in the bridge, as usual! Nickle covered this time, I liked the stock look. They still make them though I've seen 2011 models listed as having a 50's neck. Not sure if or when they changed them or if it was a mistake on the sellers part......

I will have another one....probably Cranberry or the Sienna Burst Quilt.....freakin' gorgeous!

[orpheo]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

the neck is a medium c shape, not really that much too it I suppose.

but, is that an 5A top?

if so, then what are these?











6A? 7A?

[jmh151]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

the neck is a medium c shape, not really that much too it I suppose.

but, is that an 5A top?

if so, then what are these?











6A? 7A?

I've found that Gibson usually exagerrates the grading of their tops. They're a huge company and I think they just rely on their wood supplier to give them a 5A top. Smaller companies, like Carvin, Warmoth, Hamer and PRS (for their upgraded 10 tops and Artist grade tops) hand pick their 5 A tops and just don't accept what the wood supplier give them.

Also, I don't think Gibson does the deep finish enhancing stain that many other manufacturers do these days, the finish enhancing tends to disguise a 3A top as a 5A top. If you look at guitars with the finish enhancement, they look nice in pictures, but in person the quilt or flame looks painted on. A highly figured top without the finish enhancement has a depth and 3D quality to it, which I've seen on Gibsons and even Epiphones

[orpheo]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

Gibson does do the double stain thing.look at joe perry's transblack sig of the nineties, or his tigereye lp,or the blue class 5. Black to enhance the grain,blue for the final coloring.

The tobaccoburst lp in the first pic has colored lacquer,no stains at all. I'm just a lousy photographer, but the grain is irl much more pronounced.

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

those are some gorgeous tops! That purple body is smokin hot.

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

the neck is a medium c shape, not really that much too it I suppose.

but, is that an 5A top?

if so, then what are these?

AAAAAAwesome.

[Coma]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

That's pretty strange, I remember reading about the Class 5 back when it was still being built. Far as I can remember, it didn't have the weight relief holes at all, it was chambered.

Anybody else know?

[formula73]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

I'd be so stoked to have one of those. Classy, classy, classy. Metlking, that thing is GORGEOUS.

[orpheo]

Re: Gibson Class 5 questions

That's pretty strange, I remember reading about the Class 5 back when it was still being built. Far as I can remember, it didn't have the weight relief holes at all, it was chambered.

Anybody else know?

I believe that one was the cloud 9,or something like that...

The les pauls I posted are mine, thanks for the comments!