Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

[astrozombie]

any truth to this? i think i read it here once and somewhere else online..

[mwalluk]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

Depends, what color is yours?

[sosomething]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

All companies do this.

The less-attractive wood always get marked for the opaque finishes.

Doesn't mean the wood is bad, but you're not going to strip your LP Studio and find a AAA Flame top under there. It just isn't as pretty.

Makes a lot of sense, actually.

[DonP]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

Yep, multipiece backs and bodies...

[darthphineas]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

Depends, what color is yours?

nominated for post-of-the-day award.

[brunogio]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

I've heard many of the studios that are solid color are so because the maple top doesn't have a nice grain or has splotches that would look lousy with a clear finish. Doesn't affect the tone at all but it makes a lot of sense.

[MikeM]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

These funny Les Paul Customs... The black is to cover up all their mistakes :P

[jmh151]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

All companies do this.

The less-attractive wood always get marked for the opaque finishes.

Doesn't mean the wood is bad, but you're not going to strip your LP Studio and find a AAA Flame top under there. It just isn't as pretty.

Makes a lot of sense, actually.

I have a Les Paul Custom that was originally white... I stripped the top to find a bookmatched AAAAA flame maple top, but a large knot behind the bridge. Looks like it was meant to be a Custom shop top, but once they carved it, discovered the knot, and proceeded to paint it white to cover up the knot

[ratherdashing]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

All companies do this.

The less-attractive wood always get marked for the opaque finishes.

Doesn't mean the wood is bad, but you're not going to strip your LP Studio and find a AAA Flame top under there. It just isn't as pretty.

Makes a lot of sense, actually.

Not only that, but some companies will re-spray a finished guitar with a different colour to meet demand.

A lot of people who've refinished old Fenders, for instance, have sanded off the original finish to find a second finish underneath (usually black or sunburst, as those were the standard finishes back then).

The other reason this happens sometimes is if they screw up the first finish, it's often just easier to spray a new finish over it.

Again, nothing to do with quality of the wood.

[blueman335]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

All companies do this.

The less-attractive wood always get marked for the opaque finishes.

Doesn't mean the wood is bad, but you're not going to strip your LP Studio and find a AAA Flame top under there. It just isn't as pretty.

Makes a lot of sense, actually.

+1. Why bury a beautiful flame top under opaque paint? Why not use the less showy pieces for wood for solid paints? Everybody does it, it's only good business practice. Besides, a less attractive looking piece of wood may have a better tone.

[Bludave]

Re: Is it true Gibson paints all their "bad" bodies a certain colour?

When you say Bad.... I think you mean that the wood might be plain or is a multiple piece body. These IMHO may not be as attractive as a flame top, but the usually have great tone. I have a black Les Paul that is a multiple piece body that has killer sustain. To me, it really doesn't matter too much on the color that I wind up with (as long as it isn't something really odd like Pink). It matters what it sounds and plays like!