90s Orville Les Paul body wood?

[Cdwillis]

I've been on the hunt for a nice Les Paul within my budget (around $800). Been looking at the Gibson Studios, Burny super grade, Tokai Love Rock, and Orvilles. I found an Orville standard that looks like a Korean made model and the back/sides of the body has a clear finish with what looks like a separate mahogany back. What is the deal with this? Is it basically a junk body?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 90s Orville Les Paul body wood?

The back face could serve a number of purposes.

It could be disguising how many small pieces of wood make up the majority of the guitar body. On a double bound model or tobacco sunburst finishes, the join would be concealed.

The body could have been routed and/or weight relieved from the back - in the same manner as a Fender Telecaster Thinline.

 

[Cdwillis]

Re: 90s Orville Les Paul body wood?

I thought maybe there were 7 or 8 pieces of wood glued together to make the body like an old Squier strat I sanded down years ago, but you can't see any seams on the sides. Just seems peculiar. The weight relief idea makes sense. Gibson has been doing it since before this guitar was made, so I'd assume the Orville factory would do it as well.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 90s Orville Les Paul body wood?

African mahogany, and don't worry about the fact that it's a capped back. Orvilles are better built than most Gibson Les Pauls throughout the years.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: 90s Orville Les Paul body wood?

If it doesn't have "a lot" of seams,certainly wouldn't be a deal-breaker.

Seen similar on an Epi Korina Explorer,but that thing had numerous visible pieces from the side.

 

[kherman]

Re: 90s Orville Les Paul body wood?

Maybe, post it over at My Les Paul or at Tokai Registry. Might get some answers there.