Why do we love Gold tops?
- Thread starter Uk Ant
- Start date
brunogio
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
To me gold tops are understated, classy and slick all in one. I love bursts as well as the wine color as well.
I can see how some folks find them a bit drab looking because at a distance the color seems like flat paint but up close they are much more.
With open buckers they don't look as good, but with covered or creme p-90s that's one hott guitar.
To me gold tops are understated, classy and slick all in one. I love bursts as well as the wine color as well.
I can see how some folks find them a bit drab looking because at a distance the color seems like flat paint but up close they are much more.
With open buckers they don't look as good, but with covered or creme p-90s that's one hott guitar.
ravendouglas
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
i paid 1200 bucks cash for a goldtop in 2004.i removed all the chrome hard ware,tuners and screws,and replaced them with gold parts.then did a pick up swap..went with gibson 496 r and 500 t zebra pick ups,i say it got stolen,most think i lost it,it was a nice one.
i paid 1200 bucks cash for a goldtop in 2004.i removed all the chrome hard ware,tuners and screws,and replaced them with gold parts.then did a pick up swap..went with gibson 496 r and 500 t zebra pick ups,i say it got stolen,most think i lost it,it was a nice one.
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ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
There ya go!
My wife has a slightly different taste in guitars --- these are the two that she got for me - she definitely has a style:
BTW, she's not super cheap; I am. She knows I have more fun with cheap guitars that I can take apart and put back together and swap everything out on than expensive guitars where all the work is already done.
There ya go!
My wife has a slightly different taste in guitars --- these are the two that she got for me - she definitely has a style:
BTW, she's not super cheap; I am. She knows I have more fun with cheap guitars that I can take apart and put back together and swap everything out on than expensive guitars where all the work is already done.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
P.S. I love goldtops and don't know why either.
P.S. I love goldtops and don't know why either.
ravendouglas
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
we love them be cause they hide their monster personality behind a layer of elegance.
we love them be cause they hide their monster personality behind a layer of elegance.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
ravendouglas
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
about the only finish i dont like on a paul is white,but i dont care for white guitars period,but thats just me.
about the only finish i dont like on a paul is white,but i dont care for white guitars period,but thats just me.
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lex666
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
IMO, Les Pauls look best with a transparent top.
IIRC, I read somewhere during that time alot of Gibson's guitars where finished in a low budget "TV Yellow" with the silly logic that their guitars would be more visual on black & white TV's... The Gold Top was their next step up. It wasn't until someone stripped off the yucky Gold Top to reveal the attractive maple top underneath and Gibson began applying transparent finishes to show off these tops.
That's the way a LP should be. Transparent with a plain, flame, or quilt top. There's just something sexier about a fine Les Paul with a nice maple top. Kinda like seeing a super model in a sting bikini vs. a potato sack - you wanna see and appreciate the beauty underneath or within.
IMO, Les Pauls look best with a transparent top.
IIRC, I read somewhere during that time alot of Gibson's guitars where finished in a low budget "TV Yellow" with the silly logic that their guitars would be more visual on black & white TV's... The Gold Top was their next step up. It wasn't until someone stripped off the yucky Gold Top to reveal the attractive maple top underneath and Gibson began applying transparent finishes to show off these tops.
That's the way a LP should be. Transparent with a plain, flame, or quilt top. There's just something sexier about a fine Les Paul with a nice maple top. Kinda like seeing a super model in a sting bikini vs. a potato sack - you wanna see and appreciate the beauty underneath or within.
lex666
New member
John_L
New member
ravendouglas
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
befor all the guys with white guitars demand my head on a plate.are white guitars ugly,of course not.i just dont care for white.
befor all the guys with white guitars demand my head on a plate.are white guitars ugly,of course not.i just dont care for white.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
Yeah, TV Yellow wasn't to make them more visible, it was to make them less visibile. Early TV camera didn't have the dynamic range to handle pure, bright white without washing out, so they muted the colors. TV news guys all wore blue shirts, Les Pauls were TV Yellow, Telecasters were blond.
Ironically, TV Yellow was designed to make guitars look good in black and white. For those of us with color vision, it's an acquired taste.
And goldtops were painted like that to keep the competition from finding out that Gibson was using maple tops to get their tone. Once that cat was out of the bag, it was safe to return to the transparent burst finishes that were Gibson's historical comfort zone.
Yeah, TV Yellow wasn't to make them more visible, it was to make them less visibile. Early TV camera didn't have the dynamic range to handle pure, bright white without washing out, so they muted the colors. TV news guys all wore blue shirts, Les Pauls were TV Yellow, Telecasters were blond.
Ironically, TV Yellow was designed to make guitars look good in black and white. For those of us with color vision, it's an acquired taste.
And goldtops were painted like that to keep the competition from finding out that Gibson was using maple tops to get their tone. Once that cat was out of the bag, it was safe to return to the transparent burst finishes that were Gibson's historical comfort zone.
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John_L
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
The TV yellow isn't a colour. It's a clear coat that turns the white base coat yellow the idea of the coat was to cut down glare so the guitars would show up better on B&W TV. This was sometime after Gold Tops. Some ES models were already gold before the Les Paul. As for the TV concept it does sort of work. Until 1970 a lot of people in the US only had B&W TV's which is why so many 60's shows have high contrast sets and bright clothes.
The TV yellow isn't a colour. It's a clear coat that turns the white base coat yellow the idea of the coat was to cut down glare so the guitars would show up better on B&W TV. This was sometime after Gold Tops. Some ES models were already gold before the Les Paul. As for the TV concept it does sort of work. Until 1970 a lot of people in the US only had B&W TV's which is why so many 60's shows have high contrast sets and bright clothes.
Bludave
New member
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
I wouldn't say I love them. I think they are cool in a Les Paul, but I prefer a Burst. Gibson as well as others usually painted all the inferior woods a solid color. I guess inferior is not really accurate. Wood that does not have the best grain pattern was usually painted to cover it. Black & gold are the most common. Sometimes it was painted to cover an off center seam.
I wouldn't say I love them. I think they are cool in a Les Paul, but I prefer a Burst. Gibson as well as others usually painted all the inferior woods a solid color. I guess inferior is not really accurate. Wood that does not have the best grain pattern was usually painted to cover it. Black & gold are the most common. Sometimes it was painted to cover an off center seam.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Why do we love Gold tops?
I like mine because it's got a killer neck and sounds great.
I like mine because it's got a killer neck and sounds great.
