What type of wood is used in a Gibson Les Paul?

Mahogany. Gibson's wood of choice for the Les Paul, Les Paul Jr., and SG. Mahogany produces an overall balanced tone — nothing is missing from the highs, mids, or lows, but nothing stands out either.

What wood is a Gibson Les Paul made of?

Its typical design features a solid mahogany body with a carved maple top and a single cutaway, a mahogany set-in neck with a rosewood fretboard, two pickups with independent volume and tone controls, and a stoptail bridge, although variants exist.

What wood is used for Gibson guitars?

Commonly called Honduran Mahogany. This is the wood most associated with Gibson guitars.

Where does Gibson get its mahogany?

Gibson has set up a global commodity chain that supplies them with 'sustainably certified' mahogany by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) grown in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Fiji.

Does Gibson use African mahogany?

It's important to note that while Gibson reportedly used African mahogany during times of low Honduran supply as well as a few other species of Mahogany, African mahogany is actually a totally different species of wood altogether. Due to African mahogany's lighter weight, it has become a modern day substitute.

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How much is Jimmy Page's Les Paul worth?

The first Gibson Jimmy Page Signature Les Paul guitar from Gibson Guitar Corp.'s Custom, Art & Historic Division has been sold for a reported $55,000 to an anonymous buyer. The figure, more than double its suggested list price, is a record for a new, first-run Gibson guitar.

What kind of wood does Epiphone use?

Typically, Epiphone uses a very thin maple veneer, which is common for many companies when using a figured or flamed maple; however, Epiphone still uses a thin maple veneer when using plain maple tops too. Both Gibson and Epiphone use several pieces of wood glued together to form the body of their guitars.

When did Gibson stop using Brazilian rosewood?

Supplies grew extremely thin in the late 1960s, however, and Martin and others stopped using Brazilian rosewood in 1969, moving over to Indian rosewood, then other varieties. In 1992, Brazilian rosewood was added to the CITES treaty, strictly banning its exportation.

Is African mahogany a good tone wood?

As a tonewood, mahogany offers a warm tone with pronounced lower mids, mellow high-end and superb sustain. It's slightly warmer than many other hardwoods, thanks to its density. Honduran mahogany projects very nicely with a strong sound and quick response.

What mahogany does Martin use?

The Central American mahogany is the species used by Martin on the pre-World War II golden era instruments. This wood is of the same genus, but a different species than the South American mahogany most commonly used today.

Is alder better than basswood?

The mids of alder aren't as pronounced as basswood, but there is more emphasis on the highs and a bit more breathing room for the lows. Alder is overall a bit more dynamic than basswood, making it suitable for a wider range of sounds, but it's mostly found in Fenders and Fender style guitars like Squiers.

Which is better mahogany or spruce?

Mahogany guitars sound smoother and warmer compared to spruce top guitars which sound brighter and more crisp. This is because mahogany produces more bass and mid-range emphasis compared to spruce which has more treble emphasis.

Which is heavier ash or alder?

Ash wood is slightly heavier than the Alder, weighing at around 3 – 3.6kg. But it must be kept in mind that the guitar's weight depends on how it's made. If the manufacturers want to keep the guitar-heavy, either one can be heavier or lighter.

Is nyatoh mahogany?

Nyatoh is sometimes referred to as “eastern mahogany,” though it's not true mahogany (from the genus Swietenia). Nyatoh is often sold as “nato,” though it's not true nato wood (from the genus Mora).

What wood is a telecaster made of?

Overall design. The archetypical Fender Telecaster is a solid-body electric guitar with a flat asymmetric single-cutaway body; the body is usually made from alder or ash.

Is Poplar a good tone wood?

Poplar is a relatively common electric guitar body material, up there with basswood and swamp ash, though not as popular as mahogany and alder. Its lightweight and neutral tone make it a well-rounded wood, tone-wise.

What is Sapele wood for guitars?

Sapele is a hardwood tonewood with fine grain. It offers a warm tone with sustaining lower-mids and pronounced high-end. Sapele is popular in the sides/backs of acoustic and hollowbody electric guitars but doesn't see much use in solid bodies, fretboards or necks.

Is black walnut a good guitar wood?

Walnut is a superb tonewood for electric guitars. As discussed previously, black walnut and English walnut are the typical species used as tonewood. Most manufacturers don't designate the difference. That being said, the other varieties also make excellent electric guitar tonewoods.

Is Brazilian rosewood better than Indian?

To most, Brazilian has better clarity in the bottom and a almost bell like tone in the trebles. Indian rosewood has become the general substitute for Brazilian rosewood. Generally speaking, this wood is not as attractive as Brazilian and It has a noticeably purple color and the grain markings are coarser.

Why is Brazilian rosewood illegal?

Why is Brazilian rosewood so heavily regulated? In 1967, Brazilian rosewood had become so popular for instruments and other wood products that the Brazilian government became concerned that this precious hardwood could be wiped out, so the government outlawed the export of rosewood logs.

Is Pau Ferro better than rosewood?

Pau Ferro has a tighter density than rosewood, meaning slightly less frequencies are absorbed into the fretboard. This results in a brighter, snappier tone, while still retaining the depth of rosewood designs. The feel of pau ferro is comparable to that of ebony, meaning an effortless, smooth playing experience.

Is an Epiphone Les Paul a real Les Paul?

According to Epiphone and Gibson: Yes, Epiphone Les Paul models are real Les Pauls. The Epiphone models are the only company other than Gibson that can use the Les Paul name on the guitars. Epiphone Les Paul guitars are made in Asia, but retain most of the same features as a Gibson.

Is Gibson really better than Epiphone?

The quality, setup and finish on a Gibson will almost always be superior. However, today's mass-produced guitars are far better than those made a few decades ago. And you also have to remember that some Gibson guitars can cost up to ten times as much as Epiphone's!

What are Epiphone Les Pauls made from?

Like the Gibson Les Paul, Epiphone Les Paul guitars are commonly made with mahogany (though a few cheaper models are crafted from okoume or poplar). Some have a veneer maple top while the more expensive lines have fully carved tops made of flame or quilt maple.