Are all the new Gibson LP Standards chambered?

felim

I saw this Xray of a chambered Gibson elsewhere and to me that's not even a solid body guitar:



Are all new Standards chambered?

edit: is that pic just showing up as a link for everyone else? dunno why...

Dord

Les Paul standards haven't been solid since the early 80's. Before the chambering began (in '05 I think?) they used to do "swiss cheese" weight relief which was essentially drilling large holes at random under the top to relieve some of the weight of the cheap wood they were using.

If you want a solid one nowadays buy another brand or get a historic.

felim

Dord wrote: »

Les Paul standards haven't been solid since the early 80's. Before the chambering began (in '05 I think?) they used to do "swiss cheese" weight relief which was essentially drilling large holes at random under the top to relieve some of the weight of the cheap wood they were using.

If you want a solid one nowadays buy another brand or get a historic.

Really? I had a 96 Standard that I thought was solid. Hmmm,you learn something new everyday....

Dord

It would have looked something like this underneath the maple cap.

Dangerous Man

Dord is on the money. FYI - this is what a Gretsch duo jet looks like underneath:

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bellg124

It's a little bit tricky to find any solid, ha, information on when Gibson started this chambering. I know they started marketing the 2002 Les Paul as 'Weight Relieved'. This article on the Gibson website says they started to chamber les pauls in the eighties but without a strict formula for doing so:
http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/GearAndInstruments/Chambering%20the%20Les%20Paul%5F%20A%20Mar/

Dord

bellg124 wrote: »

It's a little bit tricky to find any solid, ha, information on when Gibson started this chambering. I know they started marketing the 2002 Les Paul as 'Weight Relieved'. This article on the Gibson website says they started to chamber les pauls in the eighties but without a strict formula for doing so:
http://www.gibson.com/en%2Dus/Lifestyle/ProductSpotlight/GearAndInstruments/Chambering%20the%20Les%20Paul%5F%20A%20Mar/

They just started using it as a marketing ploy in 2002. Before that they just didnt tell anyone.

ArthurGuinness

The traditional is the best Les Paul Gibson USA are making, its un-chambered but has the swiss cheese holes for weight relief (The les paul custom is also weight relieved this way)

munkydanny

Even the custom..?! Since when? I thought the custom was safe ground from the "weight relief"... or rather "quality relief" scheme...

ArthurGuinness

Late 80's I think maybe before. The only non chambered/ weight relieved Les Pauls are the Historic Reissues/V.O.S range, so if you wanted a non weight relieved black beauty you would have to by the 57 RI version. On the quality note I don't think its that bad, Gibson are trying to improve on their guitars, they are not saving any money by drilling holes in the them. I would much rather buy a new Gibson over a Norlin era one.

munkydanny

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh towards the old Gibbys.

Hard not to be though when you've got Tokai, Bacchus and Burnys out there giving more bang for your buck..