2007 Les Paul Weight Relief / Chambering

[Rock Johnson]

This is an x-ray of the new 2007 Les Paul standards that have been circulating on the web.

IMHO... this isn't weight relief - this is essentially a LP Florentine without the F-holes.

Discuss.

[twferrill]

I don't know if this makes a difference, but that appears to be a BFG LP. Note the P-90 route at the neck.

[Ed Alvarado]

Originally Posted by twferrill

I don't know if this makes a difference, but that appears to be a BFG LP. Note the P-90 route at the neck.

That was my first thought.

[SW33THAND5]

how does it sound?

[mainsale]

To me, that is not a bad thing. I have a Florentine and absolutely love it!!!!

[Aahzz]

That is an X-ray of the BFG, as stated. No one has yet produced an X-ray of a Standard. There's lots of speculation that the weight relief is the same, or similar - certainly there's no argument that the new Standards, Classics, etx have chambering rather than swiss cheese holes. I'd love to see an X-ray of one, though, so we could see if it is indeed the same without the random speculation that's been happening on every guitar forum in the world.

For what it's worth, I have a Classic Antique with the new weight relief. Best sounding/playing Les Paul I've owned to date, compared to a 94 Studio, a 96 Studio, a 99 Classic, and an 05 R7.

[Johnnytone]

Originally Posted by Aahzz

That is an X-ray of the BFG, as stated. No one has yet produced an X-ray of a Standard. There's lots of speculation that the weight relief is the same, or similar - certainly there's no argument that the new Standards, Classics, etx have chambering rather than swiss cheese holes. I'd love to see an X-ray of one, though, so we could see if it is indeed the same without the random speculation that's been happening on every guitar forum in the world.

There are some pics out there. On the Gibson forum the admins even addressed the matter, giving it their own spin. Just pick up any 07 LP and tap on the top and backs. You'll hear it.

http://www.gibsontalk.com/message-bo...about2727.html

Quote from a poster:

after all the threads about the weight thing lately, i called Gibson CS today, he told me that the style and amount of wood taken out in the BFG is the same as the new Standards and Studios, ( that was the gibby cs persons reply, so take it for what it is i guess, Would have been nice tho, if they stated that in their description of the new Standards and Studios tho,I have been playing for a very very long time, and i actually have a new studio and a deposite on a new standard, and they are alot lighter, but both sound sweet (to me anyway )

Check out 1:55 in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYN_K9dVYVQ

[Aahzz]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to argue that it's not chambered...I know they're chambered. I'd just like reliable verification that it's the same pattern as the BFG, most of which are reported as being lighter than even the new Standards.

My Classic Antique is 7.8 pounds, it weighs less than my Strat 0 of course it's chambered.

[Miles]

I can't help it. I'm not going to buy a solid body electric guitar that isn't a solid body. I know the LP lovers will come out in spades, but seriously, if you can't deal with the weight, get an SG. Les Pauls are no longer les pauls in my mind. If you like yours and it looks like swiss cheese inside, then great. But I'm not having it. Give me a solid instrument with a sound neck joint and a very durable design at an affordable price. It is simple. All very much in my opinion of course.

[jda]

Originally Posted by Miles

I can't help it. I'm not going to buy a solid body electric guitar that isn't a solid body. I know the LP lovers will come out in spades, but seriously, if you can't deal with the weight, get an SG. Les Pauls are no longer les pauls in my mind. If you like yours and it looks like swiss cheese inside, then great. But I'm not having it. Give me a solid instrument with a sound neck joint and a very durable design at an affordable price. It is simple. All very much in my opinion of course.

This is totally cool, for you. It is also purely emotional and has little to nothing to do with the function, or even the appearance, of the guitar.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by jda

This is totally cool, for you. It is also purely emotional and has little to nothing to do with the function, or even the appearance, of the guitar.

Yeah, I agree. The 'mostly glue' neck joint does inhibit function, but the chambering does not. Appearances aren't everything, but if I'm looking at a 335 or even any fender, I know a lot more about what I am getting when I pluck it off the shelf by looking at it. Appearances aside, I would LOVE to find a good LP in the store and pick it up, but I don't know if I'm getting swiss cheese, hollow, or a 90% glue neck joint. It's a guitar that I now already have a grudge against because as I play it, I'm wondering about it's skeletons in the closet. With my tele, I knew exactly what I was getting; A sound neck joint, solid construction. Any unseeable aspects like sloppy wiring are easily fixable. A swiss cheese LP is not my cup of tea. However, if I owned a recent LP standard, I would probably defend it as that is human nature.

[RickC]

This goes a long way towards explaining why the LP Studio I got last year weighed in at only 7.5 lbs. Purists may complain, but I'm not; that Studio sounds incredible, and the light weight is definitely a huge plus for me. A win-win in my book.

/rick

[twferrill]

I'm not at all bothered by the new weight relief. If it sounds and plays like a Les Paul then I see the weight relief as an added benefit. I personally don't have any weight relieved Gibsons, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one provided it had the right sound and feel.

Regarding the neck joint: I have both long and short tenon Gibsons. I can't tell the differnce between the two. Maybe my ears just aren't very good?

[Bussman]

Originally Posted by Miles

...as I play it, I'm wondering about it's skeletons in the closet...

Who wonders about glue joints and swiss cheese while playing? If it sounds good, who cares how it's made?

[axepilot]

And the purists run amok, shaking their fists at the sky, crying foul...............


LMAO!!!!

For as long as I can remember, people bitched about the weight of LP's. Gibson listened and did something about it. Now, the bandwagon bitches about weight relief? LOL!

I'll bet that most of those crying the loudest have never even truly played a weight relieved LP - they just join the flock of parrots that infest the web.

I have a new Standard LE that is weight relieved. It has a rich sound, it has gobs of sustain, and it truly kicks ass.

I have no problem with heavyweight LP's. The weight relieved LP's are just as sweet........................if you're not a parrot.