chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner?

icsm · 06-14-2009, 07:22 AM

The new generation Les Paul Standard is chambered for weight relief. Thats fair enough, Les Pauls can be pretty heavy.

They claim on the gibson website that they are chambered in a way that they mimic the tone of a solid mahogany body.

My question is, why not just make them solid mahogany but thinner? Do we really think they can chamber the body so that they sound the same as a full thickness solid mahogany body?

Or is it because PRS have already done that for Gibson with their singlecuts?

kspeed · 06-14-2009, 07:45 AM

They've done this before with the Lite models.

sjtalon · 06-14-2009, 07:54 AM

The reason Gibson doesn't do that is because they have to wait about 20 years for people to quit bickering about chambered vs. Swiss cheese bodies.

Then they can get a new dead horse and let the beatings continue.

Tim Plains · 06-14-2009, 07:58 AM

I don't know, could you picture yourself playing a LP that has the same thickness as an SG? I couldn't.
If that's the case, why not get rid of the LP entirely and just keep the SG? No real point in having both.
The good thing here is you have options. If you want a (new) solid LP, you buy a historic. Granted they cost an arm and a leg but they are available. You want swiss cheese, you buy a Traditional, etc. It's not like Gibson chambered everything and force people to buy those chambered LP.

bryvincent · 06-14-2009, 08:04 AM

Gibson already did it in the late 80s with the Custom Lite.

kspeed · 06-14-2009, 08:14 AM

There were Standards and Studios, too.

icsm · 06-14-2009, 08:32 AM

ahh, the les paul lite, of course... anyone played one? what did you think?

I guess the way the les paul looks is quite important. As for the SG comparison, I think a thin les paul lite can be considered separately to the SG because the single cutaway bodies are known to have a different tone to a double cutaways. no?

dennistruckdriver · 06-14-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjtalon

....Then they can get a new dead horse and let the beatings continue....

Quote:

Originally Posted by R9.

....why not get rid of the LP entirely and just keep the SG?....

Does "1961" mean anything to any of you?

nick1962 · 06-14-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icsm

ahh, the les paul lite, of course... anyone played one? what did you think?

I guess the way the les paul looks is quite important. As for the SG comparison, I think a thin les paul lite can be considered separately to the SG because the single cutaway bodies are known to have a different tone to a double cutaways. no?

The Custom Lite is the dog's bollocks - in fact, I would not go back to a traditional LP now. It's much more comfortable to play, and the sustain is just fine. I have two, one of which is considerably heavier than the other.

nick1962 · 06-14-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R9.

I don't know, could you picture yourself playing a LP that has the same thickness as an SG? I couldn't.
If that's the case, why not get rid of the LP entirely and just keep the SG? No real point in having both.
The good thing here is you have options. If you want a (new) solid LP, you buy a historic. Granted they cost an arm and a leg but they are available. You want swiss cheese, you buy a Traditional, etc. It's not like Gibson chambered everything and force people to buy those chambered LP.

Or you find a Lite - they rule!

Murfdog · 06-14-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R9.

I don't know, could you picture yourself playing a LP that has the same thickness as an SG? I couldn't.
If that's the case, why not get rid of the LP entirely and just keep the SG? No real point in having both.
The good thing here is you have options. If you want a (new) solid LP, you buy a historic. Granted they cost an arm and a leg but they are available. You want swiss cheese, you buy a Traditional, etc. It's not like Gibson chambered everything and force people to buy those chambered LP.

+1 The Nissan Altima is available in a 4 door sedan and a 2 door coupe; some have manual transmissions, some are automatic....in the end they are both really nice cars. It's nice to have choices!

PunkerJon · 06-14-2009, 10:20 AM

Isn't the Viven also a thin body LP? Is the Goddess too?

LPV · 06-14-2009, 10:37 AM

That and the FACT that chambered LP's sound FCKN awesome !

Jason · 06-14-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick1962

Or you find a Lite - they rule!

Whoa. I want one of those!

nick1962 · 06-14-2009, 04:12 PM

They come up on ebay fairly often!

jason_mazzy · 06-14-2009, 04:14 PM

the chambered lp's seem to be a better way to go than weight relieved. if ur gonna lighten the weight at least do it in a way that improves acoustics, just my .02

Wyleway · 06-14-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_mazzy

the chambered lp's seem to be a better way to go than weight relieved. if ur gonna lighten the weight at least do it in a way that improves acoustics, just my .02

I totally agree. Gibson did do the right thing with chambering.

dennistruckdriver · 06-14-2009, 05:35 PM

I have two Classics....both chambered. I love 'em both!

Bing17 · 06-14-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R9.

I don't know, could you picture yourself playing a LP that has the same thickness as an SG? I couldn't.
If that's the case, why not get rid of the LP entirely and just keep the SG? No real point in having both.

Didn't Gibson do that already in 1961?

dennistruckdriver · 06-14-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

....Does "1961" mean anything to any of you?....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bing17

Didn't Gibson do that already in 1961?

Ahem.....don't you read the previous posts?

Bing17 · 06-14-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Ahem.....don't you read the previous posts?

I was excited, what can I say. Oops.

davemccarthy707 · 06-14-2009, 06:08 PM

I used to be worried about this kind of stuff. Now I have stopped worrying about this and play my LP. They are all good!

dennistruckdriver · 06-14-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davemccarthy707

....I have stopped worrying about this and play my LP. They are all good!

jason_mazzy · 06-14-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bing17

I was excited, what can I say. Oops.

don't mind dennis. he's an internet grump. it comes from old age. he's a cantankerous old codge, aint yah dennis.

Mr Insane · 06-14-2009, 06:23 PM

The Les Paul Axcess has a thin body.

dwagar · 06-14-2009, 06:25 PM

so does the Melody Maker.

dennistruckdriver · 06-14-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_mazzy

don't mind dennis....he's a cantankerous old codge, aint yah dennis.

Yes, I am....but I can still bust a double, rail a berm, and rip a holeshot!

LPV · 06-14-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Yes, I am....but I can still bust a double, rail a berm, and rip a holeshot!

Cool, and the young lady seems to be ok with you doing those things to her

06-14-2009, 07:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
icsm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 170 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? The new generation Les Paul Standard is chambered for weight relief. Thats fair enough, Les Pauls can be pretty heavy. They claim on the gibson website that they are chambered in a way that they mimic the tone of a solid mahogany body. My question is, why not just make them solid mahogany but thinner? Do we really think they can chamber the body so that they sound the same as a full thickness solid mahogany body? Or is it because PRS have already done that for Gibson with their singlecuts? __________________ '64 Fender Jaguar '68 Gibson Les Paul Custom '68/69 Gibson Les Paul Custom '89 Gibson Les Paul Reissue '89 PRS Custom 24 '05 PRS Custom 24 '07 PRS Modern Eagle

06-14-2009, 07:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
kspeed Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,473 Thanks: 30 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? They've done this before with the Lite models.

06-14-2009, 07:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
sjtalon Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? The reason Gibson doesn't do that is because they have to wait about 20 years for people to quit bickering about chambered vs. Swiss cheese bodies. Then they can get a new dead horse and let the beatings continue.

06-14-2009, 07:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Plains Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9,383 Thanks: 638 Thanked 676 Times in 76 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? I don't know, could you picture yourself playing a LP that has the same thickness as an SG? I couldn't. If that's the case, why not get rid of the LP entirely and just keep the SG? No real point in having both. The good thing here is you have options. If you want a (new) solid LP, you buy a historic. Granted they cost an arm and a leg but they are available. You want swiss cheese, you buy a Traditional, etc. It's not like Gibson chambered everything and force people to buy those chambered LP.

06-14-2009, 08:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
bryvincent Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada/USA/Philippines Posts: 777 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? Gibson already did it in the late 80s with the Custom Lite.

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06-14-2009, 08:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
kspeed Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,473 Thanks: 30 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? There were Standards and Studios, too.

06-14-2009, 08:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
icsm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 170 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? ahh, the les paul lite, of course... anyone played one? what did you think? I guess the way the les paul looks is quite important. As for the SG comparison, I think a thin les paul lite can be considered separately to the SG because the single cutaway bodies are known to have a different tone to a double cutaways. no? __________________ '64 Fender Jaguar '68 Gibson Les Paul Custom '68/69 Gibson Les Paul Custom '89 Gibson Les Paul Reissue '89 PRS Custom 24 '05 PRS Custom 24 '07 PRS Modern Eagle

06-14-2009, 10:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
PunkerJon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: In the Ghetto Posts: 2,262 Thanks: 9 Thanked 25 Times in 15 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? Isn't the Viven also a thin body LP? Is the Goddess too? Last edited by PunkerJon; 06-14-2009 at 10:51 AM.

06-14-2009, 10:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
LPV Blues Litigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Quebec Posts: 7,929 Thanks: 148 Thanked 814 Times in 169 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? That and the FACT that chambered LP's sound FCKN awesome ! __________________

06-14-2009, 04:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
nick1962 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Leicester, England Posts: 3,636 Thanks: 110 Thanked 21 Times in 7 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? They come up on ebay fairly often!

06-14-2009, 04:14 PM	#16 (permalink)
jason_mazzy Premium Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: homeless veteran in NC Posts: 4,203 Thanks: 87 Thanked 134 Times in 34 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? the chambered lp's seem to be a better way to go than weight relieved. if ur gonna lighten the weight at least do it in a way that improves acoustics, just my .02 __________________ NOW WITH NIBS!!! Guitars: Taylor custom SB, Gibson LP Trad PRO Elite/Elitist SG's, LP's, Fender MaryKaye clone, Toronado, and Johnny Cash's Gemini 3, Takamine Natural, Gretsch Americana series (All 4 NIB!!!) and Various beaters for the kids. Fender Super Sonic combo 1x12 avoiding risk at the cost of living is human. Living your life assuming the risk is heroic. I choose the latter. US ARMY (RET) Disabled Combat Veteran Rangers Lead The Way

06-14-2009, 05:35 PM	#18 (permalink)
dennistruckdriver V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25,436 Thanks: 365 Thanked 816 Times in 168 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? I have two Classics....both chambered. I love 'em both! __________________

06-14-2009, 06:08 PM	#22 (permalink)
davemccarthy707 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 169 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? I used to be worried about this kind of stuff. Now I have stopped worrying about this and play my LP. They are all good!

06-14-2009, 06:23 PM	#25 (permalink)
Mr Insane Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,480 Thanks: 333 Thanked 157 Times in 60 Posts	Re: chambered les pauls, why not just make the body thinner? The Les Paul Axcess has a thin body. __________________ https://soundcloud.com/jachinharder/destroy-the-arena http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ov...13175585481437 https://twitter.com/overflowohio

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