Does a goldtop sound different than an IDENTICAL LP with regular nitro?

[LPJNoob]

Regular finish meaning a cherry burst or sunburst. The reason I ask is that I think that the goldtop is paint or some kind of colored lacquer different than the plain nitro finish of the 'regular' guitars. And I think this might sound different.

I know (or am convinced) that nitro finish guitars sound warmer than poly- finish guitars. I would really like to know if anyone has an opinion on goldtops (or black ones too, since that is paint also).

Huh?

 

[iteched]

the gold is also nitro

Correct.

 

[LeftyF2003]

If you can hear the difference between gold paint and cherry stain you have much better ears than I do! I would almost guarantee that if there is a difference you won't hear it once the drums kick in!

 

[electricblue]

Oh yes !!! Sure does ..I can go to any concert blindfolded and if the guitarist is playing a Gibson Les paul .I could tell you what colour it is just by hearing it ..wether it be sunburst , Black Beauty ..Pelham Blue ..Natural ..Or Gold Top ..the Dark back Gold Top has a more distinctive tone than the plain back Gold as well ...

 

[Peter M]

Gold tops have a rich tone, while ebony tops are much darker. Then you have the flame tops that can just melt your face off.

 

[mudface]

Oh yes !!! Sure does ..I can go to any concert blindfolded and if the guitarist is playing a Gibson Les paul .I could tell you what colour it is just by hearing it ..wether it be sunburst , Black Beauty ..Pelham Blue ..Natural ..Or Gold Top ..the Dark back Gold Top has a more distinctive tone than the plain back Gold as well ...

I can tell the weight of a ant when it walks across my arm...........true story.

 

[cybermgk]

Oh yes !!! Sure does ..I can go to any concert blindfolded and if the guitarist is playing a Gibson Les paul .I could tell you what colour it is just by hearing it ..wether it be sunburst , Black Beauty ..Pelham Blue ..Natural ..Or Gold Top ..the Dark back Gold Top has a more distinctive tone than the plain back Gold as well ...

 

[brianbzed]

Nope

+1 what he said. "That would be a Negative, Ghost Rider...."

 

[dspelman]

Regular finish meaning a cherry burst or sunburst. The reason I ask is that I think that the goldtop is paint or some kind of colored lacquer different than the plain nitro finish of the 'regular' guitars. And I think this might sound different.

I know (or am convinced) that nitro finish guitars sound warmer than poly- finish guitars. I would really like to know if anyone has an opinion on goldtops (or black ones too, since that is paint also).

Whatever you believe or are convinced is true is absolutely right.

The rest of us? No, a gold top sounds like a CSB. And a nitro finish guitar sounds about the same as a polyurethane or UV-catalyzed polyester finish. Ditto black ones.

 

[Marshall & Moonshine]

I was outside an outdoor Journey concert last night at the fair and let me tell you the differences are noticeable, even over the reflections, screams and music from the rides, other band on small stage, etc….
Shame on you, Neil.
Your fans deserve better.
I heard that poly, don’t you deny it.

 

[rjwilson37]

I say that the shortest distance between to places is a straight line.

There are so many other factors that come into play which make the same guitar sound different than the other, I would not worry about the paint/lacquer/finish. Except for how the guitar looks to you personally, and since I don't like Gold Tops, I never have to worry about the answer to the threads question. Haha

 

[Nintari]

The finish on an electric means nothing to tone. It's one of those things that the guitar world perpetuates ad nauseam, but is rooted in half-truths and misconceptions. If I had to guess, it came over from the acoustic world, where top-wood makes a huge difference in sound, and people just assumed the same was true for electrics when it's not.

And before any of you hit reply, just know it's futile. I've learned long ago that if someone thinks the earth is flat, the earth will always be flat and there's no talking them out of it. If you think you can hear the difference between a poly finish and a nitro finish when every thing else is equal... dream your little heart away and have at it.

 

[Marshall & Moonshine]

The finish on an electric means nothing to tone. It's one of those things that the guitar world perpetuates ad nauseam, but is rooted in half-truths and misconceptions. If I had to guess, it came over from the acoustic world, where top-wood makes a huge difference in sound, and people just assumed the same was true for electrics when it's not.

And before any of you hit reply, just know it's futile. I've learned long ago that if someone thinks the earth is flat, the earth will always be flat and there's no talking them out of it. If you think you can hear the difference between a poly finish and a nitro finish when every thing else is equal... dream your little heart away and have at it.

Funny.... I was just about to say the same about you.

 

[AJK1]

Of course different coloured guitars sound different, just like black humbuckers sound different to cream ones, I thought this was common knowledge ?

 

[01GT Eibach]

Eric Johnson can hear the difference.

 

[Plant man]

What I’d be interested is that if the gold top’s different nitro finish holds up better than the other finishes.

 

[BayouGTR]

Of course different coloured guitars sound different, just like black humbuckers sound different to cream ones, I thought this was common knowledge ?

I’ve seen them described as sounding,
sublime.lol

 

[mudface]

Eric Johnson can hear the difference.

Yeah,.... but he can hear if a flea fart is out of tune at a AC/DC concert..... don't let him get started on batteries in stomp boxes.....Geebus Crickets

 

[pdshane]

Regular finish meaning a cherry burst or sunburst. The reason I ask is that I think that the goldtop is paint or some kind of colored lacquer different than the plain nitro finish of the 'regular' guitars. And I think this might sound different.

I know (or am convinced) that nitro finish guitars sound warmer than poly- finish guitars. I would really like to know if anyone has an opinion on goldtops (or black ones too, since that is paint also).

Every guitar I touch sounds the same.

 

[skydog]

Just when I think I’ve heard everything, another frog farts on the pond…