Double Cut les pauls and changes

[woolenmammoth]

I never see all too many people talking about the newer double cut les pauls. Most folks, I dont think realize how different they are.

I have a 97. It's got a 24 fret neck, so its much longer than a standard les paul, the neck on this feels more like a jazzmaster scale. Totally the right spacing for me, and completely different than a standard les paul neck, which always feels boxy to me, for better or worse.

Are there any other guitars that have this neck? I wonder how much different the scale is to a 135 neck.

Secondly, the body is completely chambered. Its a hollowbody with a solid maple top.

How this doesnt get spoken about I'll never understand.

I frequently read people complaining about their double cuts not having a SOLID les paul sound. Well duh, the guitar is hollow. You didnt notice that when you picked it up and it was only six pounds? I have a pressboard danelectro that is heavier than my DC les paul.

Since then, there have been some changes. At some point they had three pots, Im guessing two tones and a volume. Now they are back to a single volume and tone.

Mine has a wrap bridge, new ones have a standard stop tail.

new ones feature a standard les paul scale length.

Does anyone know what year they changed the necks from the 24 scale to the regular les paul neck?

Are the bodies currently fully chambered top and bottom or is it the standard chambering that all les paul bodies are getting these days? When did this change?

I love mine to death and totally bought it on a whim, and for stupid cheap too. Such a unique guitar. I think alot of folks just look at these as a differently shaped piece of wood, but at one point, these were completely unique guitars.

Anyhow, just trying to get a grasp of what changes were made since 97 and when. Wondering if a new DC is a totally different guitar than the 97 DC, Im feeling like it probably is...

cheers

 

[CivoLee]

I don't know if the new ones are chambered, but you are right on the money that the post-2004 Les Paul DC is a different beast than the mid-late 90s DCs. I'm guess the body style was changed to make it a bit more in keeping with an archtop version of a Junior/Special DC, with the original did not really resemble. Really, one could opine that the original DCs had enough difference in them from standard singlecut Les Pauls that it didn't make sense to call them Les Pauls at all. As for the shortlived 3 knob configuration, I think it was actually 2 volumes and one tone.

I played an original style DC once...nice sound and feel, but I didn't have a chance to try it out with a strap and I've read some reviews that say it's a bit neck heavy.

 

[woolenmammoth]

Its got a real long neck on a real light body. I guess its neck heavy, but I wouldnt use that as a descriptive term, at all. Thats never entered my thoughts when I play it.

 

[mudfinger]

Is this what you're talking about?

I have a backup, too:

I have a standing offer for the burst that is WAAAY over any reasonable price. These guitars are just that good.

 

[Jedadiah]

Yes, i think, as you have a wrap tail piece, you'rs is the 'Studio'. My 'Standard' has a stop tail. I ws under the impression they were weight relived, not hollow? No matter, great pieces. The guy who had mine before me experimented with strap pin positions so i had two 'New' holes on the back and one 'new' hole on the side. I simply added wheel balancing weights into the pot cavity and the balance is fine.

 

[Howard2k]

A buddy has two of the Standard DCs. He raves about them, they are beautiful guitars too. Stunning maple tops, super light, nicely done.

 

[dspelman]

I have a 97. It's got a 24 fret neck, so its much longer than a standard les paul, the neck on this feels more like a jazzmaster scale. Totally the right spacing for me, and completely different than a standard les paul neck, which always feels boxy to me, for better or worse.

Are there any other guitars that have this neck? I wonder how much different the scale is to a 135 neck.

You can *measure* the scale, you know. Measure from the nut to the 12th fret and double it. I think you're looking at the same scale that Gibson uses for most of its instruments, around 24.75". Most Gibsons with 24-fret necks (rare though they may be) don't have extended necks. The 24-fret SGs, for example, have always had space between the end of the fretboard and the neck pickup. Well, "always" meaning every since they moved the neck pickup back in the early '60's because the neck/body join was compromised (weakened) by the original placement. All they do is fill in the space with some extra fretboard and two frets. Neither the dimensions of the guitar nor the scale changes.

Note that on the DCs, the extra frets are on the body; if anything the neck pickup may have moved to make room for them. Because they're in the body, they're not all that easy to get to. But even if the neck was extended, it's unlikely that it would have been more than about 3/4". Those two extra frets don't take up more room than that. I have a Les Paul-alike that has a 24-fret neck, and the 24th fret is about where the 22nd fret would be normally (more or less even with the bottom of the cutaway). So there's decent access to it. The neck on this guitar is, indeed, extended about 3/4", and the bridge and bridge pickup is moved about the same amount toward the neck pickup to keep the scale constant.

Gibson's *first* 24-fret neck was on the L6S, back in the early '70's. The 24th fret is about where the bottom of the cutaway is -- so you can easily get to it. LOTS of upper fret access on those guitars. Now take another look at the DC photos.

 

[woolenmammoth]

Im far more concerned with the fret spacing between the 1 and 10th frets than anything above that...

 

[Leiste]

More DCs can be seen here:

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/gibson-les-pauls/170297-any-love-dc-lps.html

 

[randelli]

Is this what you're talking about?

I have a backup, too:

I have a standing offer for the burst that is WAAAY over any reasonable price. These guitars are just that good.

WHY?????????

do you have to tempt me like this???????

WHYYYYYYYY????????????

 

[Bountyhunter]

I'd love to own a DC. I passed on an early 2000's DC Standard and wish that I hadn't.

 

[randelli]

I have wanted that Ginger for over a year! I have to have it.

What is this standing offer - I'll best it if at all possible. Are you willing to let her go??

 

[mudfinger]

I have wanted that Ginger for over a year! I have to have it.

What is this standing offer - I'll best it if at all possible. Are you willing to let her go??

Let her go to the guy who's building my amp? Mebbe...

I'll email you tonight.

 

[woolenmammoth]

can anyone comment on the chambering on the new bodies? Is it the standard chambering they are doing on other models (which is what I suspect) or fully chambered like the 90's models?

 

[TheGalen]

I have an 07 DC - one of the GC models. It is very chambered. Meaning - inside the control cavity there is a hole leading to the chamber. I don't know whether the single cut LP chambered guitars are like that, but I suspect not.

 

[Hoboman]

I currently own 3 DC Standards. I've owned a couple of late 90s studios.
The scale is the same as the single cut, 24.75.
They just added two frets to the front of the fretboard.

Here's my 98.

 

[The Refugee]

I really like those 90s DCs... eventually I'll pick one up I hope.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

the late 90's ones were great

 

[Jedadiah]

Here's a question for all DC owners, what does it say on the headstock? The reason i ask is because mine (and all the other none 'specials' i have seen) have 'Les Paul Model' on the headstock. There is one currently being offered on e-Bay UK; a Black Pepper LP Standard plus DC but he has on his headstock 'Les Paul Special'. It is obviously not a Special. Carved AAA top, bound neck, block inlays, two 'buckers', gold hardware, the lot. The thing is, he has listed it a few times and it has not sold at the BIN price and now he has listed it under auction and the current price is just over £400. I may have chanced my arm but it's the headstock detail that worries me. I have e-mailed the guy and he seems quite genuine so i don't know if it's dodgy or some rare mistake at the factory?

 

[Hoboman]

Here's a question for all DC owners, what does it say on the headstock? The reason i ask is because mine (and all the other none 'specials' i have seen) have 'Les Paul Model' on the headstock. There is one currently being offered on e-Bay UK; a Black Pepper LP Standard plus DC but he has on his headstock 'Les Paul Special'. It is obviously not a Special. Carved AAA top, bound neck, block inlays, two 'buckers', gold hardware, the lot. The thing is, he has listed it a few times and it has not sold at the BIN price and now he has listed it under auction and the current price is just over £400. I may have chanced my arm but it's the headstock detail that worries me. I have e-mailed the guy and he seems quite genuine so i don't know if it's dodgy or some rare mistake at the factory?

All three of mine say "Les Paul Model" on the headstock.

Here's a couple of pics of my 2005: