Les Paul Custom Mahogany Top

[smllm64]

Hi all,

Thinking of getting this 2015 model. Its all mahogany body and top and with rosewood fretboard. I have not seen these before as most are ebony boards. Comes with 490/498 pups. Appreciate your comments. With the rosewood board, how would you expect the tone compared to regular custom with ebony board? No chance for me to try unfortunately but seller says it has a very rich low mids. Weight is about 9.3 pounds.

 

[01GT Eibach]

It is a very beautiful guitar. Although, it kinda looks a little odd with the rw board. I would expect a bigger tonal difference from a regular LPC due to the lack of a maple cap than the board.

 

[BadPenguin]

While I LOVE me some mahog a Custom isn't a Custom without ebony. Looks like a Chibson or a Epiphone.

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

I'm kind of "old school" regarding the Custom's.
A Custom has an Ebony board and the multiply binding.
Also gold hardware except for the '68.
And most have a maple cap.

Compared to a regular Custom, this one might sound a little warmer
due to the rosewood fretboard and the lack of maple cap.

I would have to try the guitar first to consider buying it.
But it doesn't seem to be my cup of tea.

But it would be your guitar in the end so you're the one
who decides what you want.
Ain't nobody's business but yours!

 

[johan.b]

I had an all mahogany (well..rosewood fretboard)studio ages ago. It was the best sounding les paul I ever played. Sadly it got stolen.....
J

 

[Leee]

That’s very cool!
For years, I’ve been this close to buying an old original Hagstrom Swede.
That was precisely the build and cosmetics that appealed to me.

Cosmetically, the rosewood board goes with the natural mahogany.
Ebony would be cool, but I don’t know if it would actually look better that way.

 

[ARandall]

If you cannot see beyond tradition, then this sort of thing probably isn't for you.
If however you are a bit more creative or open minded, then this could be a great guitar.

Fair to say the majority of this forum fall well and truly into the first category......and as such you are not going to get a good balance of unbiased opinions.

For mine I love the look. A full mahogany body Custom is like the 50's versions too,

 

[Renegade]

That is a very unique Lester, looks cool just because it is different.
I would think that the biggest tonal difference would be based on the mahogany body and top.

 

[1allspub]

I dig it! And I’m a huge fan of ebony fretboards. But that rosewood looks really sharp with that natural ‘hog body.

Tone-wise, expect it to be darker and warmer. One of the reasons for using the ebony on LPCs originally was because ebony is a bit brighter and snappier (originally all LPCs were all ‘hog-bodied, unlike today w/ the exception of 50 RI LPCs and the occasional special/limited run).

 

[mjross]

Oh yeah, very nice and unique!

 

[searswashere]

We a/b’d a buddy’s 2020 57ri custom with my 2022 68ri custom. Even with his being custombucker and no maple cap and mine being whatever they put in there (t-top type?) with maple cap, feeding his drri they sounded almost identical. We were surprised.

If its in OP’s budget and he likes it, go for it.

 

[ArchEtech]

Darken up the board a bit and it would be very nice. It’s a unique and pretty guitar. Some prefer rosewood boards.

 

[dc007]

The board looks pretty dang good looking at it on my phone. Not as dark as ebony but I like it