Traditional or traditional + What do I have?

[Marme]

Just purchased a 2011 traditional. However it may be a traditional +. It has Kluson tuners, rosewood fretboard (I thought baked maple was a 2011 feature), covered pickups, flamed top, speed knobs opposed to what I thought should be top hats and what I would describe as a medium neck profile, but not a 50s. I have a 50s standard with a much fuller neck. My question, is this a plus model with speed knobs and variation of a 50s neck profile?

 

[mudface]

As with most Gibsons.... the 50s neck profile can vary a bit.... Trads never used baked maple. Speed knobs are also standard Traditional feature in all years. Traditional Pro would use top hats.

I have a 2011 in Iced Tea,.... also a plus (+) top. They can be quite flamey. My neck is also a med chunky like my R9.... but not like my R7 that is much fuller.

Yours has a sweet color

 

[Marme]

I believe it is a honeyburst. So the AA top moves it to the plus classification?
Wouldn't it be nice if gibson serials would actually identify the characterists of their guitars.

 

[Side Burns]

@Marme is it a red back or brown back finish on the mahogany?

That can help tell the finish.

 

[Marme]

Red back.

 

[BDW60]

I dunno what you have, but I like it. Killer USA guitar.

 

[Side Burns]

If i had to guess, id say its an Iced Tea burst.
Iced Tea and Honey Bursts both look similar but the Honey usually came with natural brown back whereas the Iced Tea came red back.

This was the regular traditional line up. If the traditional+ was different I'm sure people will chime in.

Oh and you can either email Gibson or take a picture of the writing under the pickups in the cavity. My 2013 Honey Burst says “HB” in marker in the pup cavity.


This picture was an excerpt from Gibson LP Traditional for 2011-12 in an archive search

 

[1allspub]

It’s a Light Burst... 100%.

The “+” is in reference to the extra flamey top (which is usually not the norm for Trads). Is it just me (or the camera angle) or is the center seam of the maple top not centered?

 

[Christosterone]

It’s an effing awesome lightburst…

very happy for you…

-chris

 

[integra evan]

Lightburst

Nice color and nice top!

 

[Marme]

It’s a Light Burst... 100%.

The “+” is in reference to the extra flamey top (which is usually not the norm for Trads). Is it just me (or the camera angle) or is the center seam of the maple top not centered?

As much as I verified its authenticity and overall condition the off center top joint went unnoticed. Unusual. Especially for such a nice top. I know off kilter tops existed in early les Paul's but more current productions?

 

[DaveSG]

Wow interesting top seam! Never seen that before in a modern Gibson. Kinda like it.

 

[GySgtFTL]

Got a picture of the headstock? Front and back.

 

[Marme]

Got a picture of the headstock? Front and back.

Would I be correct that your looking for signs of an imitation LP View attachment 630072 View attachment 630073

 

[Marme]

Would I be correct that your looking for signs of an imitation LP?

 

[moreles]

Wowsers, does that seem appear both off-center and crooked -- unless there's something wacky in the camera angle. Gibson can be pretty casual with alignment, but that's pushing the envelope. I don't think anyone's claiming that this disorientation (if actually present) indicates a fake. Ironically, I think it's more likely to find something like that on a real Gibson than on a fake!

 

[GySgtFTL]

Would I be correct that your looking for signs of an imitation LP View attachment 630072 View attachment 630073

No sir. Just wanted to see if it looked like mine. I have a 2012 Trad.

 

[Marme]

My 1st thought was imitation. But all the tell tale signs of an original are there and just the overall quality that it shows has me perplexed as to how this came off the factory floor unless it was intentional. Moreles made a point that if a fake, it would probably be more likely to be aligned.
I believe I will turn this into another thread since it has moved from my original topic and I'm curious for others to chime in on their observations of top offset.